Joe Sullivan is new chair of health forum
Gorey councillor Joe Sullivan took up his role as chairman of the Regional Health Forum South last Thursday.
Cllr Sullivan was unanimously elected to the position receiving the full backing of the forum.
A retired guard Cllr Sullivan is one of Wexford’s four representatives on the Regional Health Forum. He had previously served as Chair of the Forum’s South East Committee (which, as a geographic amalgamation, replaced the former Acute Services Committee and Primary, Community and Continuing Care Services Committees).
Cllr. Sullivan said: ‘I regard it as an honour to have been elected by my colleagues to serve as Chairperson of the Regional Health Forum South. As Chairperson, I’ll be working closely with Gerry O’ Dwyer (Chief Executive Officer of the South/South West Hospital Group), Mary Day (Chief Executive Officer of the Ireland East Hospital Group), Ger Reaney (Chief Officer of CHO Area 4), Aileen Colley (Chief Officer of CHO Area 5) and their colleagues at the Regional Health Forum Office in Cork.
‘We all have the same aim and that is to ensure that the highest standard of health care is provided to our local communities. I see the operation of the Forum in that context as central to the HSE’s public remit - and that of the Hospital Groups and Community Healthcare Organisations in their development.
‘ The Forum is a most useful body, as it enables interaction between public representatives and the HSE on issues of concern to our constituents. As Chairperson, I will be ensuring that issues of concern to people across the region are heard and addressed.’
The functional area of the Regional Health Forum South covers the eight local authorities in counties Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford. The Fora make representations to the HSE on the range and operation of health and personal social services in their areas. The HSE, in turn, provides administrative services to the Forum.