Committee on the Future of Healthcare continues hearings

The schedule for the meeting is:

Session A: 9 a.m. General Practice in disadvantaged areas of Ireland - Dr Edel McGinnity, Professor Susan Smith, Dr John DeLap and Dr David Gibney, representing Deep End Ireland;

Session B: 11 a.m. The Carlow-Kilkenny Model of Care - Dr Ronan Fawsitt and Professor Garry Courtney

Chair of the Committee, Roisin Shortall, says: “This week, we will resume our public hearings when we will meet with representatives from Deep End Ireland, a group of GPs working in disadvantaged areas in Ireland, and who represent a larger group of GPs working in these areas. Patients living in deprived areas have significantly poorer health outcomes than those living in more affluent areas. Therefore, we will be keen to get their perspective on how best to devise a long-term health strategy that will address and meet the needs of those living in disadvantaged areas. The objective of the Committee is to devise a model for a universal single tier health service which will benefit all patients.

“Following this meeting, we will hear from Dr Ronan Fawsitt and Professor Garry Courtney on the Carlow-Kilkenny Model of Care. The Carlow-Kilkenny model has a 25 year track record of formal GP-Hospital connections. Because of this structured engagement Carlow-Kilkenny has delivered many projects that improved services for patients, with many local initiatives rolled out nationally. Among them were the first Acute Medical Assessment Unit in Ireland, Caredoc which was among the first GP out-of-hours co-ops and a GP-led Community Intervention Team. We’re looking forward to hearing about their experiences over the past three decades implementing practical change to improve healthcare delivery.

“The Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare is examining potential new models for health care in Ireland, with a remit to achieve cross-party consensus on a ten year strategy for health care and health policy in Ireland. “

This meeting will take place in Committee Room 1, Leinster House from 9am on Wednesday, 21 September 2016.

Committee proceedings can be viewed live here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.

ENDS/