Dr. Sara Burke
Associate Professor, Public Health & Primary Care
Biography
Prof Sara Burke is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Centre for Health Policy and Management, which is part of the Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care in the School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin. She is also a co-Director of the national SPHeRE PhD programme http://www.sphereprogramme.ie. She is the Principal Investigator of a research project entitled 'Producing a Health in Transition health system review (HiT) for Ireland as part of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies HiT series'. This is a HRB/Department of Health Evidence for Policy Award. In 2026, Professor Burke is seconded on a part-time basis to the Department of An Taoiseach to be health and social care system expert to the COVID-19 Evaluation Panel https://www.covid19evaluation.ie/about-us/ She is also co-applicant on another HRB Evidence for Policy grant on secondary prevention of stroke, a Secondary Data Analysis project on informing population based resource allocation for improved equity in primary care and an APRO VISTA: Vision to Action for prompting mental health and recovery. Previously Burke was PI on HRB Applied Partnership Award researching Sláintecare's implementation in the context of COVID-19 and the development of the HSE regions. Prof Burke leads the team reporting on Ireland for the European Observatory Health Systems COVID-19 response monitor) (https://www.covid19healthsystem.org/mainpage.aspx. Prior to that, she coordinated 'Mapping the pathways to universal healthcare'. In the first five months of 2017, Sara and a team from the Centre, led by Prof Steve Thomas worked with the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare, who had a remit to develop a ten-year plan for healthcare reform in Ireland http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/oireachtasbusiness/committees_list/future-of-healthcare/ Sara's first post-doctoral research was as a post-doc researcher on the Resilience of the Irish health system during the economic crisis. Sara is the lead on the health systems and policy module on the SPHERE programme https://www.sphereprogramme.ie/ and the Centre's MSc in Health Policy and Management https://www.tcd.ie/courses/postgraduate/courses/health-policy-and-management-msc/ teaches health policy to 4th year medical students. She is a co-module lead on a new first year medicine module entitled 'Society, systems and people', leading on the health systems and policy aspect of the course. Sara has worked for more than 25 years as a researcher in and of health systems and policy. Her book entitled Irish Apartheid, Healthcare Inequality in Ireland was published in 2009. She writes on occasionally for the national newspapers and for seven years from 2008 to 2015 had a weekly health slot on RTE Radio 1's Drivetime programme.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Gallant Allyson J, Oâ Connor Kare, Lyne John Pau, Ryan Leon, Doody Michell, Sheaf Gre, Higgins Agne, Cotter Davi, Murphy Rebecc, Doyle Louis, McEvoy Davi, Keogh Bria, Anand-Vembar Shaaky, Cannon Mar, Donohoe Gar, Longe Olivi, McDonald Col, Burke Sar, Healy Col, Staines Lorn, Mongan Davi, Oâ Keeffe Dona, Wilson Carolin, Kartalova-Oâ Doherty Yuli, Darker Catherine D, Implementing shared care models for young people with mental health difficulties: a consolidated framework for implementation research- informed scoping review of service integration across physical, sexual and mental health domains, BMC Health Services Research, 2026
McEvoy, D., Sweeney, C., Ryan, L., Wilson, C., Healy, C., Mongan, D., Sheaf, G., Higgins, A., Gallant, A., Doyle, L., Darker, C., Keogh, B., Kartalova-O'Doherty, Y., Murphy, R., Fitzgerald, C., Staines, L., Lyne, JP., O'Connor, K., Anand-Vembar, S., O'Keeffe, D., Nic Aodha, C., Cannon, M., Donohoe, G., Longe, O., McDonald, C., Burke, S., Breen, O., Thomas, R., Doody, M. & Cotter, D., A systematic review identifying personally modifiable factors for self-harm recovery in young people and the barriers and facilitators to their implementation, Journal of Psychiatric Research, 196, 2026, p210 - 233
Luisne Mac Conghail, Sarah Parker, Anne Matthews, Sara Burke, Examining the roles, relationships and power dynamics shaping universal health system policy processes in high- and upper-middle-income countries: a scoping review, BMC Health Services Research, 26, (1), 2025, p4 - 4, p4-4
Melissa K. Sharp, Shaimaa Abuhaimed, Berlinda Yeoh, Patrícia Logullo, Fiona Boland, Pádraig Murphy, Sara Burke, Máirín Ryan, Barbara Clyne, A cross-sectional analysis of Altmetric coverage of health research from Irish research organisations (2017-2023), HRB Open Research, 8, 2025, p58 - 58, p58-58
