Healthcare Reform: What Next?

West/North West Hospital Group

Fergal LynchDeputy Secretary General

Department of Health

9 October, 2014

Context

Health Reform is a major agenda item for Government

Change in timetables for some elements – not a reversal of the reform programme

Some progress made and much more to be done

Locate the debate on Hospital Groups in the wider context of health reform

Vision for Future SystemSingle-tier systemAccess based on need, not ability to payUniversal coverage of primary and hospital

care (primary care free at point of use)

Best health outcomes for available resourcesTreat patients at the lowest level of

complexity that is safe, timely, efficient and as close to home as possible.

Vision Statement

To develop an efficient and effective single-tier health service which promotes equitable access to high quality care on the basis of need.

Reform Agenda Future Health promises major reforms

Health and Wellbeing Healthy Ireland to co-ordinate cross-cutting programme

across whole of Government

Service reform Develop primary care as first point of contact Phased extension of free GP care to whole population Better programmes of chronic disease management Action on waiting lists and waiting times Licensing of healthcare facilities

Reform Agenda Future Health promises major reforms

Structural reform New health structures Hospital groups, leading to independent hospital trusts Purchaser/provider split and commissioning

Financial and capacity reform UHI funding model based on competing insurers Single tier of access to replace ‘two-tier’ access Money Follows the Patient Reform PHI market Information

Where are we now?

Healthy Ireland to advance the agenda on Health and Wellbeing

HSE Directorate structure Primary and Community Care structures

developed SDU and waiting times Hospital Groups policy Framework on Smaller Hospitals

Where are we now?

Money Follows the Patient policy and implementation process

White Paper on UHI Transfer of HSE Vote Reforms in Private Health Insurance market eHealth Strategy Unique Identifiers legislation Health Information Bill Licensing legislation

Recent Developments Minister reviewed and adjusted timeframes

for implementation of UHI funding model and health structures

Substantial health reform projects (above) to be advanced in the meantime

More work to be done on the ‘what’ and ‘when’ of UHI

Work continues on health structures – a major piece of work on what ‘map’ of Irish healthcare will look like

Next Steps

Key priorities for next 18 months identified Health Statement of Strategy and HSE

Corporate Plan Costing of UHI and further examination of

the right approach for Ireland Vital to pursue agenda of structural reform,

including that of Hospital Groups within it