Monthly Archives: January, 2018

When the Chairperson of the Housing Agency claimed recently that some people were ‘gaming the system’ by declaring themselves homeless in order to jump the queue for the housing waiting list, it made news for a day or two and even attracted denials from politicians. In fairness, the claim seems to have been made to highlight the perverse incentives in the system rather than to criticise those who adopt a resourceful approach towards solving the housing need they are experiencing, writes Denis Doherty.

An €8.7million cross-border project has been launched, which is designed to enable older people with long term conditions (LTCs) to take the steps needed to live well, safely and independently in their own homes.

Health Managers may wish to participate in the public consultation on draft legislation relating to deprivation of liberty. The consultation has been announced by Minister for Health, Simon Harris, TD, and Minister of State for Disability Issues, Finian McGrath, TD.

Robotics engineers from Trinity College Dublin have unveiled the first prototype robot designed to work in assisted care facilities and help the elderly and people living with disability in Ireland.

The SOTA - Home-Care Robot which specialises in assisting and communicating with those in care centres or benefiting from home-care services was unveiled at the annual scientific meeting of the Irish Gerontological Society’s (IGS).

Winter is here and the papers are full of the challenges that healthcare systems are facing with increasing demand on acute care and the impact it has had on the provision of healthcare in general. Politicians and ministers apologise, healthcare planners plan without any impact, managers manage in crisis mode, clinicians work harder and harder and patients suffer on trolleys or with cancelled interventions. Sounds familiar – I am describing the NHS in the UK rated as the leading healthcare provider by the Commonwealth Fund, writes Dr. Peter Lachman.

The Irish Medication Safety Network (IMSN) is a voluntary, independent group of hospital pharmacy based specialists with an interest in medication safety, including representatives with specialist interest in high risk medications (i.e. potassium, insulin, opioids, anticoagulants), mental health, obstetrics, oncology and paediatrics. Our aim is to improve patient safety with regard to the use of medicines, writes Niamh O’Hanlon, Treasurer, Irish Medication Safety Network, Chief II Pharmacist, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin.

Risks to patient safety occur when there is a mismatch between a patient and the care they receive. GS1’s Director of Innovation and Healthcare, Siobhain Duggan outlines how GS1 unique identifiers can improve outcomes.

In January 2016, the Irish Times carried an article on workplace bullying in which a well known researcher in the area is quoted as saying: “Workplace bullying is like a cancer. It creeps up on you before you recognise it. Knowing what is and is not bullying behaviour and being aware of how to address it ahead of time is essential,” writes Conor Hannaway.

HIQA has published a health technology assessment that advises the Minister for Health and the HSE on the alternative options for the treatment and...

Health experts have predicted that artificial intelligence will replace doctors within the next ten years.

HIQA has called for the future proofing of health information legislation in a submission to the Department of Health’s public consultation on a new national health information policy.

The rate of cancer per head of population has fallen by 2% annually for men and by 0.1% for women, it is indicated in the National Cancer Registry’s Annual Report which provides details of cancer incidence, mortality and survival in Ireland for the period 1994-2015.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association has called for a significant increase in the number of consultants dealing with cancer diagnosis and treatment, in light of the report from the National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI).

Tallaght Hospital’s 2016 Quality Report, describes a broad range of work during the year across the full spectrum of quality.

A total of nine new patients with CPE were detected In the week from December 18 – 24, 2017 and there were ten new patients with CPE detected in the week from December 25 to December 31, 2017.

The Minister for Health, Simon Harris has announced that he will undertake a process of engagement with representative bodies of contracted health professionals this year, aimed at putting in place a new multi-annual approach to fees, commencing in 2019.

Two new linear accelerators have been installed at St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network (SLRON).

A new research study has revealed that one in three people (35%) are not aware that having diabetes increases the risk of developing dementia.

Professor Helen Whelton (BDS PhD MDPH DTLHE FFD FFPHM) is the new Head of the College of Medicine and Health at UCC.