THE STATE is to be divided into just four regions, each with its own regional director, under new structural changes planned by the Health Service Executive, it was confirmed yesterday.
While only a year ago HSE management was planning to reorganise into eight or nine new regions, each with its own director to have devolved decisionmaking, the number of regional directors it will actually put in place has gradually been whittled down.
The initial figure of about eight regions was based on a report on HSE structures commissioned from McKinsey Consultants. Then, two months ago, the HSE’s director of human resources Seán McGrath told a conference in Dublin it planned to put in place six new operating areas. Now, however, in a circular to staff, the HSE says its board has approved new structures that will see just four directors appointed.
“At this stage, we are appointing four regional operations directors to manage all services within four regional operating units, based on the existing administrative areas. These units will not operate autonomously but within national policies, budgets, frameworks, performance and safety standards. We intend filling these posts immediately, on an interim basis. We expect to make permanent appointments later in the year with full implementation of the regional operating units by January 2010,” the document states.
It adds that the organisational arrangements beneath these directors are being designed.
Meanwhile, a row between HSE chief executive Prof Brendan Drumm and its board over the appointment of a director of operations seems to have been resolved. This has been overcome by giving the job a new title and retaining two national directors to do it.
“The existing corporate directorates for NHO [national hospitals office] and PCCC [primary community and continuing care] are coming together within one directorate for integrated services,” the document adds.