Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

That is right. It impacts early detection as well. As populations age - which ours is doing - the prevalence of chronic conditions, including multimorbidity, rises. Early protection through the chronic disease management programme prevents the need for more intensive hospital-based treatments. Since 2020, 51% of the new chronic disease diagnoses have been made through elements of this programme. It is not just treating more effectively; it is diagnosing more effectively and being able to divert attention to prevention and early intervention.

As regards expansion of the scheme, a further expansion of the programme to include chronic kidney disease is planned for the end of the year, and further expansion would include rigorous clinical assessment and engagement with stakeholders. Not all chronic conditions can be managed in that way and it is important to recognise the capacity of general practice and how we are trying to grow general practice at the same time. I have listed a number of conditions but I also want to flag that, for example, the Benbulbin hub in Sligo treats a range of different illnesses and it is separate from the hospital, and again and again, prevents hospital attendances.

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