Dr Ambrose McLoughlin, Secretary General of the Department of Health, will today give a lecture entitled ‘The Leadership Challenge in Irish Health Care' to leading medical professionals from the south east of Ireland at the RCSI 22nd Leonard Abrahamson Memorial Lecture in the New Park Hotel, Kilkenny.

The Programme for Government has set out that it is committed to the development of a universal single-tier health service, supported by universal health insurance and providing access to health services based on need. Patients must have access to care in the appropriate setting, through the improvement and development of community based services. These reforms will help to deliver the overall objective of the health service - to improve the health and well-being of people in Ireland, by keeping people healthy, providing the healthcare people need, delivering high-quality services and getting the best value from health system resources.

Dr Ambrose McLoughlin, Secretary General of the Department of Health, said: "The scale of reform that is required presents many challenges for the health services, and central to that is how we lead through this change. Robust governance and financial control are essential to ensure the systems are in place to lead through the changes. Confidence and trust in leadership, coupled with stronger collaboration and communication between agencies to ensure innovation and buy in are also needed. Additionally, the focus of debate needs to be placed on what is best for the people of Ireland, so that the health system is working together in the national interest.

"Significant progress has been made in terms of patient safety and quality, primary care, acute hospitals, social and continuing care and structural reform against the backdrop of difficult financial and economic circumstances. There is no doubt that the scale of reform required, combined with our financial and economic circumstances will present many challenges over the coming years. However, the staff at all levels of our health system are highly trained and committed to delivering the changes that are necessary to provide a system of healthcare that is based on the needs of patients," Dr McLoughlin continued.

Professor Hannah McGee, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, RCSI, said: "As medical educators it is imperative our teaching and learning support a healthcare system that puts the needs of the patient first, but added to this, a health system that is committed to students' learning needs. The patient's interest is paramount in our clinical teaching, medical practice and research so that our future generation of doctors receive training of the highest standard. We are pleased to host this 22nd Leonard Abrahamson meeting in Kilkenny to acknowledge the contribution of the hospitals and general practices in Kilkenny, and the south east more generally, who provide such valuable training opportunities for our students."