Milestones

Some of the key milestones in the Health Service Reform Programme:

April 2006	Consultation on legislation to establish HIQA and Office of the Chief Inspector of Social Services
January 2006	Establishment of the Regional Health Forums
December 2005	Establishment of the Office of the Minister for Children
November 2005	Restructuring of the Department of Health and Children implemented
June 2005	Appointment of Chief Executive Officer of the HSE; transition to single structure complete
March 2005	Inaugural Board meeting of the interim Health Information & Quality Authority
Jan 2005	Effective 1 January 2005, the Health Service Executive took over responsibility for the management and delivery of health services
Dec 2004	Enactment of the Health Bill 2004 which forms the main legislative framework underpinning the new structures recommended in the Health Service Reform Programme
Sept 2004	Pat McGrath announced as Chairman of the Health Information & Quality Authority HSE regional, local and national structures announced
July 2004	National Health Information Strategy launched
June 2004	Composite Report on Reform Programme completed
Jan 2004	National Steering Committee for Reform appointed Inaugural meeting of the interim Health Service Executive
Nov 2003	Chair and Board of Interim Health Service Executive announced
Oct 2003	Project Office established in Department of Health and Children to plan, coordinate and support the development and implementation of the Reform Programme
Sept 2003	Action Projects established to contribute to programme design
July - Sept 2003	Communication and consultation programme undertaken which directly reached over 20,000 staff working in the health system
June 2003	Health Service Reform Programme announced
Nov 2001	Publication of the National Health Strategy, Quality and Fairness: A Health System for You

Visit the News section for other key developments.