Written answers
Thursday, 14 January 2021
Department of Health
Departmental Strategies
Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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223. To ask the Minister for Health the main policy initiatives undertaken by his Department since 27 June 2020; and his main priorities for 2021. [2087/21]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Some of the main policy initiatives undertaken by this Department since June 2020 are listed in the table below. This list is not exhaustive on the basis that my Department also publishes completed policy initiatives on the Department’s website:
| Date of publication/ announcement | Initiative |
|---|---|
| 08/07/2020 | COVID-19 Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) |
| 27/07/2020 | Procedural Values for Decision-making in a Pandemic |
| 19/08/2020 | Report of the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel |
| 10/09/2020 | Announcement of €7.8 million Sláintecare initiative to clear Assessment of Need backlog for children |
| 01/10/2020 | National Healthy Eating Guidelines for One to Four Year Olds |
| 19/10/2020 | SMILE – Supporting multi-Morbidity through Integration, Learning and eHealth |
| 22/10/2020 | Guidelines for Operating Drug and Alcohol Support Groups and Treatment Programmes During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| 29/10/2020 | Launch of the “Keep Well” campaign |
| 18/11/2020 | Report of the HSE Clinical Advisory Group on Medical Cards in Cases of Terminal Illness |
| 25/11/2020 | Extension of National Suicide Reduction Strategy to 2024 |
| 08/12/2020 | Provisional Vaccine Allocation Groups |
| 14/12/2020 | Report to the Minister for Health on an Evaluation and Analysis of Returns for 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020 including advice on Risk Equalisation Credits |
| 15/12/2020 | COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy and Implementation Plan |
| 16/12/2020 | Publication of the Final Report of the Expert Group on Tort Reform and the Management of Clinical Negligence Claims |
| 18/12/2020 | Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 |
| 18/12/2020 | Announcement of a strategic multi-year plan to expand adult critical care capacity from 255 beds to 446 beds. |
| 21/12/2020 | Diagnosis, Staging and Treatment of Patients with Rectal Cancer |
| 21/12/2020 | Diagnosis, Staging and Treatment of Patients with Colin Cancer |
The HSE was formally notified of the total funding that will be provided by the Exchequer in a ‘Letter of Determination’. The letter also stated the priorities that the National Service Plan should include. With regard to 2021 priorities, these include:
- protecting vulnerable groups, service users, patients, healthcare workers, and the wider public in the face of COVID-19,
- delivering increased levels of health to our citizens in community and primary care settings,
- delivering on the capacity enhancement and reform plan in line with the Health Service Capacity Review 2018 and Sláintecare
- enhancing access to care
- implementing National Strategies, including the Nursing Homes Expert Panel recommendations
- improving access to mental health services, including progressing the implementation of Sharing the Vision
- improving access and enhancing specialist disability services
- ensuring that the wider health and wellbeing agenda is reflected throughout the planning of services in 2021
- protecting vulnerable homeless people and implementing key aspects of the National Drugs Strategy
- introducing new drugs in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013
- rolling out key e-health initiatives
- continuing key projects in line with Sláintecare and the Finance Reform Programme
The Department of Health is in the process of developing the Statement of Strategy for 2021-2023. The new Strategy will comprise the key objectives, outputs, and related strategies of the Department and will serve as a framework for action by the Department during the period, aligning to the priorities set out in the Programme for Government. Some emerging strategic priorities for the Strategy Statement for the Department of Health may include Public Health, enhancing our oversight and governance roles, continuing to strengthen the Department as a high-performing organization, and advancing Sláintecare reforms through policy leadership including in the areas of primary and community care and in ensuring timely and more equitable access to care.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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