Healthcare

A 5-point framework for the next Programme for Government

Monday, 13 April 2020

Despite the inevitable economic aftermath of the current pandemic, the Government of the 33rd Dáil can make significant inroads into the challenges Ireland faces over the next five years. The next Programme for Government must deliver on five key areas: a vibrant economy, decent services and infrastructure, just taxation, good governance and sustainability.

COVID-19 and the Irish Healthcare System

Friday, 3 April 2020

COVID-19 is placing unprecedented pressure on our healthcare system. The emergency measures implemented to date are welcome and necessary. However in the medium and long term we must address the issues of bed capacity, lack of step down care facilities and the need to broaden access to community care so that our acute hospital system is better placed to deal with any future shock.

A new Social Contract

Wednesday, 25 March 2020

As we face into the most difficult and challenging times most of us have ever known, it is important to acknowledge that despite well documented problems and challenges, Ireland is in the privileged position of having public services and social infrastructure to rely on at a time of crisis. In the coming months, when we begin to think of the future beyond the current crisis, we need to consider how we can deliver a social contract to meet our needs in changing times?

National Social Monitor - European Edition, Spring 2020

Monday, 23 March 2020

The European Union faces many challenges in relation to healthcare, cost of housing and financial distress that will be further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. This is one of the key findings from the National Social Monitor – European Edition. In this Spring 2020 edition of our National Social Monitor, Social Justice Ireland outlines the present situation on a range of policy issues, comparative to the rest of Europe, that impact on people’s wellbeing and looks at what policies can be introduced to support the most vulnerable.

Social Justice Matters: 2020 guide to a fairer Irish society

Thursday, 19 March 2020

Social justice matters. That is why Social Justice Ireland publishes our annual socio-economic review. This book is about charting a course to a fairer Ireland. At the foundation of that is what…

Seven Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Friday, 13 March 2020

Social Justice Ireland believes strongly in the importance of developing a rights-based approach to social, economic, environmental, and cultural policy. Such an approach would go a long way towards addressing the inequality Ireland has been experiencing and should be at the heart of the development model for a just society. We believe that the next Programme for Government should acknowledge and recognise seven economic, social and cultural rights.

A framework for the next Programme for Government

Friday, 6 March 2020

The Government of the 33rd Dáil won’t be able to solve all Ireland's challenges in just five years, but making the right choices can go a long way to delivering a fairer society with a better standard of living for everyone. This is why the next Programme for Government must deliver on five key areas: a vibrant economy, decent services and infrastructure, just taxation, good governance and sustainability.

Investment in Homecare - Supporting a Basic Standard of Living

Wednesday, 26 February 2020

Research by Safeguarding Ireland, released this month (13th February 2020), indicates that 80% of adults have not considered how they want to be cared for. When asked to state a preference, 85% of adults surveyed stated a preference for care at home, with necessary supports. However, the current level of Homecare supports in Ireland is grossly inadequate. Social Justice Ireland believes that substantial investment is required to support people to age well at home and that the introduction of a statutory right to homecare must be a priority.

Election 2020 - Healthcare

Thursday, 30 January 2020

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. Read Social Justice Ireland's election briefing on Healthcare for an outline of a number of key challenges and some policy proposals that should be in the next Programme for Government.

Outpatient Waiting lists increase by almost 50% as health service in crisis

Friday, 10 January 2020

The latest outpatient waiting lists indicate that 563,410 patients were awaiting an appointment as of November 2019, an increase of 47.5% since 2014. Almost 30% were waiting 0-3 months while 18.7% were waiting 18 months or more. With health expenditure at an all-time high, how is the health service failing so many?