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Department of Health
News, analysis, and features about the Department of Health
Children’s Health Ireland to be folded into HSE
Move follows months of controversy, notably relating to orthopaedic and spinal services
Jordan chosen as route to evacuate sick Gaza children to Ireland in ‘imminent’ operation
It is understood around 11 children have been identified for an upcoming third evacuation mission
Income thresholds for student grants could rise to €150,000 per household
Government considering proposal to reduce VAT rate on new apartments
How a car crash in Dublin 4 drove public-sector CEO salaries higher
Resignation of EirGrid chief has had downstream consequences for Government over top-level pay
Minister for Health briefed on Drogheda hospital concern weeks before patients
Patients advised of file reviews 11 weeks after HSE raised it with department, Labour’s Ged Nash says
State paid over €400m to private emergency accommodation providers in three months
McEnaney Group was paid €19 million for providing accommodation to refugees and homeless
New financial safeguards planned for national maternity hospital project
Government seeks to implement lessons learned from national children’s hospital construction
Minister for Health will not attend hospital consultants’ annual conference
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill’s meeting in March with the senior clinicians’ association was described as ‘tense’
Dr Pat O’Mahony obituary: Vet who played key role in rebuilding Ireland’s reputation as a safe food producer
Colleagues described him as an inspirational and visionary leader with a strong intellect
Pharmacy sector to receive additional €75m under new agreement with State
Pharmacists will be able to prescribe medication for a number of common conditions under agreement
Why is there an inquiry into the use of epilepsy drug sodium valproate?
Inquiry relates to historical licensing and use of drug for women of childbearing age
Doubts grow that planned State elective hospitals will be built before 2030s
Minister did not secure sufficient funding to pay for all key health projects, says Sinn Féin
Medicine pricing agreement coming to end with no talks yet sanctioned on successor deal
Pharmaceutical companies say they have little interest in any new agreement unless it can guarantee faster access for new drugs
Tributes paid as chairman of Hiqa board dies
Prof Pat O’Mahony had served on a number of public and private sector boards
More than 1,000 patient cases examined as part of review at Drogheda hospital
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital is taking a look back at all histopathology slides seen by one consultant
New plan aims to improve diagnosis and care for people with rare diseases
Life-threatening or chronically debilitating diseases affect 300,000 people in Ireland
What impact will 2025 Leaving Cert results have on the CAO?
Leaving Cert grades still subject to an ongoing distorting effect
‘Significant decline’ in RSV-related illness in babies after high uptake of vaccine
Department of Health introduced new vaccination programme for babies last year
‘Once somebody shares the fact they are thinking about suicide, there’s a connection to life’
A €2 million investment in counselling supports for men aims to help break the silence around mental health
Family of girl (14) who died while at Gaeltacht seeks review of CHI care
Amelia Belle Ferguson (14) collapsed while out walking in Co Galway last year
More detailed data on abortions to be collected from Irish hospitals
No information on patient’s identity or reason for seeking abortion will be gathered
Inquiries under way into further allegations around waiting list initiatives at Children’s Health Ireland
Public Accounts Committee and Minister hears that consultant paid €40,000 in 2018 to treat patients on his waiting list at private hospital
Cocaine users are now older, better educated and more likely to be working
People accessing treatment for drug use are now older, better educated and more likely to be in employment
Abortion numbers rose to 10,852 in State in 2024
Majority were early pregnancy terminations, while 108 carried out due to fatal foetal abnormality
Government will not use Jordan to evacuate sick children from Gaza, despite previously saying route was ‘not an issue’
Doctors prefer Jordan crossing to Rafah due to higher quality of hospital in Amman
Ban on commercial sunbeds to reduce skin cancer to be explored by Government working group
Report finds sunbeds still being used by children and teenagers, despite regulations restricting use
Q&A: How are GP shortages affecting the country - and where are they hardest to find?
An uneven spread of doctors paints an unhealthy picture for many in rural areas
Why are Irish genetic tests still being sent to laboratories abroad?