Gallant, A.J., Doody, M., O'Donoghue, B., Cullen, W., Brown, E., Doyle, L., Higgins, A., Murphy, R., Burke, S., Longe, O., O'Keeffe, D., McDonald, C., Kartalova-O'Doherty, Y., Donohoe, G., Keogh, B., Staines, L., Mongon, D., Cannon, M., Wilson, C., McEvoy, D., Anand-Vembar, S., Healy, C., Cotter, D., O'Connor, K., Darker, C. & Lyne, JP., Implementing care for physical and sexual health for youth accessing mental health services., Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 2025, p1 - 4
Katherine Pirie, Benjamin Jacob, Jack Adams, Sara Burke, Úna Kennedy, Patrick Redmond, Protocol for a Programme of Mixed-Methods Policy Research to Inform Primary Care"s Role in Symptomatic Early Cancer Detection in Ireland, HRB Open Research, 8, 2025, p102 - 102, p102-102
Paul Leavy, Pádraic Fleming, Blánaid Daly, Sarah Barry, Sara Burke, Primary oral healthcare in Ireland: a health systems analysis of publicly funded contracted services delivered by the general dental practitioner workforce, BMC Health Services Research, 25, (1), 2025, p802 - 802, p802-802
Rechel Bern, Durvy Béatric, Augusto Gonçalo Figueired, Aujoulat Isabell, Behmane Daig, Bensadon Anne-Carol, Burke Sar, D'Agostino Meliss, Davidovics Krisztin, Dayan Mar, De Belvis Antonio Giuli, de Jong Judit, Dubas-Jakóbczyk Katarzyn, Fronteira Inê, Gabriel Elen, Greco Giusepp, Groenewegen Pete, Jervelund Signe Smit, Kantaris Mario, Kroneman Madelo, Farkas-Lainscak Jernej, Maurice Benjami, Conghail Luisne Ma, Murauskiene Liubov, Poldrugovac Mirch, Rákosy Zsuzs, Scintee Silvia Gabriel, Sowada Christop, Turblin Frédéri, Vankova Desislav, Velkey Zit, Vladescu Cristia, Vocanec Dorj, VrangbÊk Karste, WÃŒnscher Johanne, YlitörmÀnen Tuij, Primary prevention in hospitals in 20 high-income countries in Europe â" A case of not â Making Every Contact Countâ ?, Health Policy, 151, 2025, p105199-
Gallant, A. J., Lyne, J. P., O'Connor, K., Sheaf, G., Anand-Vembar, S., O'Keeffe, D., ... & Darker, C. D., Mapping barriers, enablers and implementation determinants to shared models of care for physical health and sexual wellbeing among young people with mental health difficulties using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research: A scoping review protocol, HRB Open Research, 8, (28), 2025, p1 - 13
Parker, S, Schulmann, K, Bruen, C, Burke, S, Health System Reform in the Context of COVID-19: A Policy Brief Outlining Lessons from Ireland's Journey Towards the Goal of Universal Healthcare, BMC Global Health Research and Policy, 2025
James Larkin, Ciaran Prendergast, Logan T. Murry, Michelle Flood, Barbara Clyne, Sara Burke, Conor Keegan, Fiona Boland, Tom Fahey, Nav Persaud, Rose Anne Kenny, Frank Moriarty, Out-of-pocket prescription medicine expenditure amongst community-dwelling adults: Findings from the Irish longitudinal study on ageing (TILDA) in 2016, Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy, 17, 2025, p100565 - 100565, p100565-100565
Anand-Vembar S, Keogh B, Higgins A, Sheaf G, Kartalova-O'Doherty Y, Longe O, Staines L, McEvoy D, Gallant AJ, Wilson C, Ryan L, FitzGerald C, Nic Aodha C, Ryan C, Doody M, Horkan N, Hanney N, Breen O, Thomas R, Watters S, Doyle L, Cotter D, Darker CD, Cannon M, Lyne J, McDonald C, Healy C, Donohue G, Burke S, O'Connor K, Mongan D, Murphy R, and O'Keeffe D., Barriers and enablers to implementing capacity-strengthening initiatives for public and patient involvement in mental health research: a scoping review protocol informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, HRB Open Research, 8, (123), 2025
James Larkin, Matthew Preteroti, Logan T. Murry, Michelle Flood, Barbara Clyne, Sara Burke, Tom Fahey, Nav Persaud, Frank Moriarty, An essential medicines list in Ireland: A qualitative interview study of interest-holders, 2025
Úna McAuliffe, Kenneth A Eaton, Máiréad Harding, Helen Whelton, Jodi Cronin, Sara Burke, `At a tipping point": a comparative analysis of oral health coverage for children across six European countries: Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Scotland, and Spain, BMC Oral Health, 25, (1), 2025, p492 - 492, p492-492
Gallant AJ, Lyne JP, O'Connor K, Sheaf, G., Anand-Verbar, Shaakya., O"Keffe, D., Wilson, C., Kartalova-O"Doherty, Y., Doyle, L., Cannon, M., Ryan, L., Donohue, G., McEvoy, D., Cotter, D., Longe, O., McDonald, C., Higgins, A., Murphy, R., Burke, S., Darker, C.D.., Mapping barriers, enablers and implementation determinants to shared models of care for physical health and sexual wellbeing among young people with mental health difficulties using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research: A scoping review protocol, HRB Open, 8, (28), 2025
Leavy Paul, Symmons Sophie Mulcahy, Mockler David, Fleming Padraig, Daly Blanaid, Ford John, Burke Sara, How and why do health system factors influence general dentistsâ participation in publicly funded, contracted primary dental care services: A realist review, Health Policy, 153, 2025, p105248-
