Election 2024 - Healthcare

This edition of our Election 2024 Spotlight series examines things a new Government can do to ensure our healthcare system can meet population needs

Healthcare

The present situation - a snapshot of some key issues

Ageing

• Our population is growing, and it is ageing which means we need a different approach to healthcare – one we can access in our communities, close to home. 
• 15 per cent of the population are aged 65 or older, an increase of 22 per cent from Census in 2016. 
• Those aged 65+ are projected to number 1.9 million by 2057, including a 371 per cent increase in those aged 85+, from 84,000 to 396,000.

Waiting lists and access to healthcare

• Ireland doesn’t offer universal coverage of primary care – access to healthcare is an issue for many.
• Ireland has one of the worst waiting list times in Europe.  Even if a waiting-list target of 18 months were reached, Ireland would still have the worst waiting times in Europe.

What type of healthcare system does Ireland need?

• A healthcare service focused on enabling people to attain the World Health Organisation’s definition of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Things a new Government can do to ensure our healthcare system can meet population needs

• Increase the availability and quality of Primary Care and Social Care services.
• Ensure that announced budgetary allocations are valid, realistic and transparent and that they take existing commitments into account.
• Enhance the process of long-term planning and investment so that the healthcare system can cope with the increase and diversity in population and the ageing of the population projected for coming decades.
• Create additional respite care and long-stay care facilities for older people and people with disabilities.
• Focus on obtaining better value for money in the health budget but without unfairly affecting lower income people or those with long-term illness or disability.
• Ensure medical card-coverage for all people who are vulnerable.
• Act effectively to end the current hospital waiting list crisis.
• Create a statutory entitlement to Home Care Services.
• Properly resource and develop mental health services.
• Provide capital investment to build additional community nursing facilities, respite care and long-stay care facilities.
• Work towards full universal healthcare for all.
• Ensure that structural and systematic reform of the health system reflects key principles aimed at achieving high performance, person-centred quality of care and value for money in the health service.