Ireland’s shift toward healthcare in local communities is beginning to show measurable results. The latest update from the Health Service Executive (HSE) highlights how integrated services in the west and north west are helping more patients get treated closer to home while easing pressure on hospitals.
The announcement, published via gov.ie linked public service updates and led by the Health Service Executive (HSE), points to strong progress under the Enhanced Community Care programme, a central reform aligned with Sláintecare. The model connects general practice, primary care and specialist teams so people can access timely support in their own area rather than defaulting to acute hospital settings.
How the Health Service Executive (HSE) is advancing care closer to home
The Health Service Executive (HSE) says the west and north west region is among the strongest performers nationally. Community therapy services recorded 44,700 patients seen by February 2026, up 7.9% from the same stage a year earlier and 8.5% ahead of target.
Growth was particularly notable in key disciplines:
- Physiotherapy activity rose by 15%
- Speech and Language Therapy increased by 4.3%
- Community specialist services continued to expand across multiple local care pathways
This progress matters not only for patients, but also for wider public administration across Health, Social Protection and Public Expenditure, where better frontline access can support more efficient service delivery.
Chronic disease teams deliver standout performance
One of the clearest success stories involves Community Specialist Teams supporting chronic disease care. Across the region, these teams recorded 22,900 patient contacts by February 2026, a 23% increase year on year and 10% above target.
The Sligo-based chronic disease team emerged as the top-performing service of its kind in the country, with more than 6,300 patient contacts. According to the update, this was supported by stronger digital referrals through Healthlink and close coordination between GPs, hospital clinicians and community networks.
That joined-up model reflects a wider direction seen across Irish public services, where agencies and departments including Finance, Department of the Taoiseach and Enterprise, Trade and Employment increasingly emphasise digital integration, local responsiveness and better use of resources.
Read more: Explore more Irish public service updates
Hospital pressure falls as community treatment expands
The most significant outcome may be the impact on hospital admissions. Between 2019 and 2024, the region achieved an 8.96% reduction in chronic disease hospital admissions, even as all other hospital admissions rose by 4.8% over the same period.
That suggests the Health Service Executive (HSE) model is doing more than increasing activity numbers. It is changing how care is delivered by intervening earlier, managing long-term conditions in the community and reducing avoidable hospital stays.
For policymakers across Local Government and Heritage, Housing, Education and Climate Action, the implications are broad: local infrastructure, transport access and digital systems all influence whether integrated care can work effectively at scale.
Older persons services also show momentum
The Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons recorded 5,000 patient contacts by February 2026, making the region the second most active nationally. Activity was 8% higher than the previous year and in line with planned targets, indicating steady implementation rather than one-off gains.
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Why this matters for Ireland’s public service reform
The significance of this update goes beyond one region. The Health Service Executive (HSE) performance offers a practical example of how integrated public services can improve outcomes when local teams, digital tools and specialist expertise are aligned. It also complements the work of bodies across the wider state system, from the Revenue Commissioners and An Garda Síochána to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), National Transport Authority (NTA), Tusla, HIQA and the Central Bank, all of which operate within a broader drive toward modernised, accessible public services.
Key takeaways include:
- More patients are accessing specialist care in community settings
- Chronic disease teams are reducing avoidable hospital admissions
- Digital referral tools are improving coordination and speed of access
- Regional decision-making is helping services respond to local needs
Read more: Explore related national developments
In short, the Health Service Executive (HSE) results from the west and north west show that community-first care is not just a policy ambition. It is becoming a measurable reality, with better access for patients and a clearer path toward a more resilient Irish health system.