Larkin Jame, Prendergast Ciara, Murry Logan T, Flood Michell, Clyne Barbar, Burke Sar, Keegan Cono, Boland Fion, Fahey To, Persaud Na, Kenny Rose Ann, Moriarty Fran, Modelling the impact of changes to prescription medicine cost-sharing schemes among middle aged and older adults, Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 2025
McAuliffe à n, Eaton Kennet, Harding Máiréa, Whelton Hele, Cronin Jod, Burke Sar, â~At a tipping pointâ : a comparative analysis of oral health coverage for children across six European countries: Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Scotland, and Spain, BMC Oral Health, 25, (1), 2025, p492-
Kartalova-O'Doherty., Y., Cannon, M., Sheaf, G., Higgins, A., Keogh, B., Watters, S., Longe, O., Anand-Vembar, S., Staines, L., McEvoy, D., Muprhy, R., O'Keeffe, D., Horkan, N., Gallant, A.J., Wilson, C., Darker, C.D., Ryan, L., Lyne, J.P., McDonald, C., Healy, C., Donohue, G., Cotter, D., Burke, S., O'Connor, K., Mongan, D. & Doyle, L., Determinants that impact the use of social media for mental health promotion amongst young people: A scoping review protocol., HRB Open Research, 8, (73), 2025
Schulmann K, Bruen C, Parker S, Siersbaek R, Conghail LM, Burke S, The role of governance in shaping health system reform: a case study of the design and implementation of new health regions in Ireland, BMC Health Services Research, 24, 2024
Rikke Siersbaek, Paul Kavanagh, John Ford, Sara Burke, Sarah Parker, How and why do financial incentives contribute to helping people stop smoking? A realist review, BMC Public Health, 2024
Bruen C, Schulmann K, Parker S, Siersbaek R, Conghail LM., The role of governance in shaping health system reform: a case study of the design and implementation of new health regions in Ireland, 2018"2023, European Journal of Public Health, 17th European Public Health Conference 2024, Lisbon, Portugal, edited by Ricardo Mexia Sónia Dias Charlotte Marchandise , 34, (Supp. 3), 2024
Melissa K. Sharp, Patrícia Logullo, Pádraig Murphy, Prativa Baral, Sara Burke, David Robert Grimes, Máirín Ryan, Barbara Clyne, Altmetric coverage of health research in Ireland 2017-2023: a protocol for a cross-sectional analysis, HRB Open Research, 7, 2024, p36 - 36, p36-36
Philip H. Crowley, Sara Burke, Sarah Parker, K Schulmann, Charles Bruen, Co-producing research on universal health system reform in the context of COVID-19, European Journal of Public Health, 34, (Supplement_3), 2024
Sara Burke, S Parker, Carlos Bruen, K Schulmann, Rikke Siersbaek, Luisne Mac Conghail, Co-producing evidence to inform universal health coverage implementation in Ireland: 2019-2024, European Journal of Public Health, 34, (Supplement_3), 2024
Sara Burke, Sarah Parker, Karel Schulmann, Charles Bruen, Luisne Mac Conghail, The politics of universal health system reform in the context of COVID-19, European Journal of Public Health, 34, (Supplement_3), 2024
Sarah Parker, Sara Burke, Luisne Mac Conghail, Rikke Siersbaek, How to not revert to type: learnings from the pandemic response for universal health system reform, European Journal of Public Health, 34, (Supplement_3), 2024
Luisne Mac Conghail, Sarah Parker, Sara Burke, Examining universal access to acute hospital care in Ireland during the first three months of COVID-19: Lessons from the policy process, HRB - Open, 2024
Siersbaek Rikke, Ford John, Ní Cheallaigh Cliona, Thomas Steve, Burke Sara, How do health system factors (funding and performance) impact on access to healthcare for populations experiencing homelessness: a realist evaluation, International Journal for Equity in Health, 22, (1), 2023, p218-
Rina Maoz Breuer, Ruth Waitzberg, Adin Breuer, Peter Cram, Lucie Bryndova, Gemma A Williams, Kaija Kasekamp, Ilmo Keskimaki, Liina-Kaisa Tynkkynen, Verena van Ginneken, Eszter Kovács, Sara Burke, Domhnall McGlacken-Byrne, Carol Norton, Barbara Whiston, Daiga Behmane, Ieva Grike, Ronald Batenburg, Tit Albreht, Rade Pribakovic, Enrique Bernal-Delgado, Francisco Estupiñan-Romero, Ester Angulo-Pueyo, Adam J Rose, Work like a Doc: A comparison of regulations on residents' working hours in 14 high-income countries, Health Policy, 130, 2023, p104753
Parker, Sarah and Mac Conghail, Luisne and Siersbaek, Rikke and Burke, Sara, How to not revert to type: Complexity-informed learnings from the pandemic response for health system reform and universal access to integrated care, Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 2023
Ellen Cosgrave, Aishling Sheridan, Edward Murphy, Martina Blake, Rikke Siersbaek, Sarah Parker, Sara Burke, Frank Doyle, Paul Kavanagh, Public attitudes to implementing financial incentives in stopsmoking services in Ireland, Tobacco Prevention & Cessation, 9, (9), 2023
Parker Sarah, Siersbaek Rikke, Mac Conghail Luisn, Burke Sara, Public Health Responses to Homelessness During COVID-19 in Ireland: Implications for Health Reform, International Journal for Equity in Health, 22, (1), 2023, p36-52-
