Suchergebnisse

2.4.2015 In December 2014, Minister Varadkar convened the Emergency Department Taskforce to provide focus and momentum, and to develop sustainable long-term solutions to ED overcrowding. On 2 April, 2015, with Minister Lynch, Minister Varadkar announced additional funding to tackle Delayed Discharges and ED Overcrowding and published the Taskforce Action Plan. The Plan sets out a range of time defined actions to (i) optimise existing hospital and community capacity; (ii) develop internal capability and process improvement and (iii) improve leadership, governance, planning and oversight. This comes on top of measures already taken in Budget 2015, when the Government provided â,¬25 million to support services that provide alternatives to, and relieve pressure on, acute hospitals. Emergency Department Task Force

27.5.2015 Sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock are used to describe the systemic inflammatory response of patients to infection, as a continuum of progressive and life threatening severity. Sepsis is the clinical syndrome defined by the presence of both infection and a systemic inflammatory response. The aim of this guideline is to facilitate the early recognition and appropriate treatment of sepsis in Ireland in order to maximise survival opportunity and minimise the burden of chronic sequelae. The Guideline Development Group recommends the Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines and the Sepsis 6 bundle as the guide to the management of sepsis in Ireland. Download the Sepsis Management Full Report here and the Sepsis Management Summary here.

28.4.2015 Under the new arrangements, children under 6 will be eligible for GP care free at the point of service. They will also benefit from age-based preventive checks focused on health and wellbeing, identifying obesity and other problems early, and the prevention of disease. These assessments will be carried out once when a child is aged 2 and again at age 5, in accordance with an agreed protocol.Ã'Â The contract will include an agreed cycle of care for children diagnosed with asthma, under which GPs will carry out an annual review of each child where the doctor has diagnosed asthma.Ã'Â Read the press release here. Â Download the Explanatory Note here Download the Form of Agreement here Download the Free GP Under 6′s Contract

5.3.2015 Ms Kathleen Lynch T.D., Minister for Primary Care, Social Care (Disabilities & Older People) and Mental Health, published the Expert Group Review of the Mental Health Act, 2001 on Thursday 5 March 2015. Read the press release here. The completion of this review is in line with a commitment in the Programme for Government which promised to have the review carried out in consultation with service users, carers and other stakeholders while being informed by human rights standards. The Expert Group, which began its work in August 2012, took as its starting point an initial report undertaken by a Steering Group which scoped out the main issues for further review. The Group has made 165 recommendations, the bulk of which relate to changes to our mental health legislation. In particular, the changes seek to move away from the often paternalistic interpretation of the existing legislation, to one where insofar as is possible, the individual has the final say in what he/she deems to be in his/her best interests and receives the best possible quality of service required to attain the highest standard of mental health. In addition, the recommendations provide a practical and realistic way forward, which can ensure that the safeguards necessary for mental health legislation are robust and fully compliant with international best practice, as well as ensuring that those vulnerable people who need care and treatment can avail of it in the most appropriate environment. Download the report here.

5.3.2015 In July 2013 a Working Group, chaired by Prof. Brian MacCraith, President, Dublin City University, was established to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structure. The Working Group was tasked with examining and making high-level recommendations relating to training and career pathways for doctors with a view to: - Improving graduate retention in the public health system;- Planning for future service needs;- Realising maximum benefit from investment in medical education and training.The Working Group completed its work at the end of June 2014 and, in all, submitted three reports and made 25 recommendations (see p.4). The reports address a range of barriers and issues relating to the recruitment and retention of doctors in the Irish public health system. Â Â Â

3.3.2015 With the acceptance by Minister Wells and Minister Varadkar of the recommendations of the International Working Group (IWG) report on an all island model for congenital heart disease, a framework of governance which can facilitate the work required and recognise the cross jurisdictional responsibilities is required. An All Island Clinical Network to manage the all-island service delivery model offers a way of doing this which builds on existing services and draws them together in a network of care which is service user focused and locally responsive. Download document here

5.3.2015 This is the first annual report of the National Healthcare Quality Reporting System (NHQRS). The establishment of the NHQRS was announced in February 2014 by the Minister for Health as part of his commitment to the public reporting of quality indicators that reflect on the quality and safety of health care in Ireland. Download the report here.

