for Ireland
A-Healthy-Weight-for-Ireland-Obesity-Policy-and-Action-Plan-2016-2025
A-Healthy-Weight-for-Ireland-Obesity-Policy-and-Action-Plan-2016-2025
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A Healthy Weight <strong>for</strong> <strong>Ireland</strong>: Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016 - 2025<br />
45<br />
chapter six action plan<br />
international standards, and require support<br />
if they are to improve (Layte and McCrory,<br />
2014).<br />
• Primary care is the first point of contact and<br />
the most appropriate setting <strong>for</strong> the majority<br />
of health needs. Addressing modifiable risk<br />
factors and taking a life-course approach<br />
in this setting will allow a focus on primary<br />
prevention and early identification of both<br />
children and adults with weight-related<br />
morbidity.<br />
• The Chronic Disease Management<br />
Programmes will shift the management of<br />
many chronic diseases such as diabetes,<br />
stroke, heart failure, asthma and chronic<br />
obstructive pulmonary disease from<br />
hospitals to the community. Under the<br />
terms of the GP contract, childhood agebased<br />
assessments will focus on health<br />
and wellbeing, identifying obesity and<br />
other problems early. These assessments<br />
will be carried out when a child is aged two<br />
and again at age five, in accordance with<br />
an agreed protocol. Similar assessments<br />
<strong>for</strong> older children and adults will be key to<br />
ensuring an integrated life-course approach<br />
is delivered.<br />
• The HSE has a number of community weight<br />
management initiatives, and the GP contract<br />
now places an emphasis on early detection<br />
and management. It is recognised, however,<br />
that there is a need <strong>for</strong> greater capacity<br />
across the range of overweight and obesity<br />
services throughout the community.<br />
• The need to quality assure weight<br />
management services including those<br />
provided on a commercial basis is<br />
recognised. Further work is required on<br />
consulting with children who use these<br />
services, as is the need to develop standards<br />
in the area.<br />
The action areas under Step 6 are set out in Table<br />
7 below.<br />
TABLE 7 Step 6 action points<br />
Ref. Action Lead Responsible Partners Timeframe<br />
6.1 Include obesity prevention and care<br />
as part of the GP contract. This will<br />
build on the previous developments<br />
<strong>for</strong> the under six years of age GP<br />
contract.<br />
6.2 Strengthen the capacity of primary<br />
care teams to support obesity<br />
prevention and evidence-based<br />
weight management services.<br />
DOH, HSE<br />
GPs, allied<br />
healthcare<br />
professionals<br />
2016–2020<br />
HSE<br />
GPs, allied<br />
healthcare<br />
professionals<br />
2016–2020