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Bed closures are saving the HSE €0.65m per day

Dara Gantly | 12 March 2010

Current bed closures throughout the country are saving the HSE an estimated €645,414 a day, new figures have suggested. A total of 726 beds were closed in the acute hospital system in the latter half of January, the Minister for... Read more

CEO search cost €60k

Dara Gantly | 12 March 2010

The recruitment process to find the new CEO of the HSE has cost more than €60,000, it has emerged. The price tag for placing advertisements for the post nationally and internationally last December amounted to €25,055.... Read more

DOH Secretary General to address troubling ORP report

Dara Gantly | 11 March 2010

The Minister for Health has pledged that Secretary General Michael Scanlan and his management team will address the shortcomings identified in the hard-hitting Organisational Review Programme (ORP) report into the Department of Health. Describing Scanlan as one of the most... Read more

New policy on dementia due

Dara Gantly | 11 March 2010

The Government will start work on a new national policy on dementia this year. Minister of State at the Department of Health, Áine Brady, said current policy on dementia was informed by a number of reports and strategies, principally the... Read more

Call to reverse massive cuts on Connolly

10 March 2010

Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown is facing a 12.6 per cent cut in its budget this year, from €103 million to €90 million. The hospital must now find €7.5 million in savings on top of the €5.5 million in pay cuts... Read more

Managers to address cuts in health budgets

Laura Finn | 09 March 2010

Some of Ireland’s leading health managers will gather later this month in Dublin in order to focus on tackling the issues of innovation, change and the worsening financial situation in the health service. Health Service Executive National Director Brian Gilroy... Read more

Expanded role for Galway manager

Gary Culliton | 09 March 2010

The role of the new general manager for Galway University Hospitals has been expanded to include Portiuncula Hospital and Roscommon County Hospital. IMPACT last week told its members not to co-operate with any move to expand the scope of the... Read more

Staff moratorium crippling mental health services

Laura Finn | 08 March 2010

The moratorium on the recruitment and replacement of essential staff in mental health services should be scrapped, according to the Irish Mental Health Coalition (IMHC). IMHC Director Caroline McGrath referred to the moratorium as a ‘crude and brutal instrument that... Read more

Demand-led schemes drive costs - Drumm

Gary Culliton | 04 March 2010

There was an increase of approximately €320 million in the cost of servicing the various Demand-led schemes that include the Medical Card Schemes and Drugs Payment Scheme, HSE CEO Prof Brendan Drumm told the Dail Public Accounts Committee today. However,... Read more

HSE secures €50m for mental health facilities

Gary Culliton | 04 March 2010

The HSE has now secured €50 million to invest in new bespoke mental health facilities in 2010. This is the first year of a multi-annual investment programme that will see the closure of “outdated mental health facilities and the creation... Read more

DoH cuts spend on outside consultants

Dara Gantly | 03 March 2010

The Department of Health has slashed its spend on outside consultants and experts by more than €2.7 million over the past three years. It spent €8,099,465 on external contracts in 2007. This was for the provision of advice and expertise,... Read more

Keane out in front in two-horse race

24 February 2010

One person bet €500 at evens that Prof Tom Keane will emerge as the next HSE CEO, on February 4, bookmakers Paddy Power reports. This brought his odds tumbling to 1/3. “There have been a number of other nibbles on... Read more

Autumn until full EWTD compliance

Dara Gantly | 19 February 2010

The HSE does not expect compliance with the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) to be achieved until the fourth quarter of 2010, despite the EU having already issued a warning on the issue. According to its new service plan, the... Read more

Green light on HSE sanctions

Gary Culliton | 19 February 2010

A new crackdown on wait-ing lists, involving a controversial ‘forced NTPF’ policy involving offending hospitals having to pay for procedures in other facilities, has been launched by the HSE. Under the new get-tough plan, penalties will apply to a hospital... Read more

Ireland 'unique in Europe' on generics

Gary Culliton | 17 February 2010

Some generic drugs are now 50 per cent more expensive than their branded equivalents — a situation ‘unique in Europe’, the Clinical Director of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics has told Irish Medical Times. Describing this as ‘an extraordinary situation’,... Read more

Centralised facility 'an absolute disaster'

Gary Culliton | 17 February 2010

All of the 140 people re-quired by the new centralised medical cards facility will be posted to Finglas by April, HSE Chief Executive Prof Brendan Drumm told the Oireachtas Health Committee last week. On a recent occasion, Gardaí had to... Read more

Wheely good cycling scheme for HSE staff

Dara Gantly | 16 February 2010

HSE National Director of Human Resources Sean McGrath has informed the Executive’s top-ranking managers that staff should get on their bikes – literally. Health-service workers can now avail of the Government’s cycle to work scheme, which covers bicycles and accessories... Read more

Strict new rules enforced for hiring

Dara Gantly | 11 February 2010

The HSE has introduced strict new terms and conditions for hiring temporary consultants and NCHDs through recruitment agencies. Following a competitive tender process, the Executive has appointed six companies that will be able to supply locum doctors to the HSE.... Read more

Net cast wide for HSE CEO

Gary Culliton | 05 February 2010

More than 30 external applicants have put their names forward for the position of HSE CEO, IMT has learned. There have been at least four internal applications, including a number of HSE National Directors. Interviews for the post are expected... Read more

Minister wants €27 million in savings from generics

Dara Gantly | 03 February 2010

The Minister for Health hopes that generic drugs manufacturers who have not yet decided to cut their prices will follow the lead set this week by members of the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA). The cost of 300 of the... Read more

Almost 2,000 health staff on career breaks

Niamh Mullen | 03 February 2010

There are 1,738 public health service staff are on a career break, according to figures to the end of November 2009. The HSE received 299 applications for the Incentivised Career Break Scheme, which was announced last year but suspended in... Read more

Hospital budgets to be hit through HealthStat — HSE

Dara Gantly | 28 January 2010

The HSE intends to use its performance information and improvement system, HealthStat, to sanction poorly performing hospitals and reward any well functioning facilities, Irish Medical Times has learned. HSE CEO Prof Brendan Drumm has requested that a form of incentive... Read more

Consultants' group gets new independent Chair

Gary Culliton | 27 January 2010

Mr Eugene Murray, Chief Executive of the Irish Hospice Foundation, has been appointed as Chair of the Consultant Applications Advisory Committee (CAAC) in place of Seán McGrath, National Director, HSE Human Resources. The group has met twice and is due... Read more

State set to pay negligence claims of €70m in 2010

Gary Culliton | 20 January 2010

The State’s Clinical Indemnity Scheme (CIS), which deals with claims for medical negligence from patients, is projecting payouts totalling €70 million this year, up from 2009’s €48 million payout figure, IMT has learned. “A series of cerebral palsy cases are... Read more

Keane in 'dialogue' over HSE CEO post

Gary Culliton | 19 January 2010

The outgoing Director of the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) Prof Tom Keane has confirmed that he has held discussions in relation to the position of Chief Executive of the HSE. Prof Keane said he had not yet made any... Read more

Department cuts its staff by almost 8%

Dara Gantly | 14 January 2010

The number of staff employed by the Department of Health reduced by nearly 8 per cent last year — just short of the 10 per cent reduction recommended by An Bord Snip Nua. At the start of 2009, there were... Read more

Salary of new CEO expected to be cut

Gary Culliton | 14 January 2010

The incoming HSE Chief Executive is likely to be paid significantly less than the current post holder Prof Brendan Drumm, mostly likely around the E250,000 mark, sources within the Executive have revealed. A rate of E370,000 a year was agreed... Read more

IBTS agrees to plasma sale

Dara Gantly | 08 January 2010

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has agreed to sell a component of donors’ blood to commercial firms for the first time, in a move described by its Medical and Scientific Director as a ‘sea change’ for the Service. Dr... Read more

A Keane interest

Gary Culliton | 08 January 2010

Cancer Czar Prof Tom Keane – who remained in Ireland over Christmas – is understood to be considering applying for the job of HSE Chief Executive and has just days to decide whether to throw his hat into the ring.... Read more

Health insurance scheme mooted

Niamh Mullen | 08 January 2010

Funding for the health service should be based on need rather than ability to pay, the HSE has said in a submission to the Department of Health on the allocation of resources in the health sector. The Executive believes a... Read more

Indian ink for HSE diaries

Gary Culliton | 06 January 2010

The health service Executive (HSE) has said that it could not prevent its 2010 diary from being printed in India, as has been reported. Under the terms of the EU tender process, the HSE can and does specify the quality... Read more

Prescription charge will increase over time

Niamh Mullen | 26 December 2009

The IMO fears the prescription charge for medical card patients announced in Budget 2010 will be increased over time and will disproportionately affect the elderly, low-income groups and those suffering from chronic illnesses. IMO GP Committee Chairman Dr Ronan Boland... Read more

Our budgetary and economic position is ‘challenging’ — Harney

Gary Culliton | 23 December 2009

The Budget has cut a bill-ion euro from planned health spending for next year, with the 2010 figure projected at €14.828 billion, or some €1.013 billion below the pre-Budget outlook figure published by the Government on November 12. In the... Read more

Budget failed to tackle public health concerns

Gary Culliton/Niamh Mullen | 22 December 2009

The 2010 Budget has been slammed on health grounds, following cuts in excise duty of 12 cent per pint of beer and cider, 14 cent per half glass of spirits and of 60 cent per standard bottle of wine. Alcohol... Read more

'Modest' expenses filed by HSE Board

Niamh Mullen | 18 December 2009

HSE CEO Prof Brendan Drumm has claimed no travel or subsistence expenses as part of his ex-officio membership of the Executive’s Board, Irish Medical Times has learned. Chairman Liam Downey, however, incurred expenses of €19,247 between 2006 and 2009, including... Read more

All the news that's fit to print

Dara Gantly | 17 December 2009

There’s some good news and bad news from the health service this week. The good news is that the Department of Health and the HSE intends to merge its separate media monitoring contracts in order to completely digitise the service... Read more

Budget will see roll-out of bowel cancer screening

Niamh Mullen | 16 December 2009

The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) has welcomed the Budget announcement that a national bowel cancer screening programme will be rolled out next year, saying it looked forward to discussions about how its €1 million funding will be spent. Chairman of... Read more

Search commences for Drumm's replacement

Niamh Mullen | 16 December 2009

The search for a replacement for one of the most challenging jobs in Ireland is underway, with the placement by the HSE of an advertisement in the national media for a new chief executive officer. Prof Brendan Drumm will step... Read more

Medical card hotline for TDs

Dara Gantly | 11 December 2009

The Department of Health is currently in discussions with the HSE over setting up a dedicated telephone number for Oireachtas members looking for information on constituents’ medical card applications. The proposal, revealed by the Minister for Health Mary Harney in... Read more

Fine Gael to tour FairCare proposal

Niamh Mullen | 10 December 2009

Fine Gael will tour all 43 constituencies of Ireland over the coming months to tell health professionals and members of the public about its FairCare health strategy. The first of the meetings took place in Drogheda to a crowd of... Read more

HSE to proceed with contracting out legal services

Dara Gantly | 27 November 2009

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has decided to proceed with contracting out its legal services in a bid to slash its multi-million euro legal bill. In a departure for current practice, the proposed contract will be based on a so-called... Read more

Experts bring risk reduction to Ireland

Dara Gantly | 24 November 2009

A group of specialists has brought the international Residual Risk Reduction initiative (R3i) to this country in a bid to address the ‘disconcerting rates’ of macrovascular events and microvascular complications among Irish patients. Co-chaired by Dr Maeve Durkan, Consultant in... Read more

Antibiotic consumption down in 2009 - HPSC

Niamh Mullen | 23 November 2009

Antibiotic use dropped significantly during the first six months of 2009, new figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) indicate. Although the rate of consumption was at its highest ever in January, the average monthly consumption fell by 12.6... Read more

The IMO presents four-point plan to reduce drug costs

Niamh Mullen | 20 November 2009

The IMO has presented Health Minister Mary Harney with a four-point plan it said would reduce the State’s annual medicines bill by €300 million. It said the savings would far exceed the €30 million identified in the McCarthy report and... Read more

Row over chair of consultant body

Dara Gantly | 20 November 2009

A row has erupted between consultant representatives and the HSE over the formation of the new Consultant Applications Advisory Committee (CAAC). An investigation by Irish Medical Times has discovered that the HSE National Director of Human Resources, Seán McGrath, has... Read more

IMO opposed to charges per item to card holders

Niamh Mullen | 19 November 2009

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), opposition party health spokespeople, the pharmaceutical industry and patient advocacy groups have expressed their opposition to the proposal to charge medical card holders 50 cent for every item prescribed. IMO GP Committee chairman, Dr Ronan... Read more

FG calls on HSE to explain med card discrepancy

Gary Culliton | 18 November 2009

Fine Gael Health Spokesman, Dr James Reilly TD, has called for an explanation from the HSE, following the release of figures showing that more than twice as many discretionary medical cards are held by people in the south than by... Read more

Cytology tenders invited by NCSS

Niamh Mullen | 18 November 2009

The National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) is inviting applications from companies to provide its cytology laboratory services for CervicalCheck 16 months after the first contract was awarded. US company Quest Diagnostics won the contract to provide the service, which began... Read more

Oz wizards to shake up costs

Dara Gantly | 13 November 2009

The HSE has chosen an Australian-based company with offices in the UK to advise it on how best to introduce patient level costing (PLC) into the Irish health service. The consultants have been hired by St James’s Hospital — acting... Read more

Lack of 48-hour week outside control of HSE

Dara Gantly | 06 November 2009

The HSE has stated that if it has not fully implemented a settlement agreement achieving compliance with the 48-hour week for NCHDs, this is due to factors outside its control. In a robust defence delivered to the High Court late... Read more

HSE urges no sins of 'omission'

Dara Gantly | 06 November 2009

And so fellow HSE employees, ask not what your Executive can do for you — ask what you can do for your Executive. This rallying of troops is suggested in the HSE’s latest Code of Standards and Behaviour, which implores... Read more

Foster care slammed in HIQA report

Gary Culliton | 04 November 2009

Serious deficits in standards aimed at safeguarding vulnerable children, including lapses in vetting procedures for staff and foster carers working with children, are highlighted in HIQA’s National Children in Care Inspection Report 2008, which was published today (November 4). Dr... Read more

HSE to 'mobilise' €2 million

Dara Gantly | 03 November 2009

The HSE anticipates saving up to €2 million over 18 months on mobile phone charges, under a new agreement negotiated with Vodafone and O2. Last year, the Executive spent approximately €6 million on mobile phone charges. This bill will now... Read more

Generics may save €23m per year

Dara Gantly | 02 November 2009

The Minister for Health has ruled out nationalising the wholesale distribution of drugs and medicines supplied under the GMS and community drugs schemes as a means of saving money for the Exchequer. Responding to a series of parliamentary questions last... Read more

Nursing home cost discrepancies spark NHI outrage

Gary Culliton | 30 October 2009

Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly, has said the 'massive increase' in the cost of public nursing home beds following an analysis by HSE officials should be analysed independently. “No adequate explanation has been given for the glaring difference... Read more

Midnight runs for dialysis

Gary Culliton | 30 October 2009

Severe capacity problems at kidney units around the country mean patients are now getting their kidney dialysis treatment in the middle of the night at four hospitals. There are currently four shifts being worked in Beaumont, Cork and Waterford. Three... Read more

Less than half of all questions are answered in Dáil

Dara Gantly | 30 October 2009

The Minister for Health has answered just 45 per cent of parliamentary questions (PQs) in full during Dáil question time so far this year. New figures reveal that out of the 4,296 PQs received by the Department of Health up... Read more

€11 million paid to sick leave employees of HSE

Gary Culliton | 29 October 2009

Figures released to the Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly TD, show there are 147 health service employees on paid leave for more than six months, 127 of whom are on long term sick leave. Over €11 million has... Read more

HSE initiates tender for diagnostics services

Dara Gantly | 29 October 2009

The HSE has taken the first official step in contracting out diagnostic imaging services such as MRI, CT and PET CT scans to the private sector. The Executive has initiated a competition to establish a framework-type agreement for the provision... Read more

Office supplies and admin cost HSE E500m in 2008

Niamh Mullen | 29 October 2009

Name badges, briefcases, batteries, other items of stationery as well as administration costs incurred by the Health Service Executive (HSE) amounted to almost E2 billion between 2005 and 2008. Last year, E509 million was spent. In 2007 the figure was... Read more

No winning Lotto numbers for Health

Dara Gantly | 28 October 2009

The percentage spend of National Lottery funding apportioned to the health budget has fallen dramatically over the past decade, dropping to just 3 per cent last year. New figures released in the Dáil reveal that in 1999, Health was allocated... Read more

