Innovation is key to facing the HSE’s three main challenges, CEO Mr Bernard Gloster told the recent HSE Spark Summit.
The summit, which is organised annually by the HSE Spark Innovation Programme, took place in the Clayton Hotel in Dublin on 15 June.
In his opening address, Mr Gloster said the first challenge was “access and reforms”. He said that “we know there are so many parts of our health service that are really excellent”. However, he added that a “great health service that gives great quality is of little value to the person who can’t access it or can’t access it in a reasonable time”.
The second main challenge was timely implementation, according to Mr Gloster, who took up his role in March.
“We really are good at healthcare policy, and it is important. But we come short repeatedly on timely implementation. Sometimes we get there, but it takes an awful long time.”
The third challenge he noted was the public’s confidence in the health system, which could also be boosted by innovation.
Dr Colm Henry, HSE Chief Clinical Officer, highlighted the need for innovation and improvements in health services for older people. Dr Henry noted an increase of 15-to-16 per cent in presentations of older people to emergency departments since 2019 and stated that this trend would continue.
Dr Henry emphasised the importance of current public health reforms, the implementation of Sláintecare and the regionalisation plan.
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