Irish Health Innovator 1 : Dr Clíona Ní Cheallaigh. (7 May 2019)
Dr Cliona Ní Cheallaigh, consultant in general medicine and infectious diseases at Dublin St James Hospital, pioneers a unique programme of inclusion health. This is a dedicated service to tackle health and social inequities among our most vulnerable and socially excluded populations: the homeless, people with substance use disorders, sex workers, and prisoners. A year-long pilot study of Ní Cheallaigh’s programme showed savings of almost €1m in direct costs to the hospital and 3,066 bed stays. The programme has extended to the Mater Hospital and will now be funded as a two-year pilot by the HSE and Genio under the Service Reform Fund with national intentions.
“It’s about sitting down with people and working with them to identify and address all of their needs”, Ní Cheallaigh explains, “people who are homeless or who have addiction issues have often experienced abuse and/or neglect in childhood. This affects their ability to look after their health in many ways. The programme requires bringing together a wide range of people – nurses, doctors, keyworkers, hostel staff – who work in services across Dublin. “It’s not rocket science, she says, “it is just a recognition that a small proportion of people are much sicker and have a much higher need for care than the majority. The fact is that unmet needs result in people becoming sicker and needing much more costly healthcare.”
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