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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 21 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 6

Written Answers. - Task Force Report.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

10 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made to date in implementing the report of the Primary Care Task Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22914/02]

A range of steps has been taken to date in the implementation of the primary care strategy, "Primary Care: A New Direction". In the first place, I established the primary care task force in April 2002. It has responsibility for driving the implementation of the changes and developments set out in the model. To begin the process of implementation of the new primary care model, the primary care task force prioritised the selection of locations for a number of initial primary care implementation projects.

In October 2002 I gave approval to the first ten such projects. These projects will involve putting in place in ten locations around the country a primary care team which will include general practitioners, nurses, midwives, health care assistants, home helps, an occupational therapist, physiotherapist, a social worker and administrative personnel. The projects will build on the services and resources already in place in the ten locations involved so as to develop over the coming months a primary care team in line with the interdisciplinary model described in the strategy. These teams will include general practitioners, nurses, midwives, health care assistants, home helps, an occupational therapist, physiotherapist, a social worker and management – administrative personnel. The areas where the ten implementation projects will be located are Virginia, County Cavan; Lifford, County Donegal; Ballymun, Dublin; south inner city, Dublin; Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry; Portarlington, County Laois; west County Limerick; Erris Peninsula, County Mayo; Cashel, County Tipperary, and Arklow, County Wicklow. I have provided funding totalling €8.4 million for this purpose in 2002 and 2003.

The primary care task force will work with the health boards and other interests to support the implementation projects in achieving the goal of putting a primary care team in place in each of the locations identified. I established a national primary care steering group in June 2002. It is chaired by Professor Ivan Perry, professor of epidemiology and public health at University College, Cork. The group will give national leadership and guidance in relation to several key elements of the implementation plan. Furthermore, a number of sub-groups have been estab lished to give detailed consideration to particular aspects of the implementation agenda and to make recommendations which can then be translated into action by the appropriate bodies and agencies. At regional level the health boards are also putting representative structures in place.
The preparation of needs assessments is also being progressed by the health boards. At the request of the primary care task force, the health board chief executive officers have established a national group to co-ordinate this process. The group will agree definitions, standards and the process for the completion of the needs assessments in line with the commitment contained in the primary care strategy. The work of this group is proceeding, with macro-level assessments being carried out initially, to be followed by the development of models that can be used at micro-level for primary care team and network populations.
A national conference on the primary care strategy was held in Galway on 23 and 24 October. This was the first conference organised at a national level to discuss, in partnership with the key stakeholders and organisations, the implementation of the strategy. The conference facilitated the exchange of views and perspectives on the main themes and issues which will need to be addressed as the implementation process moves forward.
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