HSE to review cleaning, catering and security

Dara Gantly | 28 October 2009

The HSE intends over the coming months to hire experts to carry out a major review of security, catering, cleaning and portering services, Irish Medical Times has learned. The Executive plans to hire a facilities management firm to conduct the... Read more

Resource allocation group to report in April

Niamh Mullen | 28 October 2009

The Department of Health has received 60 submissions on resource allocation and financing in the health sector following a public consultation earlier this year. Among those who made submissions were the Competition Authority, ICGP, IMO, Irish Association of Emergency Medicine,... Read more

Vast disparity in hospital cleaning bills

Niamh Mullen | 28 October 2009

Cleaning our hospitals cost the Health Service Executive (HSE) €158 million last year alone. More than €110 million was spent on in-house cleaning, while just over €47 million was spent on contract cleaners. The information was released to Fine Gael... Read more

New consultant committee holds its first meeting

Dara Gantly | 26 October 2009

The new Consultant Applications Advisory Committee (CAAC) — effectively a replacement for Comhairle na nOspidéal — finally held its first briefing meeting last week (October 14). The preliminary meeting, organised to agree a schedule for further sittings, came as the... Read more

Ireland's healthcare system is unsustainable - ESRI

Niamh Mullen | 21 October 2009

Current healthcare practices will become increasingly unsustainable by 2021 because of Ireland’s growing and aging population, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has said. In the report, Projecting the Impact of Demographic Change on the Demand for and Delivery... Read more

West to name regional boss

Dara Gantly | 14 October 2009

The last remaining Regional Director post is expected to be filled imminently by the HSE West, following the closure of the competition for the E120,000-a-year job on Thursday (October 15). The Executive has already appointed three Regional Directors of Operations:... Read more

Board approves €70,000 bonus for Drumm

Dara Gantly | 14 October 2009

The Board of the HSE has approved payment of a performance award to Chief Executive Professor Brendan Drumm based on his performance in 2007, the HSE has confirmed. Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly said “the €70,000 bonus for... Read more

Drug spend lowest in EU

Niamh Mullen | 12 October 2009

Ireland has one of the lowest per capita spends on medicine in Europe and the benefits of medicines substantially outweigh the cost, according to the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA). A new bulletin from the IPHA said they offered cost... Read more

EU advises not to cut health spend

Dara Gantly | 09 October 2009

The EU Health Commissioner has warned member states of the health implications of slashing heath budgets to control public spending. Androulla Vassiliou directed her warning to her fellow policy makers in a greeting to the participants of the 12th European... Read more

Swine Flu training DVD launched

Gary Culliton | 08 October 2009

The Health Management Institute of Ireland (HMI) has launched Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 DVD for businesses, to help train staff in practices that will help to control the spread of the H1N1 virus in the workplace.... Read more

Berlin not Boston is model for Irish health

Dara Gantly | 07 October 2009

Nine years after Mary Harney said Ireland was spiritually closer to Boston than Berlin, the Health Service Executive has gone to Germany for inspiration on how best to transform health service funding. A high-level Irish delegation, led by HSE chief... Read more

HSE to collect debts

Dara Gantly | 02 October 2009

The HSE expects to save a minimum of E3.5 million a year when the new National Credit Management Unit (NCMS) is fully operational, Irish Medical Times has learned. The new debt collection system will be responsible for the recovery of... Read more

Health service has a ‘marketing problem’

Dara Gantly | 02 October 2009

The Irish health service suffers from a ‘marketing’ problem at home, which places it lower down the EU healthcare league table than would be expected, an EU expert has claimed. Despite performing slightly better than last year — by climbing... Read more

HSE accepts budget deficit in West this year

Dara Gantly | 28 September 2009

The HSE has resigned itself to recording a budget deficit in the West/ North West hospital network at the end of year. The Executive recorded an overall deficit of E123 million as of July 31, with a budgetary overrun of... Read more

HSE created more managers

Dara Gantly | 24 September 2009

The Department of Health (DOH) has acknowledged that the establishment of the HSE has led to overstaffing in management and administrative grades in the health service. In a confidential submission to An Bord Snip Nua, the Department also accepted that... Read more

New guide for third- level students with ADHD published

Greg Baxter | 24 September 2009

A new guide for students with ADHD who are considering third-level education has been published, as rising numbers of students with ADHD are entering third level education. Entitled ‘HADD 3rd Level Guide for Students with ADHD: Preparing Students and Parents... Read more

HSE due €164 million from private insurers

Gary Culliton | 23 September 2009

The total amount due to the HSE and the voluntary hospitals in respect of mainten-ance charges from private health insurers was €164 million at the end of last year, of which €87 million was due to the HSE and €77... Read more

Co-location put on hold?

Gary Culliton | 18 September 2009

The Government’s co-location strategy faces a significant setback, with the possibility that two – or even three – of the planned eight co-located hospitals may be put on hold. There has been no application yet for planning permission for co-located... Read more

HSE Director interviews take place

Dara Gantly | 18 September 2009

Interviews for the four Regional Operations Director posts within the HSE were due to take place this week, IMT has learned. Envisaged under the second wave of HSE organisational change, the four new Regional Operating Units that the Directors will... Read more

Experts will debate funding of healthcare

Dara Gantly | 17 September 2009

World-renowned experts in health financing from the Netherlands, Canada, Denmark and the UK will be in Dublin next Tuesday (September 22) to discuss how Ireland might best meet the cost of its escalating health service bill. The seminar, jointly organised... Read more

US surgeon praises Irish can-do spirit

Dara Gantly | 17 September 2009

One of the most renowned US vascular surgeons has praised Ireland’s encouragement of small businesses operating in the healthcare field. Noted New York surgeon Prof Frank Veith believes the US should ‘take a lesson from the Irish’ when it comes... Read more

Conference to highlight preventive care

15 September 2009

A three-day conference at Dublin Castle entitled Prevention is the Cure will highlight the issue of prevention in the Irish healthcare system to demonstrate how much can be achieved with relatively little investment if prevention is prioritised. The conference, from... Read more

Department gets access to HSE files

Dara Gantly | 11 September 2009

The Sectary General of the Department of Health has won a battle with the HSE over gaining access to sensitive health service data before it has been considered by the HSE Board. Michael Scanlan first wrote to HSE CEO Prof... Read more

Northeast services for reconfiguration

Gary Culliton | 10 September 2009

The HSE has pledged there will be a reduction in average length of stay (ALOS) in hospitals in the northeast and improved discharge planning, as a result of the reconfiguration of services there. Last week, staff at Dundalk, Drogheda and... Read more

Health bodies not merged into HSE

Gary Culliton | 31 August 2009

The Government has failed to honour a pledge to merge a number of bodies into the HSE, Fine Gael has claimed. These include the National Cancer Screening Service, the National Cancer Registry Board, the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and the Drug... Read more

More patients seen in shared-post clinics

Gary Culliton | 25 August 2009

Shared consultant posts led to an average of two additional patients seen per clinic and shorter lengths of hospital stay (the reduction was 2.5 days on average), a new study shows. The issue of shared consultant posts is addressed by... Read more

Docs blamed for Caesarean rate

Greg Baxter | 21 August 2009

Physician behaviour in Ireland has been highlighted as a potential cause of the large increase in the number of Caesarean sections carried out here, according to a new paper published by the Economic and Social Research Institute, Recent Trends in... Read more

HSE to spend €22 million on taxis and transport this year

Niamh Mullen | 17 August 2009

The HSE estimates it will spend €22 million on taxis and transport this year. If that much is spent, it will be a reduction of €8,623,328 on the amount spent in 2008, when €28,623,328 was forked out for cabs for... Read more

No 1st class for HSE staff

Dara Gantly | 14 August 2009

Managers in the HSE have been told that they must ensure the foreign travel bills of their staff are kept to a minimum. Writing recently (July 30) to the entire management team of the HSE and to every local health... Read more

No more jobs in Hawkins House

Dara Gantly | 14 August 2009

Not one of the 100-plus applications to the Department of Finance to sanction civil service full-time appointments during the current ban on recruitment have come from Hawkins House, Irish Medical Times has learned. As of the end of June, Finance... Read more

New regional CEOs to be in place by next month

Dara Gantly | 11 August 2009

The HSE CEO hopes to fill the four new Regional Operations Director posts and the Assistant National Directors for Children/ Families Care Group within weeks and have selected candid-ates in position by September. “The timeframes are very tight, but it... Read more

Greater integration will result from new HSE/Department strategy

Dara Gantly | 06 August 2009

An Integrated Workforce Planning Strategy for the health service has been completed and is due to be published within a month. Developed by the Department of Health and the HSE, the joint strategy is expected to recommend greater coordination of... Read more

New manager for Galway unit

Dara Gantly | 06 August 2009

Interviews have been held for the post of Manager of the new Galway Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU), with the selection process at an advanced stage, the HSE has stated. In an update presented at the recent Annual Meeting of... Read more

Letterkenny General faces 'significant impact on service delivery'

Dara Gantly | 03 August 2009

The HSE West has acknowledged that the decision taken by the HSE’s National Director of Human Resources not to renew temporary contracts at Letterkenny General Hospital (LGH) will have a ‘significant impact on service delivery’ if implemented. There are more... Read more

Funding to change radically

Dara Gantly | 31 July 2009

The Health Service Executive (HSE) wants to radically restructure how it funds the health service by examining a new patient level costing (PLC) system that can measure the resources consumed by individual patients. The move would constitute a sweeping change... Read more

Bord Snip Nua — NTPF should be restricted

Greg Baxter | 24 July 2009

The National Treatment Purchase Fund has declined to comment on a significant and potentially controversial recommendation by An Bord Snip Nua to restrict NTPF procedures to private facilities and facilities abroad. Under the recommendation, public hospitals will no longer be... Read more

Big increase in medical cards

Niamh Mullen | 24 July 2009

There has been an increase of almost 100,000 people qualifying for a medical card in the last 12 months. As of June 1, some 1,398,686 people had a medical card, an increase of 92,216 since the same date last year.... Read more

Survey to measure HSE services to Travellers

Gary Culliton | 24 July 2009

A survey is to be conducted in the autumn to discover where HSE staff and others believe there are shortcomings in services to Travellers. The HSE’s recent health status report found Travellers’ lifespan is ten years shorter for a male... Read more

HSE to cut spending on advertising and public relations in half this year

Niamh Mullen | 24 July 2009

SPENDING on advertising, public relations and consultancy in the Health Service Executive (HSE) will be cut by at least 50 per cent this year. If reduced by half, it would amount to a spend of approximately €8.5 million. The target... Read more

Doctors to discuss climate change

Dara Gantly | 24 July 2009

Doctor representatives will gather in Copenhagen in September to discuss the health consequences of climate change. The aim of the event — organised by the World Medical Association (WMA) — is to ensure that the medical profession’s voice is heard... Read more

Every spend to have ‘performance charter’

By Dara Gantly | 24 July 2009

An Bord Snip Nua has proposed a set of radical new measures aimed at ensuring value for money in public spending. They include a suggested public service ‘performance charter’ that would be attached to every proposed new spending plan, which... Read more

Snip: 'co-payments' slammed by State drugs chief

Gary Culliton | 21 July 2009

Increases in co-payments for prescription medicines, which were proposed by An Bord Snip, have been slamed by the State’s pharmaceonomics Chief. The McCarthy Commission proposed increasing Drug Payment Scheme co-payments to €125, as well as raising Long Term Illness (LTI)... Read more

Leas Cross: HSE supervision 'seriously lacking'

Gary Culliton | 20 July 2009

Supervision of the Leas Cross nursing home by the former Northern Area Health Board and the Health Service Executive was seriously lacking, a new report has found. Standards of care at Leas Cross nursing home fell below acceptable levels for... Read more

Guts & vision needed in medicine

Dara Gantly | 17 July 2009

The Minister for Health Mary Harney has defended HSE CEO Prof Brendan Drumm in the Dáil, describing him as a man of ‘guts’ and ‘vision’. Speaking prior to Prof Drumm’s appearance before the Oireachtas Health Committee last week to discuss... Read more

Minister leads cabinet... in mobile phone charges

Dara Gantly | 17 July 2009

Minister for Health Mary Harney rang up a mobile phone bill of €5,409.73 last year — far outstripping her Cabinet colleagues, including Taoiseach Brian Cowen. Her departmental mobile bill for 2008 included €2,247.95 in roaming charges and €1,631.05 for data... Read more

HSE may seek losses from medical cards

Dara Gantly | 17 July 2009

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised the Department of Health that it has commenced calculations to determine if any money can be recouped from those aged 70 and over who held onto medical cards to which they were no... Read more

‘Performance charters’ would ensure value for money

Dara Gantly | 16 July 2009

Bord Snip: reduce HSE staff by 6,000

16 July 2009

Staff reductions of 6,000 "at a minimum" in the Health service are proposed in the report of An Bord Snip, which has identified potential annual health savings of just under €1,230 m. It proposes that staffing numbers be reduced by... Read more

Hospitals breach length-of-stay targets

Gary Culliton | 14 July 2009

Breaches of HSE length of stay targets at five Dublin hospitals accounted for almost 6,000 bed days in April. On average, the HSE calculates that Tallaght Hospital is keeping every patient in hospital 18 per cent longer than it should,... Read more

Drugs: 'a €100 million rip off'

Gary Culliton | 13 July 2009

The taxpayer is being ripped off to the tune of €100 million on the cost of drugs in Ireland when compared to the cost of UK generic medicines, Fine Gael Health spokesperson, Dr James Reily has said. Dr Reilly claims... Read more

Lawyers' health bonanza

Dara Gantly | 10 July 2009

The legal profession has been paid more than €107 million in fees by the HSE since 2005, new figures have revealed. Just last year, €36.6 million was paid out by the Executive on external legal costs — a 20 per... Read more

2,305 HSE staff (2 per cent of total) on maternity leave

Dara Gantly | 10 July 2009

The HSE has reiterated that vacancies in the health service arising from maternity leave are to be filled in the first instance by the redeployment of staff or the reallocation of work. The Executive has revealed that it has 2,305... Read more

IMO expects terms to be honoured

Dara Gantly | 10 July 2009

The IMO expects the terms of the new consultant contract to be fully honoured by the Government. It emerged earlier this week that the spending review group, An Bord Snip Nua, was due to recommend a renegotiation of the deal... Read more

Nursing-home residents to be levied

10 July 2009

Elderly residents of nursing homes are to be levied with the second-home tax, as nursing homes are to be considered their primary residence and their family home their second residence, Fine Gael Environment Spokesman, Phil Hogan TD, has claimed. “Even... Read more

HSE proposes projects to be funded from sale of psychiatric properties

Dara Gantly | 10 July 2009

The Department of Health is currently considering a proposal from the HSE detailing the projects to be funded from E42 million received from the disposal of psychiatric properties, before forwarding it to the Department of Finance. The ‘Vision for Change’... Read more

Child deaths review group 'reflects chaos'

Gary Culliton | 07 July 2009

The setting up of a review group to inquire into the deaths of 20 children in care, is an "example of the chaotic manner in which the HSE deals with the area of child protection. It is nothing more than... Read more

Advertising to begin for Operations Directors

Dara Gantly | 06 July 2009

The HSE intends to advertise internally for the four positions of Regional Operations Director in the coming weeks, Irish Medical Times has learned. Envisaged under the second wave of HSE organisational change, the job description for the four permanent posts... Read more

HSE staff to move from hospitals to community

Gary Culliton | 03 July 2009

The number of HSE staff on short-time temporary contracts is to be substantially reduced, with 1,000 permanent posts being created. At a meeting with health service trade unions which took place yesterday, the HSE outlined its plans to roll out... Read more

Hold on all uncommitted HSE projects

Dara Gantly | 03 July 2009

The HSE has completed its review of projects earmarked for development in 2009 and has submitted a revised capital plan to the Department of Health for approval, Irish Medical Times has learned. The public capital programme in last October’s Budget... Read more

Just 12 applications for HSE retirement scheme

27 June 2009

The HSE's early retirement scheme has had 1,158 enquiries but only 12 applications, a reply to a Parliamentary Question has revealed. Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly, said the Government’s Budget measures to cut the State payroll bill through... Read more

Dermot Power joins HSE Board

Dara Gantly | 26 June 2009

Dr Dermot Power, consultant in geriatric medicine at the Mater and Medical Director of St Mary’s Hospital, Phoenix Park has officially become the newest member of the Board of the HSE, six months after the resignation of his predecessor. Appointed... Read more

Taxi spend varies enormously and is not measured

Niamh Mullen | 26 June 2009

THE Dublin Mid-Leinster region of the HSE spends almost three times more than what some other regions spend on taxis — almost E6 million more on taxis than HSE South, for example, despite having almost the same population. A total... Read more

