Published on Wednesday8thAugust2018

Minister Harris publishes Sláintecare Implementation Strategy

This marks the latest in a series of important milestones towards delivering a programme of health reform arising from the Sláintecare report.

Watch the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy launch below. 

Minister Harris said

The Sláintecare Report sets out a vision for the future of healthcare over a ten-year period. Since the report was published, the Government has been moving forward on a number of fronts, in order to translate this vision into reality. We are committed to achieving this transformation, which will require investment, strengthened governance and accountability, and a coherent programme of reform.

The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy, which I am publishing today, provides the framework within which a system-wide reform programme will be advanced. It is a further step in the detailed implementation process for this programme and sets out four over-arching goals and ten high-level strategic actions which will be the key focus for the first three years of the reform programme. At its core, the strategy focuses on establishing the building blocks for a significant shift in the way in which health services are delivered in Ireland.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said,

The publication of the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy today signals the Government’s intention to deliver a transformational reform of the health system over the next decade. It provides the framework for a significant programme of change and improvement to achieve the long term vision as set out in the Sláintecare report.

Key actions in the first three years of reform include: 

  • Establish HSE Board and reconfigure the HSE to improve accountability and support integrated care 
  • Deliver a new Model of Healthcare through the development of a new Citizen Care Masterplan for the health service and new models of care that are population-health centred 
  • Launch a programme of public engagement on Health Outcomes and a nationwide series of events in 2019/2020 to promote health and well-being 
  • Enhance Community Care, including the expansion of community-based diagnostics facilities, a new community nursing service and a continued programme of investment in primary care centres 
  • Dedicated implementation structures are being established to support the reform programme.  Earlier this month, it was announced that the new Sláintecare Programme Office will be led by Ms Laura Magahy and a Sláintecare Advisory Council will be put in place, chaired by Dr Tom Keane. The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy lays out the full set of robust governance structures that are being put in place to ensure successful delivery of reform.

Read the press release in full here

See gov.ie/slaintecare for further information.