merrion street

Health Minister Dr. James Reilly and Ministers of State Kathleen Lynch & Alex White have today published Future Health: A Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Service 2012-2015.  It sets out the main healthcare reforms that will be introduced in the coming years, as key building blocks for the introduction of Universal Health Insurance in 2016.  Future Health is about prioritising the needs of the patient even as difficult decisions on health financing are made.

contains a set of specific actions, with timelines, that will prepare the way for Universal Health Insurance.  Speaking at the launch of the document today, Minister Reilly said:

 "The core of the Government’s health reform programme is a single-tier health system, supported by Universal Health Insurance in 2016.  Future Health sets out the steps to bring us improved health and wellbeing; faster, fairer access to hospital care; free access to GP care by 2015; better management of chronic illness; more people cared for in their own homes and improved quality and safety.  The goal is to put the needs of the patient at the centre of the health system.  The essential public nature of the health system will not be changed."  

will deliver a major reshaping of the health system by restructuring our service delivery, and improving our organisational, financial, governance and accountability systems across the board – in the primary, community and hospital sectors. 

Minister Reilly added:

“The changes are right for the system, right for staff and, most importantly, right for patients and all users of our health service.  The financial pressures on the health system make it even more important that we introduce comprehensive health reform.  Only in this way can we deliver the services our people need, even as the available financial resources diminish.     

 I look forward to working with all of the stakeholders to give us the health service we all want."

 Minister Lynch said:

 "This Government is committed to reforming social care as a key element of the health reform programme. The objective is to deliver social care at the lowest level of complexity through a service focussed on the care needs of older people, those in need of palliative care, people with a disability and those with mental health issues."

Minister White said:

 "The development of primary care is an essential element of this government’s healthcare strategy. Working with colleagues, my task is to bring forward the reforms that are necessary to make this a reality.

  This will include the further development of Primary Care Teams and Centres throughout the country, together with pioneering new legislation paving the way for GP-care without fees. The first stage will be to extend GP care to persons with chronic diseases. The legislation required to achieve this will be published shortly.