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Sunday 26 March 2023 Dublin: 8°C

# Stephen Donnelly

Last week
19th March 2023 - 25th March 2023
# Health
Donnelly to introduce legislation to abolish in-patient charges in public hospitals
The bill will remove the acute public in-patient charge of €80 per day, up to a maximum of €800 in a year, for public patients in all public hospitals.
# Cystic Fibrosis
HSE approves use of life-changing Cystic Fibrosis drug for 35 children previously excluded
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said it was a “very welcome development”.
This month
March 2023
# Stephen Donnelly
'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.
# Drone attacks
DAA given green light to buy frequency jamming anti-drone technology for use at Dublin Airport
No primary legislation is required to enable its use at the airport, it is believed.
Last month
February 2023
# hyperemisis gravidarum
Minister urges doctors to lobby drug companies so women can easily access pregnancy sickness meds
Women, doctors and pharmacists have criticised the over-complicated system set up.
January
January 2023
# Mental Health
'We're letting children drop off a cliff edge at age 18': Opposition hits out at CAMHS issues
Sinn Féin’s spokesperson for mental health said it is “downright scandalous” that some young people are not receiving follow-up care such as essential blood tests.
# camhs
IMO hits out at Donnelly's suggestion new consultant contract will bring 'consistency' to CAMHS
The Health Minister yesterday said the HSE is seeking to appoint a national clinical lead for youth mental health.
# camhs
Donnelly says recruitment of youth mental health director will bring 'consistency' to CAMHS
The Dáil is to discuss the findings on Thursday.
# Cost of Living
Plan to abolish public hospital charges to come before Cabinet later
Currently patients can face a charge of €80 per day with an annual cap of a maximum of 10 days costing €800.
# Ukraine
Modular houses to come on stream as Cabinet briefed on refugee accommodation crisis
Many hotels currently under contract with the Department of Integration will revert to tourist trade in March and April.
# more red tape
Overcomplicated: Reimbursement scheme for pregnancy drug criticised by pharmacists
Irish Pharmacy Union says the new scheme is not straightforward and creates further delays.
HSE informs pharmacists about reimbursement scheme and how it will operate three days after the scheme came into operation.
IPU says requiring patients to get a consultant prescription creates needless access inequalities where women do not have access to consultants.
The drug Cariban can cost women up to €3,000 over the course of a pregnancy.
GPs can't give initial Cariban prescription, confirms HSE as Tánaiste questions 'rationale'
Women who suffer severe pregnancy sickness to have access to drug free of charge from January
# Under Pressure
Pressure on hospitals due to respiratory illnesses will likely get worse, Donnelly says
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said the HSE doesn’t believe that the flu wave has peaked.
Last year
2022
# consultant contract
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’.
# tax-free payment
Around 66,000 workers still waiting on €1,000 pandemic bonus payment
The health minister says he hopes the majority of the payments will be made before Christmas.
# Human Tissue Bill
Soft opt-out organ donation on the way as delayed Bill finally sees movement
The bill will also bring in the requirement of a license for the public display of bodies after death.
# Health
Action Plan to tackle Traveller health inequalities a ‘big step forward’
Figures show there is a gap of some 13 years in life expectancy between Travellers and the general population.
# cariban
Women who suffer severe pregnancy sickness to have access to drug free of charge from January
Cariban can cost women up to €3,000 over the course of a pregnancy.
# cabinet sign-off
Vaping product ads to be banned on public transport under new law
The sale of e-cigarettes at events where children are present will also be prohibited.
# Children's Hospital
Taoiseach tours National Children's Hospital as construction reaches 80% completion
The hospital should be fully operational by the end of 2024.
# long covid
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.
# safe access zones
Gardaí outline concerns about abortion safe access zone law
Gardaí have said it has a number of concerns from a policing perspective about the legislation around exclusion zones.
# Respiratory Syncytial virus
Children's emergency departments experiencing 'significant rise' in respiratory virus illness
The health minister says a rise in RSV cases tends to occur at this time each year.
# the needle has landed
HSE launches winter vaccination programme with flu and Covid-19 jabs
The HSE is inviting eligible groups to get their flu jab and their Covid-19 booster.
# budget 2023
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.
# vaccine rollout
New Omicron-specific vaccines to be rolled out as boosters from next month, Health Minister says
Anyone who is eligible for both a flu vaccine and a Covid booster vaccine can receive them at the same time from next month.
# Navan
Hundreds take part in protest against plans to close emergency department at Navan hospital
Organiser Peader Toíbín has called on ‘political establishment to realise how important this issue is’.
# Healthcare
Free contraception scheme for women aged 17 to 25 begins today
The National Women’s Council has welcomed the move but said it’s ‘crucial’ that the age bracket is widened.
# Rental Property
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.
# rtb
Stephen Donnelly admits he failed to renew rental property with RTB for three years
The long-term tenancy, which was first registered in 2011, was not renewed in 2019.
# Navan Hospital
Closure of Navan A&E is 'built into' HSE's 'fresh look' review, say local TDs
A working group review into the planned closure of ED services at Our Lady’s Hospital Navan should be completed in a few weeks.
A review group tasked to give a fresh look at the planned closure of the emergency department will be completed in "a few weeks".
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly asked the HSE to carry out a review of capacity levels in light of a number of concerns being raised.
However, opposition TDs have hit out against the wording of the terms of reference in which the review group is operating.
'Drogheda is under pressure': Taoiseach urges caution over Navan ED closure
On-call GP service 'majorly concerned' over plans to require referrals for patients to Navan
# HEALTH OVERHAUL
Fianna Fáil TD calls for Robert Watt to be made boss of the HSE and the Dept of Health
Barry Cowen believes it is time to share leadership between the two bodies.
# Moving On
Paul Reid to step down as HSE CEO in October - two months earlier than expected
Reid was due to stay in the role until December.
# monkeypox
Government called on to implement 'robust strategy' to tackle monkeypox
“As cases slowly climb,” Senator Jerry Buttimer says “it is crucial that we are preventative in our actions”.
# vaccination programme
Changes announced to COVID vaccination programme, including second booster for 50-64 year-olds
The Department of Health and the HSE will now work to operationalise these updates.
# free contraception
Free contraception for women aged 17 to 25 to be rolled out by September
President Michael D Higgins signed the measures into law today.
# Under Pressure
University Hospital Galway warn of 'severe' overcrowding a week after CMO alerted Donnelly
“This level of overcrowding in Galway and across the country in the middle of July is not normal,” the INMO said.
# Women's Health
Health Minister says testimony included in HSE abortion report is 'heartbreaking'
The research found that current abortion legislation does not meet the needs of those seeking termination for foetal anomalies.
# job vacancy
'Remuneration is significant': No appetite in Govt to increase €420k salary for next HSE boss
Questions have been raised about whether tensions between the HSE and Department of Health played a part in Paul Reid’s decision to step down.
# Emergency care
HSE chief says Navan Hospital plan will proceed despite Minister's instruction
Last week the Health Minister said he was not satisfied with the plan.
# hiqa report
HSE unit deployed to Limerick hospital to address ‘chronic’ overcrowding'
A performance management improvement unit of the HSE is to “engage urgently” with University Hospital Limerick.