THE reorganisation of the Eastern Health Board region is not a prelude to similar plans for the State's other seven health boards, the Minister told a press conference.
However, it is planned that under new legislation, voluntary hospitals, mental handicap agencies and other voluntary agencies in each health board area will be funded by the health board rather than the Department of Health. Voluntary agencies/institutions will then be entitled to representation on the health boards.
Mr Noonan also announced that the posts of chief executive officer (CEO) in three health boards will be advertised next January. The western Health Board CEO, Mr Eamonn Hannan, will retire next October, while Mr Denis O'Shea, CEO with the North Western Health Board, and Mr Denis Doherty, CEO with the NorthEastern Health Board, are moving on to greater responsibilities.
Each new CEO will be employed on a fixed, seven year contract basis. Mr Noonan said he was anxious the new appointees would be in place by next "April or May", to work alongside and "avail of the wisdom" of those they would replace. It was his intention that there would be no more "interregnums".