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Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2019

Tuesday, 16 April 2019

Questions (291)

James Browne

Question:

291. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to resource and develop a child health and well-being service as recommended in the Sláintecare report; if this is specifically provided for in the Sláintecare implementation strategy or the Sláintecare action plan 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17301/19]

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Written answers

In September 2018, the Sláintecare Programme Implementation Office commenced refining the three-year Sláintecare Implementation Strategy into a single-year Action Plan for 2019. This process has involved reviewing the 106 sub-actions of the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy - which was published in August 2018 - and identifying where further actions were required. A readiness assessment of all the sub-actions was then initiated, which examined the degree to which there were plans and assigned responsibilities, behind the subactions, both new and existing. Finally, the Programme Implementation Office looked at how best to structure teams for successful and effective delivery.

A Citizen Care Masterplan Framework for the implementation of the Sláintecare actions was developed in order to establish a programmatic approach to delivery. The Sláintecare Action Plan for 2019 was published on 13 March 2019. It is a detailed and comprehensive plan for the first year of health and social care reform which firmly establishes a programmatic approach to the delivery of the Sláintecare Strategy. It is a fundamental milestone in the delivery of the Sláintecare vision for reformed health and social care services in Ireland. As part of the Action Plan, four main Workstreams were devised to drive healthcare reform:

- Workstream 1: Service Redesign & Supporting Infrastructure

- Workstream 2: Safe Care, Co-ordinated Governance & Value for Money

- Workstream 3: Teams of the Future

- Workstream 4: Sharing Progress.

- Workstream 1 seeks to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time, where the patient/service user is paramount. As part of this objective, there is a strong emphasis on prevention, including a complete programme on health and wellbeing.  This includes sustaining the ongoing cross-Government implementation of Healthy Ireland, with a focus on supporting and empowering people to look after their own health and wellbeing, and tackling health inequalities.

- There is an ongoing focus on the health and wellbeing of children and young people across a number of policy areas under Healthy Ireland, such as obesity prevention and physical activity, in addition to cross-government collaboration on the implementation of the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures child policy framework and the First Five whole of government strategy for babies, young children and their families.

- The HSE National Service Plan for 2019 commits to progressing the Early Years Intervention Programme, including the National Healthy Childhood and Nurture Infant Health and Wellbeing Programmes. These programmes will be progressed in line with commitments in the First Five strategy and include measures to ensure the timing and content of the childhood screening and surveillance programme are consistent with the evidence base and standardised across the country. Work is also continuing to support parents with high quality, evidence-based information and services on various aspects of parenting to support child development, positive mental health and family relationships, including through the new mychild.ie website.

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