The Minister for Health, Ms Harney, has moved to reassure staff at the Department of Health about their role when the Health Service Executive (HSE) takes over the day-to-day running of the health service on January 1st.
In a letter seen by The Irish Times, Ms Harney acknowledges that there has been uncertainty among civil servants following the designation of the CEO of the HSE as accounting officer for the health service.
"The Minister will hold the executive to account through the HSE board in practical ways. For example, the Minister will be able to require management reporting from the HSE, as the Minister wishes. The Department will fully assist the Minister in this role. This will mean the Department maintaining the analytical and evaluation skills to ensure there is full accountability of the HSE," Ms Harney says in the letter.
Emphasising that she wished to maintain the expertise and the people working with her, she says "there will be a strong case to enhance further the skills and expertise of the Department to focus on our precise tasks. The Department will continue to work on key health issues such as eligibility for services. We will also set policy for negotiations with consultants, GPs, pharmacists, drug manufacturers, insurers and others, and we will have to ensure our policy objectives are achieved."
Meanwhile, following the decision of Prof Aidan Halligan not to take up the post of CEO of the HSE, the interim chief executive, Mr Kevin Kelly, has indicated he will appoint an acting chief medical adviser this week.