The Programmes focus on specific clinical service areas, such as:
Each Programme has three main objectives, to:
The programmes are led by doctors and were established jointly by the HSE Directorate of Clinical Strategy and Programmes and Irish postgraduate medical training bodies, such as RCPI. Fellows of RCPI and its Faculties and Institutes, who are senior hospital consultants, currently lead 20 National Clinical Programmes.
Below you can view details of the 20 National Clinical Programmes led by Fellows of RCPI and its Faculties and Institutes.
Clinical guidelines and other resources published by the National Clinical Programmes are available on the HSE website - we have included links to the relevant pages on the HSE website below.
The Clinical Leads for this Programme is Prof Garry Courtney FRCPI and Dr Yvonne Smyth. The Nursing Lead is Richard Walsh
Read about this programme and access guidelines on the HSE website
Recent Achievements
In 2010, the average length of stay in hospital was 8.5 days.
By 2014, thanks to the National Acute Medicine Programme, this was reduced to 6.9 days – the equivalent of 1,135 beds.
In 2014 the programme was instrumental in the appointment of 28 additional consultant physicians; the establishment of the Irish Society of Acute and Internal Medicine; and the implementation of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS).
The programme is currently compiling a national clinical guideline for Communication (Handover) for Acute and Children's Hospitals Services, which will detail measures for clear communication of information relating to a patient's condition, both urgent and routine.
Read about this programme and access guidelines on the HSE website
Recent Achievements
The programme has developed a Model of Care for Asthma and is preparing to roll out an integrated care project.
The integrated care project aims to improve the diagnosis and management of asthma patients in a primary care setting, with links to specialist adult asthma services to improve health outcomes and reduce the demand on services. So far this initiative has seen the creation of two Clinical Nurse Specialist posts in Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar and Connolly Hospital, Dublin.
An Emergency Asthma Guideline will be launched in late 2015.
The programme has developed educational programmes for healthcare professionals with the Asthma Society of Ireland.
Prof Pat Manning FRCPI, National Clinical Lead for Asthma, received a Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Ambassador Award in July 2015. The GINA Ambassador Program recognises the outstanding contributions of individuals to improving asthma diagnosis, management, and control.
The Clinical Lead for this Programme is Dr Tim McDonnell FRCPI.
Read about this programme and access guidelines on the HSE website
Recent Achievements
Thanks to the programme the average length of hospital stay for COPD fell from 9 days in 2010 to 7.3 days in 2014. There has also been a reduction in the 90-day re-admission rate from approximately 29 percent in 2010 to 24 percent.
The programme is preparing to roll out the COPD Integrated Care Demonstrator Project, which aims to improve the diagnosis and management of COPD patients in the primary care setting.
It will provide spirometry (a test of how well you can breathe) and a programme of care to improve health outcomes and reduce service demand. This initiative has created four new Clinical Nurse Specialist and three Senior Physiotherapist posts.
A national Model of Care is near completion and National Clinical Guidelines for COPD are currently undergoing the final stages of approval.
The programme has developed an education programme for spirometry in conjunction with the Irish Association of Respiratory Physiologists and has contributed to the development of the Spirometry Model of Care.
The National Clinical Lead, Prof Tim McDonnell FRCPI, presented to members of the Oireachtas in the Dáil for World COPD Day in November 2014, which led to COPD being included on the list of conditions for which the flu vaccine is recommended.
The National Clinical Programme for Cystic Fibrosis was reconvened in 2015 to plan and direct the delivery of care to people with Cystic Fibrosis. The Clinical Lead for this Programme is Professor Charles G. Gallagher. The Programme Manager is Gary Killeen, who is based in RCPI.
The Clinical Lead for this Programme is Dr Anne-Marie Tobin FRCPI. The Programme Manager is Kellie Myers, who is based in RCPI.
Read about this programme and access guidelines on the HSE website
Recent Achievements
The appointment of more than ten dermatologists has increased access to services, with a consequent increase in activity levels. Since 2009, there has been a 20 per cent increase in the numbers of patients being seen.
The programme has been working with the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) to develop non-melanoma skin cancer guidance.
The Clinical Lead for this Programme is Prof Orla Hardiman FRCPI. The Programme Manager is Dervla Kenny.
Read about this programme and access guidelines on the HSE website
The National Obesity Management Programme was established in 2017 and is a joint initiative between the HSE Strategic Planning and Transformation function and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. A multi-specialist clinical advisory group provides expert advice and support to the programme, chaired by Dr Brendan O’Shea.
The Clinical Lead for the Programme is Professor Donal O’ Shea and the Programme Manager is Karen Gaynor.
