Child Health Care in Ireland

• Published in: The Journal of pediatrics Vol. 177; pp. S87 - S106
• Main Authors: Staines, Anthony, PhD, FFPHMI, Balanda, Kevin P., PhD, FFPH, Barron, Steve, MSc, Corcoran, Yvonne, RCN, MSc, Fahy, Lorraine, MSc, BSc, Gallagher, Louise, PhD, MRCPsych, Greally, Tessa, MB, FFPHMI, Kilroe, Jean, BA, MSc, Mohan, Caroline Mason, FFPHMI, MRCGP, Matthews, Anne, PhD, RGN/RM, McGovern, Elyce, MICGP, MFPHMI, Nicholson, Alf, FRCPI, FRCPCH, O'Farrell, Anne, MSc, PhD, Philip, Roy K., FRCPI, MD, FJFICMI, Whelton, Helen, BDS, PhD, FFPHM
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2016
• Subjects: Child; Child Health; Child Health Services; Child, Preschool; Humans; Ireland; Pediatrics; Whole Time Equivalent; United Nations; Child and Family Agency; WTE; Senior House Officer; SPDS; Health Service Executive; Multidisciplinary team; Department of Children and Youth Affairs; GDP; OECD; CUH; HIPE; Chief Executive Officer; UN; GUI; HSE; SHO; MDT; ED; Length of stay; AMO; Area medical officer; CEO; CCHSSS; Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin; EU; LOS; Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services; HiAP; CAMHS; Salaried public dental service; Public health nurse; Verocytotoxin producing Escherichia coli; RCN; CFA; Hospital Inpatient Enquiry; Nonconsultant hospital doctor; Gross domestic product; Intensive care unit; Emergency department; NCHD; Program for Government; Growing Up in Ireland; PHN; DCYA; Children's University Hospital; Registered Children's Nurse; Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; General practitioner; Health in All Policies; Health Protection Surveillance Center; OLHSC; Core Child Health Screening and Surveillance Service; GP; Health Information and Quality Authority; HIQA; PfG; VTEC; European Union; HPSC; ICU
• ISSN: 0022-3476; 1097-6833
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.04.046

The Irish health care system is based on a complex and costly mix of private, statutory, and voluntary provisions. The majority of health care expenditure comes from the state, with a significant proportion of acute hospital care funded from private insurance, but there are relatively high out-of-pocket costs for most service users. There is free access to acute hospital care, but not for primary care, for all children. About 40% of the population have free access to primary care. Universal preventive public health services, including vaccination and immunization, newborn blood spot screening, and universal neonatal hearing screening are free. Major health challenges include poverty, obesity, drug and alcohol use, and mental health. The health care system has been dominated for the last 5 years by the impact of the current recession, which has led to very sharp cuts in health care expenditure. It is unclear if the necessary substantial reform of the system will happen. Government policy calls for a move toward a patient-centered, primary care-led system, but without very substantial transfers of resources and investment in Information and Communication Technology, this is unlikely to occur.