The Ministers for Health and Children, along with other government representatives, have announced the HSE National Service Plan 2025. With a record budget of €26.9 billion—a €1.6 billion increase from 2024—the plan focuses on improving health and social care services, emphasizing mental health, disability, and older persons’ services.
Key highlights include:
- €297.8 million allocated to new service developments.
- Over €3 billion dedicated to disability services, focusing on therapy services for children, residential care, and personal assistance hours.
- Increased investment in mental health and dementia care, home support hours, and targeted programs like ADHD and eating disorder initiatives.
- Expansion of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme to address health inequalities.
The plan prioritizes shorter wait times, care closer to home, and digital transformation, with €190 million allocated for ICT infrastructure, including the development of a national Electronic Health Record.
Minister Donnelly welcomed the National Service Plan 2025, highlighting it as the HSE’s “highest-ever funding” allocation. He praised the plan’s focus on productivity and efficiency to maximize patient care within budget and acknowledged the HSE Board and Executive for their efforts in its development.
HSE CEO Bernard Gloster emphasized the need to maximize funding in 2025 to expand services, reduce waiting times, and improve health outcomes amid rising demand. Priorities include workforce expansion, infrastructure improvements, and increased capacity.
He highlighted digital transformation as a critical focus, with progress on the national Electronic Health Record, a HSE patient app, and virtual care technology under the Digital for Care 2030 initiative, aiming to deliver key advancements in the coming years.
By March 2025, the establishment of six new regional health areas will complete a significant structural reform to enhance care coordination and access for local populations.
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