“St Vincent's University Hospital is proud to be at the forefront of healthcare innovation through our modernised care pathways. These pathways not only enhance patient experiences, but also significantly contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery,” according to Prof Michael Keane, Interim CEO at St Vincent's University Hospital.

Prof Keane was commenting as the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, met with the teams delivering ophthalmology, urology, orthopaedics, nephrology and diabetes care to patients in this new and innovative way at St Vincent’s University Hospital in recent weeks. The Minister expressed his delight in visiting the hospital to see “first-hand how patients are accessing integrated care in a high quality setting.”

“This is creating new access points for patients to healthcare where there are often the longest waiting lists. We are now ensuring that patients can be seen faster and are progressing through our health service in a more integrated way. This then ensures that they have fewer overall visits to a hospital.

“These new care pathways have also reduced overall waiting times for many healthcare services across our hospitals, as patients who need scheduled-care move from our hospitals to community-based care closer to their own homes.” Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly

Prof Keane added that their “dedicated team is committed to providing the best care possible, and we are grateful for the support of Minister Donnelly in recognising our efforts." 

High quality care closer to home

The HSE is rolling out these new ways of working across community and hospital settings that allow patients to access high quality care closer to home.  They are also leading to an overall reduction in waiting times for many healthcare services. The new modernised care pathways will provide service users with access to care by specialist community teams where appropriate, freeing consultant capacity to see patients most in need in a more timely manner.

Deirdre McNamara, Director, HSE Strategic Programmes Office, explained that “by streamlining referral processes, embracing new tools in e-healthcare and allowing for more care to be delivered in the community by advanced nurse practitioners and health and social care professionals, modernised care pathways will help reduce waiting lists and improve the quality of patient care.”

Dr Colm Henry, HSE Chief Clinical Officer, added that “modernised care pathways are a key milestone in healthcare reform and are consistent with Sláintecare principles. These pathways enable timely access to healthcare teams that are integrated across hospitals and the community. Reforms like these would not be possible without a highly capable and dedicated workforce of healthcare professionals who are committed to improving patient experience and outcomes.”