Water, water everywhere but now it’s from the tap

Dara Gantly | 26 June 2009

The Department of Health has cut its expenditure on bottled water by more than 85 per cent over the past thee years, it has emerged. In 2006, the cost of bottled water and water coolers at the Department’s headquarters at... Read more

Drug fees are cut

22 June 2009

Minister Harney has announced reductions in payments to community pharmacists to reduce the rapid rise in State expenditure on drugs and medicines. The Minister announced reductions on payments to pharmacists under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act... Read more

Harney at Committee 'a farce' – Reilly

Gary Culliton | 12 June 2009

Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly TD, today (Thursday) said Minister Harney’s appearance at the Oireachtas Health Committee today was a farce, with the Minister only answering questions that suited her. “If there were Oscars for displays of evasion... Read more

Dr Barry White is first Director of Clinical Care

Gary Culliton | 12 June 2009

Dr Barry White has indicated he is to step down with immediate effect from his current role as Medical Director of the Synchrony consortium — which has been contracted to construct a co-located hospital at St James’s Hospital. Dr White... Read more

Multi-year budgets for HSE

Dara Gantly | 12 June 2009

The HSE plans to bring in new multi-annual service plans and budgets from next year to cope with the worsening economic outlook. It will involve a plan for 2010, 2011 and beyond, according to HSE CEO Prof Brendan Drumm, as... Read more

Advisor's salary questioned

Dara Gantly | 08 June 2009

The Taoiseach has defended the fact that the salary of Oliver O’Connor, the Minister for Health’s former programme manager and current advisor, is now paid for by the Department of the Taoiseach. Speaking in the Dáil, Brian Cowen defended Minister... Read more

Drug savings fall short

Gary Culliton | 08 June 2009

Savings of €73 million (29 per cent of total estimated savings) were achieved between March 2007 and December 2008, under the 2006 IPHA agreement with pharmaceutical manufacturers, a review of the deal carried out by Dr Michael Barry of the... Read more

Expert group seeks funding submissions

Dara Gantly | 08 June 2009

The Expert Group on Resource Allocation and Financing in the Health Sector is seeking submissions on ways to change the resource allocation system within the health service. The Expert Group was set up on April 1 by the Minister for... Read more

Minister rejects €50 million 'black hole'

Dara Gantly | 02 June 2009

The Minister for Health has rejected the assertion from HSE CEO Prof Brendan Drumm that the HSE is facing an unforeseen E50 million black hole in its finances due to the new consultant contract. Earlier this month, the HSE CEO... Read more

'Urgent' needs of the dying

Gary Culliton | 29 May 2009

‘Palliative Care Services: A Five-Year Development Framework 2009-2013’, which has still to be published by Health Minister Harney, says 272 extra full-time staff and 203 new specialist inpatient beds are ‘urgently’ needed to care for dying patients. The plan will... Read more

Steering group to decide on cards

Niamh Mullen | 29 May 2009

The Department of Health is reviewing the eligibility criteria for medical cards in the context of ‘financial, medical and social’ needs. Health Minister Mary Harney said a Steering Group had been formed, which would report in the coming months. “I... Read more

Health services 'account for 40 per cent of tax take

Gary Culliton | 28 May 2009

Spending on the health services now accounts for 40 per cent of the tax revenue which the Government collects. The HSE today published its 2008 Annual Report and Annual Financial Statements. Spending on Demand Led Schemes (e.g. primary care and... Read more

Delayed discharges average 757 per week

Dara Gantly | 28 May 2009

The number of delayed discharges from hospitals continues to climb, averaging 757 per week in the first three months of the year, latest HSE figures reveal. This is compared to averages of 668 and 514 over the past two years,... Read more

Leas Cross report for June

Dara Gantly | 28 May 2009

The final report from the Commission of Investigation established to investigate the management, operation and supervision of the former Leas Cross Nursing Home will not be completed until mid-June. The long-awaited report was originally due to be submitted to the... Read more

HSE medical card office swamped with applications

Dara Gantly | 22 May 2009

The HSE’s new central office tasked with processing medical cards has dealt with in excess of 80,000 telephone inquiries in the first quarter of 2009, and has processed in excess of 7,000 new medical card applications. Minister for Health Mary... Read more

NTPF 'validation' consistent for '08

By Gary Culliton | 22 May 2009

Under half of outpatients contacted by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) attended consultants last year. In arranging 12,342 outpatient consultations, 23,056 public patients were contacted by the NTPF. Of these, 5,579, or 24 per cent of patients were removed... Read more

Mental health strategy will take 40 years

Greg Baxter | 21 May 2009

A Vision for Change — the country’s national mental health strategy – will take 40 years to implement at the rate it is going, according to a spokesperson for the College of Psychiatry of Ireland. Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Siobhan Barry,... Read more

Cutting health spend will hurt after recession

Niamh Mullen | 19 May 2009

If the recession is used as an excuse to cut spending on healthcare and pharmaceuticals, the consequences will be felt long after the economy recovers. That is the message from the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), of... Read more

Directors will be in place by July HSE pledges

Gary Culliton | 15 May 2009

The three HSE National Directors will be in place in July, the Executive has pledged. These posts are the national director of quality and clinical care, national director of operations, and national director of planning and performance. The Integrated Services... Read more

Crackdown on bed blockers

Gary Culliton | 15 May 2009

The HSE has launched a major crackdown with the aim of ‘forcing’ hospitals to admit patients on the day of surgery. The object of the Executive’s new tactic is to ‘change clinician practices with a view to admitting in-patients to... Read more

New Mental Health Directorate for HSE

15 May 2009

The Minister of State at the Department of Health Hohn Moloney has welcomed the publication of the 2008 Mental Health Commission Annual Report which includes the Report of the Inspector of Mental Health Services. The Inspector called for a directorate... Read more

HSE might arguably 'spend more on reports'

Gary Culliton | 15 May 2009

The HSE spent €15 million on consultants reports last year, including €1 million on the recent McKinsey report, HSE CEO Prof Brendan Drumm told the Public Accounts Committee last week. “The constant criticism is ‘that is €15m that could have... Read more

HSE is owed over €90m by private insurers

Gary Culliton | 12 May 2009

The HSE is owed over €90m from from private insurers for the cost of private care in public hospital beds. As the figures below indicate, unpaid charges are a "significant challenge," the HSE said. Of valid charges raised in 2008,... Read more

Saudi Arabian nurses to fill void in health service

Dara Gantly | 11 May 2009

The Irish health authorities are exploring the possibility of taking in nursing students from Saudi Arabia to fill spare capacity in various nursing programmes. The HSE has been approached by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and various academic institutions on... Read more

Drug cuts will save money

Gary Culliton | 08 May 2009

A government report for Health Minister Mary Harney due next month will outline price cuts in generic medicines to a level 20 to 30 per cent below proprietary drug prices and the cuts are likely to take effect from next... Read more

Drumm: consultants contract €50m 'risk' to HSE

Gary Culliton | 08 May 2009

Patients who have private health insurance and who attend public hospitals, have been identified as a risk to the HSE: they represent a potential saving of €50m for private health insurers. This is because consultants who have opted for "public... Read more

Drumm: HSE spent €15m on consultants reports

Gary Culliton | 07 May 2009

The HSE spent €15m on consultants reports last year, including €1m on the recent McKinsey's report, Chief Executive Prof Brendan Drumm told the Public Accounts Committee today. "The constant criticism is 'that is €15m that could have gone to nursing... Read more

FG launches radical plan

Terence Cosgrave | 01 May 2009

Fine Gael has launched its plan for the Irish healthcare service, which contains several radical new proposals that would completely reverse current policy. The party launched its ‘Faircare’ policy at a press conference last Monday in the Merrion Hotel in... Read more

GROUNDED: HSE to save millions by cutting travel

Gary Culliton | 01 May 2009

Strict new efficiency cuts will see a sweeping clampdown across the HSE on conferences (which have cost the Executive €10 million per annum in recent years) and on travel allowances, where already a cut of €1 million was achieved in... Read more

Pregnancy-associated deaths to be reviewed

Niamh Mullen | 29 April 2009

THE circumstances of the deaths of women during or after pregnancy will be reviewed and reported on under a scheme announced by Health Minister Mary Harney. CEMACH (Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health) Ireland is a collaboration between the... Read more

Guidelines issued on swine 'flu' management

Gary Culliton | 29 April 2009

The HSE has issued guidelines for doctors in relation to management of persons with acute febrile respiratory illness who may have swine influenza A (H1N1). As soon as the patient mentions a febrile respiratory illness and travel in the last... Read more

Motions carried at the 2009 IMO AGM

23 April 2009

Motions carried at this year’s IMO conference included: * A call that inpatient detoxification should be paid for under the National Treatment Purchase Fund;... Read more

Demoted: Minister for Elderly who 'wasn't consulted' on over 70s medical cards

Gary Culliton | 22 April 2009

Two Ministers of State in the Health Department have been dropped, including junior Minister for the elderly Maire Hoctor who admitted she was not consulted about controversial medical card changes for 0ver 70s, despite having direct responsibility for older people.... Read more

DUMP campaign sees 3.5 tonnes collected

Greg Baxter | 21 April 2009

More than 3.5 tonnes of unused medicines have been collected in Cork and Kerry as part of a collection campaign to raise awareness of the risks of taking old medicines, or having them around the home. The HSE South, working... Read more

Quality health services should be provided

Dara Gantly | 20 April 2009

The new Expert Group on Resource Allocation in the Health Sector will have no impact on how the health service is run in the immediate future, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has claimed. Chaired by the Director of the ESRI... Read more

Funding group has strong medical input

Terence Cosgrave | 09 April 2009

The expert group which was established last week by Minister Mary Harney to review how funding is allocated in the health service includes several prominent doctors such as Prof Arnold Hill, Prof Peter Kearney, Dr Colin Doherty and Prof Andrew... Read more

Funding to follow patients

Terence Cosgrave | 09 April 2009

A radical change to the method of funding the health service was announced by Minister Mary Harney last week — an initiative that will have huge implications for doctors, patients and all healthcare professionals. The move could herald the introduction... Read more

Mental Health Act increased workload

Dara Gantly | 08 April 2009

More than two thirds of psychiatrists believe that the Mental Health Act 2001 has increased their workload. A new survey, carried out one year after full implementation, also found that over a quarter said the amount of time they spent... Read more

Only six centres have full primary care teams

Niamh Mullen | 06 April 2009

The HSE has confirmed there are 107 primary care teams (PCTs) up and running but only six centres housing full teams. The established teams are located in 23 counties – only Monaghan, Louth and Meath do not have one yet.... Read more

Only six centres have full primary care teams

Niamh Mullen | 06 April 2009

Nothing safe in upcoming Budget, says Department

Dara Gantly | 03 April 2009

Nothing has been, or can be, ruled out for consideration in next week’s supplementary Budget, the Department of Health has told IMT. The dire warning comes just days before the Government unveils its far-reaching and comprehensive response to the worsening... Read more

Expert group contains strong medical element

Terence Cosgrave | 01 April 2009

Patient-focused reform in the manner in which funding is allocated to the health service will depend on the input of of several prominent doctors who are members of the group. Among them are Prof Arnold Hill, Prof Peter Kearney, Dr... Read more

Ireland 'needs a health provider catalogue'

01 April 2009

Ireland ranks number 20 in a table of the most empowered patients in Europe. The report urges that this country should have a provider catalogue "with quality ranking, to enable patients’ choice." Denmark has the most empowered patients. So says... Read more

DRUMM: major job cuts in community services

Gary Culliton | 30 March 2009

Major jobs cuts in the HSE’s community services will be unveiled within the next few days, Chief Executive Prof Brendan Drumm has revealed in an exclusive interview with Irish Medical Times’ website. Speaking last night, Prof Drumm admitted that the... Read more

Patient load varies hugely

Gary Culliton | 27 March 2009

Some HSE consultants treat up to eight times more patients than doctors working in the same specialties at other public hospitals. The discrepancies are exposed for the first time in new HSE HealthStat figures. Patient throughput varies hugely at consultant-led... Read more

Nurses offered change

Niamh Mullen | 26 March 2009

THE HSE is urging general nurses who want a change of career direction to consider its new Public Health Nurse Sponsorship Initiative. The initiative offers nurses sponsorship and permanent employment on successful completion of the 12-month diploma in nursing/public health... Read more

Helix partnership to test NHS compliance

Dara Gantly | 24 March 2009

Helix Health has joined with UK company Quicksilva in a partnership that will allow the Irish firm to test its pharmacy management systems for NHS compliance. Once Helix Health is certified by the NHS Connecting for Health’s programme, its pharmacy... Read more

HSE publishes new performance indicators

Gary Culliton | 23 March 2009

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has published for the first time comprehensive performance information showing how 29 teaching, regional and general hospitals are performing against national and international targets in delivering services to patients. The information includes measures such as... Read more

HSE South makes pledge

Dara Gantly | 20 March 2009

The HSE South has pledged to make ‘every effort’ to ensure that one of the new consultant orthopaedic posts to be recruited in the region will have a special interest in paediatric orthopaedic surgery. The commitment came as figures showed... Read more

South lags behind on orthopaediac care

Niamh Mullen | 20 March 2009

Poverty is strongly associated with poor health and shortened life expectancy but with more community involvement in healthcare the delivery of services can be improved. That was the message from Combat Poverty at the launch of its report on the... Read more

5% of payments are still outstanding

Dara Gantly | 18 March 2009

In the region of 1,600 claims made under the nursing home repayment scheme have yet to be concluded, the Health Minister has confirmed. This figure is approximately 5 per cent of the 35,000 applications received by the Scheme Administrator KPMG/McCann... Read more

HSE to decide on three key posts

Gary Culliton | 16 March 2009

Decisions have been made on three senior HSE appointments and these will be brought for approval by the Executive’s Board at a meeting on March 12. The key posts involved are the Head of Clinical Care and Quality, and the... Read more

Still no new HSE Operations Director

Gary Culliton | 13 March 2009

The HSE Board yesterday received a report and update on the appointment of the three new National Directors of Planning and Performance, Quality and Clinical Care, and Operations, at its monthly meeting. It was agreed that these appointments would be... Read more

Rights of patients must be clarified when it comes to cross-border healthcare

Niamh Mullen | 13 March 2009

Health minister mary Harney has said the draft EU Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross-Border Healthcare has brought the opportunity to consider a draft legal framework to clarify the rights and obligations of patients and member states. She was speaking... Read more

1,231 children/adults to be called back to audiology clinics

Gary Culliton | 12 March 2009

The HSE has said it has written to a number of clients of the audiology services in Cork, Tralee and Limerick city advising them that the work of an audiological scientist who provided community based audiology services at these clinics... Read more

320 on trolleys a 25% increase on daily average last March – Fitzgerald

Gary Culliton | 10 March 2009

Fine Gael Senate Health Spokesperson, Senator Frances Fitzgerald, today said the number of patients enduring hospital treatment on a trolley continues to be alarmingly high with the average daily number in March so far over 25% higher than the same... Read more

Benzos payment 'to end after one month'

Gary Culliton | 10 March 2009

New ‘quality prescribing indicators’ will radically alter the way the State pays for drugs, with moves now likely to include an ending of payments for prescribed benzodiazpines after four weeks. This will involve major changes for GPs and the IMO... Read more

New HIQA standards 'will cost €3.6 million per year'

Gary Culliton | 09 March 2009

The proposed fee for new HIQA residential care standards will take over €3.6 million a year out of a sector that is already under severe pressure, due to reductions in the payment of subventions to patients and the continued delay... Read more

Whistleblowers to be protected under Act

Dara Gantly | 09 March 2009

New statutory ‘whistleblower’ protection for health service employees includes legal protection for those blowing the whistle on misuse or waste of public funds. The key measure of the Health Act 2007, which came into effect on March 1, provides statutory... Read more

Clonturk House to close its doors

09 March 2009

The 14 residents of Clonturk House, a residential care facility for visually impaired men, are to be moved to other residential facilities shortly following the news that the home is to close in May due to the poor physical state... Read more

Over 70s 'face one month's delay'

Gary Culliton | 04 March 2009

Over 70's who hand back their medical cards may be left covering the full cost of medication for March. "A letter sent to over 70s relating to medical cards, lacks not just a sense of humanity, but also practical information... Read more

Expenses revealed for Department of Health

Dara Gantly | 04 March 2009

Expenses totalling €324,811 were paid by the Department of Health to Minister Mary Harney and her various Ministers of State since the formation of the Government in 2007. The figures were released as the Houses of Oireachtas Commission revealed plans... Read more

