Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
28. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason HSE enhanced community care consultant posts will only be allocated to model 4 hospitals; if he will address concerns by consultants in the area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26590/23]
View answerIn line with Sláintecare, the Enhanced Community Care (ECC) Programme aims to deliver increased levels of health care with service delivery reoriented towards general practice, primary care and community-based services, with a focus on implementing an end-to-end care pathway that will care for people at home, enabling a “home first” approach to service delivery.
Annual funding of €195 million was allocated in Budget 2023 to the ECC to enable the continued recruitment of 3,500 additional staff, implementation of 96 Community Healthcare Networks (CHNs), and 60 Community Specialist Teams (CSTs) for Older Persons and for the Management of Chronic Disease. Over 2,600 additional staff have already been recruited, including an additional 47 new Specialist Integrated Care Consultant Posts for Cardiology, Respiratory and Endocrinology in the Acute Hospital system across the Country.
A comprehensive consultation process was undertaken with stakeholders in development of the ECC model, including clinical advice from the National Clinical Programmes and the operational system. The model provides an end-to-end care pathway across the CHNs, CSTs for Older People and Chronic Disease, as well as the Front Door and in-patient Services in the Acute Hospitals, with clinical governance being provided through the relevant Model 4 or 3 hospitals, but with services being delivered locally in community-based settings.
Mallow Hospital, as a Model 2 hospital, is part of the Model 4 CUH Group and operates as part of the well-established Clinical Directorate Model which provides the required corporate and clinical governance in line with HIQA standards. While clinical governance is provided in this way through the Model 4 and Model 3 Hospitals, the clinical guidance and operational arrangements provided as part of the ECC enable sufficient local flexibility to allow the consultants to work across the Level 4/3 and Level 2 hospitals.
Consultants appointed to the North Cork post will have a role in Mallow, and in the Ambulatory Care Hub for chronic disease, while at the same time operating under the overall clinical governance of the CUH Group.
Such arrangements already apply in other parts of the country. Detailed arrangements in respect of such individual post-holders can be addressed through the South-Southwest Hospital Group (SSWHG), which encompasses the CUH Group, with the HSE ECC National Programme providing assistance and guidance to ensure that arrangements comply with the relevant HIQA Standards and National Clinical Guidance.
