IrishMedicalNews

Voluntary agencies must rationalise services – Drumm

Written by Priscilla Lynch Monday, 08 February 2010 14:49

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HSE CEO Prof Brendan Drumm has stated that voluntary agencies funded by the HSE must rationalise their support services, merge with similar agencies, and get better value for the money that they are given.

In an exclusive interview with IMN, Prof Drumm said there was definitely a need to begin to amalgamate support structures, including IT, finance and procurement, for voluntary agencies.

“I think everybody feels that there has to be significant changes made at the back office level and, indeed, significant possible reconfiguration to voluntary agencies themselves coming together as larger units.

“So I think, to be fair, everybody has realised that performance measurement has resulted in a situation where people have become clearer and clearer that they are accountable and I think that is being hugely successful for the HSE… people are more funded on their performance and, therefore, need to maximise the use of their resources.”

However, he stated that the HSE has a positive relationship with the voluntary agencies, particularly compared to the “very distant” one they had when the HSE was established.

“I’d have to say that I would find that we now have a very constructive working relationship with the voluntary agencies. Does that mean we agree on everything? No. But I think we now do agree on the issue that you have just raised.”