HSE saves 40 per cent on its air-travel expenses

June Shannon | 03 March 2009

The Business Travel Unit of the HSE has managed to reduce the Executive’s expenditure on air travel by 40 per cent, or €378,000, it has emerged. In his address to the January 15 meeting of the HSE Board, CEO Prof... Read more

Whistleblowers' protection 'now in force'

Gary Culliton | 02 March 2009

A key measure of the Health Act 2007 which provides statutory protection against penalisation and civil liability for health service employees who disclose matters of concern to them to an authorised person, came into force yesterday. The new legal protection... Read more

Report urges re-examination of medical card Viagra

Gary Culliton | 02 March 2009

Dr Michael Barry’s report on drug funding identifies €65 million in savings from the State’s spending on drugs. Among the highlights are €5.63 million for glucosamine (for arthritis), which ‘does not have a proven benefit’, the report claimed. A portion... Read more

Report: rise in number of cancer centres mooted

Gary Culliton | 27 February 2009

Up to four extra centres will be needed for rectal cancer surgery, in addition to the eight cancer centres designated by the Director of the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) Prof Tom Keane, a report by the Irish Society of... Read more

Medical laboratory services modernised

Gary CUlliton | 26 February 2009

The HSE has announced that it is launching a programme to modernise its Medical Laboratory Services, as part of its ongoing transformation of services, The Medical Laboratory Service currently incorporates 46 laboratories with approximately 3,000 staff and operating costs of... Read more

Call for abstracts for ISQua conference

25 February 2009

The International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) has issued a call for abstracts for its 26th International Conference, which takes place in Dublin from October 11 to 14, 2009. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Designing for... Read more

IPU objects to Ministers’ new powers

25 February 2009

The Irish Pharmacy Union [IPU] has criticised the inclusion of a sweeping measure for the health services in the detail of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009. The Bill includes in Section 9 the provision to... Read more

Over half of Department PQs forwarded to HSE

Dara Gantly | 25 February 2009

The Minister for Health forwarded 58 per cent of parliamentary questions (PQs) directed to her Department last year to the HSE. A total of 6,139 PQs were directed to the Department of Health in 2008. Of these, some 3,544 were... Read more

'Catastrophe' looms for health service – INO

Gary Culliton | 24 February 2009

A one billion euro cutback in the health services would equate to the complete closure of four of the major Dublin Hospitals, according to Dave Hughes, Deputy General Secretary of the Irish Nurses Organisation. Those hospitals, he said, provide their... Read more

HSE could save €300m – Reilly

Gary Culliton | 23 February 2009

Redundancies in HSE back office staff and switching from brand name to generic drugs would save over €300 million, Fine Gael Health spokesperson Dr James Reilly has said. "The HSE has shown ample evidence of being unable to manage its... Read more

Four patients cost HSE €3m in travel

June Shannon | 20 February 2009

The lack of a forensic learning disability service in Ireland has meant that the HSE spent over €3 million (€3,076,915) at UK facilities between 2005 and 2007 for the treatment of just four Irish people with learning disabilities who offend,... Read more

€65m drugs bill savings 'achievable' – report

Gary Culliton | 19 February 2009

Total savings of €65 million in savings from the State's drugs schemes are achievable, a new report from the group headed by Dr Michael Barry has found. Significant savings may be achieved by ongoing monitoring of the current IPHA/HSE pricing... Read more

Dáil debate on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Gary Culliton | 19 February 2009

This morning Fine Gael Deputies Joe McHugh TD and Andrew Doyle TD secured a Government commitment to hold a Dáil debate on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) - the incurable muscular disease that results in an average life expectancy of late... Read more

Fees cut Bill's 'extraordinary powers' slammed

Gary Culliton | 19 February 2009

The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) has criticised the inclusion of a "sweeping measure" for the Health Services in the detail of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009. The Bill, includes in section 9 the provision to... Read more

Medical-card holders up 6 per cent in a year

19 February 2009

The number of medical-card holders has risen by 6 per cent over the past year, the Minister for Health has confirmed. As of January 1, 2009, some 1,352,120 people held medical cards — up from 1,276,178 on the same date... Read more

Helix Health merges with Health Ireland Partners

Dara Gantly | 19 February 2009

GP members of the Health Ireland User Group voted in favour of merging with Helix Health at an EGM last Saturday. The decision by the users of the HEALTHone software package to merge with their rival will see almost 80... Read more

UK company hired for hygiene audit

Dara Gantly | 13 February 2009

A UK company has been chosen by the HSE to carry out the first hygiene audits of 24-hour residential healthcare facilities. Based in north London, Infection Control Solutions Ltd is to carry out between 75 and 100 separate audits of... Read more

Director recruitment is outsourced by HSE

June Shannon | 12 February 2009

Despite seeking to make a number of efficiency cutbacks across the health services, the HSE has engaged professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers in the recruitment of one of its three new National Directors, IMT has learned. According to the report by... Read more

HSE to invest €20m in south Tipp services

June Shannon | 12 February 2009

The HSE is to implement a comprehensive €20 million programme to develop community-based mental health services in south Tipperary. According to the Executive, ‘the type of transformation underway in south Tipperary is part of the HSE’s plan to invest an... Read more

Five less sickies a year in HSE

Gary Culliton and Terence Cosgrave | 09 February 2009

HSE employees will have to take five less ‘sickies’ each on average this year, as the Executive attempts to slash its chronic rates of absenteeism by 40 per cent in 2009. The target is to achieve overall absenteeism rates of... Read more

Ireland should market its healthcare

Dara Gantly | 06 February 2009

Ireland should market itself as the next hot spot destination for European patients seeking treatment abroad, an Irish MEP has suggested. Mr Colm Burke, Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South, told IMT that during these ‘troubling economic times’, the private... Read more

Health screening must be evidence based says ICGP

Gary Culliton | 06 February 2009

The Irish College of General Practitioners has urged that all health screening — whether it is done by GPs, Government initiatives, or private clinics — ‘must be evidence based and targeted at those groups who are most at risk’. The... Read more

System of universal patient registration would enhance care

Gary Culliton | 05 February 2009

A system of universal patient registration in Ireland would enhance patient care within the community, according to the body charged with ensuring quality in the healthcare system. The Chief Executive of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Dr Tracey... Read more

Fees to GPs cut by eight per cent

Gary Culliton | 04 February 2009

Former GP Dr Leo Varadkar, who is Fine Gael's Enterprise spokesperson, has said that professional medical fees "need to come down." Last night the government announced that fees to a range of healthcare professionals including GPs, pharmacists, dentists, opticians and... Read more

45 hospital jobs and 20 beds go in Mid West

By June Shannon | 04 February 2009

Seasonal ward closures, staff reductions and the removal of 20 inpatient beds are among a number of ‘service efficiencies’ to be implemented across the acute hospital network in the Mid West (MWHG) in an effort to make savings of €10... Read more

16,316 operations cancelled in 2008, up 10%

Gary Culliton | 30 January 2009

New figures show the number of cancelled operations increased by 10% in 2008 and 31,219 operations were cancelled in the last two years (see detailed breakdown below). A HSE reply to a Fine Gael Parliamentary Question shows that 16,316 operations... Read more

'Over 1,800 nursing home beds unused'

Gary Culliton | 30 January 2009

Results of a recent member survey by Nursing Homes Ireland, indicates that there are currently over 1,800 unused beds in nursing homes across Ireland at a time when the acute hospital sector is experiencing renewed pressure. The NHI survey highlights... Read more

Clinical Directors appointed

Gary Culliton | 30 January 2009

More than 40 new Clinical Directors (CDs) have now been appointed across the health service, following the closure of nominations last Friday. More than one nomination emerged at both Mayo General and Letterkenny hospitals and these appointments will go to... Read more

Six-year wait for patients

Gary Culliton | 26 January 2009

A new report, which will be presented to HSE top management within the next two weeks, will recommend that the number of rheumatology consultant posts should be more than doubled to 53. The report from the HSE’s Working Group on... Read more

HSE denies evictions in prospect at Bethany House

Gary Culliton | 22 January 2009

The HSE has denied that residents are to be evicted from Bethany House Welfare Home in County Carlow from February 2. It wants to "provide assurances in relation to plans for Bethany House." The HSE is concerned at the impression... Read more

Savings of €72m on illness payments – Hanafin

Gary Culliton | 22 January 2009

Over €72million in savings were made on illness payments last year, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin T.D., has said. Almost €476 million in Social Welfare payments was saved through fraud control measures in 2008, an increase... Read more

Culture of secrecy still exists in HSE — Lynch

Gary Culliton | 21 January 2009

The fact that the Health Service Executive (HSE) decided to publish the Teamwork report into emergency services in the mid west only after the Labour Party ‘forced their hand’ is an indication of the culture of secrecy that still exists... Read more

Significant cuts in HSE South

Gary Culliton | 16 January 2009

The National Service Plan for HSE South 2009, outlines a number of significant cuts: St Finbarr’s Hospital Campus, Cork City. A temporary reduction in availability of rehabilitation and respite beds will be facilitated by contracting additional 20 nursing home beds.”... Read more

ENT services 'to move from Mallow to Cork'

Gary Culliton | 16 January 2009

The HSE has announced that ENT services will move from Mallow to Cork as part of the ‘Reconfiguration of Acute Hospital Services HSE South’. The loss of ear, nose & throat services (ENT) at Mallow General Hospital is a significant... Read more

Huge outpatient task for HSE

Gary Culliton | 16 January 2009

The HSE’s 2009 targets to reduce waiting times for outpatients to under eight weeks is ‘hugely ambitious’, according to senior health service executives – given that outpatients currently face waits of up to four years. There are currently over 150,000... Read more

HSE to spend €5.5m on advertising in ‘09

Dara Gantly | 16 January 2009

The Health Service Executive (HSE) envisages spending €577.4 million excluding VAT with outside contractors over the next 12 months, including €28 million on legal services, €22 million on taxi and transport services, €20 million on telecommunications contracts and a further... Read more

UCC President resigns from Board of the HSE

June Shannon | 14 January 2009

The President of UCC Dr Michael Murphy, has resigned from the Board of the HSE citing work pressures. In a short statement to IMT, Dr Murphy said: “Due to work pressures associated with the Office of President of UCC, it... Read more

Hospital documents found dumped in Derry

Gary Culliton | 14 January 2009

Documentation relating to patients at Letterkenny General Hospital has been found in Derry City. It is understood the documents contain the names, dates of birth and condition of 12 patients. Three pages of official hospital papers were discovered last week... Read more

Teamwork integration backed by College of Surgeons

Gary Culliton | 14 January 2009

The President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Prof. Frank Keane, fully supports the proposals contained in the HSE plans for the integration and reconfiguration of acute hospital services in the Mid-West Region, which have been directed by... Read more

HSE reveals results of mid-west reviews

Gary Culliton | 12 January 2009

The HSE has commissioned a number of reviews in relation to how acute hospital services should be organised including the Teamwork/Howarth Report in relation to the Mid-West: Limerick, Clare and Tipperary North. The reviews conclude that Emergency Department care should... Read more

Documents found in Derry City

09 January 2009

Shortfall in UK receipts for elderly services

Gary Culliton | 06 January 2009

Minister for Health Mary Harney told the Oireachtas Select Committee on Health last month that there was a €350 million shortfall in receipts from the United Kingdom for health services provided to UK pensioners here under EU regulations. “The UK... Read more

Average length of hospital stay 4.8 days

Gary Culliton | 18 December 2008

The average length of stay for acute in-patients in Irish hospitals in 2006 was 4.8 days. Close to 1.25 million discharges were reported by Irish hospitals and over half of total discharges were day patients (53.2%); the remainder were in-patients... Read more

HSE staff to be consulted on €920m cutbacks

Gary Culliton | 17 December 2008

Management and staff will be fully consulted on a plan to slash €920m from the health services budget next year, Taoiseach Brian Cowen has said. Unions want to bring forward alternative cost-cutting proposals which they said will not impact so... Read more

Irish medicine prices highest in Europe

Gary Culliton | 16 December 2008

Medicine prices in Ireland are amongst the highest in Europe, a new paper shows, following a five-fold increase in Government spending on drugs over the last tenyears. Dr Michael Barry, who has delivered a report to Health Minister Harney on... Read more

NTPF says there is no need for patients to wait for colonoscopies

Gary Culliton | 15 December 2008

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has said it is in a position to treat patients currently waiting long periods for colonoscopies. “The NTPF has the resources, budget and capacity to provide these scopes within weeks,” a spokesperson said. Latest... Read more

Cost of cutting drugs margins totals €51m

Gary Culliton | 12 December 2008

The cost of the HSE’s incorrect approach to cutting the margins on drugs last March is expected to run to €8.5 million per month, a total of €51 million, it has emerged. The Commercial Court, ruling in the Hickey case... Read more

Patients in North West still wait longest

Gary Culliton | 11 December 2008

A total of 3,620 patients are currently waiting over three months for diagnostic scopes, including, in more than half of these cases, a colonoscopy. While this total represents a reduction of one-third since this time last year, the National Treatment... Read more

Harney ‘concerned’ about slow progress

Gary Culliton | 10 December 2008

Health Minister Mary Harney has said she is ‘deeply concerned’ at the slow rate of progress in implementing new HSE working arrangements. She said there have been ‘no tangible benefits for patients’. No Clinical Directors have been appointed to date,... Read more

Does Ireland lead the way in health reform?

By Alan Deeley | 09 December 2008

The Department of Health this week explained Minister Harney’s Dail claim that ‘many other countries’ will consider adopting the same reform methodologies she chose in 2005 – an apparent suggestion that Ireland’s route with the HSE could inform international practice.... Read more

Chief Medical Officer says pigmeat move is precautionary

Gary Culliton | 08 December 2008

The state's Chief Medical Officer said there was no need for the public to worry and that the government had taken a precautionary approach to minimise the risk to public health. Dr Tony Holohan said the public should simply destroy... Read more

New Chief Medical Officer appointed

Gary Culliton | 08 December 2008

The Department of Health has announced the appointment of Dr Tony Holohan as its Chief Medical Officer. The key responsibilities of the Chief Medical Officer include; providing expert medical evidence, analysis and advice to the Minister, Ministers of State and... Read more

Pharmaceutical companies are accused of blocking competition

Dara Gantly | 08 December 2008

Competition in the pharmaceutical industry does not work as well as it should, with evidence suggesting that companies are purposely delaying or blocking market entry of competing medicine. In a preliminary report from the European Commission, companies have been accused... Read more

Over 70s medical cards valid until March

Gary Culliton | 05 December 2008

Proposed legislation to end the automatic entitlement to a medical card for people aged 70 years and older from 1 January has been published by the Government. Those card holders whose gross income is below the relevant income limits can... Read more

Millions to be saved on GMS

Gary Culliton | 05 December 2008

Savings of between €60m and €70m per year on GMS medicines are projected to result from recommendations contained in a report by a review group headed by pharmacologist Dr Michael Barry, which has been delivered to Health Minister Harney. Controversial... Read more

HSE to spend €1m on forms

Ian McGuinness | 05 December 2008

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is to spend €1 million on printing and delivering two types of forms. The HSE recently announced that it will pay that amount, over a three-year period, to whatever company or companies successfully tender for... Read more

‘Reasonable to expect 10% to 20% cuts’ in administration costs

Gary Culliton | 05 December 2008

The HSE has said that it would be ‘reasonable to expect efficiencies of 10 % to 20%’ in administration costs from hospitals coming together to share unified organisational structures. The Executive added that ‘the level of savings, and the scale... Read more

Interviews for CMO to begin this month

By Dara Gantly | 03 December 2008

Interviews to select the new Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Department of Health are scheduled to take place this month, Irish Medical Times has learned. A spokesperson for the Department confirmed that the interview board met in October to... Read more

Expenses relief change

Gary Culliton | 03 December 2008

Health expenses relief will be granted at the standard rate only from January 1, 2009 with the exception of nursing home expenses which will be at the marginal rate in 2009, under the new Finance Bill. Most medical expenses with... Read more

Second infectious person 'detained'

Gary Culliton | 01 December 2008

There are currently two people being detained under Section 38 of the Health Act 1947 (which applies to the detention and isolation of a person who is a probable source of infection). A woman who has been detained in hospital... Read more

Drumm's comments go unanswered by HSE

Ian McGuinness | 01 December 2008

The Health Service Executive has refused to comment on remarks that its Chief Executive Officer, Prof Brendan Drumm, is on record as making at a recent HSE South Regional Forum. Minutes of the meeting held on September 18, which recently... Read more

Scanner staffing levels not sorted, says PAC

Gary Culliton | 28 November 2008

A scanner worth €1.5 million for Mallow General Hospital – now being used for just two half-days per week – was purchased in 2006 and a competition was held to appoint radiographers, but it appears that these two decisions were... Read more

Numbers employed in health sector are up

Ian McGuinness | 27 November 2008

The number of people working in the health sector increased over the past year, despite the dramatic fall in overall employment figures in State in the same timeframe. The latest Central Statistics Office statistics showed that when the third quarter... Read more

Health insurance media campaign is withdrawn

Dara Gantly | 27 November 2008

The Health Insurance Authority (HIA) has withdrawn plans to produce a media campaign highlighting consumers’ rights to switch their health insurance plan without penalty, despite the Minister for Health pledging to ‘fully inform’ consumers of their rights in all health... Read more

Medical card numbers up in October

25 November 2008

More people were added to medical card lists last month, although the rate has slowed down. The latest figures show that an extra 1,857 people got medical cards in October — of these, 1,515 got a full medical card and... Read more

Eight tonnes of drugs dumped

By Gary Culliton | 24 November 2008

Almost eight tonnes of medicines, worth between €2 and €3 million, were returned unused to 167 pharmacies in a 12-month period, figures from a HSE pilot scheme show. Analysis of the drug-classes returned indicates that the greatest proportion is drugs... Read more

The HSE carbon footprint

21 November 2008

Petrol products worth €80 million are being bought by the Health Service Executive, it has been announced. The contract was awarded to two companies earlier this month. They were: Inver Energy of Blackpool Business Park in Cork and Chevron (Ireland)... Read more

Agencies failing to follow HSE locum guidelines?