Siersbaek, R. and O'Donnell, C. and Parker, S. and Ford, J. and Burke, S. and NÃ Cheallaigh, C., Social exclusion and its impact on health over the life course: A realist review protocol, HRB Open Research, 6, (34), 2023
Ellen Cosgrave, Aishling Sheridan, Paul Kavanagh, Úna McAuliffe, Sara Burke, Máiréad Harding, Howard Johnson, Inequalities in oral health service utilisation in Ireland: results from the Healthy Ireland Survey, European Journal of Public Health, 33, (Supplement_2), 2023
Thomas, S, O'Donoghue, C, McCarthy, N, Almirall-Sanchez, A, Burke, S, Keegan, C, Dempsey, G, Barry, S, Fleming, P, The PRESTO report. Sustainability and Resilience in the Irish Health System, Trinity College Dublin/London School of Economics/Partnership for Health System Sustainability & re, March 2023, 2023
Siersbaek, R and O'Donnell, C and Parker, S and Ford, J and Burke, S and Ní Cheallaigh, C, Social exclusion and its impact on health over the life course: A realist review protocol [version 1; peer review: 2 approved with reservations], HRB Open Research, 6, (34), 2023
Domhnall McGlacken-Byrne, Sarah Parker, Sara Burke, Tracking aspects of healthcare activity during the first nine months of COVID-19 in Ireland: a secondary analysis of publicly available data, HRB - Open, 2022
Rikke Siersbaek, Sarah Parker, Paul M Kavanagh, John Ford, Sara Burke, How and why do financial incentives contribute to helping people stop smoking? A realist review protocol, BMJ Open., 12, 2022
Louise Marron, Sara Burke, Paul Kavanagh, Changes in the utilisation of acute hospital care in Ireland during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, HRB Open Research, 4, 2022, p67 - 67, p67-67
Úna McAuliffe, Noel Woods, Shauna Barrett, Jodi Cronin, Helen Whelton, Máiréad Harding, Kenneth A Eaton, Sara Burke, Comparing oral health systems for children in six European countries to identify lessons learned for universal oral health coverage: A study protocol., HRB Open Research, 5, 2022, p5 - 5, p5-5
Padraic Fleming, Louise Caffrey, Sara Van Belle, Sarah Barry, Sara Burke, Jacki Conway, Rikke Siersbaek, David Mockler, Stephen Thomas, How International Health System Austerity Responses to the 2008 Financial Crisis Impacted Health System and Workforce Resilience " A Realist Review, International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 12, 2022
McAuliffe U., Whelton H., Harding M., Burke S., 'Toothless - the absence of political priority for oral health: a case study of Ireland 1994"2021, BMC Oral Health, 22, (1), 2022
Fleming Padraic, Thomas Steve, Williams Des, Kennedy Jack, Burke Sara, Implications for health system reform, workforce recovery and rebuilding in the context of the Great Recession and COVID-19: a case study of workforce trends in Ireland 2008â"2021, Human Resources for Health, 20, (1), 2022, p48-
Unruh, L.; Allin, S.; Marchildon, G.; Burke, S.; Barry, S.; Siersbaek, R.; Thomas, S.; Rajan, S.; Koval, A.; Alexander, M. et al., A comparison of 2020 health policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, Health Policy, 126, (5), 2022, p427 - 437
Sarah Barry, Malgorzata Stach, Steve Thomas, Sara Burke, Understanding service reorganisation in the Irish health & social care system from 1998 to 2020: lessons for reform and transformation, HRB Open Research, 4, 2021, p106
A Nolan, S Burke, E Burke, C Darker, J Barry, M Dempster, C Graham, P Crowley, N O'Connell, G Scally, The politics of COVID-19 on the island of Ireland, European Journal of Public Health, European Public Health Association (EUPHA), Utrecht/Virtual, 10th-12th November 2, 31, (Issue Supplement_3), Oxford Academic, 2021
Siersbaek Rikke, Ford John Alexander, Burke Sara, Ní Cheallaigh Clíona, Thomas Steve, Contexts and mechanisms that promote access to healthcare for populations experiencing homelessness: a realist review , BMJ-Open, 11 , (4 ), 2021, pe043091 -
Louise Marron, Sara Burke, Paul Kavanagh, The public health and health system implications of changes in the utilisation of acute hospital care in Ireland during the first wave of COVID-19: Lessons for recovery planning, HRB Open Research, 4, 2021, p67 - 67, p67-67
Burke, Sara, Thomas, Steve, Stach, Malgorzata, Kavanagh, Paul, Magahy, Laura, Johnston, Bridget, Barry, Sarah, Health system foundations for Sláintecare implementation in 2020 and beyond " co-producing a Sláintecare Living Implementation Framework with Evaluation: Learning from the Irish health system"s response to COVID-19. A mixed-methods study protocol, HRB Open Research, 3, 2021, p70
Rikke Siersbaek, John Ford, Clíona Ní Cheallaigh, Sara Burke, Steve Thomas, Making healthcare accessible for single adults with complex needs experiencing long-term homelessness: A realist evaluation protocol, HRB Open Research, 3, 2021, p73
