Department of Health

News, analysis, and features about the Department of Health

HSE spending approval plan neatly illustrates why its budget control is in such a mess

The chief executive will be signing such orders nonstop and doing little else for a salary of €406,000

Nation ‘sleepwalking into biggest social and healthcare challenge’, nursing homes warn

Sector braces for scale-up to meet demand for places, but funding challenges stand in way

Financial deficit in health service could hit €1bn, Dáil Public Accounts Committee hears

Scrapping private practice in public hospitals to cost HSE €140m

Ireland ‘needs 1,000 new nursing home beds a year until 2040′ for ageing population

Country is facing a ‘demographic tipping point’ to deal with increasing older population, says nursing home representative group

Three-day abortion wait hits women in ‘straitened circumstances’ hardest, HSE says

HSE experts also told TDs there is ‘overwhelming evidence’ against mandatory waiting periods

Patients would contribute more for drugs under proposed policy

New recruitment and spending restrictions to be introduced in health service in coming days amid Government concern at €700m overrun

Some energy drinks contain 17½ teaspoons of sugar per can, research finds

More than three-quarters of people surveyed support introducing age restrictions on sale of energy drinks to children

Inpatient hospital treatment rises just 2% despite 52% spending increase, data shows

Analysis leads Minister for Health to criticise hospitals unable to explain ‘consistently’ poor trolley figures

Should therapists be in therapy? Unpacking the rift over psychotherapy standards in Ireland

Training of psychotherapists is a matter of ongoing dispute between professionals and Coru, the State’s health regulator

Overspending health regions to be asked to slow hiring after headcount surge

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said there had been ‘extraordinarily high’ recruitment in the HSE

Politicians trying to influence funding of high-cost drugs is a ‘concern’, Minister says

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: TDs and Senators should be aware of need to stabilise national drug approval process

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill: ‘I worried whether I had the objectivity to be Minister for Health’

Eleven years after her son’s neonatal brain injury at birth, the Minister has met many women going through similar trauma

HSE spending controls have ‘not had sufficient impact’, says Minister

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill says scale of projected HSE overspend ‘cannot be explained by demand pressures alone’

‘Community care’ is exposed as an empty concept when a carer dies

An advocacy group for ageing parents of children with disability believes we have replaced the high walls of the institutions with kilometres of distance instead

Low levels of confidence in Government preparedness for next pandemic, survey finds

About one-third said they personally felt unprepared for a potential lockdown, according to new research

Children addicted to synthetic cannabis vapes can be denied access to Camhs support

Highly addictive drug linked to serious mental and physical health problems including psychosis

CUH consultants seek independent staffing assessment over patient safety fears

Minister warned of threat to patient safety following ‘years of underfunding’

Low transplant rates have serious repercussions

We owe it to organ donors to ensure our transplant system is fully equipped to save lives

What impact will ongoing grade-enhancement reductions have on CAO points?

Continuing enhancement of Leaving Cert results, even at a reduced level, means an ongoing distorting effect

Almost 6,000 fewer healthcare staff than officially permitted, HSE says

Gap will close as trainee staff move into regular employment on graduation, officials say, but nurses and doctors express concern

Dublin care workers’ strike ends after Labour Court recommends letting pay review proceed

Irish Workers Union says action could resume if progress not made

Sinn Féin leader urges Taoiseach to intervene after HSE opposed funding rare-disease drug

Move follows Fianna Fáil politicians’ call for HSE to change stance on treatment for Friedreich’s ataxia

HSE began ‘enhanced’ support and oversight of Bloomfield following patient care concerns

Independent investigation of Rathfarnham hospital found patients were sworn at and threatened

Hiqa to review tobacco affordability as Irish smoking rates stall

Smoking prevalence has remained at 17 or 18 per cent since 2019 despite increases in tobacco taxes

Flood protection: New group to look at gaps in insurance market

Many homeowners and businesses have found themselves left without flood insurance as their locations are deemed too risky for policies

The HSE was broken up into six regions two years ago to deliver better care. Is it working?

Restructuring Ireland’s health service was meant to integrate services locally, but concerns have been highlighted by regional managers and the HSE board

Sale of vapes and cigarettes to young people could be banned

Government considering ban for anyone born after certain date

Public-only consultants at St Vincent’s claimed for lab work done for private patients

HSE blocked practice after hospital asked for temporary exemption so arrangement could continue

We all pay a price for blame culture towards the health service

Robert Watt is correct, albeit a little late, to call for less finger-pointing

HSE under pressure over health agency staff as Opposition claims spending is rising

Health service spent more than €900 million on personnel recruited through external agencies last year

Pharmacists’ powers to prescribe contraception expected to be in place by year end

Women will be able to get monthly repeat prescriptions at chemists after initial GP consultation

GP shortages: Where are the most acute problems across the country?

The representative body for Irish GPs warns of three ‘emerging pressure points’

‘Gotcha’ blame culture must end if key projects to be delivered faster, says Robert Watt

Politicians and officials should be enabled to take ‘balanced risks’ but supported when schemes go awry

€1.5bn to be set aside for tax package for workers in summer economic statement

Expenditure increases limited to €7bn with €1.5bn to be set aside for tax package aimed at increasing take-home pay

Chronic fatigue syndrome care services are ‘not sufficient’ to meet needs, HSE admits

Patients report ‘litany of poor experiences’ with services

Head of HSE gender healthcare to step down at end of year after drafting new model of care

Minister of State Mary Butler praised Icelandic model and sought funding for HSE gender clinic in Drogheda, letter released under FOI shows

Pressure over Government spending cuts likely to fuel tensions at Cabinet

Black hole in Department of Education funding has led to €446m levy

Irish cities need heatwave plans, coalition of health experts says

‘Urban heat island’ effect means cities are often several degrees hotter than surrounding areas

Three departments face closer supervision after exceeding budgets

Health, Education and Children subject to ‘special measures’ involving oversight from Department of Public Expenditure officials

What is folic acid and why does the Government want to put it in our flour?

The main benefit of folic acid is that it reduces the incidence of neural tube defects in unborn children

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