Greg Baxter | 14 November 2008

The locum recruitment agency Locumlink, which was just awarded ‘Ireland’s Best Recruitment Agency in the Healthcare Sector’ by the National Recruitment Federation, has stated that hospitals are continuing to hire locums from agencies that fail to commit to the procedures... Read more

Encryption of data not yet completed

Alan Deeley | 14 November 2008

A HSE undertaking to have all devices containing sensitive data encrypted by the end of September has still not been fulfilled – despite the furore over the loss of laptops containing indicators of individuals’ health. In information supplied to Irish... Read more

Our Lady’s Hospice cutbacks are a ‘national disaster’

Greg Baxter | 10 November 2008

The decision to close nearly all the beds in the Rheumatology Rehabilitation Unit at Our Lady’s Hospice in Harold’s Cross could be a ‘national disaster’ if they are not re-opened in January as promised, according to one of the country’s... Read more

Salary details of special advisors released to Dáil

Dara Gantly | 10 November 2008

The two main advisors to the Minister for Health Mary Harney, special advisor Ms Patricia Ryan and press secretary Mr Derek Cunningham, recorded annual salaries of €150,711 and €122,384 respectively as at 23 October 2008. Releasing the information in the... Read more

Department to get insurance advice

Ian McGuinness | 10 November 2008

The Department of Health is to pay consultants to advise it on insurance issues. Late last month, the Depart-ment awarded a contract to Life Strategies Limited, based in Dublin 2, to provide these services. The notice announcing the award stated... Read more

HIQA announces its investigation team

Gary Culliton | 10 November 2008

The Health Information and Quality Authority has announced the membership of the investigation team that will undertake the independent investigation into the quality and safety of patient care at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis. The investigation will be undertaken by... Read more

Patients most likely to make FOI requests of HSE

Ian McGuinness | 05 November 2008

Patients are more likely than all other groups combined to submit freedom of information (FOI) requests to the Health Service Executive, according to the latest statistics. The Tenth Report on Freedom of Information, which was published by the Department of... Read more

IMT story confirmed in North East look-back review report

Gary Culliton | 05 November 2008

The HSE has confirmed an Irish Medical Times story of three months ago (August 1, 2008) by publishing the final report of the Look Back Review of Chest X-Rays and CT Scans carried out at the Louth Meath Hospitals. The... Read more

Major tax relief on health insurance for older people

03 November 2008

The Government is planning major changes to tax breaks on health insurance premiums, the Irish Independent has reported. Those over 60 years of age are now facing hikes in their premiums of more than 60pc, sources say. The Government's proposal... Read more

€100,000 spend on newsletter for HSE

By Dara Gantly | 03 November 2008

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is spending €100,000 a year to produce its national staff newsletter, ‘Health Matters’. Published quarterly, the average cost of each edition of the 32-page magazine is €42,596, excluding VAT. The content of the newsletter is... Read more

Mayo in the firing line for cutbacks

Gary Culliton | 03 November 2008

Fine Gael Mayo Deputy John O’Mahony has claimed that Mayo is set for swingeing health cutbacks after a source informed him €7 million will be slashed from frontline services in the county. “I have it on good authority that frontline... Read more

South east: ten per cent of NTPF numbers — report

Derbhile Dromey | 03 November 2008

A recent report from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has revealed a high level of take-up of the scheme in the south east. A total of 17,116 patients availed of the scheme to the end of September. This is... Read more

Nutritional feeds 'waste millions' – HSE

Gary Culliton | 31 October 2008

Up to €13.5 million per year is wasted on prescribed oral nutritional supplements, the HSE has said, and the Executive will put in place a programme to reduce the amount wasted on these products by €7 million per year. Health... Read more

Millions surrendered from mental health properties

By Dara Gantly | 31 October 2008

Three mental health properties worth nearly €8.5 million have been sold since the publication of the mental health strategy ‘A Vision for Change’ in January 2006, with all proceeds having been surrendered to the Exchequer. The total funds from the... Read more

Long waits for orthodontics

29 October 2008

There are some 1,900 people currently awaiting assessment for orthodontic healthcare in the Southern area HSE, with a waiting list stretching for 42-48 months. Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South, Colm Burke raised the issue in the European Parliament in... Read more

HSE will not confirm or deny pay cut for Drumm

Ian McGuinness | 23 October 2008

The Health Service Executive has refused to make a statement on whether or not its CEO, Prof Brendan Drumm, and other high-ranking HSE officials will take a ten per cent pay-cut. In last week’s Budget speech, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan... Read more

HSE is 'secure' with its Ulster Bank contract

Dara Gantly | 22 October 2008

The HSE has expressed its confidence in Ulster Bank, describing its banking arrangements with the financial institution as ‘secure’ following the Government’s decision to extend its multi-billion State guarantee scheme to a number of foreign-owned banks with a major presence... Read more

Reilly denies 'conflict of interest'

Gary Culliton | 22 October 2008

Fine Gael Health spokesperson Dr James Reilly has denied there is any conflict of interest between his opposition to the cutbacks in medical card eligibility and his role in negotiating terms on behalf of GPs when the deal on medical... Read more

Budget cutbacks will be 'damaging'

Gary Culliton | 22 October 2008

The Budget will result in very damaging cutbacks in frontline health services, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association President, Dr Paul Oslizlok, has said. This will inevitably occur because of the limited increase of 2.1 per cent provided in the health... Read more

Health Info Bill delayed

Dara Gantly | 21 October 2008

The long-awaited Health Information Bill, part of the Government’s ongoing Health Reform Programme, will not be brought forward until the latter half of next year at the earliest, it has emerged. The proposed legislation deals with the collection, use, sharing,... Read more

Over-70s medical 'gold' cards to end

Gary Culliton | 21 October 2008

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has welcomed a process which will be put in place to make recommendations on a single capitation fee for a medical card patients over 70. The process chaired by Mr Eddie Sullivan is due to... Read more

One-parent families hit by card guidelines

Ian McGuinness | 21 October 2008

The income guidelines for medical cards can discriminate against families where one parent decides to be a homemaker, a section of the Citizens Information Service (CIS) has said. The remark was made by County Leitrim CIS in the Citizens Information... Read more

Gilmore claims HSE can’t means test

Gary Culliton | 21 October 2008

Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore has written to Prof Brendan Drumm challenging the legal authority of the Health Service Executive to require persons over 70 to return means-test forms for medical cards in advance of the enactment of appropriate legislation by... Read more

Court says HSE should fund unit

Ian McGuinness | 17 October 2008

The Labour Court has recommended that the HSE provide enough funding to implement full staffing levels at Wexford General Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED). The Court recommendation was issued late last month after a Labour Relations Commission conciliation conference between the... Read more

Reilly slams over 70s medical card scheme 'climbdown'

Gary Culliton | 17 October 2008

Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly TD, has said the Government has been forced into a desperate climbdown on over-70s medical cards but their tinkering with income limits is nowhere near good enough after their vicious attack on the... Read more

Harney 'hammers pensioners' with Medical Card and tax

Gary Culliton | 16 October 2008

Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly TD, has said the removal of the over-70s medical card from 125,000 people, which the Taoiseach describes as not ‘unreasonable’, means a 2% health levy worth at least €200 million on top of... Read more

Number of card holders doubles

Ian McGuinness | 16 October 2008

The number of medical cards granted in the last month has doubled as the economy begins to contract. Over 15,600 additional people were given medical cards in September, the biggest monthly increase this year so far and double the usual... Read more

HSE not in breach of competition law over GMS

Dara Gantly | 16 October 2008

The Competition Authority (CA) has determined that the HSE is not in violation of competition law in relation to the various schemes it administers for the provision of prescription drugs to the general public. The CA issued the enforcement decision... Read more

Bruton rejects Harney claims

15 October 2008

Fine Gael Finance Spokesperson & Deputy Leader, Richard Bruton TD, has dismissed claims made by Health Minister Mary Harney about the effect Fine Gael’s economic proposals would have on health. “Minister Harney has repeatedly claimed that I wanted to cut... Read more

'Very damaging cutbacks' in frontline services

Gary Culliton | 15 October 2008

The IHCA President, Dr. Paul Oslizlok, has expressed his extreme concern that the Budget will result in very damaging cutbacks in frontline health services. This will inevitably occur because of the limited increase of 2.1% provided in the Health Current... Read more

Health quangos rationalised

Gary Culliton | 15 October 2008

Health Minister Mary Harney, has announced a major programme of agency rationalisation in the health sector. The programme involves a total of 15 agencies as follows:... Read more

No sign of promised €25m for mental health– Amnesty

Gary Culliton | 15 October 2008

Reacting to figures announced today by John Moloney TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Equality, Disability and Mental Health, for mental health services in Budget 2009, Colm O’Gorman Executive Director with Amnesty International Irish section, said: "We are deeply... Read more

Over 70s: 'ten year wait' to re-apply for VHI cover

Gary Culliton | 15 October 2008

People with a pre-existing illness – who had surrendered private insurance cover on becoming entitled to an over 70s Medical Card – are being told by the VHI that they must wait ten years if they reapply for cover. Labour... Read more

Major budget changes in health area

Gary Culliton | 15 October 2008

Health Minister Harney has announced details of the 2009 Estimates for the health services. The Minister said the government was introducing means testing for medical cards for all persons currently aged 70 and over. “Even in these circumstances, total current... Read more

Over 70 Medical Card holders to be contacted

15 October 2008

The HSE is to make contact with all over-70 medical card holders in the coming weeks to seek details of their income. The move follows the removal of their automatic right to a medical card in yesterday's budget.... Read more

INO predicts severe service cuts after budget

Gary CUlliton | 15 October 2008

The Government’s decision to increase the health allocation in this year’s budget by just 2.1%, which is significantly less than the rate of inflation, will lead to severe cuts in services, extended waiting times for treatment and even greater overcrowding... Read more

Reilly slams Budget "attack on elderly"

Gary Culliton | 15 October 2008

Fine Gael Health spokesperson Dr James Reilly has slammed restrictions on over 70s medical cards imposed in the budget. “What will all this means-testing cost, to catch the minority of over 70s who will not be entitled to a medical... Read more

IPU surprised by new document

Gary Culliton | 15 October 2008

The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) has expressed surprise at the publication of a consultation document at this time on the issue of negotiations between the State and pharmacists given recent rulings on the issue by the High Court and the... Read more

More psychologists needed in system

Ian McGuinness | 14 October 2008

There is too much dependence on medication to treat psychological illnesses, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health has been told. The Irish Association of Psychologists in Mental Health called instead for more psychologists to be appointed to the health service,... Read more

Department of Health still to submit its report

Ian McGuinness | 14 October 2008

The Department of Health is the only Government department that has still not submitted its progress report on the Programme for Government to the Taoiseach’s department. The update report, Implementation of an Agreed Programme for Government - Progress Report 2008,... Read more

HSE freeze affects speech therapists

Greg Baxter | 14 October 2008

Only one out of 98 speech and language therapists who qualified in Ireland this year has been hired by the HSE, seven years after a Government-commissioned report called for an additional 985 speech and language therapists by 2015. Fine Gael... Read more

HSE criticised by Citizens Information Board

Ian McGuinness | 10 October 2008

A report published by the Citizens Information Board has criticised internal communication within the Health Service Executive. The most recently published quarterly Social Policy Report, covering January to March 2008, gave the example of a person who contacted a Citizens... Read more

Shared investment is future for health

Greg Baxter | 09 October 2008

The future of Irish healthcare is an integrated public/private system, where the cost of investment is shared, and some services are operated under joint governance structures on co-located sites, the chief executive of Beacon Medical Group told the IHCA AGM.... Read more

Too many meetings stop the real work of healing, Kinsella tells delegates

Greg Baxter | 09 October 2008

Members of the IHCA who were awaiting a presentation from one of the country’s most outspoken business analysts about the future of health insurance at the AGM in Cork instead got an unexpected lecture on healing and the Hippocratic Oath.... Read more

Irish won't pay for health

Greg Baxter | 08 October 2008

Both the Irish public and the British public strongly support more national spending on health, but the Irish public do not want to pay for it, the medical director of the National Health Service in the United Kingdom told the... Read more

HSE system is a 'national disgrace'

Greg Baxter | 08 October 2008

The president of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association called the Health Service Executive a ‘national disgrace’ at the Association’s AGM in Cork. Dr Paul Oslizlok said: “It has been nothing short of a national disgrace that 11 health boards merged... Read more

New CMO to head up patient safety division

Dara Gantly | 08 October 2008

The new Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health is to head up the patient safety division within the Department, it has been confirmed. The move is a significant change in the role of the CMO, as previously the... Read more

No decline in errors in years

Greg Baxter | 06 October 2008

The frequency of errors in medical treatment in hospitals and medical practices, despite all the advances in technology and education, has not declined over the last 20 years, according to the President of the European Health Forum, Gastein, a body... Read more

Health surplus of €95m not spent in 2007

Ian McGuinness | 03 October 2008

The Department of Health (DoH) and the HSE did not spend nearly €95 million allocated by the Exchequer last year. The figure comes from the recently published Audited Appropriation Accounts 2007, released by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr John... Read more

No reason for insurance to rise due to recession

Gary Culliton | 03 October 2008

The Chief Executive of the Injuries Board has hit out at speculation that insurance premiums should rise by 10 per cent to 20 per cent. Responding to recent predictions by the Irish Broker’s Association that international investment market conditions will... Read more

Recession provides impetus for SHI

Ian McGuinness | 02 October 2008

The current recession and the Supreme Court ruling against risk equalisation may provide the impetus for a change in how Ireland’s health system is funded, the Irish Social Policy Association’s annual meeting heard. Dr Stephen Thomas made the remarks while... Read more

NTPF spends €3 million more in 2007

Ian McGuinness | 01 October 2008

The National Treatment Purchase Fund spent €3.25 million more than it was supposed to last year. The Fund spent almost €91.75 million in 2007, even though it had been estimated that it would need almost €88.5 million in that year.... Read more

HSE delayed taking action when it went over budget

Ian McGuinness | 26 September 2008

The HSE delayed taking action when it became apparent in 2007 that it was going to run over budget, the Comptroller and Auditor General’s latest annual report has said. The HSE was eventually €245 million over budget at the end... Read more

Still time to submit disability views

Gary Culliton | 26 September 2008

Interested parties wishing to submit their views on HIQA’s draft National Quality Standards: Residential Settings for People with Disabilities can do so until the end of next month. The standards will provide a national framework to set out what a... Read more

Security standards issued for health

Greg Baxter | 23 September 2008

New standards on information security in the health sector have been issued by the International Organisation for Standards (ISO), an international body composed of representatives from various national standards organisations. The new guidelines address the increasing use of wireless and... Read more

Stigma must be addressed

Ian McGuinness | 23 September 2008

Ireland should launch a campaign to combat the stigma associated with mental health, according to a new report on psychiatric illness and the economy. The document, The Economics of Mental Health Care in Ireland, which was written by Eamon O’Shea... Read more

Survey on ADHD shows profound impact on families

Greg Baxter | 22 September 2008

On average, there is a four-year lag between the time when parents suspect their child may have a problem and the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a new survey has revealed. 'A Survey of ADHD in Irish Children',... Read more

