HomeJanuary 2013Will Ireland’s health service ever be "fit for purpose"?

Will Ireland’s health service ever be “fit for purpose”?

 The question of whether the Irish health service, which is now at a crossroads faced with relentless cuts and accumulating deficits, will ever be “fit for  purpose,” is the theme of the 9th National Health Summit, which will be held in Croke Park, Dublin on February 13 next.

The challenge of how to dramatically raise productivity and embrace a new thinking in health service delivery if it is to secure higher quality care and shorter waiting times with shrinking resources, will also be explored.

Gerry O'Dwyer
Gerry O'Dwyer

As HMI is endorsing the event, we have negotiated a special attendance rate for members, where they can save up to €125. The attendance fee for the summit is €375 plus VAT. However, HMI Members who register and pay before January 30,  2013 pay just €250 plus VAT.

The Conference will be officially opened and chaired by Mr. Gerry O’Dwyer, HSE Regional Director of Operations, Dublin Mid Leinster, HMI Director of Education and Vice President of the European Association of Hospital Managers.

The key themes of the Conference will be:

  • The need for transformational change – How to make large-scale change a reality.
  • Leadership: Strong leadership is an essential factor in changing how an organisation works and patterns of delivery.
  • New models of care – With the rising costs of healthcare and a growing prevalence of chronic conditions, traditional health services need to be transformed to deliver integrated care.
  • Turning health sector finances around – With reported over-runs in expenditure around the country, hospitals are on the front line to achieve value for money.

Irish speakers include The Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly T.D., Mr. Tony O’Brien Interim Chief Executive/Director General Designate of the HSE, who will speak on “The impact of accumulated deficits and budget 2013 on our health services”, Ms. Eilish Hardiman, CEO, Tallaght Hospital, Mr. Ambrose McLoughlin, Secretary General, Department of Health, Senator & Prof. John Crown, Consultant Oncologist, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin,  Mr. Gerald Flynn, Employment and Communications Specialist, Align Management Solutions

International Keynote Speakers include:

Ms. Helen Bevan, Chief of Service Transformation, NHS Institute for Innovation & Improvement – She is currently leading efforts across the NHS to mobilise and organise staff and service users to deliver cost and quality improvement goals at scale.

Mr. Alberto de Rosa Torner, CEO, Ribera Salud Grupo – His organisation manages a pioneering PPP healthcare system that capitalises on the investment capacity and management expertise of the private sector, improving the efficiency of public healthcare in Valencia

Dr. Mahmood Adil, National Clinical & Finance Engagement Advisor, Department of Health, UK & Visiting Professor of Value-Based Healthcare, Manchester Business School – He is a strategic leader and quality improvement expert, with the passion to inspire organisations to achieve a vision of best healthcare outcomes.

Panelists will include Mr. Brian Fitzgerald, CEO, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin and member of the UHI Implementation Group, Mr. David Ferguson, Principal, SAS, Ireland, Dr. Una Geary, National Clinical Lead, HSE Emergency Medicine Programme. Ms. Laura McGarrigle, Principal Officer, Department of Health, Mr. Kieran Ryan, CEO, Irish College of General Practitioners, Mr. Stephen McMahon, CEO, Irish Patients’ Association, Ms. Laverne McGuinness, National Director, Integrated Care, HSE,  Prof. John Higgins, Chair of the Hospital Group Strategic Board and Head of the College of Medicine & Health UCC, Ms. Ann Doherty, CEO, Mid Western Hospitals Group and Mr. Mark White, Acting Director, NMDU, HSE and Chair of the National Implementation Group for The Productive Series.

The organisers anticipate both a full attendance and a stimulating and robust day of discussion and debate, so please book early to guarantee your place.

To review the full programme please visit the website at: www.healthsummit.ie or for further information call Jackie Bryan on 087-0557913 or email: jackie.bryan@iquest.ie