Written answers

Wednesday, 24 February 2010

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Medical Service

9:00 am

Photo of Terence FlanaganTerence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Defence if the centralised medical command structure recommended for the medical services by consultants (details supplied) has been established; if not, when same will be established; if, as recommended, this medical command, or central medical unit, will be led by a line (non-clinical) officer; the rank of the officer who will lead this unit during the change process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9318/10]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress made since 1 January 2010 regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the PA report on the medical services required by the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9175/10]

Photo of Pat CareyPat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 84 together.

As has been stated previously in the House, the PA Report reviewed the medical services required for the Defence Forces in light of their roles and operations, assessed the current arrangements for the provision of medical services and proposed a model for future delivery of medical services.

The Consultants recommended a programme of major change. The high level recommendations include: - a Centralised Command Structure for the Medical Corps; - the creation of a Medical Services Management and Administrative Function. This structure will provide strategic planning, resource allocation and overall responsibility for the management and delivery of the medical service; - the development of Medical Officer Lead Care Teams together with a re-focussing of medical staff on appropriate clinical tasks.

The structure and systems recommended have been designed to meet the demands and needs of the modern Defence Forces at home and overseas and provide Medical Officers with a fulfilling and rewarding career.

The governance structure proposed in the report for the delivery of change in this area has been put in place. A dedicated Programme Group with civilian and military representatives is now co-ordinating a range of projects. It is progressing a number of the PA recommendations including the structure of the Medical Corps, the alignment of Defence Forces and Medical Corps strategies and the development of medical information systems. Work is also progressing on the recommendations on training and education, clinical issues and the centralised command structure, along with financial arrangements and outsourcing. A number of the working groups that are in place dealing with these issues have already made recommendations, which are being considered by the Steering Committee.

The Programme Group that has been charged with overseeing the progress of the Working Groups briefed the Steering Group on progress in January. The five working groups that have been established continued to meet regularly since the beginning of the year. Three of the Working Groups have recently submitted reports. The Training and Education group and the Organisation and Establishment Working Group have submitted Interim Reports and the Clinical Review Group has submitted it's January monthly report. The Steering Group will consider these in the near future.

The Steering Group has approved the new headquarters organisation for the unit which now includes a Line officer commanding the medical corps. The Centralised Command Structure for the Medical Corps has not been established. PA did not identify structures, numbers and processes within the Centralised Command Structure in detail, these have yet to be finalised. A number of Working Groups are looking at these issues and when they have issued their final reports implementation of the centralised command structure will commence. However it has already been agreed that the rank of the Line Officer Commanding the Centralised Medical Corps during the change process will be that of Colonel.

It is planned that the new Centralised Medical Corps will be established before the end of the year.

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