Bridget M. Johnston, Sara Burke, Paul M. Kavanagh, Caoimhe O'Sullivan, Steve Thomas, Sarah Parker, Moving beyond formulae: a review of international population-based resource allocation policy and implications for Ireland in an era of healthcare reform, HRB Open Research, 4, 2021, p121
Nolan Ann, Burke Sara, Burke Emma, Darker Catherine, Barry Joe, O'Connell Nicola, Zgaga Lina, Mather Luke, Nicolson Gail, Dempster Martin, Graham Christopher, Crowley Philip, O'Connor Cliodhna, Tobin Katy, Scally Gabriel, Obstacles to Public Health that even Pandemics cannot Overcome: The , Irish Studies in International Affairs , 32 , (2 ), 2021, p225 - 246
Siersbaek, R; Ford, J; Ní Cheallaigh, C;Burke, S;Thomas, S., Making healthcare accessible for single adults with complex needs experiencing long-term homelessness: A realist evaluation protocol [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]., HRB Open Research , 2021, p1-17
Barry, S, Ní Fhallúin, M, Thomas, S, Harnett, PJ, Burke, S. , Implementing Integrated Care in Practice - Learning from MDTs Driving the Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons in Ireland, International Journal of Integrated Care , 21(1):15, ((1) ), 2021, p1 - 11
Unruh L, Allin, S, Marchildon, Burke, S, Barry, S, Siersbaek, Thomas, S, Selina, R, Andriy, K, Alexander, M, Merkur, S, Webb, E,Williams, GA., A comparison of health policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemicin Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America , Health Policy, online 1 July, 2021
Thomas,S, Johnston, J, Barry, S, Siersbaek, R, Burke, S., Sláintecare implementation status in 2020: Limited progress with entitlement expansion, Health Policy, 2021
Snell, M, Nicksica, N, Panteli, D, Burke, S, Eissenberga,T, Fattored, G, Gaucie,C, Koprivnikarf, H, Murauskieneg, L, Reinaph, M, Barnes, A., Emerging electronic cigarette policies in European member states, Canada, and the United States, Health Policy, 2021
Burke, Sara; Parker, Sarah; Fleming, Padraic; Barry, Sarah, Thomas, Steve, Building health system resilience through policy development in response to COVID-19 in Ireland: From shock to reform, The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, 10, (100223), 2021
Louise Marron, Sara Burke, Paul Kavanagh, Changes in the utilisation of acute hospital care in Ireland during the first wave of COVID-19, European Journal of Public Health, 31, (Supplement_3), 2021
Johnston, B, Thomas, S, Burke, S., Can people afford to pay for health care? New evidence on financial protection in Ireland, 1st Edition, WHO Europe, WHO Europe, 2020, p1 - 118
Embracing and Disentangling from Private Finance: The Irish System in, editor(s)Colleen Flood and Bryan Thomas , Is two-tier health care the future?, Ottawa, University of Ottawa Press, 2020, pp291 - 314, [Stephen Thomas, Sarah Barry, Bridget Johnston, Rikke Siersbaek and Sara Burke ]
Burke Sar, McGettrick Grainn, Foley Kare, Manikandan Manjul, Barry Sarah, The 2019 neuro-rehabilitation implementation framework in Ireland: Challenges for implementation and the implications for people with brain injuries, Health Policy, 2020
Sara Burke, S E Thomas, Malgorzata Stach, Paul Kavanagh, Laura Magahy, Bridget Johnston, Simon Barry, Health system foundations for Sláintecare implementation in 2020 and beyond " co-producing a Sláintecare Living Implementation Framework with Evaluation: Learning from the Irish health system"s response to COVID-19. A mixed-methods study protocol [version 1; peer review: 2 approved], 3, 2020
Burke, S, Brugha, R, Thomas, S, The National Treatment Purchase Fund - A success for some patients yet a public policy failure? , Administration. Journal of the Institute of Public Administration of Ireland , 67, (2), 2019, p47 - 69
Johnston BM, Burke S, Barry S, Normand C, Ní Fhallúin M, Thomas S., Private health expenditure in Ireland: Assessing the affordability of private financing of health care. , Health policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 2019
Barry. S., Harnett, P.J., Burke, S., Thomas, S., Evaluating the Implementation of Integrated Care for Older Persons as a path to Universal Health Care, International Journal of Integrated Care, 18th International Conference for Integrated Care, Utrecht, Holland, 23-25 May 2018, edited by Robin Miller & Viktoria Stein , 19, (00), International Federation for Integrated Care, 2018, pp00 - 00
Burke, S, Brugha, R, Thomas S., It's the economy, stupid! When economics and politics override health policy goals - the case of tax reliefs to build private hospitals in Ireland in the early 2000s, HRB Open Research, 1, (1), 2018
Sara Burke,Sarah Barry,Rikke Siersbaek,Bridget Johnston,Maebh Ní Fhallúin,Steve Thomas, Sláintecare - A ten-year plan to achieve universal healthcare in Ireland, Health Policy, 2018, p1-5
Sara Burke∗, Sarah Barry, Rikke Siersbaek, Bridget Johnston, Maebh Ní Fhallúin,Steve Thomas, Sláintecare - A ten-year plan to achieve universal healthcare inIreland, Health Policy, 2018