On Thursday 29 August 2019, the National Obesity Management Programme hosted a Summer School at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. The aims of the event were to highlight the progress in the understanding of obesity, explain the impact of weight stigma and encourage discussion and interaction between clinicians and people living with obesity and overweight. More information about the event, including videos of the presentations, will be made available here.
The Clinical Lead for this Programme is Professor Keelin O’Donoghue.
View National Clinical Guidelines
Read about this programme and access guidelines on the HSE website
Recent Achievements
In response to the national miscarriage diagnosis crisis in 2010, significant improvements in early pregnancy services have been achieved by the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Programme, including implementation of national guidelines, training for ultrasound in the first trimester and installations of high specification ultrasound machines in all 19 early pregnancy assessment units nationwide.
The Clinical Lead for this Programme is Dr Diarmuid O’Shea FRCPI, the Nursing Lead is Deirdre Lang, and the Programme Manager is Helen Whitty who is based in RCPI.
Read about this programme and access guidelines on the HSE website
The Clinical Leads for this Programme are Dr Ellen Crushell FRCPI, Prof Nuala Murphy FRCPI, and Prof John Murphy FRCPI.
Programme Manager: Ms Jacqueline de Lacy | email: jacqueline.delacy@hse.ie
The Programme has developed a number of neonatal and paediatric algorithms for use in clinical settings. These algorithms provide a standard way of treating commonly occurring conditions and are used by medical, nursing and health and social care professional staff working in primary and emergency care settings and neonatal units.
Read about the programme and access guidelines on the HSE website.
Achievements
The programme developed a National Model of Care for Paediatrics and Neonatology (2016). The Clinical Leads and Programme Manager are working closely with the Acute Strategy and Planning division within the HSE to develop an implementation plan for the Model of Care.
The Programme has responded to the COVID-19 Pandemic and has published two reports:
Additionally the National Clinical Programme for Paediatrics and Neonatology and the National Clinical Programme for Paediatric Diabetes has developed a number of interim guidelines to support clinicians during the COVID-19 Pandemic. These guidelines can be accessed here.
The National Clinical Programme for Paediatric Diabetes is currently (2021) working closely with the National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA) to determine the feasibility of developing a National Paediatric Diabetes Audit.
Furthermore, the programme has developed a number of guidelines providing guidance to clinicians for the care of children living with diabetes. There has also been a Paediatric Type 1 Diabetes Resource Pack developed to support children and their parents. A Meeting the Care Needs of Primary School Children with Type 1 Diabetes during School Hours guide has also been produced. All documents can be accessed here.
A number of Models of care have been published by the programme:
The Clinical Lead for this Programme is Dr Brian Creedon FRCPI, The Programme Manager is Kellie Myers who is based in RCPI
Read about this programme and access guidelines on the HSE website
The Clinical Lead for this Programme is Prof. Mary Keogan FRCPI. The Programme Manager is Mari Fitzgerald who is based in the Office of Clinical Design and Innovation.
Read about this programme and access guidelines on the HSE website
The programme has helped to secure the appointment of a National Laboratory Modernisation Implementation Manager in 2015.
This is a key step in supporting implementation of the Laboratory Modernisation Programme and will bring improvements in the efficiency, quality and cost-effectiveness of pathology services.
The programme is developing a National Laboratory Handbook, which will offer guidance on when to test and when not to test.
This benefits patients by avoiding unnecessary testing and also offers benefits in terms of cost savings and optimising staff time management.
The Clinical Lead for this Programme is Prof Eileen Treacy FRCPI, the Programme Manager is Grace O'Sullivan who is based in RCPI
Read about this programme and access guidelines on the HSE website
Recent Achievements
The Programme has negotiated Ireland’s participation for the first time in the European Commission Joint Action in Rare Diseases 2015–2018. The first phase of this database of expertise in rare diseases in Ireland, in addition to related expertise in Europe, is now available for patients and clinicians at www.Orpha.net. This will enable the development of a database of expertise in Ireland to cover between 6,000 and 8,000 rare diseases.
The clinical programme has also worked closely with the Acute Hospital Division to open the National Rare Diseases Office in June 2015.
The Clinical Lead for this Programme is Dr Jacinta McElligott, the Programme Manager is Dervla Kenny
Read about this programme and access guidelines on the HSE website
The Clinical Lead for this Programme is Prof David Kane, The Programme Manager is Gary Killeen who is based in RCPI
Read about this programme and access guidelines on the HSE website
Through the introduction of an innovative musculoskeletal physiotherapy initiative, over 80,000 patients were removed from waiting lists as of December 2016.
The Clinical Lead for this Programme is Professor Rónán Collins, the Programme Manager is Joan McCormack who is based in RCPI.
Read about this programme and access guidelines on the HSE website
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