Irish health system report card: a year of criticisms, concerns and innovations
From rows about staffing, waiting lists and cost overruns to resignations of senior staff, heathcare was never far from the news headlines in 2024
HIQA
Stephen Donnelly’s frustration with Children’s Health Ireland building for some time
Delays in children’s orthopaedic surgery and the appointment of a CEO, along with concern around investment priorities were issues for Minister for Health
Stephen Donnelly sought advice on whether State could take over children’s hospitals in Dublin
Legal advice was that such intervention could only take place if independent review identified serious governance or other failings
Most patients waited more than six hours at emergency department before admission - survey
More than 13 per cent waited more than 24 hours, Hiqa experience survey finds
Watchdog calls for ‘urgent’ overhaul of placements for vulnerable children
Hiqa report notes some children, many of whom have complex needs, are living in unregulated special emergency accommodation
North Dublin foster care services need ‘significant improvements’ to protect children from abuse, Hiqa says
Health Information and Quality Authority inspections of services in Dublin North and Galway/Roscommon warn of ‘inadequate pool of foster carers’ to meet children’s needs
Primary school teacher mounted two-year campaign of harassment using racial slurs, court hears
Teacher sent 500 letters to care worker’s family, friends and place of work, including letters to Hiqa alleging she was abusing patients
Cork nursing home residents served cold soup, Hiqa inspectors told
Aperee Living Conna, near Fermoy, criticised after unannounced Hiqa inspection
Nursing home ownership moves represent major risk to future survival of sector, report finds
Hiqa says ‘systemic risk’ to sector should be addressed as part of an overall strategy for social care in Ireland
‘Significantly understaffed’: Hiqa to conduct review into midwest care capacity after Aoife Johnston report
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said the healthcare regulator will determine whether a second emergency department is needed following the death at UHL
Centre for adults with disabilities ‘ran out of money for food’
Staff member at Ability West centre in Co Galway had to pay for meals out of their own pocket
HSE to take over private nursing home in Kerry next week
Hiqa to cancel Aperee Living Camp’s registration over concerns about its governance and management
Health service research group handed €2.5m to help shape clinical guidelines
High-quality information ‘more important than ever’, says Stephen Donnelly
New phone number for triaging non-urgent medical cases to be assessed by Hiqa
Alternative phone number to the 112/999 service would seek to reduce pressure on the national emergency phone line
Hiqa: 80% of Mosney centre residents have refugee status but are unable to move out
Some residents at direct-provision centre ‘could not avail’ of more appropriate accommodation and were ‘anxious’, says inspection report
Staffing shortfalls at University Hospital Kerry criticised by health watchdog
Significant non-compliance with standards relating to good governance, workforce, and risk management, Hiqa finds
Hiqa reports highlight deficiencies in vetting and child safeguarding in accommodation centres
Health authority carried out inspections at International Protection Accommodation Services centres across the country
With almost 100 regulators, are there too many watchdogs in the State?
Some regulatory bodies believe their underpinning legislation has fallen behind advances and developments in the sectors they oversee
Asylum seekers feel ‘unsafe’ in Co Laois centre, Hiqa report finds
Authority found ‘multiple risks existed’ at the Hibernian Hotel in Abbeyleix after inspections earlier this year
UHL is no longer starved of funds. Why is it still so far from satisfactory performance?
Another week, another damning report on the overcrowded Limerick hospital
Watchdog finds ‘serious concerns’ about foster service for unaccompanied minors seeking international protection
Hiqa finds carers were approved on emergency basis without necessary mandatory training in fostering and in one case Garda vetting had not been completed
Pest infestation at asylum seeker centre saw child hospitalised, inspections find
Residents feel ‘unsafe’ and some staff are not Garda vetted, Hiqa inspections of accommodation find
Long Covid services are ‘pot luck’ for sufferers, TDs told
Estimated 350,000 patients believed to have long Covid, representative group says
How do I spot if my child has ... a hip issue?
Doctors check all newborns but these clinical examinations will miss some
Children faced ‘significant risk’ of harm at Tusla-operated residential centre, Hiqa finds
Staff describe giving care as ‘firefighting’ due to increase in frequency and nature of serious incidents at centre
Disability centre in Cork not resourced to meet residents’ needs, Hiqa reports
Health and safety watchdog publishes 22 inspection reports on disability services
South Dublin nursing home to close due to fire safety issues that would cost €1m to rectify
Nursing home houses 35 residents who will have to find alternative accommodation, while 46 staff will be made redundant
Irish nursing homes are ‘at a critical juncture. Something needs to be done’
Investment firms have been caught out by rising costs and higher interest rates
Disability care home charged resident €4,000 for holiday to Donegal
Hiqa criticises policy of residents in disability centre having to cover staff wages to take short holiday
Residents in Co Wexford nursing home ‘frequently left wet having rang bell’ to use toilet - Hiqa
State’s healthcare regulator criticised serious staffing shortages in Castlebridge Manor nursing home
Hiqa publishes terms of reference of Temple Street review
Interim findings into the use of unauthorised springs in operations will be made by end of year, watchdog says
Why were nursing homes in Kilkenny, Waterford and Cork forced to close?
In the News podcast: When HIQA sent its inspectors in, they found a long list of regulatory issues
Kilkenny nursing home to be taken over by HSE to protect safety of residents
Hiqa says it has ‘serious concerns about the governance and management’ of Aperee Living in Callan
Lack of audits for private accommodation for child migrants ‘unfathomable’
Hotels and B&Bs are not suitable places for children to grow up, Ombudsman for Children says and calls for move away from emergency responses
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