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DF Medical Services Review.pdf

Executive Summary

Background
The Irish Defence Forces (DF) consist of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and the Reserve
Defence Force (RDF). Health service provision to the PDF is the focus of this review. The Medical
Corps has three main service objectives:

    • To maintain and promote health and well-being for members of the PDF
    • To maximise the medical readiness of the PDF for operational activities both at home and overseas
    • To provide field medical support in operational and training settings both at home and overseas.

The main medical services provided or organised by the Medical Corps are general primary care
services, occupational health, physiotherapy, mental health and dental services. The locations for
care vary from individual barracks at home across the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps to locations
overseas which can be logistically, environmentally and operationally challenging. Military clinicians
such as doctors and dentists within the Medical Corps hold the title ‘Medical Officer’.

The Review
The Minister for Defence commissioned PA Consulting Group to complete an independent review of
medical services for the Defence Forces (DF). The objective of this review is to recommend a future
model of medical service provision, designing a structure that delivers medical expertise in an efficient,
effective and economic manner to the PDF. The main requirements of the review were to:

    • Review the medical input required for the DF in the light of its roles assigned by Government;
    • Assess the current arrangements for the provision of medical services;
    • Make recommendations regarding the sustainable future provision of the required medical input;
    • Develop a work plan outlining the main projects necessary for the implementation of recommendations.

Based on these findings, the team designed a model for the future medical service provision for the
Defence Forces and estimated the medical resources needed to operate it.

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