Patients for Patient Safety calls for wider access to CDM programmes

Patients for Patient Safety Ireland has called for wider access to community-based chronic disease management (CDM) programmes to improve population health and reduce dependence on hospital systems.

The group made the call on World Patient Safety Day (17 September), which has the theme of ‘safe care for non-communicable diseases’.

According to the group, it has developed a plan which has received input from the Irish College of GPs, the Irish Heart Foundation, Diabetes Ireland, Family Carers Ireland, and the Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity.

It noted that a recent OECD report, The Health and Economic Benefits of Tackling Non‑Communicable Diseases (2026), also illustrated the economic benefits for GDP, productivity and health spending as a result of a comprehensive action on non-communicable diseases.

“The [HSE] Chronic Disease Management Programme has been very successful,” said Dr Tony O’Sullivan, a retired GP who is leading the initiative for Patients for Patient Safety Ireland. “The OECD report makes a strong case for expanding structured reviews and community-based supports to every person living with a non-communicable disease, including those currently outside eligibility criteria. Doing so will provide proven health benefits to every person with a chronic condition, thereby reducing hospital emergency and outpatient department attendance. Private health insurers should also provide cover for the two structured chronic disease reviews provided under the Chronic Disease Management Programme.” 

Patients for Patient Safety is urging the Government, the HSE, health insurers, advocacy organisations, education partners and community services to work together so every person in Ireland can access “safe, integrated and personalised care”. 

In the immediate to short term, the group is calling for obesity to be included in the HSE Chronic Disease Management Programme, with full funding and nationwide rollout of the HSE Model of Care for the Management of Overweight and Obesity, recognising the major risk to health, workforce participation and healthcare costs. It is also advocating for greater integration of mental health support in primary care settings to provide “truly person-centred care”.     

It is calling for funding and accelerated rollout of Chronic Disease Hubs, improved medication safety through pharmacist-led reviews, faster access to diagnostics, wider telehealth and digital tools, and better use of data to support prevention and early intervention. 

The group also said every person should be “empowered with the knowledge, skills and confidence” to be an active partner in their care through schools, community care, the HSE App, advocacy groups and local community settings.