‘Significant progress’ being made to avoid unnecessary hospital referrals through improved community care in Cork and Kerry, says HSE
People with chronic disease are also being supported to live well in their communities without requiring hospital admissions, the HSE said.
“SIGNIFICANT progress” is being made in helping people across Cork and Kerry to avoid unnecessary hospital referrals by improved community care, the regional executive officer (REO) for HSE South West, Dr Andy Phillips, has said.
Dr Phillips was speaking following the publication of 2023 figures, giving an update on what was achieved under the enhanced community care (ECC) programme last year.
As part of the programme, the community specialist teams (CSTs) for older people in HSE South West completed over 20,000 patient contacts in 2023.
The HSE said 80% of adults were discharged home with community-based interventions to support them.
People with chronic disease are also being supported to live well in their communities without requiring hospital admissions, the HSE said.
Nearly 86,000 patient reviews were completed by GPs in HSE South West as part of the chronic disease management (CDM) programme in general practice.
Of the patients referred onwards by their GP for more specialist input, there were over 7,700 contacts by integrated care programme for chronic disease (ICPCD) teams in HSE South West.
There was a 16% reduction in hospital admissions for those with chronic disease across 2019-2022 in HSE South West, which the organisation said “shows the benefit of the service as there has been an increase of 7% for all medical admissions”.
Meanwhile, a “record number” of radiology scans in HSE South West have been completed, with over 72,000 in 2023 through the GP access to community diagnostics (GPACD) scheme, reducing referrals to emergency departments, acute medical units and outpatient departments.
This improved on the 56,219 radiology scans completed in 2022.
Half of the newly-appointed integrated care consultants are in place in HSE South West with four of eight integrated care consultants, funded for HSE South West through the ECC programme, now in place.
The initial focus of the integrated care consultants, the HSE explained, is to provide service to patients waiting over one year and provide timely specialist opinion to GPs.
People waiting over 12 months for diabetes and respiratory outpatient appointments at Cork University Hospital (CUH) have been reduced by 80% for diabetes and 53% for respiratory difficulties, the HSE said.
Speaking about the impact of the ECC programme, REO Dr Andy Phillips, said much has been done, with more to do.
“I am committed to meeting the Sláintecare requirements to ensure that people don’t wait long times for their appointments, diagnostic tests or procedures.
“Thanks to the dedication and commitment of staff in HSE South West, we are making significant progress in supporting people to live well at home.
“The community specialist teams are providing services that help people to avoid unnecessary hospital referral and admission and ultimately, improve their health and wellbeing.
“The appointment of four new integrated care consultants is reducing the number of patients waiting by providing timely specialist opinions to GPs and patients.” Dr Phillips said the services provided at care centres such as the Westfield Integrated Care Centre in Ballincollig are making a “huge difference to people's lives”.
Speaking about his experience at the Westfield Integrated Care Centre, service user Paddy Tobin said he would recommend the centre.
“I would advise anybody to come here - the treatment is there, use the facility, don’t let it go too late.”
App?
