Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2020
496. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the additional resources and supports that will be implemented through Sláintecare to assist persons living with Parkinson’s disease and their families. [13253/20]
View answerThe HSE National Clinical Programme for Neurology Model of Care provides a framework for neurology services, including for Parkinson's Disease patients, using international best practice and describes care provision using an integrated service approach. The model is fully aligned with the objectives of Sláintecare and proposes a hub and spoke model, with services provided as close to home as possible but with access to specialist services where required. The HSE has clarified in the Model of Care for Neurology, it is intended that multidisciplinary services will be provided to Parkinson's Disease patients using an outreach model.
The enhancement of community care, the further integration of care and the establishment of multidisciplinary teams for those with chronic conditions such as Parkinson's disease is a key vision of Sláintecare. As part of Budget 2020, Sláintecare has been allocated €10 million in 2020 (rising to €60 million in 2021) for a Sláintecare Enhanced Community Care Fund. We know that our hospitals are under too much pressure and the way the system is currently set up doesn’t work for staff or for patients, particularly those with chronic disease. Moving care to the community setting allows us to reduce pressure on hospitals and support our healthcare professionals to do what they do best – provide world-class care for patients.
The Enhanced Community Care Fund is committed to delivering up to 1,000 community workers. Specifically, this fund will support initiatives such as:
1. The hiring of additional dementia advisors and therapists in the community. This includes the recruitment of Speech & Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Dieticians etc., who will provide much needed treatment to those suffering with chronic conditions such as Parkinson's Disease;
2. Prioritisation of initiatives that will have a positive impact on waiting lists, and in the first instance on community waiting lists. The reduction of waiting times for access to community therapists will be targeted to deliver more timely care for patients with chronic conditions such as Parkinson's Disease; and
3. Maintaining and scaling successful Integration Fund projects into 2021, which will likely include initiatives that will improve the care for older persons and people with chronic disease.
A HSE business plan, setting out a model for a reformed approach to primary and community care, has been issued to the Department of Health. As we move towards service recovery, it is intended to finalise the Enhanced Community Care business case to ensure that recruitment of staff can be in place before year-end.
