Dr. Brendan Drumm has apologised after the Health Services Executive upset patients by appointing one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse to a high level position within the organisation. The HSE has accepted that the appointment of a 15 foot skeleton in ragged robes and carrying a scythe, walking around A&Es telling patients not to worry as their wait “won’t be too long now” in a cavernous voice was probably inappropriate.... Similar posts

The change of leadership at the HSE ought to have prompted a radical, far-sighted overhaul of its accountability, if the Government was really putting the interests of citizens first.  The scale and complexity of the HSE is such that it functions like one of the major metropolitan cities of the world. The role of chief and deputy chief executive of the HSE is comparable to that of the mayor and deputy mayor of a major city, like London, Paris, Rome, Istanbul or Moscow.  The HSE’s enormous budget (€15 billion) is significantly greater than the combined budgets of the city councils of Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles. The salary of its incoming chief executive outstrips the combined salaries of the executive mayors of Chicago and Los Angeles, who oversee the needs of a... Similar posts

Children’s HospitalIn 2006 as I was walking along Dorset Street, I noted that O’Neils Public Bar or the Snug as it was more commonly known on the corner of Eccles Street and Dorset Street was being gutted and renovated, I had to inquire what was going on, who in their right mind would invest millions in this long forgotten and decaying corner of the north side. I stepped inside to find six Polish labourers ripping up floors and pulling down walls, on the counter lay a boron that was signed by the IRA men who had murdered Garda Mc Cabe, one of the Polish lads had just found the boron behind the old counter but had no idea what it was. The Snug had been a rough north side drinking house that was about to be transformed in to a modern Bohemian Café Bar by one of the north sides most... Similar posts

Michael McCarthy LABOUR Party Senator for Cork South-West, Michael McCarthy, has said that news of the imminent closure of Millbrook Hospital in Bandon is a big disappointment for the town. Senator McCarthy said, “The closure of Millbrook Hospital highlights the importance of the much promised extension to the Community Hospital. There is a great shortage of beds and space at the hospital at the moment. This closure will put added strain on the already scarce resources. “The HSE must now sanction the funding for this extension to enable this hospital to cater for its population. We must not forget that Bandon is the largest town in West Cork but bed capacity is wholly inadequate. “It is now time for the HSE and the government to deliver immediately on its Primary Care Strategy for... Similar posts

YOUGHAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING JULY 2010 – By Christy Parker In reference to legal action against defaulting ratepayers, Cllr Barbara Murray asked whether those being pursued are still in business. Town clerk Liam Ryan said they were still trading. Asked if were regular or just recent defaulters, he replied that, “they were never exemplary.” Youghal Town Hall - Photo: www.youghalonline.com Litter: In regard to littering offences Cllr Murray said she endorsed the use of CCTV but asked whether such evidence clearly indicated that large bags conveying domestic rubbish were involved in cases where fines had been issued for dumping in street bins. Town Clerk Liam Ryan said fines had only been issued for offences that were “voluminous in nature” and none had been issued “where... Similar posts

From Pod.ie Gates 4pm Leonard Cohen on stage: 7.30pm Interval: 8.45pm Leonard Cohen on stage: 9.10pm Concert finishes: 10.55pm 31/07/10 Limited tickets still avail at www.ticketmaster.ie /ph 0818 719300 01/08/10 Tickets ranging from EU80, EU105, EU115 available from usual outlets.  Tickets on Sale now Travel Information To reduce traffic congestion and delays & arrive a few hundred yards from your concert seat book your place today on the priority coach service. Serving all main hotels and towns in the Sligo area www.DiscoverSligo.com Directions: Check AA’s Route Planner for routes from anywhere in Ireland to Sligo. www.aaireland.ie/routes Trains: Check scheduled timetable at www.irishrail.ie. Bus Eireann will have a bus departing Sligo station adjacent to train station at... Similar posts

Gearoid Buckley LABOUR Party town councillor for Bandon, Gearóid Buckley, has expressed concern and disappointment at the news of the imminent closure of Millbrook Hospital. The closure comes as a result of a HSE/HIQUA audit. It has been confirmed that it will not re-open as a functioning hospital. Cllr Buckley said, “The Millbrook Hospital has served the town of Bandon for generations. Many Bandonians were actually born in the hospital. Up to quite recently the hospital offered a range of health services including an X-Ray department. However, in the past few years it played a highly valuable role as a nursing and convalescent home. “The loss of this vital facility is very disappointing for the local community. The current patients will have to be allocated beds in nursing homes... Similar posts

Members of SIPTU in the HSE West are to be balloted for industrial action following the failure of management to engage in discussions over threatened job cuts.The union says it is vital to hold a protective strike ballot in case management decides to implement the sort of cuts which have been the centre of speculation... Similar posts

Members of SIPTU in the HSE West are to be balloted for industrial action following the failure of management to engage in discussions over threatened job cuts.The union says it is vital to hold a protective strike ballot in case management decides to implement the sort of cuts which have been the centre of speculation... Similar posts

