Reduced hospital visits and waiting time for patients

Patients can now access more specialist, high-quality care closer to home with new, reformed and integrated ways of working across healthcare services.

Modernised care pathways provide consultant-led care to patients, delivered by multidisciplinary teams in both hospital and community settings. This means fewer overall visits for many patients, while helping patients with more complex clinical needs access consultants sooner.

Nationally, 115 hospital and community sites are now delivering 32 modernised care pathways across 16 different specialties. Between January and December 2024, the pathways have:

• delivered 186,986 outpatient appointments including 87,373 additional new patient appointments
• removed 28,414 patients from hospital outpatient department (OPD) waiting lists
• provided 99,613 review patient appointments

Deirdre McNamara, Director, HSE Strategic Programmes Office, explained:

“The latest data shows that Modernised Care Pathways are making a real difference, ensuring patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. This means fewer hospital visits, faster access to consultants for those who need them most and a better experience for everyone. By simplifying referrals, using new digital tools, and delivering more care in the community through highly trained healthcare professionals, these pathways are reducing waiting lists and improving access to treatment.”

Specialties in this programme include those with long waiting lists, such as Urology, Endocrinology, Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, and Dermatology.

Urology - Continence and Urinary Health Pathway in HSE West and North West

A ‘one stop shop’ dedicated community-based service provides integrated specialist continence assessment and treatment to patients closer to their homes without long waiting times. Delivered by specialist physiotherapists and specialist nurses in the community, it is supported by hospital consultants from Letterkenny University Hospital and Galway University Hospital. Patients in the West and North West region are seen within 4-6 weeks once referred.

Endocrinology - Mater Hospital and Dublin North Central (DNC) Chronic Disease- Community Specialist Team

Nationally, the Endocrinology Type 2 Diabetes pathway has removed 2,045 new patients from the endocrinology outpatient department waiting list in 2024.

From September to December 2024, the Consultant Endocrinologist team at the Mater Hospital and DNC Hub has moved 220 patients from the OPD waiting list, with 195 patients seen at the DNC Hub. Those waiting for appointments for over 12 months has reduced by 46%, down from 139 in July 2024 to 75 patients in December 2024.

The team has now received 90 patient referrals directly from GPs into the Integrated Care Consultant, avoiding the need for those patients to be added to an acute hospital OPD waiting list.

Orthopaedics - Virtual Fracture Assessment Clinic (vFAC)

The vFAC pathway is operational in 13 sites across the country. Providing virtual patient assessment, it helps patients avoid hospital outpatient clinic waiting lists. In 2024, the pathway has seen 39,238 new patients, who otherwise would have required assessment in a consultant orthopaedic OPD clinic.

Feedback from patients who accessed their care through the new care pathways has been very positive. Sharing their experiences, patients said:

“I was delighted to have gotten the call for the appointment to the local clinic as it's only 25 minutes from where I live. It is way more accessible than having to drive 1 hour and 15 minutes to the hospital, navigate the heavy traffic and then try to find parking.”

“I am much happier to be able to attend the eye clinic in the local community healthcare centre with my child, instead of having to attend in a large busy paediatric hospital”.

“The support of the respiratory team has been a huge benefit to us and we are managing to look after mum in her own home.”

Dr Colm Henry, HSE Chief Clinical Officer added:

“Modernised care pathways are a key milestone in healthcare reform and are consistent with Sláintecare principles. These pathways enable timely access to healthcare teams that are integrated across hospitals and the community. Reforms like these would not be possible without a highly capable and dedicated workforce of healthcare professionals who are committed to improving patient experience and outcomes.”