Focus on clinical governance in regions should not be ‘lost’

An “appropriate” focus on clinical governance should not be “lost” during the roll-out of the six new health regions, heard a HSE meeting.

The comments were made in response to a presentation by HSE Chief Clinical Officer (CCO) Dr Colm Henry to the HSE safety and quality committee in February.

The presentation was on the clinical governance operating model for the new health regions.

Committee members “highlighted that during restructuring, a focus can sometimes be on corporate governance”, according to meeting minutes.

Members said the committee and HSE board “should be suitably involved to ensure the appropriate focus on clinical governance is not lost”.

“The CCO acknowledged this and advised that the definition of clinical governance can arise as an issue and it will be important to clarify the governance structure here.”

In his presentation, Dr Henry stated that a project was underway to progress development of the clinical governance model in line with the “overall design principles and objectives of the health regions programme”.

He said this work has been clinically led by Dr Pat Nash, Chief Clinical Director, Saolta University Health Care Group, and supported by the HSE’s strategic programmes office.

The CCO said the proposed structure and model would need to be agreed with the HSE CEO.

Asked for an update, a HSE spokesperson told the Medical Independent that the new health regions are “subject to a phased roll-out” and will include development of the clinical governance model.

The transition period for the new regions began on 1 March and is due to run until the end of September.