• You are here:
• Home /
• Reports /
• Annual Reports /
• Annual Report of the Ombudsman 2008 (text version)

Annual Report of the Ombudsman 2008 (text version)

6.3 Health Service Executive (HSE) - Overview

The HSE was established in January 2005 as the single body responsible for meeting Ireland's health and social care needs. The HSE provides thousands of services to young and old, in hospitals, health facilities and in communities across the country. These services range from public health nurses treating older people in the community, to caring for children with challenging behaviour; from educating people on how to live healthier lives to performing highly complex surgery; from planning for major emergencies to controlling the spread of infectious diseases.

The largest employer in the State, the HSE employs more than 65,000 staff in direct employment, and a further 35,000 staff are employed by voluntary hospitals and bodies funded by the HSE. The budget of almost €12 billion is the largest of any public sector organisation. At some stage every year, everybody in Ireland will use one or more of the services provided by the staff of the HSE. They are of vital importance to the entire population.

Back to contents