*Maria Bridgeman, Cllr Michael Collins (FF) and Cllr Rita McInerney (FF).
CLLR RITA McInerney (FF) has been elected as the first Vice-Chairperson of the new Regional Health Forum.
Doonbeg’s Rita was elected Vice-Chairperson at the inaugural meeting of the Regional Health Forum covering the HSE Mid-West region.
Newcastle West based, Cllr Michael Collins (FF) was elected as the Forum’s first Chairperson with Cllr Francis Foley (FF) from Abbeyfeale appointed chair of the Forum’s committee meetings.
Regional health forums were established in 2006 as a means of facilitating representations and feedback on public health and social care services from nominated members of local authorities.
Senior HSE managers are present at forum meetings to answer questions from councillors. Since 2006, local authority members from Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary had attended meetings of the HSE West Forum in Galway. The establishment of the Regional Health Forum Mid West follows the realignment of the HSE into six health regions. The members currently nominated for the Mid West area will now attend the new forum within their own designated region.
Joining Cllr McInerney as the four Clare representatives on the Forum are Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF), Cllr James Ryan (SF) and Cllr Mary Howard (FG).
In total, there are fourteen county councillors serving on the Forum. Representatives from Limerick City and County Council include, Cllr Sharon Benson (SF), Cllr Bridie Collins (FF), Cllr Michael Collins (FF), Cllr Greg Conway (FG), Cllr Francis Foley (FF), Cllr Liam Galvin (FG) and Cllr Elisa O’Donovan (SD).
Tipperary County Council has three councillors on the Forum, Cllr Phyll Bugler (FG), Cllr Seamie Morris (IND) and Cllr JP O’Meara (FF)
Ms Maria Bridgeman, Integrated Healthcare Area Manager, Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary, HSE Mid West, and Executive Chair Regional Health Forum Mid West stated, “Since the establishment of the regional health forums, the people of Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary have been ably represented by elected members seeking answers on a range of health and social care services relied on by the people of our region. With the new geographical alignment, I expect a more keenly trained regional focus with benefits both for our elected members and for the HSE Mid West alike”.