No HSE figures on budget over-runs

Greg Baxter | 19 September 2008

The HSE does not keep information on hospital budgetary over-runs centrally and cannot provide national, up-to-date figures on hospital overspend. Last week IMT asked the HSE to provide current information of budget overspend, following reports that Mayo General Hospital was... Read more

Almost 5,000 more get medical cards

Ian McGuinness | 18 September 2008

An extra 5,000 people have medical cards this month compared to August, the latest figures have revealed. The statistics from the Primary Care Reimbursement Service show that there were 4,621 additional patients with full medical cards at the beginning of... Read more

Dental difficulties for medical card holders in Carlow

Gary Culliton | 17 September 2008

Medical card holders in rural Carlow face difficulties getting treatment due to the withdrawal of a number of local dentists from the Dental Treatment Services Scheme. Health Minister Mary Harney revealed in a parliamentary question recently that 190 of the... Read more

Survey reports over half Irish adults support pharmacists

Alan Deeley | 17 September 2008

An independent survey has reported that 51 per cent of Irish adults support pharmacists in their row with the HSE, while only 18 per cent believe the HSE is in the right. Since March, the HSE has cut reimbursements to... Read more

Health needs more funds

Greg Baxter | 12 September 2008

The IHCA has called for a nine per cent increase in revenue spending on health in the 2009 Budget, and a significant increase in capital spend. The IHCA has recommended, in its pre-Budget submission, that revenue expenditure be increased from... Read more

New Chief Medical Officer for DoH

Gary Culliton | 11 September 2008

The Department of Health has advertised for the post of Chief Medical Officer to replace the outgoing Dr James Kiely who is taking up a job as medical officer to Irish Aid. The Chief Medical Officer advises the Minister and... Read more

Medical card holders unable to use clinic

Mary Anne Kenny | 10 September 2008

Medical-card holders can no longer access treatment at the Irish Family Planning Association’s (IFPA’s) main clinic in Dublin, due to a lack of funding from the Health Service Executive (HSE). The IFPA was forced to suspend services to GMS patients... Read more

€13 million to be spent on security by HSE

Ian McGuinness | 05 September 2008

Nearly €13 million is being spent on security in two areas of Ireland by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Contracts were awarded recently to two companies for a total of €12,809,535. The notification of the awarding of the contracts explained... Read more

Disability will feel the cutbacks first, say Irish family doctors

04 September 2008

Disability and hospital services will be the first to be hit by cutbacks imposed on the Health Service Executive (HSE) by the Government, according to the Irish Medical Times survey of general practitioners. Disability was cited as the number one... Read more

Breast Cancers could be missed in Limerick

Greg Baxter | 20 August 2008

Many breast cancers could be missed in Limerick while women await the roll-out of BreastCheck there, according to Limerick East TD Kieran O’Donnell (FG). According to the Institute of Public Health in Ireland, Limerick at had the lowest life expectancy... Read more

Up to 10% of staff absent

Gary Culliton | 15 August 2008

New figures from 23 hospitals obtained by Irish Medical Times show overall absenteeism rates of between seven and eight per cent in some hospitals, and absenteeism rates among nurses and general support staff of more than ten per cent at... Read more

No pay level quoted in HSE ad

Terence Cosgrave | 05 August 2008

The Health Service Executive has advertised for a National Director of Communications but has excluded from its press advertising the salary to be paid to the successful candidate. Irish Medical Times has since confirmed that the holder of the 35-hour... Read more

HSE, VHI have the highest CEO salaries in health services

Ian McGuinness | 25 July 2008

Between €2.233 million and €2.386 million in salaries is being paid to the chief executive officers of the 16 agencies that are under the control of the Department of Health. Figures released by the Department show that the largest salary... Read more

Health spending up for 2008

Ian McGuinness | 25 July 2008

Nearly €711 million extra was spent on health services in this country in the first six months of this year when compared to the same period in 2007, according to Government figures. The statistics show that just over €6.809 billion... Read more

'Bonfire of the Quangos' to begin

Gary Culliton | 25 July 2008

Round one in the Government’s ‘bonfire of the quangos’ will mean a major shakeup within the Department of Health. The National Cancer Screening Service Board and the National Cancer Registry of Ireland, along with a number of other cancer quangos,... Read more

Managers get due reward in new awards category

21 July 2008

Beauchamps Solicitors is sponsoring a new category in this year's Irish Healthcare Awards — that of Innovation in Healthcare Management. Doctors may get ‘thank you’ cards from their patients; nurses might get a bunch of flowers – or even a... Read more

No funds for patient care

Gary Culliton | 18 July 2008

A new Patient Care Bill and a new Forum of Regulators to be set up on a statutory basis – which would operate in a similar way to Britain’s Council for Regulation of Health Excellence (CRHE) – are among the... Read more

Disability services won't lose funding

By Greg Baxter | 15 July 2008

Disability services are set to receive the full €50 million set aside in the HSE’s budget, despite delays caused by a financial review, according to the Minister of State with responsibility for Equality, Disability & Mental Health, Mr John Moloney.... Read more

IMT's scoop on HSE regionalisation

Gary Culliton | 04 July 2008

The HSE Structure is to be regionalized, as Irish Medical Times revealed three months ago. Things have moved on it seems, since a statement which the HSE released in the wake of our story last march?... Read more

HSE boss heads west

Greg Baxter | 04 July 2008

Professor Brendan Drumm met with clinicians from hospitals in Roscommon, Galway and Ballinasloe last Thursday to discuss the implementation of the joint department of surgery proposal for Roscommon and Portiuncula Hospitals. The HSE called the meetings ‘constructive’. Prof Drumm assured... Read more

Record numbers expected for Irish Healthcare Awards

03 July 2008

The Minister for Health, Mary Harney has accepted an invitation to be the guest speaker at the Irish Healthcare Awards 2008 ceremony, which takes place on Thursday, 16 October, in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin. This is the third time that... Read more

HSE criticised for funding cut

Sandra Ryan | 26 June 2008

The country’s largest provider of intellectual disability services, St Michael’s House in Dublin, has criticised the Health Service Executive (HSE) for reducing their funding by €2 million since 2003, meaning their waiting lists are growing and they are unable to... Read more

North West loses medical cards

By Ian McGuinness | 24 June 2008

The former North Western Health Board region has lost thousands of medical card holders from its lists in the space of a month, despite every other region gaining them. The most up to date figures show that, between 1 May... Read more

Irish doctors mistrust each other — Prof Keane

Greg Baxter | 22 June 2008

Greg Baxter reports on some recent public comments by Prof Tom Keane who had some harsh words to say about the Irish healthcare system. If you are still talking about healthcare in terms of beds, the conversation has passed you... Read more

HSE not consulting on laboratory strategy

Greg Baxter | 20 June 2008

The HSE is pursuing a strategy to reform the country’s hospital laboratory system using a report that has not been officially published, and without consulting the main organisations representing medical scientists, the Academy of Medical Laboratory Science (AMLS) has stated.... Read more

E-health: Data protection and security

20 June 2008

Given the sensitive nature of health-related data, Helix Health says it is increasingly important for medical professionals to ensure that their patients' paperless files are secure and protected. There has been a large amount of media attention paid to the... Read more

Report on health providers due

Greg Baxter | 18 June 2008

The Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance will publish its report on the licensing of public and private healthcare providers and services next month, the Department of Health has announced. Currently, there is no system of regulation for private... Read more

Commission needed for plan

Mary Anne Kenny | 18 June 2008

An independent commission is needed to oversee the effective implementation of the health transformation programme, because of a lack of clarity about the roles of the HSE and the Department of Health, according to Dr Ambrose McLoughlin, CEO of the... Read more

New categories for Irish awards

Mary Anne Kenny | 12 June 2008

Keeping to the high standards set in previous years, the 2008 Irish Healthcare Awards will reward people and projects that have made a difference or demonstrated innovation in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Irish Medical Times is calling for entries... Read more

HIQA hosts RDS event

Gary Culliton | 12 June 2008

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is to host a major international conference involving 1,600 international delegates at Dublin’s RDS in two years’ time. The Health Technology Assessment International (HTAi) Conference will be held from June 6-9, 2010. HIQA’s... Read more

Pharmacists face negative equity

Gary Culliton | 10 June 2008

Gary Culliton speaks to Mr Jim Canavan, UniPhar CEO, about how pharmacies have reduced in value over the last 18 months . Pharmacies may have reduced in value by one third over the last 18 months and young pharmacists who... Read more

Public satisfied with HSE, despite media claims

Sandra Ryan | 06 June 2008

Public satisfaction with the HSE is much higher than the media claims, according to a new report from Dublin City University. Professor of Public Health at DCU, Prof Anthony Staines said the research, which was carried out by himself and... Read more

Unnecessary management hinders services

Greg Baxter | 06 June 2008

Hospital doctors working in organised environments do not need multiple layers of supervision, Ireland’s cancer tsar said, possibly foreshadowing a radical approach to change in Ireland’s cancer services. Prof Tom Keane, Interim Director of the Cancer Control Programme, said: “Multiple... Read more

Get your entries in for the Healthcare Awards

Mary Anne Kenny | 27 May 2008

If you have been part of a development in healthcare that is a good example of excellence and innovation, or you know of a project or person within the pharmaceutical or healthcare industries that deserves recognition, it’s time to let... Read more

Clinical directors to be appointed by September

Gary Culliton | 22 May 2008

The HSE has pledged to fill over a hundred new clinical director positions across the health service by 1 September this year and Minister Mary Harney has said there is ‘huge interest’ in taking up the posts, which are initially... Read more

Palliative care funding 'disappears'

Ian McGuinness | 21 May 2008

Ian McGuinness on the revelations that funding allocated for hospice and palliative care was used to balance the HSE's books Psychiatry is often referred to as the ‘Cinderella of the health services’. If so, then palliative care must be Cinderella’s... Read more

Landfill records 'illegible', says HSE

Ian McGuinness | 20 May 2008

A lot of the hospital records found at the Glounthaune landfill site in County Cork late last month are illegible, the Health Service Executive has claimed. Mr Gerry O’Dwyer, who is the Network Manager for the Southern Hospitals Group, informed... Read more

Reilly sets out his stall on how to reform health

Terence Cosgrave | 16 May 2008

The opposition spokesperson on health Dr James Reilly has for the first time outlined the steps that a Fine Gael-led government would take to tackle the deep-seated problems of the health service. In an exclusive article for Irish Medical Times... Read more

More funding needed for Spina Bifida

By Mary Anne Kenny | 12 May 2008

More State funding is needed if the Irish Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (IASBAH) is to maintain its services, said the organisation’s Chief Executive, Mr George Kennedy. Speaking at the IASBAH annual conference in Cork last weekend, he said... Read more

Cutting back on cleaning

Ian McGuinness | 10 May 2008

Some hospitals and nursing homes are being asked to cut back on detergents, a Fianna Fáil TD has said. Deputy Margaret Conlon told Irish Medical Times: “I am getting calls from people in different hospitals who are being asked to... Read more

No support systems for brain-injured patients

Greg Baxter | 10 May 2008

Thousands of people every year who suffer acquired brain injury (ABI) have ‘absolutely no support’ after leaving hospital, a Beaumont Hospital neurologist has told Irish Medical Times. Dr Orla Hardiman said there is a massive un-met need, and many people... Read more

'Much to do' in health - Drumm

Mary Anne Kenny | 10 May 2008

Prof Brendan Drumm, HSE chief executive, acknowledged at the recent HSE National Achievement Awards ceremony that the Executive ‘has much to do’ to bring about the transformation of Ireland’s healthcare system, but he also emphasised the importance of focusing energies... Read more

Hiring embargo leads to €5m bill

Gary Culliton | 10 May 2008

James Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown is facing an annual €5m bill for agency workers which has come about largely as a result of the recruitment embargo, Labour Party Deputy Joan Burton has charged. “The embargo is forcing hospitals like Connolly... Read more

St John’s re-accredited by HIQA

30 April 2008

St John’s Hospital, Limerick has become the first public hospital to be re-accredited under the Acute Care Accreditation Scheme granted by the Health Information and Quality Authority. St John’s was the first public hospital in the country to be accredited... Read more

Child protection procedures ignored

Sandra Ryan | 28 April 2008

Sandra Ryan on the HSE-commissioned inquiry which found that a childcare lecturer remained in his post two years after being convicted of sexual offences. An inquiry commissioned by the HSE has published its report on Athlone Institute of Technology childcare... Read more

No 'ban' on selling property but no sales can be made

Ian McGuinness | 22 April 2008

There is no blanket ban on selling Health Service Executive property, it has told Irish Medical Times. The clarification comes after HSE West Regional Forum members were informed by the Executive that: “The National Director of Estates has issued an... Read more

Healthcare in a changing world

Greg Baxter | 19 April 2008

Greg Baxter spoke to Anne-Marie Feyer, PricewaterhouseCoopers Australian healthcare leader, about what Ireland and Australia can learn from each other Australia and Ireland face similar challenges in efforts to plan their health systems for the future, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)... Read more

Minister queried over HSE divisions

15 April 2008

Deputy Bernard Allen (FG-Cork North Central) asked the Minister for Health and Children if she plans to introduce a more regional structure for the Health Service Executive, with greater autonomy in managing budgets for four regional divisions. The Minister for... Read more

Psych patients sent to unaccredited facilities

08 April 2008

Deputy Dan Neville (FG, Limerick West) asked about psychiatric patients who are sent to unaccredited mental health facilities by the Health Service Executive. He wanted to know how many patients were sent to such institutions. In addition, he wanted to... Read more

Middle-managers should be let go

Ian McGuinness | 04 April 2008

Some middle management in the health service should be made redundant in order to free up funding to enable the extra 1,500 consultants promised by the Government to be hired. Prof John Higgins, Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cork University... Read more

IMO calls for public HSE meetings

02 April 2008

The IMO has called on the HSE to make its Board meetings public and accountable. Past President Dr Christine O’Malley said no-one even knows who is on the Board, what decisions are made or what takes place at meetings. “We... Read more

Risk to patients as smear tests are to be sent abroad

By Greg Baxter | 01 April 2008

At least 60 per cent of cervical smear tests carried out at HSE hospitals will be sent abroad once a massive tender process for cytology screening services is complete. Irish Medical Times has learned that Ireland’s largest cytology laboratories –... Read more

Fine Gael sets up a new policy commission

Sandra Ryan | 28 March 2008

Fine Gael has set up a new policy commission called ‘Transforming Irish Public Services’, party leader Enda Kenny has announced. He said the priority for the group will be to look at ways of introducing a universal healthcare system for... Read more

HSE to be regionalised

Gary Culliton | 18 March 2008

A more regional structure for the Health Service Executive (HSE) with greater autonomy and devolved budgets for four regional divisions is the likely outcome of a review of the HSE by management consultants, McKinsey. Inability to develop autonomy at regional... Read more

Health managers welcome protocols

Greg Baxter | 18 March 2008

The country’s healthcare managers have welcomed the introduction of protocols to guide and inform the conduct of investigations and reviews, following the reports on cancer services at the Midland Regional Hospital at Portlaoise. A spokeswoman for the Health Management Institute... Read more

Martin received warning on hospital cancer services

Sandra Ryan | 13 March 2008

Former Minister for Health Mr Micheál Martin, TD has confirmed that his Department received correspondence in 2002 from a consultant surgeon in the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise over concerns about the provision of breast cancer services in the midlands.... Read more

Mental health unit is delayed

Ian McGuinness | 12 March 2008

A row over a sewer has delayed the building of a new mental health unit at Letterkenny General Hospital. The Health Service Exec-utive (North West) applied to Letterkenny Town Council last August for permission to build the single-storey unit at... Read more

Green light for psychiatric day-care centre

12 March 2008

A temporary psychiatric day-care centre is to be built at Clonskeagh Hospital. Planning permission was given by Dublin City Council for the development at the Dublin 6 facility recently. The single-storey temporary building will be on the south east of... Read more

Allocation of funding for mental health

11 March 2008

Deputy Dan Neville (FG-Limerick West) asked the Minister for Health how she will ensure that the allocation of €25 million in 2006 and €25 million in 2007 for the introduction of the recommendations contained in ‘A Vision for Change’ is... Read more

Funds from land sales

Ian McGuinness | 11 March 2008

The Department of Health and the Department of Finance have failed to state how much, if anything, has been raised from the sale of psychiatric lands and buildings since A Vision For Change was published in January 2006. Irish Medical... Read more

Labour Court suggests plan to end IBTS row

Ian McGuinness | 06 March 2008

Seven recommendations have been issued by the Labour Court in order to try and resolve a row between the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) and the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association. The row was related to restructuring in the IBTS, which... Read more

Studies show elderly still receiving wrong drugs

Gary Culliton | 05 March 2008

Age Action has called for a review of the on-going pharmacological training received by doctors dealing with older patients, in the wake of the two separate studies which found that older patients were receiving inappropriate medications. The older people’s charity... Read more

Drugs dispute goes on

Sandra Ryan | 05 March 2008

Sandra Ryan reports on the newly introduced changes to the pharmacy contract, which are disputed by the IPU and by the opposition parties. This week, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has introduced changes to pharmacists’ contracts that have dominated the... Read more

Pharmacies closed today?

