Taoiseach announces Executive Director of Sláintecare Programme Office and Chair of Advisory Council to lead health reform
Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar and the Minister for Health, Simon Harris have announced the appointment of Ms Laura Magahy as Executive Director to lead the new Sláintecare Programme Office and of Dr Tom Keane as Chair of the Sláintecare Advisory Council.
These are two key roles to drive forward reform of the health service, in line with the vision in the Sláintecare report.
The report of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare, the Sláintecare Report, sets out a vision for the future of healthcare over a ten-year period. Since Sláintecare was published, the Government has taken a series of actions which are essential to realising this vision. The announcement marks another significant milestone in the journey.
Steps already taken by Government on foot of recommendations in the Sláintecare Report include:
-The establishment of an Independent Group to examine Private Practice in Public Hospitals
-A public consultation on the geographical alignment of Hospital Groups and Community Health Organisations
-The commencement of negotiations for a new GP contract
-Publication of the National Development Plan, providing for a major programme of investment totalling €10.9 billion in the health service. This was informed by, and makes provision for, significant additional capacity as recommended in the Health Service Capacity Review. This includes 2,600 acute hospital beds, 3 new elective facilities and 4,500 community care beds
-The establishment of an independent Board for the HSE.
Following a competitive public competition and a rigorous selection process led by the Public Appointments Service, Ms Laura Magahy has been appointed as the Executive Director of the Sláintecare Programme Office. Ms Magahy is one of Ireland’s leading and most innovative strategic project directors and has a wide range of experience in devising and leading complex and challenging national initiatives and major projects. She will take up the position in September and a recruitment process for the Sláintecare Programme Office team will begin shortly.
Dr Tom Keane has been appointed by the Minister for Health to chair the Sláintecare Advisory Council, which will provide expert and independent advice to the Sláintecare Programme Office. The Council will comprise clinicians, patient representatives, international experts and other stakeholders. Dr Keane has extensive experience internationally in clinical practice, research and health care leadership and management.