Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell has today, (Thursday) welcomed the launch of the 2015 HSE Service Plan by the Minister for Health Leo Varadkar TD & Minister for Primary and Social Care Kathleen Lynch TD.
“After many years of significant reductions, there is a modest increase in funding in 2015. It will allow for Programme for Government commitments to be met including extension of BreastCheck and GP Care without fees for the oldest and youngest in society, the under 6s and over 70s.
“This plan is based on maintaining the existing level of service plus some targeted improvements. It sets out how we intend to address the issue of delayed discharges, to which the Government has allocated €25 million. It has been possible to increase the budget for Fair Deal, with an extra €10 million available. Some €35 million has also been provided for mental health in 2015 bringing to €125 million the amount of funding prioritised for mental health since 2012.
Deputy Farrell also welcomed the announcement of a capital infrastructure project due to take place in Dublin Fingal in 2015. This project is stabilisation work to the building in St Ita’s Hospital, Portrane, including repairs to roofs, windows, parapet walls and heating systems.
The Service Plan also contains other specific commitments:
- The extension of the pilot ultrasound access project to additional primary care sites on a prioritised basis. This is the first step in a programme to extend the availability of diagnostics to support the maintenance of patients in general practice;
- Pilot the provision of additional minor surgery services in agreed primary care settings and sites.
- Extend the Stroke Clinical Programme to a national basis, with five hub hospitals providing telemedicine support to 17 other hospitals in this area.
- Increase opening hours of Acute Medical Assessment Units (AMAUs) to seven days per week in selected hospitals.
- Specific funding of €2m for additional ‘maternity services’, including a mix of additional midwifes and consultants.
- Funding protected for Local Drug Task Forces;
- Extend the coverage of community intervention teams and improve access to primary diagnostics so that patients can transfer to their homes sooner;
- Consultants Incentive scheme: Improve performance across the Balanced Scoreboard in acute hospitals by encouraging innovative cost saving proposals from clinicians, tapping into the experience and commitment of frontline staff and hospital management;
“Budget 2015 provides for the delivery of health and social care services within the funding allocation of €12.131bn net revenue budget, plus an additional €35m for mental health services. This funding allocation includes an additional €625m as part of the two year programme to increase health funding and as the first step in establishing a multi-annual funding approach.