Relevant Matter
Matters involving public funds
Public Policy Area
Health
Period
1 Sep, 2021 to 31 Dec, 2021
Specific Details
IMO Pre-Budget 2022 Submission
Intended results
Investment in Medical Manpower • Immediately reverse the discriminatory and universal 30% pay cut imposed on new consultants to the HSE since 2012; • Negotiate with the IMO for a new fit for purpose consultant contract that recognises the value of our newly qualified hospital consultants;
Increase in the number of specialist training posts to meet current and future population needs. Modernise specialist training and career pathways in line with the recommendations of the Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure (MacCraith) Reports 2014; • Provide pathways for international doctors to access Speciality training; • Introduce tax relief on loan repayments for graduate entry medical students; • Build out a Consultant led Occupational Health service
Investment in Acute Bed Capacity and Diagnostic Infrastructure •Resource a multi-annual programme of investment in acute bed capacity to include : a)5,000 additional public acute bed capacity including b) investment in stand-alone public hospitals for elective care and c)a doubling of critical care capacity to 550 critical care beds; • Urgently assess and resource diagnostic, radiology and laboratory requirements to ensure timely access to investigations and results for both hospital doctors
Investment in General Practice and the Shift of Care to the Community •Invest in supports to employ additional GPs, practice nurses and other support staff; • Provide incentives for GPs to invest in the development of infrastructure including premises, medical equipment, diagnostic equipment, IT (as per the recommendations in the Indecon report); • agree supports for newly establishing GPs
Investment in a comprehensive Women’s’ Health Programme in General Practice to include: Advice on Contraception; Access to contraception including Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive (LARC) methods; Advice on sexually transmitted infection (STI), screening and testing for STIs; Advice on fertility and pre-conception o Advice on menopause.
Investment in Mental Health Services including: a clinical programme of mental health care in General Practice to be negotiated between the IMO, the Dept of Health, and the HSE; Invest in publicly funded counselling and psychotherapy services and supports in the community, accessible on GP referral; Fully resource community and hospital based mental health care teams in line with the recommendations of AVFC; Urgently assess and provide the number of acute inpatient psychiatric beds required
Investment in eHealth and IT Infrastructure including: secure systems of electronic health records across hospitals and community health centres (systems must be able to communicate and allow embedding of national summary patient records); Upgrade IT infrastructure, both hardware and software, to improve cybersecurity to support safe remote-consultations and remote multi-disciplinary team-working; Ensure on-going investment and cooperation in the development of eHealth in General Practice
Investment in Health and Social Care Needs for Older People •Further resourcing of rehabilitative community care beds and home care supports including intensive home care packages; •Ongoing investment in a holistic approach to care with input from a range of specialties including geriatricians, GPs and public health specialists; •Invest in a programme of GP care for nursing home patients that reflects the complexity of care required;
Appropriate Resourcing of Prevention programmes: • Increase Community medical staffing levels to maintain the quality and safety of child health and immunisation programmes, now that schools have reopened; • Provide appropriate resources for the full re-establishment of life-saving cancer -screening programmes.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Ms Vanessa Hetherington, Assistant Director, Policy and International Affairs
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Mass communications
Email All Oireachtas Members
All Oireachtas members were emailed a copy of the Budget Submission
Submission All Oireachtas Members
All Oireachtas members were sent a copy of the Budget Submission
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Email (1)
Email to Minister for Health and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Stephen Donnelly
Minister (Department of Health)
Michael McGrath
Minister (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)