Niamh Griffin: Sláintecare projects offer a tantalising glimpse of a new health service

While the recent resignations sounded alarm bells, projects around the country kept delivering quality healthcare locally. It is they who are showing how Sláintecare should work

At the heart, Sláintecare is about moving away from hospitals towards more local care. While the initiative has weathered several challenges, teams on the ground around Ireland are having a positive impact on people's health and wellbeing. File picture: Peter Byrne/PA

We have heard a lot about Sláintecare, but few people know exactly what the reform programme will mean for people who need our health service. 

At its heart, the programme is a move away from hospitals and private insurance to local care based on how sick people are — a radical move that could mean being treated at home by staff living in the locality.