Sandra Ryan | 04 March 2008

The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) has warned that pharmacy services may be disrupted today (Wednesday March 5), while a Special General Meeting of the union is held in Dublin to discuss the ‘implications of the HSE’s failure to negotiate contractual... Read more

Cancer, asthma etc. should be treated like infectious diseases

Greg Baxter | 27 February 2008

Diagnoses of cancer, asthma, motor neurone diseases and other conditions should be treated in the same way as diagnoses of infectious diseases, with full backgrounds of patients being placed on a national register, according to a spokesperson for the Irish... Read more

Codeine warning to breastfeeding mothers

27 February 2008

The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) has issued a warning to doctors and pharmacists about the dangers of their patients using codeine-containing painkillers when breastfeeding. “Codeine should not be used by breastfeeding mothers unless prescribed by a physician,” states the IMB,... Read more

Galway HSE to acquire security services

27 February 2008

Security services worth €400,000 are to be acquired by Health Service Executive’s Primary, Community and Continuing Care section in Galway. The services are to be provided at various buildings and locations in the city and county, according to the tender... Read more

Data from over 170,000 IBTS blood-donors stolen

Sandra Ryan | 26 February 2008

The Data Protection Com-missioner should conduct an audit of security measures in place to protect private information given by people to State bodies, after a laptop containing personal information on over 170,000 people who have donated blood to the Irish... Read more

Labour Court rules HSE must consult with unions

By Ian McGuinness | 25 February 2008

The Health Service Executive should not introduce any initiative similar to last year’s recruitment freeze unless it has fully consulted with trade unions, the Labour Court has recommended. The Court recently found that the HSE breached the social partnership agreement,... Read more

Write-off resulting from IBTS computer system

19 February 2008

Deputy James Bannon (FG Longford-Westmeath) asked the Minister for Health and Children the exact financial loss resulting from the abandonment of the Progresa computer system by the Irish Blood Transfusion Board (IBTS). “The Progesa Computer System in the IBTS has been... Read more

Financial structure of HSE criticised by Dáil commitee

Ian McGuinness | 13 February 2008

The structure of the Health Service Executive’s financial statements for 2006 has been attacked by the Comptroller General, Mr John Purcell, and the Chairman of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee, Deputy Bernard Allen. Mr Purcell told a recent meeting of... Read more

Competition increases in healthcare software

Greg Baxter | 12 February 2008

Roll-out of the iSoft patient management software platform continues on schedule, with 30 hospitals now running the system, a Health Service Executive (HSE) spokesman has told Irish Medical Times. The HSE has a 10-year contract with iSoft to provide a... Read more

Hospitals' corporate structure is key to unlocking their potential

Vincent Barton | 11 February 2008

Mr Vincent Barton says that a fundamental question for hospitals - and indeed the health service as a whole - is how the major hospitals will be governed in the future. He argues that it makes sense for HSE hospitals... Read more

Mis-diagnosed cancer women now have MRSA

Sandra Ryan | 06 February 2008

A number of the women receiving treatment for breast cancer after being misdiagnosed at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise late last year have contracted MRSA during the course of their care, Irish Medical Times has learned, although it is... Read more

Tender process for new MRI unit services

06 February 2008

The Health Service Executive has published a tender inviting interested parties to provide an MRI unit in Cavan. The document stated that the successful bidder would have to provide a building, as well as installing and commissioning facilities and training... Read more

By Greg Baxter | 06 February 2008

Fine Gael is set to attack the government and Minister for Health this week over a number of high-profile issues, the FG Health spokesman Dr James Reilly said.... Read more

North-east doctors rebel on cuts

By Sandra Ryan | 06 February 2008

Over 300 doctors in the north-east will attend a meeting called to urgently discuss the Health Service Executive (HSE) plans to cut hospital services from the region, revealed in a leaked private document.... Read more

HSE warned on GPs

Sandra Ryan | 01 February 2008

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been asked to reverse their decision not to expand the number of GP training places to a planned 150, as doctors warn the move will have serious repercussions for the specialty. Figures compiled by... Read more

Abandoned psychiatric unit draws heavy criticism

Greg Baxter | 01 February 2008

The discovery that an acute psychiatric unit planned for Beaumont Hospital has been abandoned so that a new co-located hospital can be built has brought widespread condemnation. Last week the Irish Psychiatric Association published a damning report on the plundering... Read more

[link??] HSE hospitals need boards

Greg Baxter | 01 February 2008

Hospitals that are owned and operated entirely by the Health Service Executive (HSE) ought to have their own boards and governance structures, one of Ireland’s leading healthcare experts has recommended. Mr Vincent Barton, Managing Director of the consulting firm Prospectus,... Read more

Wicklow still affected by recruitment freeze

Mary Anne Kenny | 01 February 2008

The Health Service Exec-utive (HSE) recruitment freeze is still biting in Co Wicklow, with vacancies for key medical and hygiene staff still on hold, according to Fine Gael Wicklow Deputy Andrew Doyle. “Thirty-four essential vacancies in the Wicklow Health Service... Read more

No consolations for child patients

Ian McGuinness | 25 January 2008

A child or adolescent was admitted to an adult psychiatric facility every two days, on average, between the beginning of November 2006 and the end of December last year. Why is this happening? The answer is simply because there are... Read more

Huge increase in children's beds

Ian McGuinness | 25 January 2008

The number of child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient beds is in the process of being expanded from 12 to 70, the Health Service Executive has said. The lack of such inpatient beds has been a contentious issue because, as a... Read more

Financial setback for suicide prevention

Mary Anne Kenny | 25 January 2008

The national office charged with tackling suicide must do so without additional funding this year. Last Wednesday, the Health Service Executive told the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) that it must make do with €4.5 million, the same amount... Read more

Increased numbers but reduced beds

Greg Baxter | 25 January 2008

Prof Brendan Drumm believes a medical assessment unit (MAU) could be operating at every hospital in the country by the end of this year if there is sufficient co-operation from staff at those hospitals. MAUs– sometimes called medical admission units–... Read more

Plan to reduce beds questioned

Greg Baxter | 25 January 2008

One of the keys to the Health Service Executive’s (HSE’s) plans to dramatically reduce the number of total inpatient beds by 2020 has been called into question by the Irish Association of Emergency Medicine (IAEM). Medical assessment units (MAUs) have... Read more

Health spend totals €40m below budget

Ian McGuinness | 18 January 2008

An extra €1.72 billion was issued under the three votes covered by the Department of Health and Children last year in comparison to 2006, according to latest government figures. Statistics carried in the 4 January, 2008, issue of Irish Oifigiúil... Read more

Public is the major investor in health

Greg Baxter | 14 December 2007

The proportion of private sector investment in the health service has dropped significantly since the mid-1990s, according to the Minister for Health, Mary Harney. “The proportion of public spending has been increasing rapidly in recent years,” she said, speaking at... Read more

Harney calls for prudence with HSE spending in 2008

Greg Baxter | 14 December 2007

The Minister for Health has sent a stern warning to the Health Service Executive (HSE) with regard to managing its 2008 budget. The Department of Health has allocated €14.9 billion to the HSE for its 2008 budget. Asked by Irish... Read more

Ageism is a widespread problem in Irish society — including government

Terence Cosgrave | 30 November 2007

The Chief Executive of Age Action Ireland has said that ageism is widespread in health, government, the social partners, personal social services and the media. Mr Robin Webster told the Annual Winter Meeting of the Irish College of General Practitioners... Read more

Another report for the shelves?

Ian McGuinness | 23 November 2007

How much of the Mental Health and Social Inclusion report will actually be implemented? That is what needs to be asked about the latest report from the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF). The purpose of the report is self-explanatory... Read more

HSE gives 'facetious' responses to TDs

Ian McGuinness | 02 November 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) does not answer questions put by TDs and provides them with ‘facetious’ replies, according to the Fine Gael Spokesperson on Health. Dr James Reilly (FG, Dublin North) said during a debate on the recruitment embargo:... Read more

HSE hires front-line staff despite freeze

Greg Baxter | 19 October 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has established a small group designed to approve new front-line posts on a limited basis during the recruitment freeze, the Minister for Health has said. Ms Mary Harney said the HSE recognises that there are... Read more

HSE sells its land at bargain prices

Ian McGuinness | 19 October 2007

The fact that the Health Service Executive (HSE) and its predecessors were selling land at way below its valued level was flagged by Irish Medical Times over three years ago. Now the Audited Appropriation Accounts 2006 from the Office of... Read more

HSE maps spend of €830,000 on Atlas

Ian McGuinness | 19 October 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is spending over €800,000 on a project known as Health Atlas Ireland. The initiative has been described as one whose aim is to “enable web-based mapping of health related data on a national basis”. It... Read more

Watchdog blood database set up

Greg Baxter | 19 October 2007

A database has been established to gather information on an ongoing basis from patients who are infected by hepatitis C through blood or blood products in Ireland. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) last week launched the National Hepatitis C... Read more

Nursing provider to facilitate HSE

Greg Baxter | 19 October 2007

The Health Service Executive is in talks with a private provider of community specialist nursing and infusion services. Point of Care, which is seeking to provide outsourced specialist nursing services in the community, will open its first clinic in Dublin... Read more

Healthcare spending up compared with last year

Ian McGuinness | 19 October 2007

Over €1.4 billion more has been spent on healthcare by the Government in the first nine months of this year compared to the same period for 2006. This year €9.253 billion was spent from the beginning of January until the... Read more

The final tally on health spending

Ian McGuinness | 12 October 2007

When it comes to health spending, the Comptroller and Auditor General’s annual report for 2006 concentrates on problems with the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) information and communication technology spending. It is hardly surprising that Mr John Purcell should zone in... Read more

Politicians meeting HSE waste their time

Greg Baxter | 12 October 2007

Regular meetings between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and politicians who have questions about the health service are regarded as “a complete waste of time” by the deputies who attend them, said Deputy Michael D. Higgins (Labour-Galway West). He also... Read more

Harney's vision for health

Terence Cosgrave | 12 October 2007

Minster for Health Mary Harney has warned that the level of increase in funding that had occurred in the health service in recent years would not be at the same level next year. The Minster was addressing the Irish Hospital... Read more

Plan to co-locate NEDOC with minor injury units

Sandra Ryan | 12 October 2007

The Health Service Executive North East has proposed co-locating the North East doctor on call service (NEDOC) with minor injury units that will replace A&E services in the region, under the HSE’s transformation plans. The proposal has yet to be... Read more

The 'satisfied' customer may not know any better

Greg Baxter | 12 October 2007

Two reports on the state of the health service were published recently. One was commissioned by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and was touted as proof that patients were highly satisfied. The second was a European study that rated Ireland... Read more

Strategy welcomed

Sandra Ryan | 05 October 2007

A leading oncologist and former Chair of the National Cancer Forum has said doctors should not be worried about the loss of cancer services from hospitals, due to happen on a phased basis under the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) new... Read more

€23 million unspent on medical cards

Ian McGuinness | 05 October 2007

Nearly €23 million allocated for medical card services last year was not spent. The Auditor and Comptroller General’s appropriation accounts for 2006 showed that over €1.511 billion was allocated to the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) medical card services scheme. However,... Read more

Irish healthcare– a ‘confusing mixture’

Ian McGuinness | 05 October 2007

An economics researcher has branded the Republic’s hospital sector “a complex and often confusing mixture of public and private provision” that is still deeply influenced by a policy decision of the 1950s. The comments were made by Prof Richard Layte... Read more

Ireland takes a slow climb up EU healthcare index

Sandra Ryan | 05 October 2007

Ireland has the 16th most consumer-friendly healthcare system in Europe, according to the 2007 Euro Health Consumer Index (EHCI), launched last week in Brussels. The report states the Government’s investment in health has begun to show results, “improving a historically... Read more

The final tally on health spending

Ian McGuinness | 05 October 2007

Travel debate is revving up

Ian McGuinness | 05 October 2007

News that a single mother on social welfare paid €207 for a taxi to accompany her son to Sligo for a consultant’s appointment, has brought non-emergency transport to hospital to the fore once again. The case was raised by Comhairle... Read more

No central fund for psychiatric patients

Ian McGuinness | 28 September 2007

Concerns have been expressed to Irish Medical Times that no central fund appears to exist to allow psychiatric services to fight High Court and Circuit Court cases in relation to involuntary detention of patients. IMT has been told that individual... Read more

HSE needs to be more transparent- FG spokesperson

Ian McGuinness | 28 September 2007

Fine Gael’s new Spokesperson on Health, Dr James Reilly, has suggested the Health Service Executive (HSE) needs to be restructured to allow for more accountability. The Dublin North TD told Irish Medical Times there was more public accountability under the... Read more

Swiftcare Clinic has opened in Swords

Greg Baxter | 21 September 2007

Vhi’s Swiftcare Clinic in Swords began treating patients last week, a Vhi spokeswoman has told Irish Medical Times. The clinic, the third Swiftcare to open in Dublin, is operating at full capacity, she said, providing community-based diagnostics in addition to... Read more

Extra €1.375bn is spent on health

Ian McGuinness | 21 September 2007

About €1.375 billion extra was spent on health in the first eight years of this year compared to 2006, even though just an extra €1.1 billion was allocated for all of 2007. The most up-to-date figures on health spending refer... Read more

Prof Drumm to receive €80,000 bonus

Greg Baxter | 21 September 2007

Prof Brendan Drumm will receive a bonus of €80,000 to reward him for “performance and accomplishments during 2006”, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has announced. Last week, the HSE vehemently denied media reports that Prof Drumm had applied for a... Read more

HSE defends recruitment freeze

Greg Baxter | 14 September 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has defended its decision to ban recruitment temporarily by claiming that it expects to exceed service-level targets in 2007. The HSE, which has overspent its budget by €170 million so far this year, has come... Read more

Co-location will not increase beds

Greg Baxter | 07 September 2007

The co-location scheme will not increase private capacity, and the two hospitals will operate under as joint clinical governance structure, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has stated. HSE Assistant National Director Mr Tom Finn has stated: “the co-location policy simply... Read more

Expert groups in development

Greg Baxter | 07 September 2007

Four new expert advisory groups (EAGs) are under development while progress on the original four is ongoing, Prof Brendan Drumm told Irish Medical Times. Applicants have been shortlisted for work in the following three EAGs: Maternity Services, Oral Health, and... Read more

HIQA to investigate breast services

Sandra Ryan | 07 September 2007

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has begun a review of all hospitals providing symptomatic breast disease services, following a number of sites that have had to re-examine women’s tests to ensure quality of care. The review will be... Read more

Times... are they a-changing?

