HSE Inclusion Health Clinic Providing Thousands of Consultations to Marginalised People Across the Midwest

Pictured during the recent visit of Minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor to the HSE Mid West Inclusion Health Clinic, Mulgrave Street, Limerick were: (from left) Carol Stanley, Mental Health Nurse, HSE Social Inclusion Homeless Action Team; Louise Carey, General Manager, HSE Social Inclusion; Dr Patrick O’Donnell,General Practitioner,HSE Social Inclusion; Minister Murnane O’Connor; and Maria Bridgeman, Integrated Healthcare Area Manager, Limerick City and Tipperary North.

HSE Inclusion Health Clinic is providing up to 2,500 consultations per year working with marginalised people in Limerick City and across the Mid West

A HSE clinic working with marginalised people in Limerick City and across the Mid West is providing up to 2,500 consultations per year, Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor has been told.

The GP-led social inclusion clinic based on Mungret Street is also potentially saving over €300,000 and 418 bed nights annually by reducing acute hospital presentations and admissions, an analysis conducted in collaboration with HSE Mid West Public Health has found.

Minister Murnane O’Connor marked one year her current office with a visit to the HSE Mid West Inclusion Health Clinic and a number of other services working with marginalised groups in Limerick city centre.

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The inclusion health clinic works with people who are homeless, people with severe addiction, migrants and refugees, and other groups. Based in the heart of the city, the clinic also provides outreach services to many hostels and other accommodation sites across the region.

Staffed by a GP, experienced nurses and a key worker from Ana Liffey Drug Project, services provided include general healthcare, the management of wounds and infections, mental health assessments, sexual health and contraceptive services, blood testing, vaccinations, screening and more. The clinic functions as part of the wider multidisciplinary HSE social inclusion team, and the staff engage with many local and regional non-governmental organisations and agencies.

During her visit to the clinic, Minister Murnane O’Connor was informed of the results of an economic evaluation of the inclusion health clinic’s work, which found that through improving access to general practice and basic healthcare services in the community, the service was potentially saving an estimated €330,000 in costs averted by the acute hospital system, in addition to 418 bed nights over the 12-month evaluation period.

Minister Murnane O’Connor commented: “If we are to improve overall population health, we must ensure that everyone in society is supported and empowered to access vital health services. A number of inclusion health clinics such as this one in Limerick, funded by the Department of Health and operated by the HSE, are now in operation across the country. It’s heartening to visit and witness the impact of their work, which is supporting people in marginalised groups to access care when they need it, reducing avoidable pressure on hospitals, and most importantly enabling better health outcomes.”

Dr Patrick O’Donnell explained the purpose of the clinic was to support people to try to improve their health while also encouraging them to register and engage with the mainstream health services.

“I am delighted to welcome the Minister here to the clinic to discuss the work that has being taking place over the last 10 years to develop this service for underserved groups across the Mid West,” Dr O’Donnell said.

“It began as a pilot project established by the University of Limerick School of Medicine, HSE Mid West Social Inclusion and Primary Care and the National Social Inclusion Office. Initially, clinics were hosted at the St Vincent de Paul Drop-in Centre and the Ana Liffey Drug Project offices, but it has since expanded and moved to the HSE Mid West Social Inclusion offices. Every day we meet patients who are seeking to address complex health issues, and with the support of our multidisciplinary inclusion health team, we are able to begin to stabilise things and support them to engage with an array of relevant services across the region. I would like to thank the Minister and the Drugs Policy, Refugee and Inclusion Health Unit at the Department of Health for their support in this endeavour,” De O’Donnell added.

During her visit to Limerick, Minister Murnane O’Connor also met with members of the Mid West Regional Drugs and Alcohol Forum, who are also based on Mungret Street, and visited a number of organisations providing essential health and social care services to marginalised groups in the city, including the Ana Liffey Drug Project and Novas.