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Table 1 Key features of healthcare systems in the Republic of Ireland

From: OPTIMAL, an occupational therapy led self-management support programme for people with multimorbidity in primary care: a randomized controlled trial

Irish healthcare system

In the Irish healthcare system there is mixed public and private funding. Primary health care is free through the Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme (PCRS) only to those judged less able to pay and covers approximately 35% of the population. Registration with a family practice is required only if the patient belongs to the PCRS. PCRS supports the delivery of primary healthcare by providing reimbursement services to primary care contractors for the provision of health services to members of the public in their own community. Patients not eligible for this scheme pay approximately €50 ($69) per visit.

 

Primary care in Ireland is an inter-disciplinary team-based approach. Primary care services are provided by family practitioners, nurses, health care assistants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, speech and language therapists and pharmacists. The model of primary care supported by government but not yet fully implemented. The proposed model emphasises a change from secondary care to more appropriate primary care services, to provide a single point of entry for all health and personal social services.