Make Community Care effective

Government policy and planning recognises the need to move towards a primary health care model where health services (GP, Local Health Nurse, Physiotherapist, Chiropodist etc) link-up effectively at a local level and where community and hospital services work together efficiently. However, in most villages and towns in Ireland this is not a reality.

• Those of us with multiple chronic conditions should be supported to manage our own health locally. Diagnosis and management of conditions such as dementia, stroke, falls, incontinence, bone health and immobility should be available in the community.  

• Community care services, though patchy, are vital and existing levels of service must be retained. These budgets are under threat; they must be protected against cuts and safeguarded from pressures in other parts of the health system.

• We need an audit of community care services for older people so that we can map the services that are available, identify the deficits and plan effectively for the future. The HSE’s existing HealthStat system should be developed to provide this much needed information