Sara A. Burke, Ruairi Brugha, Stephen Thomas, It"s the economy, stupid! When economics and politics override health policy goals " the case of tax reliefs to build private hospitals in Ireland in the early 2000s, HRB Open Research, 1, 2018, p1
Steve Thomas, Sarah Barry, Bridget Johnston, Sara Burke, Ireland's health care system and the crisis: a case study in the struggle for a capable welfare state, Anais do Instituto de Medicina Tropical , 17 (Supplement), (1), 2018, p27 - 36
Murphy, Seán Joseph; Lee, Mandy; Burke, Sara., Integrating Care On A Cross-Border Basis: Priorities Of Key Actors In The Irish Context, International Journal of Integrated Care, 17, (5), 2017, p482 - 482
Sarah Barry, Sara Burke, Ella Tyrrell, Steve Thomas, 'Is someone going to saw off the plank behind me?' - Healthcare managers priorities, challenges and expectations for service delivery and transformation during economic crisis. , Health Systems, Policy and Research, 4, (1), 2017, p1-7
Barry. S., Burke, S., Boyce., M., Eustace-Cook, J., Normand, C., Thomas, S., Implementing Universal Healthcare implies Integrated Care Design - findings from a systematic review of the organisational challenges of implementing UHC policy, International Journal of Integrated Care, 17th International Conference for Integrated Care, Dublin, Ireland, 8-10 May 2017, edited by Robin Miller & Viktoria Stein , 17, (5), International Foundation for Integrated Care, 2017, ppA477 - A477
Sarah Barry, Sara Burke, Ella Tyrrell, Steve Thomas,, 'Is someone going to saw off the plank behind me?' - Healthcare managers priorities, challenges and expectations for service delivery and transformation during economic crisis., Health Systems, Policy and Research, 4, (1:39), 2017, p1 - 7
Reform of the Irish Healthcare System: What Reform? in, editor(s)Murphy, M and Dukelow F. , The Irish Welfare State in the Twenty-First Century, Challenges and Change, Basingtoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2016, pp167 - 193, [Burke, Sara]
Burke S, Normand C, Barry S and Thomas S, From universal health insurance to universal healthcare? The shifting health policy landscape in Ireland since the economic crisis., Health Policy, 120, (3), 2016, p235 - 240
Sara Burke, Charles Normand, Sarah Barry, Stephen Thomas, From universal health insurance to universal healthcare? The shifting health policy landscape in Ireland since the economic crisis, Health Policy, 12, 2015, p1-12
The impact of the financial crisis on the health system and health in Ireland in, editor(s)Maresso A, Mladovsky P, Thomson S, Sagan A, Karanikolos M, Richardson E, Cylus J, Evetovits T, Jowett M, Figueras J and Kluge H , Economic crisis, health systems and health in Europe: country experience, Copenhagen, Denmark, : WHO/ European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, 2015, [Anne Nolan, Sarah Barry, Sara Burke, Steve Thomas]
Burke, Sara; Thomas, Steve; Barry, Sarah, Measuring, mapping and making sense of Irish health system performance in the recession, BMC Health Services Research, 14 (Suppl 2) P12, 2014, p1-1
Burke S, Thomas S, Barry S, Keegan C, Indicators of health system coverage and activity in Ireland during the economic crisis 2008-2014 - From 'more with less' to 'less with less'., Health policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 117, (3), 2014, p275-8
Steve Thomas, Sara Burke, Sarah Barry, The Irish health-care system and austerity: sharing the pain, The Lancet, 383, (9928), 2014, p1545 - 1546
The impact of the financial crisis on the health system and health in Ireland in, editor(s)Maresso A, Mladovsky P, Thomson S, Sagan A, Karanikolos M, Richardson E, Cylus J, Evetovits T, Jowett M, Figueras J and Kluge H, eds , Economic crisis, health systems and health in Europe: country experience,, Copenhagen, World Health Organization - European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, 2014, pp1 - 42, [Nolan, Anne, Barry Sarah, Burke, Sara, Thomas, Steve]
Lessons from the European Union. Case Study 1: The Economic Crisis and the Irish Health System: Assessing Resilience. in, editor(s)X Hou, E Velenyi, AS Yazbeck, RF Iunes, O Smith , Learning from Economic Downturns, How to Better Assess, Track and Mitigate the Impact on the Health Sector, Washington, The World Bank, 2013, pp155 - 161, [Burke S, Nolan A, Thomas, S, Barry, S]
Steve Thomas. Sara Burke, Coping with Austerity in the Irish Health System, Eurohealth, 18, (1), 2012, p7 - 9
Burke, Sara., Boom to bust: its impact on Irish health policy and services., Irish Journal of Public Policy. , 2, (2), 2010
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
Sara Burke, Universal Health care in Ireland in the context of the proposal of Universal Basic Services , A Just Transition, How do we tackle heat, greed and need? , Maynooth University , 28022020, 2020, Department of Sociology, Maynooth
