11 hours ago
Just one in six eligible for free GP card have availed of it, Health Minister to tell committee
The minister will make her first appearance before the committee to consider further revised estimates for the Department of Health in 2025.
She will point out that that "through Medical Cards and GP Visit Cards about 2.3m people have access to free GP care. When the income thresholds were increased to the median income, we estimated 430,000 to be newly eligible. The take up has only been 72,500."
She is saying there are different reasons for the lower uptake and is urging people who are eligible to apply for the GP visit card.
She will also to point out how increased investment in the health service has not been matched by productivity levels in hospitals.
"Over the last five years we have increased real expenditure in our hospitals by approximately 36pc above inflation,' she will say.
"This includes an average increase of 18pc more staff on the ground. At the same time, we can see that activity in our hospitals - inpatients, day cases, outpatients and emergency department presentations - has increased on average 12pc over the same time period.
"This shows activity on average has fallen behind investment. This average also masks considerable variation in performance.
"For example, one of our model four hospitals only saw a 3pc increase in overall activity from a 36pc increase in workforce and a real expenditure increase of 42pc.
"In contrast, another model four hospital saw a 22pc increase in overall activity from a 40pc increase in workforce and 46pc increase in real expenditure."
The minister will say: "I have a higher expectation of performance in return for public investment because every cent invested must produce a result that responds to the demands we face.
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"This isn't about efficiency for the sake of metrics, though those are vital, this is about making everyone's life easier when they have to engage with the healthcare system.
"This is about ensuring that when you need an appointment, you get it within the Sláintecare model."
She will point to "unparalleled increases in investment over the last five years'.
The five-day working week over seven days for hospital staff is a "key priority", she will say.
"This is not only about consultants, many other staff in community and across hospitals are needed to operate our services on a seven-day basis.
"This is a key reform goal for me, and I am delighted that there has been agreement between the HSE and all staff representatives on moving to working across seven days. This agreement means up to 10pc of staff, in addition to consultants, will be rostered over weekends.
"I am now focused on ensuring that the HSE delivers these changes and the public can access the services they need at the time they need them."
She will tell the committee that "a key area of focus for 2025 underpinning increased efficiency and performance is the digitisation of our services.
"It is no exaggeration to say that staff have been trapped in a work environment of pen and paper for many years.
"We are increasing our investment in digital health in 2025 by €100m."
