The Cabinet has approved the HSE Health Regions Implementation Plan. The implementation of HSE Health Regions involves the internal reorganisation of the HSE into six operational regions. They were formally known as Regional Health Areas and were a key part of the Sláintecare recommendations.
Each Health Region will have responsibility for the planning and coordinated delivery of joined-up health and social care services. Among the objectives of moving to this new organisational structure are to:
Existing Hospital Groups and Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs) are already meeting in regional pods that are reflective of the Health Region structures. Health Regions will commence operation from February 2024, and further reforms and devolution of authority will take place on a phased basis through 2024 and 2025.
Each Health Region will be headed up by a Regional Executive Officer (REO), who will be the accountable officer at Health Region level, and will report directly to the HSE CEO. Recruitment for REOs has been approved, and they will be advertised shortly. REO salaries are linked to the pay under the new public only hospital consultant contract and will be up to €257,000.
