IPH report on longstanding conditions among 3-y-o

What does it mean for policy?

Healthy Ireland & Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures

Kate  O’Flaherty  Director,  Health  and  Wellbeing  Programme  

Department  of  Health

Healthy Ireland Framework• Government Decision February 2013  • Review and analysis of current health trends,

determinants of health, international evidence  • Requirement for inter-sectoral approach that shifts

emphasis from disease to health and wellbeing  • Burden of chronic disease growing and persistent health

inequalities  • If trends continue the future is extremely costly and

unsustainable  • Essential to address issues now to improve lives of

current population and future generations

Healthy Ireland Vision

where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and wellbeing to their full potential, where wellbeing is valued and supported at every level of society and is

everyone’s responsibility

Healthy Ireland Goals• Increase the proportion of people who are healthy

at all stages of life • Reduce health inequalities • Protect the public from threats to health and

wellbeing • Create an environment where every individual

and sector of society can play their part in achieving a Healthy Ireland

Healthy Ireland Action Themes

• 1 - Governance and Policy • 2 - Partnerships and Cross-Sectoral Working • 3 - Empowering People and Communities • 4 - Health and Health Reform • 5 - Research and Evidence • 6 - Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation

Guiding Principles for Implementation

• Better – governance and leadership  – use of people and resources  – partnerships – systems for healthcare  – use of evidence  – measurement and evaluation  – programme management

Healthy Ireland Implementation• New opportunity to: ➢Shape the national discourse on health and wellbeing ➢Re-focus efforts on prevention and ‘keeping people well’ ➢Empower people to look after own health and make the

‘healthier choice the easier choice’ ➢Connect and mobilise existing and new initiatives and

partnerships around a shared agenda and aims ➢Address priority issues in a collaborative approach

Milestones in implementation

• Reporting to Cabinet Committee on Social Policy

• Health and Wellbeing Division established in HSE

• Establishment of Healthy Ireland Cross-Sectoral Group

• Healthy Ireland Council established

Prioritising Early Intervention

• Child health, wellbeing, learning and development inextricably linked

• Most effective time to intervene is before birth to early childhood

• Giving every child ‘best start in life’ involves providing for physical and emotional development, acquisition of cognitive, social and linguistic skills, building resilience - all contributing to enhanced ability as grow older to be responsible for looking after own health and wellbeing

• First overarching national policy framework which comprehends the age ranges spanning children and young people (0 – 24 years).

• Represents a whole of government approach • The Framework:

- sets out and centralises common outcomes- captures policy commitments- identifies key transformational goals necessitating action- ensures an innovative and effective way of working

Outcomes  FrameworkOutcomes  Framework

• Establishment of clear and efficient structures to ensure accountability, drive implementation and provide a forum for stakeholder engagement

New Structures: • Children and Young People’s Policy Consortium (incorporating

Sponsor’s Group) Advisory Council (comprising Early Years, Children and Youth sectors and interests) Existing Structures: • Reconfigured Children’s Services Committees National Steering

Group • Comhairle na nÓg Executive • EU Structured Dialogue National Working Group

HI & BOBF: Collaborative Approach• DH lead on Outcome 1 Active, Healthy Children • Agree priorities, address challenges, monitor

progress ➢Child obesity ➢Physical activity ➢Mental health • BOBF constituent strategies in development: • Early Years, Youth, Participation

IPH report: policy implications• Paints a picture of burden of illness in early years

and in young families • Reinforces policy direction and prioritisation around

child health and wellbeing • Emphasises need to strengthen efforts ➢preventable ill health ➢early detection and intervention ➢reducing inequalities

IPH report: policy implications• Critical to support parents – parenting skills and

confidence • Enhance ante-natal and early childhood

development services – breastfeeding, immunisation, screening

• Access to and co-ordination of services and information to enhance holistic care and early intervention

• Support collaboration and contribution of wider community and sectors outside of health

IPH report: policy implications• GP access for under-6s • Embedding shift in emphasis to ‘prevention/keeping

people well’ at the ‘first point of contact’ (primary care) for ‘early years contacts’ (under 6-y-o)

• Includes age-based preventive checks, eg weight, exposure to smoke in household

• Reflects critical role primary care/GP has in proactive health promotion, surveillance, prevention, appropriate chronic disease management, with emphasis of supporting and enabling people look after own and family health

Thank You

• Health and Wellbeing Programme in Dept. of Health

• www.health.gov.ie

• Follow us on Twitter @hi_HealthyIre