December 2023
Price: €125 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference focused on next steps for the delivery of Sláintecare reform, including the implementation of new health regions and a shift to more community-based care.
It was an opportunity for policymakers and stakeholders to discuss:
- the Department of Health’s Sláintecare Action Plan 2023 - the third and final instalment of the first multi-year Sláintecare Implementation Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2023
- the new multi-annual strategy currently being formulated, which will carry through to 2027
Delegates examined progress so far in delivering reform, in the context of the overall aim of achieving universal healthcare in Ireland.
They also assessed implementation of new health regions, which look to deliver care closer to home and support the rollout of integrated care, with discussion on addressing barriers to delivering care in the community. It follows approval of HSE’s Health Regions Implementation Plan with the commencement of the new regions due in February 2024.
Further sessions examined the way forward for addressing waiting lists in elective care, looking at key workforce challenges such as the recruitment and retention of staff, and the implementation of the new disputed Public Only Consultant Contract.
The conference was also a timely opportunity to discuss the eHealth programme and options for further implementation of electronic health records, which have been delayed until after completion of the new children’s hospital.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with Muiris O’Connor, Assistant Secretary, Research & Development and Health Analytics Division, Department of Health; Dr John Cuddihy, National Director of Public Health, Health Service Executive; Rachel Mullen, General Manager, Informatics Directorate, St James’s Hospital; and Sinead Kelly, Pharmacy Informatics Lead, St James’s Hospital.
Overall, sessions in the agenda will looked at:
- policy: assessing progress in key deliverables laid out in the Sláintecare Action Plan 2023 - developing the second multi-annual implementation strategy and looking at reform beyond 2023
- new health regions: integrating care and strengthening local decision-making - improving governance and accountability within care delivery
- shifting care left:
- next steps for care in the community and support for transition to universal care - extending universal GP services
- funding - place-based approaches to addressing health inequalities
- eHealth programme:
- assessing the pathway to delivery of an effective patient records system
- enhancing innovation within the life sciences and public hospitals - bringing new health tech solutions to market
- education and training: options for streamlining the length and complexity of medical education and training - reducing over-specialisation and reliance on foreign-educated doctors
- workforce: strategies for improving staff recruitment and retention for public-only hospitals - addressing workload and burnout issues - implementing a consultant-delivered health service
The conference was an opportunity for the stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from CBI; DCEDIY; DoH; DoH, NI; DoH, ROI; HPRA, UK; HSE; and HSE, UK - as well as members of both Houses of the Oireachtas.