Sara Burke, The Irish health system - what sort of system do we have and why - tracing Irish health policy developments , RCSI HSE Executive Skills Development Programme plenary , RCSI, 22/1/2020, 2020, RCSI
Sara Burke, Irish Apartheid. Healthcare inequality in Ireland, 1st, Dublin, Ireland, New Island, 2009
Research Expertise
Projects
- Title
- Health system foundations for Sláintecare implementation in 2020 and beyond - co-producing a Sláintecare Living Implementation Framework with Evaluation: Learning from the Irish health system's response to COVID-19
- Summary
- All over the world, health systems are responding to the major shock of the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus is causing urgent and fast-paced change in the delivery of health and social care as well as highlighting pre-existing deficiencies and inequalities in the health system and broader society. In Ireland, COVID-19 is occurring during the second full year of Sláintecare's implementation - Ireland's 10-year plan for health reform to deliver universal access to timely, integrated care. This research will coproduce a Living Implementation Framework with Evaluation (LIFE) linking evidence, policy and practice that feeds into real-world Sláintecare implementation. In partnership with senior leadership in the Sláintecare Programme Implementation Office, the Department of Health and the HSE, the researchers will scope, document, measure and analyse the Sláintecare relevant COVID-19 responses using qualitative and quantitative methods. The LIFE will initially take the form of a live spreadsheet which contains the COVID-19 responses most relevant to Sláintecare. For each response, 3-4 indicators will be collected which enables monitoring overtime. The spreadsheet will be accompanied by a series of rapid reviews, narrative descriptions of multiple case studies, research papers, stakeholder engagement and formative feedback. These collectively make up the 'LIFE', informing dialogue with the project partners, which is happening in real time (living), influencing health policy and system decision-making and implementation as the project progresses. The LIFE will inform health system reform in Ireland in the months and years after the emergence of COVID-19 as well as contributing to international health systems and policy research.
- Funding Agency
- Health Research Board
- Date From
- 01-09-2019
- Date To
- 30-05-2022
- Title
- COMmunity PArticipation to set direction on design and implementation of financial incentives in Stop Smoking services
- Funding Agency
- HRB
- Date From
- January 2024
- Date To
- December 2025
- Title
- Structured PhD Programme in Population Health and Health Services Research
- Summary
- I an a Co-Director of SPHeRE - Ireland"s national research training programme for population health, policy and health services research (PHPHSR) and is funded by the Health Research Board in Ireland. SPHeRE means `Structured Population health, Policy and Health-services Research Education". The SPHeRE concept captures our approach to the inter-relationship of research, translation and practice. Our aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of groups or populations through high-quality research, and stakeholder engagement, addressing current and emerging issues in population health, health policy and health systems. Our vision is to embed a culture of research in population health, health policy and health systems, grounded in principles of scientific inquiry and inclusion. The programme The programme is `structured" because we want all our scholars to receive the same training, regardless of their previous experience. This is because improvements in population health and health service delivery can"t be achieved without co-operation across disciplines. SPHeRE connects scholars from diverse backgrounds and gives them a common language to work together. We aim to develop the research leaders of tomorrow: a cadre of networked academics with a common training but diverse skills. We match excellent scholars with the best supervisors to carry out research of strategic importance to the Irish population. To do this we have developed a wide network of academics from disciplines such as biostatistics, economics, nursing, psychology, medicine, occupational therapy, sociology, speech and language therapy, management, geography and physiotherapy. Our scholars bring a diverse range of life experiences to each class and many have worked as clinicians, managers or policymakers in the Irish health system. Their research is conducted to the highest standards and has been widely published in prestigious international journals. Every year we showcase their research at our annual Network Conference and work to connect their findings with policymakers.
