The Department of Health has published Health in Ireland Key Trends 2022.
Highlights from the report include:
- Significant increase in activity with 1.5 million attendances to hospital Emergency Departments in 2021, an increase of 13% year on year, and 3.2 million attendances to outpatient appointments in 2021, an increase of 8% year on year.
- 83% of those admitted to a public hospital rate their experience good/very good.
- Mortality rate from all causes of death decreased by almost 16%, cancer mortality rates reduced by 15%.
- 82% of people in Ireland rate their health as good or very good, the highest in the EU.
- Number of people over 65 is projected to almost double by 2042.
- In 2020, 79% of total health expenditure was funded by the government.
- Number of consultant and non-consultant hospital doctors employed in public health service up 49% since 2012.
Health in Ireland Key Trends 2022 looks at demographics, population health, hospital and primary care, health sector employment and expenditure, providing a comprehensive picture of the health landscape in Ireland today.
It highlights the significant achievements that Ireland has made for key health outcomes in the past decade. However, it also highlights the challenges that persist in terms of the accessibility of timely and efficient healthcare across the population.
This publication, now in its 14th edition, provides the background and context for the Department of Health’s work in creating legislation, policy and strategies to address these critical issues. This volume is the second in a series that will chart post-pandemic impacts on the health service.
Welcoming the report, the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said, “Health in Ireland Key Trends gives us the opportunity to assess the performance of the Irish health system and reflect on the health status of our people over time. It shows the importance of good quality data to health professionals and policy makers alike in providing a high-quality health service for our population as we implement Sláintecare.”
“The largest proportional increases in the population in Ireland are projected to be in the category of those aged 85 years and older. The number of people aged 65 and over will grow from one-fifth to over one-third of the working population over the next two decades which will have implications on how we fund our health services. This is a good thing – people are living longer, but we need to ensure they live well.”
“We are investing record levels in health care, building capacity, expanding the workforce and driving positive change with our policies. For example, our cancer strategy is clearly making a positive difference, with mortality rates down almost 16%. We know that Slaintecare will further enhance the health of the population by reforming the way in which we deliver timely, quality healthcare. And we’re making it accessible and affordable, with €4 out of every €5 in 2020 spent on health being funded not by the patient but by the government. There is still much to achieve, but the progress outlined in Key Trends shows how we’re making very tangible improvements in health outcomes and delivering a better health service for all.”
