Cork GP makes call to expand chronic disease programme

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been called on to expand the chronic disease management programme to include non-medical-card and GP visit cardholders in Cork.

In response to a motion raised by Fianna Fáil councillor for the Cork City North West ward, John Sheehan, at the inaugural Regional Health Forum, which was held recently at Cork County Hall, a spokesperson for the HSE’s South West branch said that the committee will share the request with the HSE’s national branch.

In his motion, Mr Sheehan asked that, in view of the improvement in chronic care management for patients with Type 2 diabetes, asthma and heart disease, that the HSE would look to extend the eligibility of the programme to non-medical card/doctor visit card holders.

“Although the chronic hubs and integrated care programme for the prevention and management of chronic disease (ICPCD) services are fantastic, patients who don’t have a medical card or doctor visit card are not enrolled in the programme,” said Mr Sheehan.

“The advantage of being in that programme is that you get seen every six months, you get your bloods done, and you’re in the loop; and all that data is felt nationally.

“I know there are moves to try to get other chronic diseases enrolled in the chronic disease management programme at a primary care level, but I would ask that, at a regional and national level, that this will be considered.”

In response to Mr Sheehan, a HSE spokesperson said the South West branch would be “happy to work with you in proposing that to our national colleagues in terms of an expansion”.