Written answers

Wednesday, 25 June 2008

Department of Health and Children

Health Service Reform

9:00 pm

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on establishing a national health care forum to include all interested parties with the objective of building a national consensus on the provision of an effective health care system in this century; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24914/08]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Policy in the delivery of health services has been determined by Government as the development of health services in all regions of the country, capable of providing safe, high-quality services that achieve the best possible outcomes for patients in primary care settings or when accessing a hospital service. My Department has developed a broad range of strategy documents and associated policies to guide it in its work. The National Health Strategy, Quality and Fairness — A Health System for You, was announced by Government in 2001 to provide vision and strategic direction for the health and personal social services. The Strategy sets out the key objectives for the health system up to 2010, which are centred on four national goals of Better Health for Everyone, Fair Access, Responsiveness and Appropriate Care Delivery and High Performance.

The Health Reform Programme derives from Quality and Fairness. It was clear that new structures and supporting processes were required to best meet current and future health needs as expressed in the goals and objectives of the Strategy. The Health Reform Programme also comprehends the Primary Care Strategy as well as the Prospectus, Brennan and Hanley Reports. These reports are guiding the future of the health service in that they layout the overall direction for the major changes in the health services and how they should be addressed and delivered in the coming years.

Another contributor to the way in which policy in the delivery of health services is being determined are the targets and objectives set out in Towards 2016, the current national social partnership agreement. The Government and social partners have agreed to work together to deliver tangible improvements in the health outcomes for all sectors of Irish society, including children, young adults, people of working age, older people and people with disabilities. The negotiating partners involved in agreeing the shared overall goals contained in Towards 2016 included the Government, trade unions, employers, farming organisations and the community and voluntary sector. The Government and social partners have agreed to continue to work together over a ten-year period to further develop and enhance the health care system in this country.

The Reform Programme is an enormous challenge, which will require the ongoing commitment of all relevant parties over the coming years. It is my belief that the policies and mechanisms currently being implemented by my Department will further advance the development of a world class health service in the years to come. Given the wide range of interested parties currently inputting to the provision of an effective healthcare system, I do not consider it necessary to establish a national health care forum.

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