I approvingly retweeted this post from the Political World blog yesterday because I thought it corrected a common misperception about who wields power in Ireland. But having read through it again, I must take issue with some of its implications. The Irish Nomenclatura – Crosspollination in Irish Financial and Political Life « Political World One of the striking things about the power apparatus in Ireland is the myriad of cross-pollinating relationships within it. I don’t see “the government” as simply a selection of TDs from a parliamentary majority who form the Cabinet. These people have little or no power. If they had real power, the likes of Mary Coughlan would never become Tanaiste. They represent around 10% of the real power in Ireland. The rest is made up of the influence... Similar posts

A reported proposal to cut up to 300 temporary employment contracts in the Mid West will have a “devastating effect” on health services in the region, according to the Impact Trade Union. Its understood HSE management in the Mid West region met with impact officials Wednesday, to discuss the scale of the €30 million budget deficit. A range of cost-saving measures are already in place in the Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary region. “One of the proposals was the dismissal of staff employed on fixed term contracts of employment. We estimate that there are between 200 and 300 such contracts in the Mid West. The HSE said that each contract will now be reviewed with a view either non-renewal of the contract when it expires or terminating the contract if the post is no longer... Similar posts

A NINETEENTH-century chapel is due to be demolished following a decision by An Bord Pleanála to allow construction on the St James’s Hospital campus in Dublin.The chapel, built in the 1890s, will be demolished to allow for the development of an eight-storey, 196-bed private hospital, on a 1.148 hectare site, located on the existing campus.The chapel is thought to be connected with the South Dublin Union workhouses on the southside of Dublin’s inner city, which was one of the main sites of the 1916 Easter Rising.In January, Synchrony Properties was granted permission by Dublin City Council to develop the facility, which will employ 400 people during its construction and have about 545 full-time staff when completed.Local residents and a number of local politicians opposed the... Similar posts

I wonder what the actual IT policy with regards to laptops, Blackberries and other personal data devices and phones is within government departments and semi-state bodies. Back in June last year, the HSE and Bord Gais lost unencrypted laptops containing personal data. And now, a week or so ago, this story reveals that they’re not the only government organisations to have lost laptops containing personal data: An investigation by the Irish Independent has found that 51 laptops, 21 BlackBerrys, one Mac computer and two memory sticks have been lost by 19 government departments and their employees since 2008. Only two government departments — the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs — did not lose... Similar posts

The Government recently introduced legislation to facilitate the dissolution of the board of St. Luke’s hospital and the transfer of staff in the hospital and the hospital’s assets and liabilities to the HSE. Lucinda expressed her concern at this development: “In contrast to the HSE, St. Luke’s Hospital, otherwise known as “The Haven in Rathgar”, is... Similar posts

The Report issued by Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly this week raises extremely serious issues, including a threat by the HSE to go to Court to seek to prevent the Ombudsman from communicating with the Oireachtas. It is really regrettable that it is not possible to address these matters now, given that both Houses are in recess and won’t return until late September. The matters raised reflect extremely poorly on the HSE and must be considered in detail by the Oireachtas. Certainly as far as the Senate is concerned I will be seeking an urgent debate on the Report when the House sits again in late September. Meanwhile, the HSE should issue a full and detailed response to the Report, in order to explain its extraordinary behaviour throughout this entire episode. Filed under: Children,... Similar posts

SHIREEN O'Brien doesn't have to rise at any particular hour. Usually she wakes at between 8am and 10am and the care staff at St Louise's, the Daughters of Charity-run residential facility, will help her out of bed. They will help her wash and dress, after which she will go for breakfast in the kitchen of her independent bungalow -- one of six in a secure... Similar posts

Brian Cowen needs to successfully mobilise public opinion if the exchequer deficit is to be tackled and the shoots of economic stability are to yield jobs, stability and opportunity. During the first six months of 2010 our national debt has increased by €9 billion and the amount of interest paid on it has increased by 20% between June 2009 and June 2010. Interest now accounts for over 15% of all tax revenue, up from 11.5% a year earlier. When the State had tax revenue of almost €46 billion in 2006 the government spent €44 billion. This year spending will be in the region of €60 billion but taxes could be as low as €31 billion. The Finance Minister has indicated that serious expenditure cuts can be anticipated in the next Budget if the exchequer deficit is to be tackled in a... Similar posts

The Health Information and Quality Authority has found “significant and serious shortcomings” in the standard of foster care provided by the HSE. That issue cannot be understated given the number of deaths of children in HSE care in recent years. Also this week the story rolled on about dental care being cut back from medical care holders to save money. Additionally, management of Merlin Park Hospital in Galway revealed plans to suspend all elective surgeries for budgetary reasons; ”the proposal would see the cancellation of hip replacements as well as spine, shoulder, hand, foot and ankle surgery” according to the Times. Merlin Park is just the most recent hospital to curtail services to save money. All that follows weeks of coverage about severe... Similar posts

CUTS to emergency ambulance services in Fermoy, Midleton and Youghal should be avoided at all costs says Cork East Fine Gael TD, David Stanton. Deputy Stanton raised the issue of possible ambulance service reductions with the Minister for Health and Children in the Dáil last week. He was advised that the HSE would respond to him directly. “I am very worried that a service which is so vital to the local community could be reduced.  Fermoy, Midleton and Youghal are big towns and serve large catchment areas in East & North East Cork, potential reductions in ambulance services could be very dangerous for public health. “Having raised the matter of possible reduction in emergency services in these towns with the Minister for Health and Children, I am anxiously awaiting the HSE’s... Similar posts