Although the healthcare system is one of the most important bodies that ensures the population’s well-being, numerous factors influence its efficiency and innovation. For Ireland, a small, open economy, the aftereffect of the global financial and economic crisis led to a fall in public expenditure on health, as the government cut staff numbers and pay.
Continuous pressure has made the healthcare system a mess in modern times, especially after the pandemic, since the medicine shortage, stagging crisis, and ageing population contribute to additional challenges.
The government must tackle the declining quality in the country’s healthcare industry accordingly, even though it will take some time to fix it. Let’s see what potential solutions to current challenges would be.
Manage medical negligence
Although healthcare cases have decreased over the decade due to innovative technology and improved medicine, it is still the cause of so many people being wrongly affected and injured. Among the examples of common medical negligence claims, we can account for misdiagnosis, failure to diagnose, or performing the proper medical testing.
Medical negligence can lead to further impairs or even death. If this happens, it means the medical personnel wasn’t adequately prepared or allowed a mistake to occur. In that case, patients have the right to file evidence and claim for compensation for medical malpractice.
Many things could be done to prevent medical negligence, such as the following:
- Detailed documentation practices;
- Comprehensive job responsibilities descriptions;
- Proper error reporting guidelines;
- Ongoing training and staff education;
- Risk assessment management through data analysis;
Create a universal healthcare system
Until a few years ago, the number of people who sought private insurance in Ireland increased considerably as people wanted to avoid the endless waiting times for various procedures, including diagnostic tests.
The Irish government plans to develop a national healthcare service that will be functional around 2030, as the plan has been continuously growing since 2017. Waiting lists are expected to be reduced, while the capacity of beds in public hospitals will increase so all patients can be helped. The plan also considers negotiating again on drug prices since Ireland’s expenditure is one of the highest in Europe per capita.
It might be possible to turn some staff from the private sector into the new public model, especially since the government’s recruitment program increased the number of medical staff since 2022.
Digitise the system
Like in many other countries, the healthcare system is the last to receive the latest technological advancements, which hinders the sector’s potential to improve. In most cases, the lack of digital adoption leads to cybersecurity risks, costing healthcare companies more than they can afford to lose.
Healthcare needs digital transformation to address its challenges, especially regarding patient data. At the same time, the resistance to change in healthcare workplaces is overwhelming, as organisational structures lack the proper culture. This is also the cause of skill gaps in healthcare that should be covered by training in project management, computer science, and data analysis.
A complete digital transformation would include focusing on the following:
- Telemedicine for comfort and convenience;
- Electronic health records for improved quality of care;
- Data analytics for accurate diagnoses;
- Wearable devices that minimise disease risks;
- Artificial intelligence to personalise patient care;
Navigate the challenges of ageing
According to recent data, the Irish population is one of the fastest-ageing in Europe, which, at some point, will put massive pressure on the medical system. The number of people aged 65 and older will grow considerably in the future. The change in demographics is a severe concern for future governments. While indeed it’s good that our lifespans have increased, we must also ensure that the last years spent in a person’s life are of good quality and not in poor health.
The HSE has long developed a programme to ensure a healthy and positive ageing experience for Irish people that includes:
- Supporting equity in older people’s care;
- Addressing health inequalities among older homeless people;
- Improving palliative care by providing future support for older adults;
Increase the health workforce
The entire world was hit by the unexpected pandemic in 2020, and Ireland was no stranger to the difficulties of this event. Public health restrictions in the country led to massive job losses and business closures, as well as a sudden shift to remote working.
All these factors contributed to staff shortages, as many were either giving up or getting sick from treating their patients. Moreover, few additional staff members would start their jobs at such a time. These factors led to the need to increase the health workforce in the following years.
Indeed, according to the Minister for Health, the number of new staff workforce increased considerably, especially for positions of:
- Practising nurses;
- Practicing dentists;
- Practising caring personnel;
Why do we need to improve healthcare as fast as possible?
The healthcare industry is the most important element to a healthy and long life for everyone. The main problem is that human dynamics change across countries and cultures, meaning our current medical system might be vulnerable to newness.
The government should focus on preventing diseases, protecting elders, and finding cures for common diseases in children and adolescents. The spectrum of requirements is so large, which is why companies need to invest more in healthcare and support clinical trials. If experts can figure out the causes and potential paths of more different forms of cancer, for example, we could improve many people’s lives.
Do you think Ireland has the chance to improve?
Ireland has one of the most significant expenditures in the healthcare sector. However, the multiple problems faced by the lack of staff and medication regulations put it at the bottom of the list for the most efficient healthcare sectors. The government must navigate the issues of medical malpractice, lack of digitisation, and ageing. One of the solutions proposed for now is to make the healthcare system public and available for all people so they’re not compelled to access private healthcare, which is more expensive.
