Timeline needed for Sláintecare implementation
Labour spokesperson on Health and member of the Oireachtas committee on the Future of Healthcare, Alan Kelly TD, has said the Government must set a clear timeline for the implementation of Sláintecare reforms.
It comes after details of the Bed Capacity Review Report published in the Irish Times, showed the report found significantly less additional hospital beds would be needed over the next ten years if the Sláintecare measures were put in place.
Deputy Kelly said:
“Today’s reports on findings of the Bed Capacity Review highlight the positive impact the implementation of Sláintecare reforms would have on our health service in relation to the hospital bed crisis.
“The report found that instead of needing up to 9,000 extra beds over the next ten years, the implementation of Sláintecare measures would see that number reduced to around 2,500. At a cost of around €325,000 per bed, this would clearly represent a significant saving that could be redirected elsewhere in the health service.
“Reducing the reliance on our hospitals and investing in community healthcare would help to significantly reduce the pressure being placed on our hospitals and the demand for beds we are currently seeing.
“The Sláintecare report, produced last May after nearly a year of cross-party efforts, sets out a ten-year fully costed plan aimed at transforming our health system.
“With the ten year capital plan due shortly, we need to see a clear timeline for the implementation of these proposals; we can’t afford to waste any more time.”