Consultation on health framework launched
Work has begun on putting together a framework which aims to prevent and redress health and social inequities.
The Department of Health has said it is developing the Inclusion Health Framework in order to incorporate an inclusion health approach across all aspects of health policy and practice.
Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Colm Burke TD launched the consultation for the Inclusion Health Framework in UCC recently. Inclusion health is an approach to health services, research, and policy which aims to prevent and redress health and social inequities through interventions and integrated healthcare responses which better meet the needs of socially excluded groups.
Minister Burke said: “We know that socially excluded groups face substantial impacts on their health that affect their quality of life. They require tailored health and social interventions that address their social determinants of health and the complex health inequalities that they cause.
“That’s why it’s so important that inclusion health is integrated into our approach to policy development and service delivery, in order to ensure that we can appropriately serve the most vulnerable members of our community.”
The Department of Health has contracted the Inclusion Health Research Group in the College of Medicine and Health, UCC to undertake a consultation process to inform the development of the framework. The process will involve an online survey, consultation events and consultations using the World Café methodology. These events will be held in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. Dr Angela Flynn, Lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery said: “The multidisciplinary nature of our Inclusion Health Research Group here in the College of Medicine and Health, UCC, positions us very well to undertake this multimethod public consultation.
"Each of us have many years working in the health services, working closely with marginalised communities, and preparing the next generations of health professionals. We are excited to have the opportunity to hear directly from those with lived experience of exclusion and to ensure their voices will inform an inclusion health approach across all aspects of health policy and practice.”
Additionally, the consultation will include two panels: one which will act as a professional advisory panel and another, comprising people with lived experience.
The main target groups for inclusion health services are people experiencing homelessness, Travellers and Roma, migrants, refugees, beneficiaries of temporary protection and international protection applicants, victims/survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV), and people who use drugs and alcohol. Other groups include ex-prisoners, and sex workers.
It is envisaged that the framework will be published by the end of 2024.