New Regional Health Forum Dublin and South East meets

A new Regional Health Forum for the HSE’s Dublin and South East health region this week convened its first meeting of members and elected a Chair.

With HSE management present at its meetings, Regional Health Forums were established in 2006 to facilitate representations and feedback from nominees of local authorities on the range and operation of healthcare and personal social services in their areas. Membership of the Forums are comprised of those nominated by city and county councils in their functional areas.

Following last year’s restructuring of the HSE, the Department of Health is progressing necessary legislative changes to the Health Act 2004 towards a reconfiguration of Forums to reflect the six health regions that have come into effect. In advance of these changes, new Forums have been established on an administrative basis.

The Regional Health Forum Dublin and South East covers counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford, in addition to South Dublin, Tipperary South and most of Co. Wicklow.

Following the dissolution of the South and Dublin Mid Leinster Forums, 32 members representing eight local authorities on one or other of those bodies will now sit as the new Regional Health Forum Dublin and South East.

Martina Queally, Regional Executive Officer (REO) of the HSE’s Dublin and South East health region welcomed members to the first meeting of the Forum, which took place in the Council Chambers of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

The REO introduced the HSE Dublin and South East Executive Management Team, a number of whom outlined the work being carried out in the  integration of healthcare across the region. Presentations on the day were given by Dr. Carmel Mullaney (Regional Director of Public Health) on the Population Health Profile of the region and Craig Doyle (Acting Assistant National Director, HSE Capital and Estates) on current and future projects across each of the three Integrated Healthcare Areas in the region. Dr. Mullaney also encouraged the take up of the Winter Vaccines for Flu and COVID-19.

Cllr. Damien Geoghegan, a representative of Waterford City and County Council, was elected Chair of the new Forum. Speaking following his election, Cllr. Geoghegan said:

"It is an honour to have been elected by my colleagues to serve as Chairperson of the new Regional Health Forum Dublin and South East. I look forward to working closely with the REO Martin Queally and her management team. We all have the same aim and that is to ensure that the highest standard of healthcare is provided to our local communities. In that regard, the Regional Health Forum is a most useful body, as it enables further interaction between public representatives and the HSE on issues of interest to our constituents..”

Cllr. Fergal Browne, a representative of Carlow County Council, was elected Vice Chair.

Media will be welcome at full meetings of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum Dublin and South East, the venues for which will rotate in location. For further information on the Regional Health Forum Dublin and South East, please see https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/personalpq/rhforums/regional-health-forum-dublin-and-south-east/

The 32 members of the Regional Health Forum Dublin and South East are:

• Councillors Fergal Browne, Daniel Pender and Adrienne Wallace nominated to represent Carlow County Council.
• Councillor Dermot Lacey nominated to represent Dublin City Council.
• Councillors Jacqueline Burke, Jim Gildea, Anna Grainger, Thomas Joseph, Justin Moylan and Lauren Tuite nominated to represent Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
• Councillors Tomás Breathnach, John Coonan, Pat Dunphy and Ger Frisby nominated to represent Kilkenny County Council.
• Councillors David Dunne, Roger Kennedy, Marie Murphy and Michael Smith nominated to represent Tipperary County Council. 
• Councillors Declan Barry, Liam Brazil, Damien Geoghegan, John O’ Leary, John Pratt and Adam Wyse nominated to represent Waterford City and County Council.
• Councillors Vicky Barron, Ger Carthy, John Fleming, Frank Staples and Joe Sullivan nominated to represent Wexford County Council.
• Councillors Joe Behan, Patsy Glennon and Caroline Winstanley nominated to represent Wicklow County Council.