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Saturday 9 December 2023 Dublin: 11°C

# health minister

This week
3rd December 2023 - 9th December 2023
Health Minister unable to commit to HSE trolley target over the winter months
Under a recently published HSE plan, no more than 320 people should be waiting for beds on trolleys each day.
Free nasal spray flu vaccine programme extended to children aged between 13 and 17
The change takes effect from today and means all children aged 2 to 17 are now eligible for the flu vaccine.
Last month
November 2023
Pharmacists to be enabled to extend validity of prescriptions to a maximum of 12 months
This is an extension from the current six month period and Minister Donnelly said it will ‘improve patient care and access’.
Covid inquiry terms of reference to be ready 'soon enough', says minister
The Department of the Taoiseach is currently working on the plans.
This year
2023
Free contraception scheme expanded to include women aged 27-30
It means women aged 17-30 can now avail of the scheme which was launched last September.
Optometrists call for end to ‘geographical lottery’ in children’s eye-care
The Optometry Ireland CEO said efforts in addressing these geographical gaps has been ‘very slow, minimal, and piecemeal’.
Patient Safety Bill, which aims to create 'culture' of transparency, signed into law
The Bill will require healthcare providers to disclose certain serious safety incidents to patients or their families.
Donnelly 'disappointed' about CervicalCheck samples being tested in US labs
The National Cervical Screening Laboratory at the Coombe Hospital had its accreditation suspended.
'We need more decision-makers at weekends': Donnelly to press ahead with new consultant contract
IMO and IHCA members have voted to reject the new contract, which comes into force today.
Last year
2022
New Sláintecare Consultant Contract will 'reduce waiting times' and 'maximise capacity in hospitals'
The Health Minister said there is a ‘need to make consultant posts attractive to fill as many as possible on a permanent basis’.
Mater Hospital confirms Long Covid Clinic is set to close in December due to a lack of funding
However, a spokesperson for the hospital said it is willing to extend the operation of the Long Covid clinic into the new year.
Cariban: Drug to help women who suffer severe pregnancy sickness to be available by January
Cariban is prescribed and available in the Coombe, Rotunda and Holles Street maternity hospitals and has been for many years.
Donnelly says he doesn't believe his failure to renew RTB registration warrants his resignation
Donnelly admitted yesterday that he failed to renew a rental property with the RTB for three years.
INMO warns of 'real problem along western seaboard' with record-breaking overcrowding
There was record-breaking overcrowding in University Hospital Limerick in April.
'Unusual characteristics' to CMO's new Trinity role, public expenditure minister says
Dr Holohan will be stepping down as the country’s Chief Medical Officer to take up the role at TCD in July.
No current plans for NPHET to be disbanded, says Donnelly
The Health Minister said that the Government is currently looking at a medium-term strategy for current Covid-19 protections, like vaccines and testing.
All time
HSE tells centres to allow boosters after 3-month gap as Cabinet discusses Covid developments
Stephen Donnelly said the Government will assess more measures and scheduling options so more people can get the booster jab.
The new guidance will be in place when the HSE updates its IT system
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said the schedule for booster jabs is being revised
Taoiseach Micheál Martin called for more GPs and pharmacists to get involved with the booster rollout
Booster dose gap to be reduced to three months, Health Minister announces
Health Minister extends €100 pandemic grant for student nurses as McHugh report published
Sinn Féin spokesperson David Cullinane said that the measures announced don’t go far enough.
Donnelly says he would like to see healthcare workers get the green light for the booster jab
The booster shots for the over 60s will begin ‘imminently’, said the minister.
Former French Health Minister charged over handling of Covid-19 pandemic
She’s been charged with “endangering the lives of others”, the prosecutor of the Republic’s Court of Justice said.
Health minister hopeful of Budget boost for Irish cancer services
Stephen Donnelly said he expected the health service to see an increase in the number of patients presenting with cancer in the coming months.
Taoiseach says 'evaluation' into handling of Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland will be carried out
However, he said it’s his “preference that we manage the pandemic first with all hands on deck”.
Stephen Donnelly says he was 'concerned' at footage of crowds after GAA hurling final
He urged those in attendance who were “too close to people for too long” to go and get tested.
Regulations to put indoor dining reopening on a legal footing to be published today
Failte Ireland’s guidelines for pubs and restaurants were published yesterday.
NPHET member says team 'not there to be popular' as Donnelly criticises 'online vitriol'
Dr Cillian de Gascun said negative commentary can be “a little bit disheartening”.
Matt Hancock says he doesn't think he's 'hopeless', in response to Cummings WhatsApp screenshot
The former Downing Street aide is claiming that Boris Johnson called his health minister ‘totally f*cking hopeless’ last March.
UUP leader wants Ian Paisley to apologise in public for ‘dangerous’ chant
A row erupted after four gigs by Van Morrison at the Belfast hotel were cancelled at the last minute on Thursday.
People in the North aged 18 and over can register for a vaccine from today
70% of Northern Ireland population have received first Covid-19 jab.
Initial results 'positive' in testing decryption tool to unlock data, Health Minister says
A decryption key was made available yesterday but Donnelly said “no ransom has been paid”.
Patient data from HSE hack has appeared on the dark net, Minister confirms
Stephen Donnelly said that it was “distasteful” that law firms were “licking their lips” at prospect of suing the State over the HSE cyber hack.
It is "clear" that data on some HSE servers has been encrypted, but that the full extent of this remains unknown.
The Dáil heard that a helpline will be set up for patients approached by someone with their leaked HSE details.
The Health Minister also accused some legal firms of "licking their lips" at the prospect of data privacy cases.
Patient receiving offer of medical procedure from abroad 'seems to align' with HSE hack, Dáil told
HSE ransomware attack: 'Is it possible that sensitive information has been downloaded? Unfortunately, yes'
Leo Varadkar suggests that anyone who wants a Covid-19 vaccine 'may be offered one by the end of June'
The Tánaiste made the comments at a Fine Gael meeting this evening.
'I'm frustrated with the lack of progress': Donnelly says 19 maternity units are being contacted about restrictions
Restrictions remain in place in certain hospitals, with protesters gathering outside the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin yesterday.
No medical students have been hired as vaccinators, despite Minister saying they were giving jabs at vaccine centres
The health minister said last month that he had met students administering vaccines.
Teachers and SNAs incorrectly given Covid vaccines due to reserve list error – Donnelly
Teachers and SNAs in Wicklow, Dun Laoghaire and Dublin South East received vaccines yesterday.
26 states added to mandatory hotel quarantine list, including Serbia and Moldova
People arriving from these countries from 6 April will need to pre-book hotel quarantine.
Figures show more than 30,000 people waiting on HSE gynaecology outpatient appointments
30,180 people were waiting on outpatient appointments up to the end of January.
Family members of women affected by CervicalCheck controversy to get medical cards for 5 year period
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly brought a memo to Cabinet today to extend the access to the cards for a further three years.
Stephen Donnelly: 'Large majority of 85s and over' will have received first Covid vaccine dose by Sunday
Stephen Donnelly is appearing before the Oireachtas Health Committee to answer questions from TDs.
Every resident in Ireland will be offered the vaccine before September, says health minister
Carers and dentists are to be added to cohort 2 in the vaccine plan.
Government plans to have almost 4 million people vaccinated by end of September, says Donnelly
Varadkar says between 50,000 and 55,000 people will be vaccinated this week.