- Funding Agency
- HRB
- Date From
- April 2018
- Date To
- April 2029
- Title
- INCLUDE: Integrating National Repositories for the Cooperation Linkage and Understanding of a Data Driven approach to the needs of Excluded people
- Summary
- INCLUDE: Integrating National Repositories for the Cooperation Linkage and Understanding of a Data Driven approach to the needs of Excluded people
- Funding Agency
- HRB
- Date From
- September 2021
- Date To
- January 2025
- Title
- VISTA: VISion To Action for promoting mental health and recovery. An Implementation Science approach to "Sharing the Vision" - Ireland's national mental health policy
- Summary
- VISTA: VISion To Action for promoting mental health and recovery. An Implementation Science approach to "Sharing the Vision" - Ireland's national mental health policy
- Funding Agency
- HRB
- Date From
- December 2023
- Date To
- November 2028
- Title
- Mapping the Pathways to Universal Healthcare in Ireland
- Summary
- Ireland is unique among its European counterparts in that, unlike them, we have no universal access to healthcare. Since 2011, both Programmes for Government have committed to the goal of universal healthcare. Building on our prior work for the Resilience project, the Pathways project is mapping a potential pathway or pathways to universal healthcare through the three components of the research project: - Assessing the gap between current Irish health system performance and universal healthcare, using and adapting World Health Organisation concepts; - Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of different models of universal healthcare and assessing their feasibility of implementation within the current context according to key criteria such as affordability, human resources and complexity of design; - Assessing the organisational challenges of moving to universal healthcare by reviewing the experience of other countries and exploring the current capacity and constraints facing decision makers throughout the system.
- Funding Agency
- Health Research Board
- Date From
- 01/10/2014
- Date To
- 01/10/2018
- Title
- Resilience of the Irish Health System: Surviving and utilising the economic contraction
- Summary
- A new government came to power in Ireland in March 2011. Included in the Programme for Government were the most radical proposals for health policy reform since the foundation of the State in 1921. The new government promised to undo the unequal, unfair two tier system of healthcare, specifically committing to 'access to medical care based on medical need, not income'. It specified over 80 health policy commitments including free GP care for all by 2016 and the introduction of Universal Health Insurance during a second term in office. All this was pledged during the most severe economic crisis experienced by Ireland since the 1930s which led to significant budget cuts including cuts to the health system. The Resilience project 2011-2014 gathered a range of indicators to monitor how the health system coped during the crisis, as well as, carrying out qualitative interviews with key policy makers, politicians and health service leaders. A specific website http://www.medicine.tcd.ie/resilience4health/ was set up to disseminate information and findings from the project.
- Funding Agency
- Health Research Board
- Date From
- 01/01/2011
- Date To
- 01/01/2014
Recognition
Representations
June 2025 Guest on inaugural HRB evidence for policy podcast HRB podcast and chosen as one of four Irish academics giving expert tips to influence policy as part of HRB campaign Health Research Podcast Episode 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPxWtZRvl5Y&t=2s
May 2025 Interview on RTE Radio 1's Today with Claire Byrne on new Sláintecare policy https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22514577/
March 2025 Keynote speaker at European Parliament Spring Talks series giving a public lecture on Health Policy and Implementation https://www.youtube.com/live/PsMhkapJ70I
March 2025 Guest on two USA podcasts entitled Code WACK on Irish healthcare reform https://heal-ca.org/could-irelands-universal-healthcare-model-work-in-the-u-s/
March 2025 Guest on two USA podcasts entitled Code WACK on Irish healthcare reform https://heal-ca.org/how-ireland-is-fixing-its-healthcare-system/
February 2025 Keynote speaker at Business Post National Health Summit on the new health regions " getting the governance right? https://healthsummit.ie/2025-presentation-page/
May 2024: Irish"Times opinion piece on the accountability of the new health regions being implemented by the HSE https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2024/05/30/design-of-the-new-health-regions-lacks-accountability-transparency-and-integrity/
February 2024: Featured on Ireland's Edge podcast discussing healthcare system overload and Sláintecare implementation https://www.irelandsedge.net/podcast/everybody-hurts-reforming-irish-healthcare
March 2023: Presented to the Oireachtas Health Committee on Sláintecare, with coverage on RTE https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2023/0301/1359583-health-committee/ and in Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/health/2023/03/01/powerful-people-will-have-to-give-away-power-for-slaintecare-to-proceed-oireachtas-committee-hears/ and Irish Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41082892.html
Publication of an opinion piece for the Irish Times entitled 'Whatever happened to Sláintecare?' in the aftermath of the publication of a report into negligent care provided by the South Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team. https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/whatever-happened-to-sl%C3%A1intecare-1.4792060
I acted as special rapporteur at the health session of the Irish Government's 2021 National Economic Dialogue, this session was co-chaired with the health minister Stephen Donnelly and I. More https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/f49b5-national-economic-dialogue-2021/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/ned/
Opinion published in Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/sl%C3%A1intecare-resignations-leaves-hse-to-drive-healthcare-reform-1.4680106
Publication of an opinion article in the Irish Times entitled Election 2020: How are parties going to implement Sláintecare? https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/election-2020-how-are-parties-going-to-implement-sl%C3%A1intecare-1.4160580
In 2016/17, I coordinated the research team (with prof Steve Thomas as PI) which won a tender to provide technical support to the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare. This work resulted in the publication of the 2017 Sláintecare Report https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/committees/32/future-of-healthcare/