Healthcare plan focuses on prevention

GIVING people a better start in life to reduce the risk of chronic disease will form part of a Government initiative aimed at improving the country’s general standard of health.

Health Minister James Reilly said Ireland’s acute hospital system had become the first instead of the last port of call. He said most care should be delivered in the primary healthcare setting with a strong focus on prevention.

“A key principle of this Government’s policy is to treat everything at the lowest level of complexity that is safe, timely and efficient and as near to home as possible,” said Dr Reilly.