An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD, and the Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, today 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. Today’s 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.
Speaking today, the Taoiseach said,
“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Laura Magahy as Executive Director of the Sláintecare Programme Office and Tom Keane as Chair of the Sláintecare Advisory Council. The appointments to these key leadership roles signal the Government’s continuing commitment to improving and modernising our health services. Laura and Tom bring a wealth of experience and expertise to these roles, having been instrumental leaders in many major change initiatives.
The next decade will see a period of significant investment and reform in our health services. The National Development Plan will provide €10.9 billion investment in health providing for essential new capacity and redevelopment across the service. Improving governance is also an urgent priority. We are putting in place a new board for the HSE. Recruitment is ongoing for a new CEO of the HSE. These will be pivotal appointments in improving the management and performance of the health service. Finally, the implementation of a Sláintecare programme of reform will bring about a transformation of our health service. Our health care needs are changing, and this requires real change in how we deliver and experience care. I am confident that the appointments today will be instrumental in leading and managing change for the better, for the Irish health service.
Minister Harris said,
“Today marks another important step in a long term process to transform our health service. Sláintecare provides us with a framework within which change can be planned, managed and implemented over the next decade.
The Oireachtas Committee emphasised the importance of effective implementation to achieve change. The appointments today put in place the necessary management and advisory structures to lead this implementation process. Laura Magahy has a proven track record in delivery, innovation and change management and I am delighted that she will take up the Director role of the Programme Office. An advisory council will be established to provide expert advice and support to Laura and her team, and I am delighted to appoint Tom Keane to chair this Council. Tom has vast experience of healthcare here in Ireland and abroad. I look forward to working with Laura and Tom as we move forward on this very important reform agenda.”
Laura Magahy, Executive Director of the Sláintecare Programme Office said,
“I’m very honoured to be appointed as Executive Director of Sláintecare. Sláintecare provides a real opportunity to transform health services over the coming decade. I’m committed to building on the foundation of consensus that has brought Sláintecare to this point, and to working with all stakeholders to make the vision set out in the Sláintecare report a reality.”
Dr Tom Keane, Chairperson of the Sláintecare Advisory Council said,
“Similar to other countries, the Irish health system needs to radically change if it is to properly meet the health needs of the population. Strong leadership, clear governance and effective engagement of stakeholders across the health sector will be essential to successful reform, as will a long-term vision for health policy that remains constant from government to government - that is what Sláintecare represents.”