HSE committee sought further clarification on infrastructure model

The HSE’s audit and risk committee initially declined to accept a report on the Executive’s future infrastructure delivery model.

In December, committee members sought a number of clarifications before subsequently recommending the report for approval earlier this year.

The report, Future Health Infrastructure Delivery – Development of an effective health infrastructure and asset management service function within HSE, was commissioned by the HSE CEO and the Department of Health.

The commissioning of the report was part of the wider HSE structural reform programme. The report was prepared by PwC and was first considered by the audit and risk committee on 4 December.

Members were asked to consider recommending the report for approval at the HSE board’s December meeting.

However, according to minutes of the meeting, the committee held a “detailed discussion” on the report and advised that it would not receive their recommendation to the HSE board.

The committee members requested “clarifications” to queries relating to the “scope of the report; the wider strategic context for healthcare infrastructure; internal contracted capital and estates activity; and the resourcing of health infrastructure projects.”

A HSE spokesperson told the Medical Independent that a “composite response” addressing these queries was provided. The report was brought back to the committee for discussion at the next meeting on 14 February.

The audit and risk committee recommended the report for approval to the HSE board. The board accepted the committee’s recommendation.