Review of acute hospital services in the Mid - Health Service Executive

Review of acute hospital services in HSE Mid-West
An action plan for acute and community services
Appendix 5 – The latest international best practice
Moving acute care near to or at the patient’s home
Globally, many countries and health care systems have recognised the need for a
fundamental change in the way in which services are configured and delivered, with an
increased emphasis towards providing more care at home or as close to home as possible,
with people being admitted to hospital only where necessary and appropriate.
This strategic direction of health service reform is evident in countries including Australia 54 55 ,
Canada 56 57 , New Zealand 58 59 , and the UK 60 61 62 63 . Consistent themes arising from these
reforms are:
• Developing a greater emphasis on preventing illness and improving the overall health
and well-being of the population;
• Managing those people with long term chronic conditions at home or in the community,
through improved primary care services, and preventing the likelihood of hospitalisation;
and
• Providing safe and high quality acute hospital services, through evidence based best
practice care, with specialist and complex care provided in fewer, larger centres to
maximise clinical benefit and manage clinical risk.
54 Planning for the Future, New South Wales, 2025.
55 Directions for your health system, Metropolitan Health Strategy, State of Victoria, 2003.
56 Common vision for the Canadian Health System, 2004.
57 Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, 2002.
58 The New Zealand Health Strategy, New Zealand Government, December 2000.
59 Implementing the New Zealand Health Strategy, 2005.
60 Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services, UK Government White Paper, January 2006.
61 Building a Health Service Fit for the Future, NHS Scotland, 2005.
62 Designed for Life: Creating world class Health and Social Care for Wales in the 21 st Century, Welsh Assembly Government,
May 2005.
63 Developing Better Services: The Model for Future Health Care Services, Northern Ireland Government, February 2003.
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