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Health Minister James Reilly today announced the appointment of Dr. Martin Connor to the new Special Delivery Unit (SDU.)

The development of the Special Delivery Unit is a key part of plans to radically reform the health system in Ireland with the ultimate goal of introducing a system of Universal Health Insurance. Dr Connor, who will report to Minister Reilly, will concentrate on reducing trolley waits in Emergency Departments and on cutting waiting lists in the health services.

The Minister will also appoint Dr. Connor to the Board of the HSE. This will act as an important means for him to engage with the HSE clinical programmes, which use the expertise of medical and other professionals to improve the efficiency of services for patients.

Speaking today Minister Reilly said...

I am delighted to welcome Dr Martin Connor to his vital role establishing the SDU. Since being appointed as Minister for Health I have been involved in a wide range of consultation aimed at establishing the SDU. While Dr Martin Connor will have the task of designing and implementing the precise template on which the organisation will work, many other assets and individuals have been identified as having a role to play in the SDU. I am pleased to say that Dr Connor’s appointment not only represents his own personal involvement in the project but also allows us to draw on a range of other international resources at his disposal to help refine the development and the operation of the SDU.

Between 2005 and 2008, as a Special Adviser in the Department of Health in Northern Ireland, Dr Connor affected a major reduction in waiting lists for elective assessment and treatment. He was also instrumental in securing the increased involvement of clinical professionals in decision making. He also developed a patient-level information base to support strategic decision making.