Tests are often central to clinical decision-making, patient diagnosis and time-sensitive interventions
‘Simple and straightforward’: The €4,500 naming of the National Children’s Hospital Ireland
It could have been different, except that ‘Phoenix’ rose from the ashes only to be shot down by a healthcare facility in Arizona
Ireland’s STI clinics struggling to cater for increasing demand
Health strategy envisages free contraception for up to 55-year-olds and increased STI testing
‘I sleep easier here’: The makeshift homeless community under the M50
Rats and rubbish surround the camp at Finglas Road, but to some residents it’s better than other options
Hospital endoscopy procedures are increasingly being done at weekends
Health service trying to accommodate more patients outside traditional weekday hours
‘I have no rights to him’: mothers of children through surrogacy wait in legal limbo
Legislation and regulation are lagging behind for parents not currently recognised on birth certificates
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill in the spotlight as health controversies intensify
Fears rolling issues involving children’s hospital services and others could dominate the political agenda over the summer
Ireland’s grubby treatment of Covid-19 heroes will cause frontline workers to think twice next time
Nurses who contracted long Covid remain trapped in a post-pandemic freeze frame, battling extreme fatigue, brain fog, weakened immunity, headaches and pain
Beaumont Hospital has NTPF waiting list funding suspended over ‘potential financial irregularities’
Dublin hospital drawn into funding controversy as Crumlin children’s hospital identified as subject of prior concerns
I wrote the Leas Cross report. Two decades on, has anything changed in Irish nursing homes?
RTÉ documentary made clear that Hiqa cannot assure the public of appropriate and dignified care standards in nursing homes
Children’s health crisis will roll on until there is transparency about how public money is spent
There was a significant drop in the average number of patients seen per consultant last year, with ramifications for our long waiting lists
CHI funding from NTPF will resume imminently, says Department of Health
Payments were suspended for ‘insourcing’ at CHI on foot of internal report suggesting irregularities about scheme operation
Audit of CHI waiting lists ordered to ensure productivity in public hospitals, Minister for Health says
Move by Jennifer Carroll MacNeill comes amid controversy over alleged abuse of waiting lists at CHI
Revelations show appalling personal behaviour among some CHI medics
Toll on medics training under certain consultants was especially acute
Always running for office: Barry Heneghan praises northsiders’ athletic superiority
Plus: Old Belvedere Squash Club up the creek without a padel; a Freedom of Information request deemed ‘frivolous or vexatious’; and a chance to test yourself against Dublin’s finest sprinter, Callie the cheetah
Up to 6,800 more inpatient beds will be needed by 2040, says ESRI report
Ireland’s ageing and increasing population will mean greater capacity requirements in public hospitals over next 15 years
CHI consultant who allegedly referred public patients to his own weekend clinic faced no disciplinary action
Children's Health Ireland clinician at centre of internal review retired after inquiry flagged governance issues
‘Come to Ireland, get well paid and a holiday’: The GPs lured from the UK to Ireland
An increase in UK doctors seeking work in Ireland is being linked to geographical proximity and difficulties in the NHS
Ireland U-turns to oppose EU pharma reforms after intense lobbying
Pharmaceutical companies stepped up blitz to push Government to back industry position, lobbying logs show
‘I can’t wait any longer’: Couples with one child await budget pledge on free IVF
It was announced in October’s budget that access to State scheme would be expanded this year
Free HRT widely available in pharmacies from June after agreement reached with Department of Health
Increased one-off grant offered to pharmacists after union talks with department
Former Children’s Health Ireland boss kept salary of almost €184k in new role
Some €250,000 in potential income for CHI was lost due to late insurance claims, Public Accounts Committee hears separately
Staffing still an issue in key areas of HSE intended to benefit from seven day rostering
Health union Fórsa ‘concerned about employment gaps’ but Minister says she intends changes will come into effect by end of June
Mother of hip surgery child sent 30 emails to hospital and only received reply after solicitor got involved
Sinn Féin TD says parents going abroad as CHI, Government not giving them answers over hip surgery controversy
Staff shortages and public perception leading to healthcare worker burnout, Fórsa research suggests
A lack of career development and a ‘disconnect’ between workers and management also factors, survey of 3,800 finds
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices