Increase in ‘minor’ challenges with Sláintecare, board heard

The number of Sláintecare “deliverables” facing a “minor challenge” between March and the summer doubled, heard a HSE and Department of Health meeting.

Of over 120 Sláintecare deliverables set for 2023, some 87 per cent were “on track”. However, the number of deliverables “in minor challenge” increased from eight to 17 since a previous report in March, according to minutes of the June meeting of the Sláintecare programme board.

“Members noted the importance of bringing these back on track and maintaining delivery of other deliverables,” noted the minutes.

The board is co-chaired by the Secretary General of the Department Mr Robert Watt and the HSE CEO Mr Bernard Gloster.

In late March, the Department published both the Sláintecare Progress Report 2022 and the Sláintecare Action Plan 2023. The progress report noted that 83.3 per cent of Sláintecare projects had been delivered or had progressed as planned or with minor delays.

On the release of the report, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said in 2022 and 2023 “central elements of Sláintecare have and are being achieved, including the new public-only consultant contract, a new community-based service, enhanced community care, and certain eligibility measures”.

A Department spokesperson told the Medical Independent there was no update available in regard to initiatives facing minor challenges.

The reporting on the Sláintecare Action Plan 2023 is aligned to meetings of the Sláintecare programme board, said the spokesperson. The next meeting of the board is scheduled for 19 September.

“In advance of this, a progress report will be prepared by the Sláintecare programme management office for discussion and approval by the board, the outcome of which, including the status of deliverables, will be published in the minutes.”

The spokesperson added that the Sláintecare programme management office is continuing to work on a Sláintecare programme risk register, which is being informed by the ongoing development of the next multi-annual Sláintecare strategy and action plan to commence in 2024.