11.3.2015 In 2013, the Department of Health, in conjunction with Northern Ireland, commissioned the Sheffield Alcohol Research Group (SARG) at the University of Sheffield to conduct a health impact assessment as part of the process of developing a legislative basis for minimum unit pricing. The health impact assessment studied the impact of different minimum prices on a range of areas such as health, crime and likely economic impact. It also compared minimum unit pricing to other pricing policies. Download the Report here.

12.3.2015 Tobacco Free Ireland was the first policy document to be launched under the Healthy Ireland framework and sets a target for Ireland to be tobacco free (i.e. with a smoking prevalence rate of less than 5%) by the year 2025. Tobacco Free Ireland has over 60 recommendations and the Action Plan was drawn up following consultation with those who will have responsibility for ensuring that the recommendations are implemented. Download the Action Plan here.

4.2.2015 A Bill to provide for:1) Health labelling of alcohol products2) Minimum unit pricing for retailing of alcohol products3) Regulation of marketing and advertising of alcohol4) Enforcement powers for Environmental Health Officers Download document here

18.3.2015 Lifetime Community Rating is being introduced to encourage people to take out private health insurance at a younger age and thereby help in controlling premium inflation across the market. From 1 May next there will be â?~late entry loadingsâ?T for those aged 35 and over who havenâ?Tt bought health insurance by then.Ã' The loadings are set at 2% per year starting at age 35, up to a maximum loading of 70% at age 69 and over.Ã' Ã' Read a Frequently Asked Questions here. Additional information can be found on the Health Insurance Authoirty webiste here which includes an LCR calculator which should provide a useful estimate of the level of loading that may apply. Â

24.6.2015 Connecting for Life is Ireland's National Strategy to reduce suicide (2015-2020). The development of the strategy was a collaborative and inclusive process. Some of the most important contributions to the development of â?~Connecting for Lifeâ?T came from our public consultation process. We received 272 submissions from people and organisations, which included members of the general public, people who have used our services and their families, professional bodies and community interests and organisations. Download the Strategy here.

11.6.2015 On 22nd December 2014, the Department of Health commenced a public consultation on the scope for private health insurance to incorporate additional primary care services. The aim of the consultation was to examine the scope for private health insurers to cover a fuller range of services provided in primary care settings, with a view to creating incentives for a transfer of appropriate services from acute to primary care settings and to encourage the most effective use of resources. The original consultation discussion document set out the general background and some structured questions to help interested parties focus their submissions and is available here. A total of 31 submissions were received as part of the consultation, including from private health insurers, General Practitioner representative and training organisations, pharmacy and private hospital representatives, employers and other interested parties. A copy of all of the submissions received is now available below. Follow-up meetings with interested parties took place during March this year and the Department has considered all of the views submitted as part of the consultation process, with a view to identifying the capacity that exists for an appropriate expansion of services. An analysis document, which summarises the key themes arising from the consultation is now available here, together with a conclusion of the consultation process available here.

4.6.2015 Today, Minister Leo Varadkar and Minister of State Kathleen Lynch wrote to GPs about the new contract to provide GP services to children under 6 to thank them and to clarify a few matters. Read the letter here.

27.10.2015 The 2014 Annual Report details the progress made by the Department in achieving the goals set out in the Departmentâ?Ts Strategy Statement for 2011-2014. The goals were organised into six strategic programme areas: ·   Fair Access and Sustainability ·   Patient Safety and Quality ·   Health and Wellbeing ·   Primary Care ·   Acute Hospitals ·   Specialised Care Service A range of corporate information and a list of publications during 2014 are set out in the appendices. Download a copy of the report here.