KEY measures included in the 2019 GP Agreement will come on stream from early 2020.
"Sláintecare will reform Ireland’s health and social care service to create a modern, responsive service that offers the right care, in the right place, at the right time,” said Minister for Health Simon Harris (pictured right).
“Central to this is our goal to shift the majority of care from hospitals to the community setting, bringing care closer to home for patients.
“The effective management of chronic disease within community settings is an important step in the delivery of Sláintecare."
From early this year:
• A structured Chronic Disease Management Programme for patients over 75 will come into effect.
This will ultimately allow patients suffering from four chronic diseases (Type-2 diabetes, asthma, COPD, and cardiovascular disease) to engage with their GPs on management of their conditions.
• Therapeutic phlebotomy for patients with haemochromatosis will be made available in GP practices.
• GPs and the HSE will engage in medicines reviews and virtual cardiac clinics (on a pilot basis), designed both to ensure best care for patients and most efficient use of resources.
• The improvements in locum cover for maternity and paternity cover for GPs will also come on stream in 2020.
• The Rural Practice Allowance will be increased by 10 percent, while funding of €2 million will be made available to support general practice in urban areas of deprivation.