Greg Baxter | 07 September 2007

Prof Brendan Drumm spent much of his first year as chief executive of the Health Service Executive (HSE) trying to persuade his critics that change was coming, and to urge healthcare professionals to embrace a new way of thinking. He... Read more

New posts are unevenly shared

Greg Baxter | 31 August 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) plan to spend more money on the most efficient departments has netted large numbers of new consultants in Dublin, the Mid West, and the South East, while hospitals in the South, North West and the... Read more

HIQA fills major technology post

Greg Baxter | 31 August 2007

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has appointed a Director of Health Technology Assessment, who will oversee clinical standards and cost effectiveness in technologies used in the health service. Dr Mairin Ryan, who begins her post at the end... Read more

Campaigning for better health

Colin Kerr | 31 August 2007

Good health promotion programmes can help save lives, reduce hospital visits and create a society whose citizens are both physically and mentally healthy. One of the problems with health promotion, however, is that it is not always easy to quantify... Read more

Cervical cancer immunisation information given

Sandra Ryan | 10 August 2007

A number of schools in Dublin have received official information on immunising pupils against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), the sexually transmitted disease that causes cervical cancer, Irish Medical Times has been informed by a healthcare professional. However, the Department of... Read more

Big rise in the numbers of health professionals

Ian McGuinness | 10 August 2007

The number of doctors, dentists and pharmacists in the Republic is to significantly increase by 2012, according to the Economic Social and Research Institute. Occupational Employment Forecasts 2012, which has just been published by the ESRI, stated that while there... Read more

Financial results to be supplied

Greg Baxter | 27 July 2007

All co-located hospitals shall be contractually required to provide financial results to the Health Service Executive (HSE) upon request, Irish Medical Times has learned. Concern had recently been raised that, like other private hospitals in Ireland, providers could put co-located... Read more

Consultant recruitment is job of HSE- O'Dea

Ian McGuinness | 27 July 2007

Responsibility for employing enough consultant psychiatrists for mental health services lies firmly with the Health Service Executive (HSE), the recently appointed Chairman of the Mental Health Commission has said. Speaking to Irish Medical Times, Dr Edmond O’Dea said that when... Read more

Nursing homes need to recruit inspectors

Ian McGuinness | 20 July 2007

There is only one team conducting nursing home inspections in the Health Service Executive’s Dublin North East region, it has emerged. The information was released by the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, in response to a question from Fine Gael’s... Read more

HSE is pushing ahead to buy equipment for cancer care

Ian McGuinness | 20 July 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is pushing ahead with the purchase of linear accelerators and CT simulators for the radiation oncology facilities that will be located at Beaumont and St James’s hospitals. In the current phase of the development both... Read more

Medical cards are not distributed in an even fashion

Ian McGuinness | 20 July 2007

Six counties lost full medical cards in the last month, even though the number in circulation rose by over 3,000 throughout the Republic. Laois, Longford, Westmeath, Donegal, Leitrim and Kerry all saw small reductions in the number of full medical... Read more

HSE clarifies criteria for primary care team

Greg Baxter | 20 July 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has defined what it means by a primary care team ‘in operation’ compared to a team ‘in development’. A primary care team must meet four criteria in order to define the team as ‘in operation’,... Read more

No tribunal in 995 cases

Ian McGuinness | 20 July 2007

Nearly a thousand involuntarily detained psychiatric patients were released before they got a mental health tribunal hearing into their case, according to latest statistics. Since the Mental Health Act 2001 came fully into operation on 1 November last, until the... Read more

Brothers of Charity to overhaul service

Greg Baxter | 20 July 2007

The Brothers of Charity, which provides services for those with intellectual disability and their families, have been restructured to reflect the reality of the organisation’s work. The Health Service Executive, which is the main funder of the service, employs the... Read more

The surge of diabetes in Ireland

Greg Baxter | 20 July 2007

The huge increase in the prevalence of diabetes predicted last week by an Institute of Public Health report has raised concerns that the growth in the number of dialysis patients estimated in the Renal Strategy Review is conservative. The prediction... Read more

Resources and staff are imperatives for maternity hospitals

Sandra Ryan | 20 July 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been called on to retain all services in Dublin’s three maternity hospitals– which are three of the busiest in Europe with over 8,000 deliveries each per year– following the ongoing review to decide the... Read more

115 primary care posts are unfilled

Ian McGuinness | 20 July 2007

The 300 allied healthcare workers’ posts that were funded last year as part of the development of primary care teams have not all been filled, according to the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE said 185 posts, that were funded... Read more

Capping of hospital profits is not realistic

Ian McGuinness | 13 July 2007

The Irish Medical Organisation might be naive in accepting the for-profit model of hospital co-location, Prof Risteárd Mulcahy has said. The prominent consultant cardiologist proposed a motion, passed at this year’s IMO AGM, which opposed for-profit co-located hospitals. Nonetheless, he... Read more

Oncology centres delayed construction

Ian McGuinness | 13 July 2007

It has been officially confirmed that the four large radiation oncology centres and two satellite venues planned under the Hollywood report will not be finished until mid-2014. Earlier this year it was reported that Health Service Executive (HSE) documents showed... Read more

HSE unresponsive to Hillery’s appeal

Greg Baxter | 13 July 2007

Dr John Hillery said it was unfortunate the Health Service Executive (HSE) has not answered his call for two key gestures to repair its relationship with the profession. Dr Hillery, who is running for a seat in the Seanad, has... Read more

HSE voices concern over disregard of regulations

Ian McGuinness | 13 July 2007

Psychiatric institutions are not complying with regulations issued by the Mental Health Commission on involuntarily detained patients, Irish Medical Times has learned. As a result, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has asked its local health managers to ensure that all... Read more

Maternity hospital move could be advantageous

Sandra Ryan | 13 July 2007

One of the three Dublin maternity hospitals will soon find out if it is joining the new National Paediatric Hospital on the Mater Hospital site in Dublin, with recommendations from the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) ongoing review into maternity services... Read more

IMO not in favour of hospital co-location

Ian McGuinness | 13 July 2007

The Irish Medical Organisation is not supporting co-location of hospitals, two of its most prominent members have said. Its Vice President, Dr Martin Daly, said that, notwithstanding the deep reservations the IMO has about the policy, it is part of... Read more

IMO challenges the HSE's primary care team number claim

Ian McGuinness | 13 July 2007

The Chairman of the Irish Medical Organisation’s GP Committee has challenged the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) claim that there are 97 “fully functioning” primary care teams. Ms Bernadette Kiberd, the HSE’s Programme Manager for its Primary Care Transformation Support Unit,... Read more

RCPI plans to back the recruitment of extra consultants

Sandra Ryan | 13 July 2007

The new President of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland (RCPI) Dr John Donohoe says the college plans to back the Minister for Health’s plan to recruit hundreds of new consultants under the terms of the current consultant contract,... Read more

Well Woman Centre criticises outsourcing of smear tests

Sandra Ryan | 06 July 2007

The Well Woman Centre has criticised the Health Service Executive (HSE) for sending cervical smear tests to the US, as it has resulted in the chance of cervical cancer going undetected in some patients. In its annual report for 2006,... Read more

HSE states more primary care teams in operation

Ian McGuinness | 06 July 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has claimed that there are 87 “fully functioning” primary care teams and another 10 “fully functioning” primary care team sites. The claim was made by the HSE’s Programme Manager of its Primary Care Transformation Support... Read more

Better access for GPs to oncology in Dublin SW

Sandra Ryan | 06 July 2007

New guidelines have been launched to help GPs get easier access to cancer services in Dublin South West, one of the largest cancer networks in the country. The Regional Oncology Programme Office in the Health Service Executive, which sees the... Read more

Millions are spent on contract staff

Ian McGuinness | 29 June 2007

The Grangegorman Development Agency’s is being forced into spending between €1.5 million and €2.5 million over four years to hire an organisation to provide it with a wide range of services, due to its lack of employees. The Agency was... Read more

Delay in forming new Expert Advisory Groups

Greg Baxter | 29 June 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has not announced any new Expert Advisory Groups (EAGs) despite an announcement from Prof Brendan Drumm that at least two more would be formed by early 2007. Additionally, no information about the work of existing... Read more

Children's hospital debate

Greg Baxter | 29 June 2007

The only people in Ireland who support the Mater Hospital site for the national children’s hospital are people with vested interests in the Mater, a Crumlin Hospital anaesthetist has told Irish Medical Times. Dr Brendan O’Hare said that ongoing talks... Read more

Sligo GP gets mental health/disability job

Ian McGuinness | 29 June 2007

Sligo GP, Dr Jimmy Devins, is expected to be appointed as Minister of State with responsibility for disability issues and mental health. He will be the first doctor since Mayo GP, Dr Tom Moffatt to have a direct input into... Read more

Mary Harney gets a second chance

Greg Baxter | 29 June 2007

Mary Harney’s first three years as Minister for Health was, by parts, tumultuous, productive, and frustrating. As she begins what could possibly be a five-year stint at the helm of the Department Health, she faces many of the same controversies-... Read more

98% of questions answered

Greg Baxter | 29 June 2007

The Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Health Service Executive (HSE) has answered all but 10 of the 3,500 questions referred to it by the Minister for Health in 2006. The division also received more than 1,200 questions during the first... Read more

Everything you wanted to know about nurse prescribing but were afraid to ask

Sandra Ryan | 22 June 2007

Earlier this year the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, announced that nurse and midwife prescribing would be introduced this year. No specific date was given and the exact details of the project were vague, although it was stressed that “public... Read more

The long-term illness scheme is inadequate

Ian McGuinness | 22 June 2007

The long-term illness scheme has been criticised by the advice and advocacy organisation, the Citizens Information Board, which branded it “inadequate”. The organisation made the comments in its quarterly report for October to December 2006. It explained that a mother... Read more

Interest shown in satellite dialysis

Greg Baxter | 22 June 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has received interest from five dialysis providers for a Limerick satellite service, but has been criticised for wanting to locate the service too close to the Midwest Regional Hospital. Irish Medical Times has learned that... Read more

Holles Street must be moved to St Vincent’s

Sandra Ryan | 22 June 2007

The Master and Deputy Chairman of the National Maternity Hospital, Holles St have said they hope the hospital is re-located to St Vincent’s University Hospital following the review of maternity services in Dublin, currently underway by the Health Service Executive... Read more

Lack of progress on aspects of national mental health strategy

Sandra Ryan | 22 June 2007

One of the country’s leading psychiatrists has agreed with the criticism over the lack of progress made on the Government’s report on mental health services, A Vision for Change, most of which still has not been implemented. The Independent Monitoring... Read more

Doctors should back reform plan

Colin Kerr | 15 June 2007

The chief executive of the Health Service Executive has called on doctors and other healthcare professionals to support the Executive’s Transformation Programme. Prof Brendan Drumm, writing in the Irish Medical Times 40th Anniversary supplement said the Executive is hopeful of... Read more

HSE to buy 10 renal machines for Cork region

Ian McGuinness | 15 June 2007

Over half-a-million euro is being spent by the Health Service Executive to buy continuous renal replacement therapy machines for Cork. Ten machines are being bought by the HSE, along with various associated products. The machines and related products will have... Read more

HSE say more beds is not the answer

Greg Baxter | 15 June 2007

Two major reports commissioned by the Health Service Executive (HSE)- published on the same day- have essentially substantiated arguments Prof Brendan Drumm has been making for the past two years. The reports suggest that services in the North East are... Read more

Final cost of PPARS remains unknown

Greg Baxter | 08 June 2007

The taxpayer may never know the total costs of the Personnel, Payroll and Related Systems (PPARS), if recommendations by a major internal Health Service Executive (HSE) report are accepted. The report, Progress Report Following Due Diligence on PPARS and the... Read more

HSE capital budget used to pay PPARS

Greg Baxter | 08 June 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) used millions of euro from its capital budget to meet revenue budget shortfalls for the Personnel, Payroll and Related Systems (PPARS) project, according to an internal report seen by Irish Medical Times. Additionally, the HSE... Read more

Destruction of records is criticised

Ian McGuinness | 08 June 2007

Individual hospital staff members should not be allowed to destroy medical records on their own initiative, no matter how senior a rank they hold, the Information Commissioner has warned. Ms Emily O’Reilly made the remarks in her annual report for... Read more

IHCA calls for Teamwork plan to be implemented

Greg Baxter | 08 June 2007

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has demanded that the Health Service Executive (HSE) start implementing key recommendations of the Teamwork Report in order to improve or eliminate inadequate services in the North East. Mr Donal Duffy, Assistant Secretary General... Read more

Lack of mental health directorate criticised

Sandra Ryan | 08 June 2007

The Health Service Executive’s failure to establish a National Mental Health Directorate has been criticised by the Independent Monitoring Group, which is analysing the implementation of the Government’s A Vision for Change report on psychiatric services. In its first report... Read more

Harney hangs on but Reilly is the big election winner

Colin Kerr and Ian McGuinness | 01 June 2007

Minister for Health, Mary Harney could return to Hawkins House, despite her party’s disastrous performance in the general election. The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has indicated that his preferred option in forming the new government is an alliance with independent TDs... Read more

Ennis company wins HSE recruitment job

Ian McGuinness | 01 June 2007

Three-quarters-of-a-million euro are being spent by the Health Service Executive (HSE) on a contract for a company to find 150 healthcare personnel from outside Ireland to work here. The HSE awarded the contract to Healthcare Solutions, which is located in... Read more

New code of practice for healthcare records

Sandra Ryan | 01 June 2007

The National Hospitals Office (NHO) has launched a new code of practice for managing healthcare records in hospitals. The guidelines are aimed at ensuring consistent and coherent patient records in public and private hospitals, and mean that patient information has... Read more

Minister Harney pledges €8m for Drogheda Hospital

Sandra Ryan | 25 May 2007

The Minister for Health Mary Harney said over €8 million has been pledged to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for expanding capacity before the new regional hospital is built in the North East. Responding to the leaked HSE... Read more

A&E losses mean patients at risk

Sandra Ryan | 25 May 2007

The Teamwork report that recommended the closure of a number of A&E units and a loss of health services in the North East will probably result in more adverse incidents, according to the Monaghan Community Alliance, which is campaigning to... Read more

HSE unaware of number of consultant applicants

Ian McGuinness | 25 May 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) does not know how many applicants there have been for the controversial new type of consultant posts, the first 68 of which were advertised recently. A spokesperson for the HSE said the Public Appointments Commission... Read more

One-third of NTPF patients went to Galway for care

Ian McGuinness | 25 May 2007

The Galway Clinic and the Bon Secours Hospital in that county treated approximately one-third of all outpatients referred under the National Treatment Purchase Fund last year. The NTPF’s annual report for 2006 showed that at least 2,356 of the 7,480... Read more

IHCA blasts bed review findings

Greg Baxter | 25 May 2007

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has blasted the findings of the Health Service Executive’s (HSE’s) most recent bed capacity review. According to the IHCA, the study was designed with one conclusion- that no new beds are needed- built into... Read more

Trolley counts artificially reduced

Ian McGuinness | 25 May 2007

Trolley counts in large hospitals’ accident and emergency departments are being artificially reduced by refusing to admit seriously ill patients from other hospitals, the former Irish Medical Organisation President, Dr Christine O’Malley, has said. Dr O’Malley, who is currently on... Read more

GPs criticise Fine Gael health policy

18 May 2007

Proposals by Fine Gael to provide free medical cards for children under five, and free health insurance for children under 16, have been heavily criticised by GPs. Speaking at the ICGP AGM in Galway last weekend, chair of communications at... Read more

ICGP to meet Quality Authority

18 May 2007

The Irish College of General Practitioners will meet the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) to discuss assessment of GP practices. Outgoing chairman of the College Dr Eamonn Shanahan said he welcomes proposals by the HIQA to become involved in assessing... Read more

HSE obsessed with copying the UK’s National Health Service

18 May 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is “obsessed” with copying the NHS in the UK, according to the director of the Postgraduate Resource Centre at the ICGP, Dr Michael Boland. Speaking during a debate about the pressure on GPs, he said... Read more

Management of chronic disease is under threat

18 May 2007

The “fragmenting” of chronic disease care is a major threat to GPs, Professor Tom Fahey, professor of general practice at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) told the AGM. Prof Fahey said the “creeping” number of patients being... Read more

Relocation of CMH to North County Dublin is a backward step

Ian McGuinness | 18 May 2007

Relocating the Central Mental Hospital to the site of a proposed new prison in north Dublin would a step backwards from an enlightened Victorian policy, an expert in the field has suggested. Dr Pauline Prior, of the School of Sociology... Read more

Strong criticism voiced by GPs over HIQA inspections

Sandra Ryan | 18 May 2007

GPs will soon be inspected by the new Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), as well as the Medical Council, a move that led to strong criticism from some doctors at the ICGP AGM last weekend in Galway. HIQA, which... Read more

Electronic prescriptions set to be fast-tracked

Colin Kerr | 18 May 2007

Ireland’s largest e-health care company Helix Health is in negotiations with the Health Service Executive (HSE) to fast-track the introduction of a new system that will allow the GPs and pharmacists to transmit and receive prescriptions electronically. “The introduction of... Read more

HSE will review which properties are bought or sold

Ian McGuinness | 11 May 2007

The Health Service Executive’s (HSE) review of its corporate accommodation throughout the Republic will be used to decide whether it should sell off properties, buy some more or rent them. The HSE said that it has received responses from companies... Read more

Surgery deadline for breast cancer

Greg Baxter | 11 May 2007

No woman diagnosed with breast cancer must wait more than three weeks for surgery, a major report on quality standards in breast cancer services will recommend. The report, which will be launched on 18 May, was commissioned by the Irish... Read more

CF sufferers must wait

Greg Baxter | 11 May 2007

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has acknowledged in the draft of major report that building a new adult referral centre of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients is a priority. However, no financial commitment has been made for the construction of the... Read more

No data on national assaults on doctors

Ian McGuinness | 01 February 2007

The Health Service Executive does not have centralised statistics for assaults on healthcare staff, it has acknowledged. A spokesperson for the HSE said these type of figures are collated and held by individual hospitals, but the statistics are not collated... Read more

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Gary Culliton | 08 October 2009

Dara Gantly | 07 October 2009