Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 March 2025
389. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available to recruit the additional 11 WTE staff needed towards delivering an obesity service in Mallow to coincide with the funding in the capital submission for 2025 for the required infrastructure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14765/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2016, in response to rising obesity rates, the Irish Government launched A Healthy Weight for Ireland - our national Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP). OPAP sits under Healthy Ireland, which is the framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of everyone living in Ireland.
Under OPAP, Ireland put in place a comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy to address obesity and overweight and since 2016 has made progress across a number of policy initiatives. A key initiative was to develop a Model of Care for the Treatment and Management of Obesity and this was launched by the HSE and Royal College of Physicians in Ireland (RCPI) in 2021. The Model of Care sets out how the healthcare for children, young people and adults living with overweight and obesity in Ireland should be organised and resourced now and in the future. It identifies the service required, who should provide it and where the service should be delivered across the healthcare system. The Model of Care takes a population health approach to managing obesity, recognising the wider drivers of obesity such as genetics, environment and socioeconomic status.
One of the sites that was identified for level three obesity management services (acute specialist ambulatory care) was Mallow General Hospital. Funding provided in Budget 2023 under Phase 1 funding of the Model of resulted in the recruitment of 2 WTE in Mallow (Consultant Endocrinologist and Administrative support). Budget 2025 secured funding to complete the roll out of Phase One of the Model of Care and commence Phase Two. Phase One funding includes 6.5 WTE in Mallow to expand the team and operationalise the level 3 obesity management service in 2025.
A new obesity plan is under development for 2026 and will identify and prioritise a wide range of measures to continue to address overweight and obesity in Ireland, including building on the management and treatment services that have been established under A Healthy Weight for Ireland.
