During 1997, the Board continued to
develop and improve its services for
the people of the region and this report
outlines the level and nature of that
progress.
The Chairman and members of the Board
have been courageous and far sighted in
the decisions they have taken in policy
formation and innovation. They are
creating an environment which
encourages good work and best practice
while being sensitive to the needs of the
recipients and users of our services.
The transfer of ownership of Our Lady of
Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda from the
Medical Missionaries of Mary to the
Board in May 1997 is of major
significance to the region's health service
and my appreciation and thanks are due
to all involved in effecting a very smooth
transfer. I would wish to record my
appreciation to the members of the
Medical Missionaries of Mary who
worked with us on the transfer, to the late
Mr. Eugene Quigley, then Chairman of
the Board of Management of the Hospital
whose skills and diplomacy played a
crucial role, and to the members of my
own staff who worked tirelessly to achieve
a successful conclusion. The new
opportunities now open to us will be fully
used to maximise the benefit to patients
throughout the region and to develop the
services of the hospital and the Board.
The Board continues to explore new ways
of delivering its services to the benefit of
the patients and clients. In all areas of the
region, in all of the care groups and in
both health and social services, we
continue to explore better models and
arrangements, new structures and
innovative units. Our staff of over 5,000 is
working throughout all areas of the
region; we have a presence in virtually
every town and village across the four
counties. The range and complexity of our
services are enormous; we are fortunate to
have such a well motivated, committed
and dedicated staff of many professions
and disciplines working for the good of
the health and social status of our region's
population.
As the largest public sector organisation in
the region we are working closely with a
wide range of other organisations, both
public and private, and this collaboration
and co-operation is both important and
growing.
This has been another successful year for
the Board and its staff. The support of the
public across the region, of the public
representatives of the region, both local
and national and of the patients, the
clients and the users of our services has
been of major importance to us and is
very much appreciated.
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