New review of voluntary organisations in health service

Dr Catherine Day will chair the group, while Professor Jane Grimson and Professor Deirdre Madden have been appointed as members of the group.

The terms of reference provide for an examination of current arrangements across the health and social care sector and consideration of issues currently arising, and those likely to arise in the future.

The review will also make recommendations to the Government at the end of its work.

“Voluntary and non-statutory providers, including religious and faith-based organisations, have made an enormous contribution to the provision of health and personal social services in Ireland over centuries,” said Minister for Health Simon Harris.

“Recent debate has highlighted the differing and evolving views on the ownership and governance of publicly funded healthcare facilities.

“Given the scale of public investment, it is right that there is regular discourse and appropriate consideration of the role of these organisations within our healthcare system. I believe the time has come to put in place a process that will enable full consideration of these issues.

“This process will be separate and distinct from the intensive engagement underway with St Vincent’s Healthcare Group and the National Maternity Hospital which is seeking to address the specific issues that have arisen on that particular project in a more urgent way.

“The establishment of this review group will provide the space for an inclusive and respectful process of consideration and inform the development of policy over the medium term. I am very grateful to the distinguished members of the group for taking on this important and historic task.”