Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 428: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the new health representative structures will be established; if she will report on the composition of these; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25752/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Part 8 of the Health Act 2004 provides for public representation and user participation in the health system. Section 42 of the Act provides for the establishment by the Minister for Health and Children of not more than four regional health forums. These forums will comprise members appointed from each city and county council within the functional area of the forum. The function of a forum, as provided for in the 2004 Act, is to make such representations as it considers appropriate to the Health Service Executive on the range and operation of health and personal social services provided within its functional area.

Section 42 provides that details relating to the establishment, composition and operation of the regional health forums will be set out in regulations to be made by the Minister for Health and Children, following consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. These regulations are being drafted by my Department at present. It is my intention that they will be finalised as soon as possible so as to enable the regional health forums to be established at an early date.

Section 43 of the Health Act 2004 enables the executive to establish advisory panels in order to consult with local communities or other groups about health and personal social services. It is a matter for the executive to determine the terms of reference, the membership and the rules and procedures for each panel.

The executive has informed my Department that it has begun the process of examining the different structures that exist in each of the former health board areas for involving consumers at local level and is further developing the consumer panels that already exist. The executive wishes to foster an open approach to service user feedback and comment and is using national and international best practice in developing the new structures.

Arising from the national health strategy, a national health consultative forum has been convened annually. The participants are drawn from senior management in the health system, the voluntary sector, patient and client groups, service providers, trade unions, professional bodies, Government Departments and other sectoral interests. This year, the forum will be held in the month of December. This will be subsequently replaced by a national health consultative forum to be convened by me pursuant to section 41 of the Health Act 2004. My Department is currently preparing a ministerial order with regard to the membership, rules and procedures of the national health consultative forum.