Fine Gael Cork South Central Deputyand Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, Jerry Buttimer,has welcomed the appointment of Tony O’Brien as the new Director Generaldesignate for the Health Service Executive, wishing him the very best ofluck in his new role.

“Tony O’Brien comes to this role ata time of great change within the Health Service Executive. The new restructuringmodel will see ultimate responsibility falling to Mr. O’Brien as the newDirector General, with six new Directorates taking direct charge for budgetsand services in specific areas. These changes are by no means insignificantand will demand a great deal of energy and vision, which I believe Mr.O’Brien possesses.

“As the Chief Operating Officer ofthe Special Delivery Unit (SDU) for the past year, Mr. O’Brien’s recordspeaks for itself. Only last week we learned that almost 10,000 fewer peoplewaited on trolleys in our hospitals in the first seven months of the year,compared to the same time last year, as a result of the work carried outby the SDU. The Unit has also made a considerable impact on waiting listswith the number of people waiting more than 12 months for in-patient orday case treatment being reduced from 3,400 last September when the Unitwas first set up, to a little over 100 today.

“Mr.O’Brien also brings with him considerableexperience in the field of oncology, having acted as the Chief Advisorto the HSE on the implementation of the National Cancer Control Strategy,among other positions.

“The task ahead in putting an end toour two-tier health service and moving to Universal Health Insurance, ensuringthat people are treated based on medical need and not in respect of themoney in their back pocket, is no small one. The health service faces significantfinancial challenges ahead and, quite simply, it must find the most effectiveways of doing more with less. I believe that these challenges will be methead on and I sincerely wish Tony O’Brien the best of luck in his futureendeavours. I look forward to working alongside him for the bettermentof our health service into the future, for all our people.”