The HSE is currently in the process of establishing two HSE Areas (ISAs) across three LHOs in Dublin north, as part of the reconfiguration of services in Dublin North East, HSE Area Manager, Anne O’Connor told the Forum.
The HSE is currently in the process of establishing two HSE Areas (ISAs) across three LHOs in Dublin north, as part of the reconfiguration of services in Dublin North East, HSE Area Manager, Anne O’Connor told the Forum. The two new Areas are Dublin North City and North Dublin.
Acute services in Dublin North City are provided by the Mater Hospital, the Rotunda Hospital and Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, although these are not really a feature of the re-configuration that is underway. Services are also provided by a number of voluntary organisations including the Daughters of Charity, St. Michael’s House, the Central Remedial Clinic, St. Vincent’s, Fairview, and the Incorporated Orthopaedic Hospital in Clontarf.
There are significant financial resources in the area, which has a total budget of €779 million and in excess of 12,000 staff across the voluntary and statutory sector.
Cabra, Finglas and the North Inner City currently within North West Dublin will align with Dublin North Central to form the new Dublin North City Area. The Greater Blanchardstown Area (Dublin 15) currently within North West Dublin will align with Dublin North to form with the new North Dublin Area.
This reconfiguration will involve the re-alignment of all health services formerly within North West Dublin Local Health Office inclusive of HSE resources (staffing and financial) to their relevant new area.
Re-configuration is a critical issue because it gives us an ideal opportunity to see how our systems are working, create capacity that can be re-directed to support front line clinical services and develop a system which is efficient and streamlined without duplication
“For the current project we knew we needed to engage with staff to capture current service provision information and use it to inform the process. In July, twelve working groups, each with an independent chair, were formed across the three former LHOs and a joint management/union steering group established. The Working Groups covered primary care, quality and risk, finance, HR, primary care, support schemes, boundaries and catchment areas, child care, mental health, disabilities, older persons, social inclusion and dental.
“We have been trying to capture all the components which are of importance to people who will be affected – some areas are more complex than others.
“We have had good engagement from unions who have participated in the steering group and who have raised very valid points. Nothing particularly contentious or insurmountable has been raised and the final reports from the working groups are due this month.
The Joint Steering Group will then look at the next steps and agree a way forward in relation to reassignment of resources, both financial and staffing based on current service provision to the new areas of Dublin North and Dublin North City. There will be on-going communication with staff via working groups to ensure that everybody will be treated fairly and consistently.
“Whilst for most staff this reconfiguration will not affect their work location or job content, we will have an appeals process in place for those who are unhappy with the move or their new location. We will also have induction programmes for all staff moving to new locations.
“Re-configuration is a critical issue because it gives us an ideal opportunity to see how our systems are working, create capacity that can be re-directed to support front line clinical services and develop a system which is efficient and streamlined without duplication. It gives us a chance to address some of the problems caused by depletion of staff over the last few years. “We will have a new streamlined management structure and boundaries will be in line with health and social care networks.”
