From Department of Health
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, and Ministers of State Mary Butler TD, Frank Feighan TD and Anne Rabbitte TD have today welcomed the publication of the HSE National Service Plan 2021.
Welcoming the publication of the 2021 National Service Plan, Minister Donnelly said:
"The National Service Plan being launched today reflects the significant additional investment that government has provided to the health service in 2021. The total health budget of €20.6 billion is an increase of 21% on the 2020 health allocation. A major focus of the Health Budget 2021 is to deliver the strategic reform in line with Sláintecare and to build on the positive and innovative changes made during the COVID-19 pandemic. A key focus of the National Service Plan is the transformation and reform of certain services and supporting the resilience and preparedness of the health service to continue to operate in the COVID-19 environment.
"I would like to thank the HSE Board and officials for the considerable work undertaken in delivering the National Service Plan 2021 in this challenging COVID-19 environment."
The budget for 2021 includes some very significant additional investments which will be applied to restart services in a COVID-19 environment, enhance or expand existing services, including enhancing service resilience and responding to demographic and other pressures, and to commence new approved service developments.
The Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte TD, welcoming the publication of the Service Plan, said:
"Budget 2021 was a record-breaking allocation to Disabilities and it has enabled major investment across services, which are detailed in this Plan, including the continued reform of disability services through the implementation of the Transforming Lives Programme. A priority for me was to provide additional multi-disciplinary posts within the children’s network teams, which will bolster both the assessments of need process, but more importantly the delivery of therapies. Subject to government approval, staff will also be recruited to commence preparation for establishing the process of assessments of need for adults (19–21 year olds). One of the other key areas for this government is the delivery of respite, and funding has been provided to the HSE to develop and open an additional 9 dedicated centre-based respite services across all Community Healthcare Areas. This means real and tangible supports will be delivered for families across the country, offering them additional support when they need it most.
"The Plan also outlines the continuation of moving people with disabilities from congregated settings to transition homes in the community. A model of service in one geographical area to support people with an intellectual disability and dementia to transition to community living will be piloted in 2021. The recommendations of the Report of the Review of the Irish Health Services for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders will also be implemented, which will improve access to and responses by services to autistic children and adults in a timely manner."
The Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Frank Feighan TD, said:
"The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted significant challenges for socially excluded groups in society, particularly those with increased vulnerabilities including complex general health, addiction and mental health problems. The improvement of health outcomes for socially excluded groups in society is a key priority for 2021 and I will work with the HSE to improve access to health and to address health inequalities for socially disadvantaged groups including people who are homeless, Travellers, the Roma community, migrants and those experiencing addiction."
The Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD, said:
"There is no doubt that COVID-19 has had an impact on people’s mental health, and it is crucial that we are able to respond to this, during and beyond the pandemic. A key priority outlined in the National Service Plan is the development of a sustainable costed plan for– Sharing the Vision –, the national mental health policy and the commencement of implementation of priority actions of Sharing the Vision in 2021. Also outlined in the Plan is the priority to continue implementation of the national suicide reduction strategy Connecting for Life, following its extension from 2020 to 2024. There is a clear commitment within the National Service Plan to recruit 123 new mental health staff in addition to 30 IPS employment specialists this year. Of the 123 staff, 29 new posts will be appointed in child and adolescent mental health services to enhance capacity across services. The transition to the new national forensic mental health service, increasing capacity on a phased basis, is also a priority action for 2021.
"In relation to services for older people, the Plan being launched today sets out to support older people to live in their own communities for as long as possible, improve their access to care and to minimise the need for acute and residential care. In 2021, 5 million additional home support hours will be delivered in communities across Ireland. In line with the Department of Health’s policy and direction, the HSE will also work with us to roll out a reformed model of service delivery which will inform the development of a statutory home support scheme for the financing and regulation of home support services. Dedicated funding has also been allocated in 2021 to enhance community-based supports for people living with dementia, including the expansion of in-home day care, enhancing memory technology resource rooms and the appointment of additional dementia advisors."
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