Four RCSI-led projects were among the successful applicants as Minister for Health Simon Harris TD announced details of the €20 million Sláintecare Integration Fund.

Over 477 projects applied for the Integration Fund and 122 projects from across the country were successful. The successful projects meet the goals outlined under Sláintecare: demonstrate innovative ways in which citizens can engage in their own health; represent best practice in the management of chronic diseases and caring for older people, and; encourage innovations in shift of care to the community or promote hospital avoidance.

Four RCSI-led projects included:

• Dr Fidelma Fitzpatrick, Department of Clinical Microbiology/Beaumont Hospital
  Project: Stool Bank Ireland
• Dr Michelle Flood, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
  Project: HealthEIR: A Journey to Improving Health and Wellbeing Through Community-Based Social Self-Care
• Dr Grace O’Malley, School of Physiotherapy, Division of Population Health Sciences/ Temple Street Children's University Hospital
  Project: Facilitating Integration of Childhood Obesity Services in Primary Care Through Education
• Professor Susan Smith, Department of General Practice
  Project: Linkworkers to support the coordination of health and social care for patients living in disadvantaged communities

Speaking at the launch of the Integration Fund today, Minister Harris said: “The successful Sláintecare Integration Fund projects are leading examples of how innovative thinking can bring about meaningful and long-lasting change to health and social care in Ireland.

“These projects show how joined-up thinking and working in partnership can help us reach Sláintecare’s goals of shifting the majority of care to the community, reducing waiting lists and improving experiences for patients and staff across the health and social care system in Ireland. I look forward to seeing the end results of these projects and how they might be scaled up.”

Commenting on the research grants, Professor Fergal O’Brien, Director of Research and Innovation, RCSI, said: “Our success in the Sláintecare Integration Fund is a testament to the relevancy of RCSI’s research to the delivery of health services in Ireland. The combined funding of approximately €1m of the €20m fund being awarded to RCSI projects demonstrates the quality of health sciences research taking place at RCSI. I congratulate the RCSI applicants and I look forward to the results of their projects.”

Minister Harris concluded: “The announcement of these successful applicants is an important milestone in the delivery of the 2019 Sláintecare Action Plan. The €20m Integration Fund underlines the Government’s commitment to ensuring the resources and tools are in place to deliver the Sláintecare vision.”