Written answer
Healthcare Policy
The Minister said the HSE is developing an implementation plan for the diabetes strategy, with recommendations phased over three, five or more years.
3687. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the steps she is taking to address chronic understaffing and stark regional gaps in podiatry identified in her Department’s Diabetes Policy and Services Review: A Strategy for Better Care; the status of work to finalise an implementation framework; the timeline being worked towards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57388/26]
Comment on this
The Diabetes Policy and Services Review: A Strategy for Better Care was launched on the 21st of May. https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/a41e7d5d/Diabetes_Policy_and_Services_Review_-_A_Strategy_for_Better_Care.pdf
This is Ireland’s first national strategy for diabetes, marking a major milestone in diabetes care in Ireland. It provides a detailed assessment of our current diabetes services and sets out series of recommendations and actions to improve diabetes care delivery. The recommendations cover four key themes:
• Service Development
• Affordability and Access to care
• Better support for people living with diabetes
• Digital Healthcare
The recommendations are marked in the strategy as either short, medium or long-term goals. Short-term refers to recommendations which can be implemented within three years. Medium term recommendations can be implemented within five years, and long-term recommendations are those that will take longer than five years to fully implement.
The HSE is currently working to develop an implementation plan to ensure that the recommendations are followed through at national level and throughout the Health Regions.