Written answers

Wednesday, 3 May 2017

Department of Health

Medical Conditions

Photo of Mary ButlerMary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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26. To ask the Minister for Health his views on recent findings of the TILDA Wave report that the prevalence of untreated treatable conditions has not changed in four years. [20752/17]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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TILDA, the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, examines the social, economic, and health circumstances of a representative sample of around 8,000 community-dwelling adults aged 50 years and older, resident in the Republic of Ireland. It provides a valuable source of research on the current and future needs of an ageing population to inform policy responses to population ageing. Every two years TILDA researchers undertake very detailed interviews with the participants in their home and every four years TILDA undertakes a very comprehensive health assessment with the majority of the participants. During each wave of research, new areas of data are added bringing new issues to light and building up a more comprehensive picture of older people in Ireland.

The TILDA Wave 3 report which was published on 7 March and launched by my colleague Minister Corcoran Kennedy highlighted that the prevalence of untreated "treatable" conditions has not changed in four years. These conditions include hypertension, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, osteopenia and atrial fibrillation which are the key risk factors for stroke, heart failure, kidney failure and injurious falls. The report highlights that innovative policy interventions to raise awareness of these common and treatable disorders are critical.

It is disappointing that the prevalence of untreated treatable conditions has not reduced since Wave 1 of TILDA. It is therefore vital that this and other evidence emerging from TILDA is disseminated widely to inform policy and practice responses to ageing. With that in mind the latest TILDA findings have been disseminated throughout the Department of Health.

The Department of Health is strongly supportive of TILDA's work in building an evidence base for health policy and practice and has committed to funding the study for a further five years. To ensure optimal transfer of the knowledge generated by TILDA, the Health Research Board, which is managing the TILDA contract on behalf of the Department, will set up a Knowledge Translation Group to raise awareness of TILDA among policymakers across Government Departments and solicit suggestions for future evidence needs, as well as optimise the use of TILDA data and inform future waves.

The Programme for Partnership Government emphasises the priority of increasing access to safe, timely care, as close to patients' homes as possible, and it recognises that general practice needs a new contract to address its changing role in delivering care.

There have been significant developments in general practice service in recent years, with more services being made available to our citizens. Developments include a universal GP service for all persons over 70 years, the introduction of a Diabetes Cycle of Care for adult GMS patients with Type 2 Diabetes as well as an enhanced support framework for rural GPs and a revised list of special items of service to encourage the provision of more services in the primary care setting.

The next phase of discussions on a new GP contract is underway and I look forward to positive and constructive engagements with GP representatives in the months ahead.

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