Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 22 February 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion

1:30 pm

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Most of the questions are specifically for the HSE. I will ask the director general and his team to deal with the structure and management posts because detail is important in respect of those headline figures. The Senator asked whether we would review management structures within the HSE. There is a commitment in the programme of Government, and the decision made by the Dáil to establish the Committee on the Future of Healthcare was with a view to coming up with the most appropriate structure once and for all, which we will not tinker around with following every election or ministerial change. I expect that to be dealt with in that context.

The Senator will be aware that I visited CUMH in January. I was pleased I did so because I met an incredible bunch of clinicians who are highly motivated to do good by their patients but who are extremely frustrated. The Senator can talk about how waiting lists are measures in various parts of the country and so on.

When I looked at the waiting lists in Cork, it was clear that an issue needed to be addressed. Many steps have been taken in recent weeks to try to put a plan in place to address them. CUMH gynaecological services are referenced in my letter to the director general for the waiting list plans for 2017, which I am due to receive next week as a priority. I am due to meet with the same group of clinicians in the very early weeks of March in Leinster House. I will keep Cork Oireachtas Members informed about the meeting. I might ask the director general to touch on the service matters.