What does the programme for Government have to offer health and mental health? There is a combination of broad aspiration, of the type we are used to seeing from established political party manifestos, and specific initiatives, which likely reflect the input of independents who support the new administration.
A commitment to multi-annual funding is welcome as is a recognition of the need for cross party agreement on a 10-year framework for the health system. However both proposals will test the capacity of the political system to operate beyond the usual electoral timeframe.
The proposal to disband the Health Service Executive falls short in language and detail.
Talk of the HSE "evolving" into a Health Commission suggests an unwillingness to grasp a nettle that is the greatest barrier to the provision of an effective service. There are no specific proposals to tackle the dysfunctional culture of the HSE.
Take a recent example of its failures reported in this newspaper. Patients with severe psychological illness in Co Meath cannot be discharged from hospital because of a shortage of nurses in the community to safely supervise their medication requirements.
Will the promised Health Commission’s management performance unit have the capacity to trouble shoot the myriad of poor local management decisions that run right through our public health system?
An acknowledgement of the crisis in general practice services along with proposals to deal with it is also welcome.
However, there is an inherent implausibility in the commitment to extend free GP services to under 18s while at the same time stating “it is necessary also to build GP capacity to respond to (existing) patients’ needs”.
In the area of patient advocacy, the mandatory reporting of patient safety incidents and a commitment to “open disclosure” will bring the Republic into line with best international practice.
There are many tests facing new minister Simon Harris. His youthful energy may compensate for lack of experience. But the portfolio is a political minefield.