Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2024
632. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the resources and funding that is required to enable opportunistic screening for atrial fibrillation for all people aged 65 years and over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10014/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. The General Practitioner (GP) Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme commenced in 2020 and has been rolled out on a phased basis to adult GMS (Medical Card and GP Visit Card) patients over a 4-year period. The specified chronic conditions included in the Programme are Type 2 Diabetes; Asthma; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Cardiovascular Disease (including Heart Failure, Ischaemic Heart Disease, Cerebrovascular Disease (Stroke/Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), Atrial Fibrillation).
Under the Opportunistic case finding programme, cases are identified on an opportunistic basis i.e. when a patient attends for another issue, risk criteria are applied and appropriate tests/assessments carried out to identify those with chronic disease or those at high risk of chronic disease. The Opportunistic Case Finding Programme identifies those at high risk of cardiovascular disease or diabetes for entry to the Preventive Programme and those with previously undiagnosed chronic disease(s) are enrolled under the Treatment Programme.
The CDM programme is an entirely new healthcare service in Ireland that has brought the care for chronic disease further into the community and it aims to reduce hospital attendance by patients with one or more of these specified conditions.
Further expansion of the programme, to include additional conditions or to include non-GMS patients with atrial fibrillation, would require rigorous clinical assessment and engagement with stakeholders, including the GPs delivering the service. The additional cost of implementing the CDM Programme for all of those aged over 65 and not currently eligible would depend on the outcome of the relevant clinical assessment and engagement with stakeholders.
