The senior official in the HSE South West Regional Executive has said he is very proud of the work the organisation’s enhanced community care team has done for the people of Kerry and Cork.
Dr Andy Phillips said as the HSE puts in place integrated teams, it will increasingly help older people to be supported to live at home following community interventions.
“Our integrated teams are dedicated to supporting people living with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, delivering healthcare to where people live.
“Our teams are increasingly providing services, such as mobile x-rays, in the community that were previously only available in hospital,” Dr Philipps said.
The progress made through achievements in the enhanced community care programme includes:
- Reaching over 32,000 older people in Kerry and Cork in 2024.
- Supporting more than eight out of 10 patients to be discharged home after community-based interventions.
- Fewer than one in 100 people needing to be admitted to long term care and fewer than one in 25 needing hospital services.
- More than 1,000 frail adults receiving care in their homes, avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions.
In a direct message to the community, the HSE said: “We will value the time of those we are privileged to serve; we will put ourselves in your shoes; we will involve you as equal partners; we will avoid harm to patients and staff; and work to improve our services seven days a week”.
The mobile x-ray service is benefitting over 600 nursing homes nationally, reducing the need for hospital visits. In HSE South West over 1,300 x-rays were completed using mobile x-ray services and 95 per cent were treated at home, avoiding hospital transfers.
Almost 60,000 radiology tests were completed and over 14,000 NT-pro BNP tests completed in HSE South West to detect new-onset heart failure.
In addition, almost 6,000 people were supported by ALONE, a voluntary partner, in facilitating co-ordinated support, visitation support, befriending, age-friendly housing technology and community supports.
Advertisers: Reach several thousand readers every day. Call 087-2229761 or email news@killarneytoday.com
