The most recent HSE board was abolished in 2011.
Members of parliament will meet on Tuesday morning to discuss re-establishing a board to oversee HSE operations in the wake of the CervicalCheck controversy.
The controversy, which saw 18 women die at the hand of misdiagnoses, has dominated political agenda and Irish media for over three weeks now, leading to the early departure of HSE head Tony O’Brien.
It’s believed that Minister for Health Simon Harris will, on Tuesday morning, outline draft legislation in a bid to strengthen public belief in the health system following weeks of deep-rooted doubt.
The newly established board would be accountable to the Minister for the performance of its functions.
It will also be asked to develop an effective performance management and accountability system within the HSE, under Cabinet-approved legislation.
The most recent HSE board was abolished in 2011 by Fine Gael Health Minister James Reilly, who instructed his party to sack the board, claiming that it would make the health service more directly accountable to his office.
Minister Harris, in the wake of the cervical cancer scandal, has announced that he his keen to introduce the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine to all. In Ireland, the HPV vaccine is offered free of charge to all girls in their first year of second level school.
We must keep doing all we possibly can to ensure lessons are learnt & women’s healthcare is prioritised. I have directed that we introduce HPV testing ASAP. We must also all promote HPV Vaccine which saves lives & prevents cancer. Hope all will now support that call
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) May 13, 2018
It was announced on Monday evening that the number of women affected by the cervical cancer controversy who have died has risen to 18.
Previously thought to have been 17, a new daily audit report from the HSE’s Serious Incident Management Team has confirmed the news that another woman has died.
The Government has already committed to a package of financial measures for the women and families involved in the scandal, with the possibility of redress having already been brought forward by Taoiseach Varadkar.
Varadkar, who has been heavily criticised for his absence throughout the controversy, said that the facts will need to be established before any redress scheme is put in place.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the Taoiseach and his Government had let people down in the midst of the crisis.
“Ministers have run to the hills and TV programmes have been absent of senior ministers to explain things to the public,” he said.
“Calm, competent authority is required in response to this crisis. Confidence in the cervical cancer screening programme is being undermined and women are fearful and worried across the country.”
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald hit out at the “national scandal”, which she said involved “deceit of the gravest nature”.
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