HSE Enhanced Community Care scheme making 'significant improvements in Waterford
Community care improving health outcomes and experiences for patients
The new Regional Executive Officer (REO) for HSE Dublin and South East, Martina Queally, has acknowledged the progress the Enhanced Community Care (ECC) Programme is making, as new 2023 figures indicate significant improvements in long waiting times and a high number of patients seen in the community rather than in hospital.
All eight of newly appointed Integrated Care Consultants across HSE Dublin and South East that are part of the Enhanced Community Care Programme, are now in place.
The initial key focus of the integrated care consultants is to see patients waiting over one year and provide timely specialist opinion to GPs and patients.
Significant reduction numbers waiting more than 12 months at St. Vincent’s University Hospital with support from integrated care consultant in place for longer than 3 months:
● 69 percent reduction in those waiting over 12 months for cardiology appointments.
● 84 percent reduction in those waiting over 12 months for respiratory appointments.
Older People are being supported to live well in their communities: Over 19,000 patient contacts by the Community Specialist Teams (CSTs) for older people. The CSTs are helping older people avoid hospital admissions;
● 74 percent were discharged home with community based interventions, avoiding acute hospital admissions.
● As few as 4 percent of patients were admitted to acute hospitals.
Those with Chronic Disease are being supported to live well in their communities:
Over 122,000 patient reviews were completed by GPs in HSE Dublin and South East as part of the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme in General Practice. Of those referred by their GP to the Integrated Care Programme Chronic Disease (ICPCD) CSTs for more specialist support, there were over 30,000 patient contacts.
Record number of radiology scans, with over 65,000 in 2023 through the GP access to Community Diagnostics Scheme, reducing referrals to Emergency Departments, Acute Medical Units and outpatient departments. This surpassed 51,546 radiology scans completed in 2022.
Martina Queally, Regional Executive Officer for HSE Dublin and South East, acknowledged the continued rollout of the Enhanced Community Care Programme across the health service saying:
“Marking a significant milestone, all integrated care consultants, who are part of the Enhanced Community Care Programme, are now in place in Dublin and South East. These appointments have already made significant impacts on waiting lists and waiting times.
Through the Enhanced Community Care Programme, more people than ever are accessing services within their community - saving the patient valuable time and money whilst also reducing pressures on hospitals. With our new community specialist teams, older adults requiring specialist care are now being treated in the community, with 74 percent of patients discharged home - a significant success indicator."
All GPs throughout HSE Dublin and South East have increased direct access to community diagnostics for their patients through the GP access to diagnostics scheme, with over 65,000 scans in 2023 alone."