HSE unveils new structures for western region

The HSE's Health Forum West has become part of a new entity to be titled HSE West and North-West.

Former Chief Operating Officer of the Saolta hospital group, which includes Mayo University Hospital, Tony Canavan, was appointed last March to the new role of Regional Executive Officer of HSE West and North-West. Mr Canavan told members of the Health Forum West at their meeting last Tuesday that the HSE has been implementing a changed structure over the last number of months. He added that in December it will be explained to all members how the new structure will work and what changes it will mean regarding current procedures.

“We will circulate the breakdown in the structure and the names of all relevant managers at that point, but for now, we hope today’s meeting will be relatively straightforward”, he told members.

HSE West and North-West will serve the people of Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, West Cavan, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo, whereas the original Regional Health Forum West served Limerick, Galway, Clare, Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, North Tipperary, Roscommon and Sligo.

Queries from Mayo councillors at the forum were referred at the November meeting to Mary Warde, who is now the Integrated Health Area Manager for Mayo.

The HSE is currently being reorganised into six health regions to provide "integrated health and social care services" and these will replace former Hospital Groups (such as Saolta) and Community Healthcare Organisations (CHO). The six new HSE regions are HSE Dublin and North East; HSE Dublin and Midlands; HSE Dublin and South East; HSE Mid West; HSE South West; and HSE West and North West. Each region will be responsible for providing both hospital and community care for people in the designated areas.

The HSE stated: “This changes the way that our services are delivered so that they’re easier for people to find and use. Bringing community health services and hospitals together means we can take a more patient-centred approach to healthcare. The HSE is still a single organisation, with six health regions, which remain under the governance of the HSE Board and the HSE continues to be responsible for standards and guidelines. Each region is led by a Regional Executive Officer (REO) and has its own budget, leadership team and responsibility for local decision making, while continuing to work towards the Sláintecare objectives.” 

Tuam-based Forum member Donagh Killilea said it was “disappointing to see that some members of the Forum do not attend it at all”, going on to point out that under standing orders, where a member does not attend three meetings the advice is to go back to the local authority and have another councillor recommended. 

“This is important because this Forum is a wonderful opportunity to raise issues and it is important we take it seriously and impress on those who are recommended as people to sit on it to attend the meetings.” 

Mayo County Council has four members on the Forum, namely Cllr John Caulfield, Cllr Alma Gallagher, Cllr Michael Loftus and Cllr Michael Kilcoyne, with Cllr Kilcoyne appointed vice-chairman earlier this year.