GPs completed 99,098 reviews of patients enrolled in the chronic disease management (CDM) programme in the first two months of this year, according to figures provided to the Medical Independent (MI).
The Department of Health also confirmed to this newspaper that it believes the programme is “the main contributing factor” in a reduction of chronic disease-related hospital admissions in recent years.
“The CDM programme forms part of the wider enhanced community care programme which has improved patient care and provided ongoing improvements to how health services are delivered,” said the Department’s spokesperson.
This reduction in hospital admissions was discussed at the Sláintecare programme board meeting in April.
Board members were shown data that indicated a 16 per cent reduction in chronic disease-related hospital admissions as compared to a 3.5 per cent reduction in all other medical admissions per 100,000 population between 2019 and 2023.
The meeting was also told that 91 per cent of patients on the programme “are now fully managed routinely in primary care” and are not attending hospital for ongoing management of their condition.
The CDM programme commenced in 2020. It has been rolled out on a phased basis to adult patients with a medical or GP visit card. Approximately 94 per cent of eligible GPs have signed up to providing the CDM programme.
The CDM programme allows GPs to provide a structured treatment programme for patients with one or more of four chronic diseases: Asthma; type 2 diabetes; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and cardiovascular disease.
The potential inclusion of additional conditions in the programme has been raised.
Speaking to MI in March,
Dr Michael Crotty, a GP specialising in obesity, said that obesity care should be included in the CDM programme.
“The challenge in general practice is that we have ever increasing amounts of work,” Dr Crotty said. “And, certainly, when it comes to obesity, [GPs] are not adequately supported or resourced to treat it in primary care at the moment.”
The Department spokesperson told MI there are no current plans to extend the number of diseases covered by the programme.
“The HSE and Department of Health continuously monitor the implementation of the CDM programme to ensure that it is meeting its goals and delivering improved patient care,” the spokesperson added.
“The addition of further conditions to the programme would depend on a number of factors, including the potential for the CDM programme model to benefit patients. At the moment, there are no plans to expand the programme, but this may be considered at a future date.”
However, as reported in this edition, the HSE is seeking additional funding to include chronic kidney disease in the CDM programme in 2025.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.