John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I almost needed some health identification myself after running to the Chamber. I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak in support of the Bill, which is a further significant reform of the health service. Last week, similar legislation was introduced by the Minister. These are necessary reforms of the health services as provided for in the programme for Government. As Deputy Kyne noted, this particular reform has been spoken of for seven or eight years. The idea is that health professionals would have at their disposal all relevant information on the patient they are seeking to treat, including in an emergency situation, and this is most welcome.

This proposal must take into consideration a significant area of difficulty, namely, the requirements of data protection and the rights of any individual or citizen to have his information protected, while, at the same time, ensuring that he can get access to necessary medical treatment. This could produce a conflict but, as I understand it, the Bill has been approved by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner with regard to ensuring that only essential information that is required for health professionals is made available to them when they need it.

This is part of an ongoing list of proposals from the Minister aimed at reforming how our health services are delivered. Last week's legislation was essentially the first step in dismantling the HSE and changing the way the HSE is funded, by ensuring that the executive is funded directly from the Department of Health, as it should be. This was a significant step in the right direction.

Last year, the Minister for Health embarked on significant reform of the way our acute medical services are operated throughout the country. This involved the realignment of hospital services throughout the country. We have moved from a position where 30 years ago each local authority had a health committee to a regional-based system, which was replaced, in turn, by the HSE when Deputy Martin was the Minister for Health.

For the most part and despite the many excellent people who work in the HSE on the front line and in administration, the executive has been an unmitigated disaster for the delivery of health services in the country. This is why last week's legislation to dismantle the organisation in respect of its funding was a significant step in the right direction.

The establishment of the new hospital groups and the Minister's commitment to a new system of money following the patient has become something of a cliché but it holds out the prospect for significant improvements in how our acute hospitals are funded in future and it represents a further significant positive step for the Department of Health.

The Minister for Health is often much-maligned in certain quarters but he has shown vigour in reforming how the service is delivered and that is to be welcomed. I fully support this important legislation which he has introduced to ensure that medical professionals have access to essential information about the patients they seek to treat. This is why I am supporting the Bill.

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