The Daily Star Ireland
The new draft Programme for Government outlines several key healthcare commitments, including the completion of the National Children’s Hospital and the construction of a new National Maternity Hospital. However, no specific timelines have been provided for these projects.
The programme also includes plans to expand healthcare access and improve services. It proposes increasing the number of general practitioners and implementing a modern GP contract. Free GP services will be extended to children up to at least 12 years old, with a potential for further expansion under review. Additionally, individuals found in possession of drugs for personal use will be directed to health services rather than the criminal justice system.
Legislation to regulate the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is promised, along with initiatives to attract and retain staff in this area. The plan also reaffirms the government’s commitment to the Paediatric Spinal Surgery Management Unit, aiming to enhance care for children with scoliosis and spina bifida. Efforts to reduce hospital waiting times to the Sláintecare target of 10 to 12 weeks are also a priority.
To address emergency department overcrowding, the programme pledges to review capacity in emergency departments and open additional beds, particularly at University Hospital Limerick. The government will also consider the findings of the upcoming HIQA review of the Mid-West Region. Furthermore, the programme promises to expand intensive care unit (ICU) capacity by at least 100 beds and add between 4,000 and 4,500 new or refurbished hospital beds over the next five years.
Recruitment is another central focus, with commitments to hire more doctors, nurses, dentists, and health and social care professionals. The number of public-only consultants is also set to increase, alongside a 50% rise in consultants specializing in emergency medicine. More senior staff are expected to be rostered in emergency departments during weekends and holidays to improve service delivery.
The programme also revisits previous health goals, such as extending the eligibility age ranges for BreastCheck and bowel cancer screening. While earlier plans promised breast cancer screening for women aged 69 and older and bowel screening for those aged 55 to 74, these expansions have yet to be implemented.
A new statutory homecare scheme, similar to the Fair Deal Scheme for nursing homes, is proposed to help people remain in their homes for as long as possible. This initiative was also mentioned in the previous programme for government but has yet to materialize.
The document reiterates Sláintecare’s long-term vision of ensuring that all patients receive outpatient, inpatient, or day-case care within 10 to 12 weeks. However, like previous commitments, the draft lacks detailed timelines or specifics on achieving substantial reductions in hospital overcrowding.
Overall, the new programme addresses familiar challenges, such as overcrowding, staffing shortages, and hospital capacity, but offers limited specifics on execution or timelines, leaving room for questions about how and when these promises will be fulfilled.
