Further revelations about the Irish health care system came to light last week with the unopened letters and un-reviewed x-rays in Tallaght Hospital. Such behaviour fuels views that the health system lacks efficacy and efficiency and intensifies calls for reform of the health system such as the Fair Care proposal by Fine Gael. At a [...]
It was announced this week that the Outpatients Department at Cork University Hospital (CUH) are changing their appointment system for patients attending the Department. The new system comprises of a timed appointment system only. Not much different to the previous system I hear you say. Previously patients were given an appointment time, however upon presenting [...]
Recommendations from the An Bord Snip report include reducing health expenditure in the form of increasing the drugs payment scheme (DPS) co-payment by 25% and the introduction of a €5 co-payment for general medical services (GMS) patients have come under strong criticism in recent days. The introduction of co-payments or user charges in health care [...]
An article in today’s Irish Examiner highlights the OECD’s commendation of Ireland’s development aid spending – €4 billion on overseas aid during the last six years. In praising us for this contribution the OECD seems to caution us that our work is not done. It appears we must continue to contribute development aid – it [...]
At the Fine Gael Ardfheis last weekend Enda Kenny indicated that if in government Fine Gael would introduce a health care service based on the Dutch model. This according to Kenny would mean the introduction of universal health insurance for Ireland. The Dutch health care system, to which Kenny refers to, is a single health [...]
Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials recently published results of a study indicating that hospital staff’s mobile phones were tainted with bacteria included MRSA. The study highlighted that such could be a source of hospital acquired infections. This study also identified that just 10% of hospital staff regularly cleaned their phones. These findings however do [...]
The HSE have announced they are beginning implementation talks with stakeholders concerning the reform of hospital laboratories in Ireland (Irish Times). This reform is in response to an external review of the existing system and it is anticipated that the reforms will contribute to “a more cost-effective service”. The track record of medical laboratory services [...]