Ms Ciara Mellett:

I can give some information on the integrated care pathways. These are a means of documenting the current approach to a particular condition, set of symptoms or patient cohort. They are agreed by relevant health professionals and adopted to local circumstances. The initial focus for implementation is around the interface across primary care, community care and social care with the acute sector.

With regard to benefits, this is really about building integration between primary care and secondary care. It allows clinicians to drive service improvements. In countries where a similar approach has been implemented, they have found that not only does it help to identify the current approach but it also helps to identify gaps where services could be improved so people can work together. It allows a greater level of standardised care. This is not a one-size-fits-all approach, it is quite the opposite. A minimum standard is agreed on the basis of the resources available in each region or area. That results in a reduced variability of care, providing a better patient experience through more timely and consistent care.

The key purpose is to support GPs and others providing care in the community in order to provide more care away from the hospital setting. It gives information to GPs in order to support them in making more decisions when the patient is sitting in front of them in the general practice. I will not go into too much detail but I should say GPs are very strongly in favour of this approach and we are working with a broad range of stakeholders to try to implement this approach with our colleagues in the HSE.