Health Manager

To trust or not to trust?

Senior Irish health managers are urging that the Minister for Health, the Department of Health and the HSE should open a broad engagement with staff on how the new hospital and community Trusts are to be established and structured – or indeed if they are necessary at all, writes Maureen Browne.

The status quo is no longer an option

On continental Europe, in countries where healthcare is funded by universal insurance, the health insurance companies drive efficiencies and value for money and the smart providers spot trends early and make the changes they believe will allow their hospitals to be sustainable into the foreseeable future, writes Denis Doherty.

Department to move on Trusts

The Department of Health will go to public consultation in the next three to six weeks regarding the formation of hospital groups into Trusts, Mr. Tony O’Brien, Chief Operating Officer, Special Delivery Unit (SDU), Department of Health, revealed when he addressed a HMI Dublin Mid Leinster Regional meeting last evening. Maureen Browne reports.

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We must re-define structures and functions

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Health Manager Editor, Maureen Browne, would love to hear your views or comments on any aspects of the health service, on any issues raised in the current edition or your ideas or suggestions for articles for the journal.

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IN THIS ISSUE

Managers propose radical and innovative measures

Senior managers from across the health services have proposed radical and innovative measures to alleviate the impact on the services of the current drastic cutbacks, writes Maureen Browne.

European healthcare decision makers’ conference

The first Joint European Hospital Conference, and the session on the Directive on patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare in particular, showed that the issue of cross-border healthcare is far from resolved but that progress can and will be made through further cooperation on a European level. Lee Campbell reports.

Preparing senior managers for HIQA regulations

At recent HMI Regional Meetings in Leitrim and Limerick, Finbarr Colfer discussed the experience of regulation to date and potential learning for health and social care service managers of sectors that are due to be regulated in the future.

The Audiology Clinical Care Programme

The National Audiology Review Group has developed a comprehensive set of recommendations to address the inconsistencies and inadequacies in audiology services, Aisling Heffernan, told the HMI Forum organised by the HMI Dublin Mid Leinster Regional Committee and held in the Dublin Dental University Hospital.

Saving at least one life per week

The aim of the new HSE Emergency Medicine Programme is to improve the safety and quality of patient care in Emergency Departments and to reduce waiting times for patients, Dr. Una Geary, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at St. James’s Hospital, Dublin and Programme Lead told the HMI Dublin Mid Leinster Forum held in the Dublin Dental University Hospital.

Minister opens new Radiation Oncology Centres

The Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly, T.D., has officially opened the two new National Cancer Control Programme St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Centres at Beaumont and St James’s Hospitals. The launch took place at the St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Centre in Beaumont Hospital.

Ms. Denise Fitzgerald, Chief Executive, Fundraising Office, Dr. Patricia Lenane and Dr. Brid ‘Donnell at the opening of the new dedicated dermatology department

New Dermatology Department

A new dedicated dermatology department has been opened at Temple Street Children’s University Hospital in Dublin.

Minister appoints UHI Implementation Group

Health Minister, Dr. James Reilly, T.D., has appointed members of an Implementation Group on Universal Health Insurance to develop detailed implementation plans for universal health insurance.

Summer school bursary fund

The All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care is offering two bursaries worth €2,000 each for those interested in attending the week long palliative and end-of-life care International Research Summer School at the University of Lancaster, United Kingdom from June 18 – 22, 2012.

Beaumont Hospital consultant oncologists Dr. Oscar Breathnach, Dr. Liam Grogan and Dr. Brian Hennessy with Dr Susan O'Reilly, National Director, National Cancer Control Programme at the official opening of improved facilities for treatment of cancer patients at Beaumont Hospital.

Improved facilities for cancer patients

Improved facilities for the treatment of cancer patients attending Beaumont Hospital, Dublin have been officially opened by Dr. Susan O’Reilly, Director of the HSE National Cancer Control Programme.

AMP to be introduced in 18 sites

The Acute Medicine Programme is to be introduced in at least 18 hospitals this year and in all other hospitals next year, according to the Department of Health. Its target is to save 500,000 bed days used (BDUs), which is equivalent to 1,300 beds.

Changes to the Board of the HSE

Health Minister, Dr. James Reilly has announced a series of changes to the Board of the HSE. The announcement involves the appointment of three new board members and the re-appointment of Mr. Brian Gilroy, who has left the HSE.

National Paediatric Hospital Review Group

Health Minister, Dr. James Reilly has announced the make up of the Review Group to consider the decision of An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for the proposed construction of a national paediatric hospital on the site of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital. The nine person group will be chaired by Dr Frank Dolphin.