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Community Care

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2018

Tuesday, 23 October 2018

Questions (77)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

77. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will discuss the HSE CHO networks and operating model proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43444/18]

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Written answers

The expansion of community-based care is at the heart of the Sláintecare vision. A key building block in this vision will be the 96 community healthcare networks and 433 Primary Care Teams that are already working across the country and delivering a wide range of health services to people in their local communities.

In recent years, the HSE has made concerted efforts to move many social care services, including mental health and disability services, into the community. Much progress has been made in developing services that are more integrated, less centralised and more focused on the patient. I do however believe we can be more ambitious in terms of developing primary and community-based care. The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy sets out a number of strategic actions and concrete sub-actions that I intend to progress over the coming months and years to bring care closer to home for the benefit of the patient.

The HSE has been working to progress and deepen the implementation of multidisciplinary team working. To this end nine learning sites (one per CHO) are being put in place. The experience gained through these learning sites will inform future decision making and proposals in relation to the best way forward.

I am aware that concerns were expressed by nurse representatives in relation to the potential effect of multidisciplinary working arrangements on existing reporting structures. In light of this, and in order to facilitate progress with the learning sites, it has been agreed that, for the present, reporting relationships for nursing staff will remain unchanged within the new structures.

I recognise that today many professionals working in front line services already work collaboratively. It is important that this collaborative working arrangement continues and indeed develops regardless of reporting structure.

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