Mr. Bernard Gloster:

I thank the Chairman and members of the committee for the invitation to meet with them today and to join with the Secretary General and Department of Health colleagues to discuss Sláintecare progress. The committee heard in detail from me at the meeting on 22 March about my priorities, having taken up the role of CEO of the HSE on 6 March. That appearance, together with my detailed opening statement on that occasion being taken as read, means my opening remarks today will be brief and focus on a few priority themes.

I am joined by colleagues from across the leadership of the HSE, who are involved in the many programmes of work that have been going on as part of the Sláintecare and programme for Government agendas in recent times. They are Mr. Fran Thompson, chief information officer; Ms Mary Day, national director of acute operations; Dr. Colm Henry, chief clinical officer; Ms Anne Marie Hoey, national director of HR; and Mr. Liam Woods, national director with specific responsibility for RHA implementation. I am also joined by Mr. Stephen Mulvany, chief financial officer and previous interim CEO, who is assisting me in the early transition of the extensive portfolio of work being handed over to me. In his presence, I restate the thanks I expressed during my appearance at the committee last week for his work during his time as interim CEO and the extensive efforts he made over one of the most challenging periods for the health service.

The committee has been briefed by the HSE and departmental officials on the various programmes of work. A total of 11 projects of work across two priority programmes are under way, each requiring detailed and careful attention. In this context, the guiding framework is contained in the Sláintecare 2023 Action Plan, as referenced by the Secretary General. I will list some aspects of key focus under the plan to which I will be giving significant attention as CEO over the coming months.

One area of key focus is the ECC programme. By the end of 2023, the HSE will move to evidence of both the operational effectiveness and, more importantly, the impact of the 96 community healthcare networks and the 60 specialist teams for both chronic disease and older persons. The total ECC programme has received substantial investment, with some 2,400 new posts created since its commencement. As we progress towards a long-term ambition of moving away from an acute-centric service, we will have to ensure this investment is giving the maximum benefit to the public. Activity under the ECC programme must be directly connected to improved access to primary care services. Outcomes under the programme must be directly connected to hospital avoidance or timely discharge. The impact should be visible in 2023 and showing an identifiable nationwide benefit by the end of 2024. With the agreement of the committee, it is my intention to give a detailed presentation and insight into this work at the next scheduled Sláintecare session.

Subject to further approval, the RHA system will commence operation in 2024 and will, over that year, transition to a new structure with a single line of authority and accountability for services in the defined geographic areas. Parallel to the recruitment of six RHA CEOs, reporting directly to me, will be the final submission by the HSE on the proposals for both a revised and redefined HSE centre, together with the internal workings of the RHA system. Apart from some minor adjustments and the recruitment of six RHA CEOs, which is anticipated to happen later in 2023, it is my intention to reorganise the centre and populate the RHA system within the existing headcount of the HSE.

The implementation of the POCC is a matter for the HSE and its funded entities. I have requested proposals on an early international campaign to actively promote vacant and new consultant posts in Ireland, with extensive emphasis on the availability of many of the attractive components of the new contract. I expect to have proposals to the Department on this in late April.

The waiting list action plan for 2023 is receiving internal priority. A revised, scaled-up operation of the leadership and governance of it will be evident in the coming weeks.

Our teams will continue to work in partnership with the Department of Health on a new digital health strategy, the elective hospital programme, the Sláintecare innovation fund, workforce planning, eligibility expansion and healthy living. It is important to recognise that we are pursuing major reforms and changes in a continuous and incremental way while at the same time operationally managing in an extraordinarily complex and demanding environment. Maintaining a focus on the needs of the public today and for the future is a careful balance. I am confident that the HSE, working with the Department and with the support of Government, will continue to achieve that balance.