A single waiting list for public and private patients to cut hospital waiting times is likely to form part of the new health strategy. A special strategy subgroup has been set up to examine the public-private issue.
"We found it necessary to convene an additional working group to examine the entire area of public-private mix, with a particular focus on short-term measures to ensure fairer access to services," the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said in a speech to the latest meeting of the Health Strategy Consultative Forum recently.
The forum comprises a large number of health professionals and was set up by the Minister to advise him on the strategy.
Mr Martin also emphasised the need for a new human resources strategy for the health service. With the final strategy likely to announce an extra 1,000 consultant posts and an additional 5,000 hospital and public health nurses, the issue of staff recruitment and retention is emerging as a key issue, sources have confirmed.
The new strategy will recommend an increase of 5,000 hospital beds over 10 years. At present there are 12,500 beds in public and private hospitals.
Mr Michael Kelly, secretary-general of the Department of Health, has indicated to the forum that he envisages daycare activity in hospitals increasing to 50 per cent of all activity in acute hospitals.
At present, daycare procedures account for 36 per cent of hospital care. While acknowledging that the final percentage would depend on the right level of investment, international experts had pointed out that the level of daycare activity could be improved, he told the forum's plenary session this month.
A self-diagnostic support service, modelled on the British NHS Direct telephone advice system, has been proposed by one of the strategy working groups. It is believed this could emerge as a key element in tackling the problem of inappropriate attendance at hospital accident and emergency departments.
The need to separate initial medical assessment from ongoing treatment has also emerged from the review process. Sources have indicated that certain hospitals will be designated for elective or ongoing treatment, leaving the acute treatment function to regional centres.