Latest news with #HSE-funded
Irish Independent
02-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
HSE-funded hospitals receiving large sums of money in donations from pharmaceutical companies, new figures show
Drug companies paid out over €32m to various healthcare bodies HSE-funded hospitals are getting large sums of money from big pharmaceutical companies which paid out €32.5m last year to a range of healthcare bodies and doctors, new figures show. Hospitals which received donations or grants include St James's Hospital in Dublin, where the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) which assesses if drugs are effective and value for money is located.
RTÉ News
27-06-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
31 enforcement actions issued to safeguard mental health patients
Thirty-one enforcement actions were issued last year to safeguard mental health patients and residents in 20 centres nationwide. The Mental Health Commission's Annual Report for 2024 highlighted deficiencies in some Health Service Executive facilities that inspectors say must be addressed by the executive's leadership. ''Closer attention by the HSE to underperforming approved centres would transform the national picture," said Mental Health Commission CEO John Farrelly. In 2024, overall compliance across HSE-funded adult centres was just under 81%, while independently run adult centres achieved 88.5% compliance. There was an increase in the number of high and critical non-compliances in 2024 compared to previous years. 366 non-compliances were recorded in total with critical non-compliances concentrated in a few HSE-approved centres. Six facilities achieved 100% compliance including Aidan's Residential Healthcare Unit; Ashlin Centre; Carraig Mor Centre; Grangemore Ward, St Otteran's Hospital; and St Patrick's University Hospital. Those achieving 70% overall compliance or below with regulations include Acute Psychiatric Unit, Tallaght University Hospital (70%); Units 2, 3, 4 and Unit 8 (Floor 2), St Stephen's Hospital, Cork (66.67%); Department of Psychiatry Letterkenny University Hospital (63.33%); Elm Mount Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital (62.07%); Acute Mental Health Unit, Cork University Hospital (60%); and the Central Mental Hospital, Portrane (56.67%). Examples of non-compliances may include lapses in individualised care planning, risk management, staffing, and premises. The HSE welcomed the publication of the Mental Health Commission (MHC) Annual Report. It acknowledged that, in some areas, compliance with regulations for premises, staffing, risk management and care planning remain areas of concern. As part of Sláintecare, the HSE said that a new regional structure will improve how services are run in each area and provide a consistent quality of care across the country. The HSE budget for mental health for 2025 is €1.458bn, 5.4% of the overall HSE budget this year. Restrictive practices are also declining in favour of a more rights-based approach for mental health patients and residents. "The decline in the use of coercive and restrictive practices represents one of the most notable human rights advances in mental health care in Ireland in recent times," said Inspector Professor Jim Lucey. "These advances demonstrate how regulation can drive important human rights improvements and result in key behavioural change in the way services are delivered." The Mental Health Commission is an independent statutory body that aims to foster and promote high standards of care and good practice in the delivery of mental health services. It also ensures that the interests of those involuntarily admitted are protected under the Mental Health Act 2001.
RTÉ News
26-06-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
31 enforcement actions taken to safeguard mental health patients
31 enforcement actions were issued last year to safeguard mental health patients and residents in 20 centres nationwide. The Mental Health Commission's Annual Report for 2024 highlighted deficiencies in some HSE facilities that inspectors say must be addressed by the Executive's leadership. ''Closer attention by the HSE to underperforming approved centres would transform the national picture," said the Chief Executive of the Mental Health Commission, John Farrelly. In 2024, overall compliance across HSE-funded adult centres was just under 81%, while independently run adult centres achieved 88.5% compliance. There was an increase in the number of high and critical non-compliances in 2024 compared to previous years. 366 non-compliances were recorded in total with critical non-compliances concentrated in a few HSE-approved centres. Six facilities achieved 100% compliance including Aidan's Residential Healthcare Unit; Ashlin Centre; Carraig Mor Centre; Grangemore Ward, St Otteran's Hospital; and St Patrick's University Hospital. Those achieving 70% overall compliance or below with regulations include Acute Psychiatric Unit, Tallaght Hospital (70%); Units 2, 3, 4 and Unit 8 (Floor 2), St Stephen's Hospital, Cork (66.67%); Dept of Psychiatry, Letterkenny University Hospital (63.33%); Elm Mount Unit, St Vincent's University Hospital (62.07%); Acute Mental Health Unit, Cork University Hospital (60%); and the Central Mental Hospital, Portrane (56.67%). Examples of non-compliances may include lapses in individualised care planning, risk management, staffing, and premises. The HSE welcomed the publication of the Mental Health Commission (MHC) Annual Report. It acknowledged that, in some areas, compliance with regulations for premises, staffing, risk management and care planning remain areas of concern. As part of Sláintecare, the HSE said that a new regional structure will improve how services are run in each area and provide a consistent quality of care across the country. The HSE budget for mental health for 2025 is €1.458bn, 5.4% of the overall HSE budget this year. Restrictive practices are also declining in favour of a more rights-based approach for mental health patients and residents. "The decline in the use of coercive and restrictive practices represents one of the most notable human rights advances in mental health care in Ireland in recent times," said Inspector Lucey. "These advances demonstrate how regulation can drive important human rights improvements and result in key behavioural change in the way services are delivered." The Mental Health Commission is an independent statutory body that aims to foster and promote high standards of care and good practice in the delivery of mental health services. It also ensures that the interests of those involuntarily admitted are protected under the Mental Health Act 2001.
Irish Examiner
24-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
HSE reaches deal with unions to extend hospital hours and tackle overcrowding
The HSE has confirmed it has reached an agreement with trade unions to introduce an extended working day and week to help address overcrowding. In a statement to the Irish Examiner, the HSE explained it had reached an agreement on weekend rosters, which will see consultants, social workers, and administrative staff scheduled to work over seven days, rather than five. "We can confirm that agreement has been reached with the health service trade unions on arrangements to facilitate the introduction of an extended working day and week in the HSE and HSE-funded agencies," a spokesperson said. "The overarching aim of these extended hours of service is to facilitate smoother patient flow and greater levels of discharge in all parts of the healthcare system over a seven-day week." According to CEO Bernard Gloster, the move will help with two priorities: patient flow in emergency departments and outpatient clinics operating outside routine hours. 'We want to thank the unions for their engagement. This has been a priority of the Minister Jennifer Carroll McNeill and the HSE, and we now look forward to implementing it, focusing on the two priorities of patient flow (ED) and the commencement of outpatient clinics outside routine hours," Mr Gloster said. Read More Tusla paid €72m to third-party providers of children's emergency accommodation
Irish Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
1 in 10 attending sexual assault treatment units attacked by multiple assailants
One in 10 of all people attending sexual assault treatment units in Ireland last year reported that they had been attacked by multiple assailants. The latest annual report of the country's six sexual assault treatment units (SATUs) shows the proportion of cases where someone has been sexually assaulted by two or more individuals increased to 10 per cent in 2024 from nine per cent in 2023 and seven per cent in 2022. It also revealed that the rate of use of weapons in incidents of sexual violence more than doubled to seven per cent last year with physical restraints being used in 36 per cent of all reported cases. The report said the latest figures could suggest an escalation in the severity of injuries sustained in incidents of sexual assault as the number of people requiring referrals for injury follow-up care increased by a third to 21 – two per cent of all cases, Five individuals needed to be hospitalised due to their injuries last year. The latest figures show 21 per cent of people who reported sexual violence expressed concern that they their drink may have been spiked while a further 17 per cent were unsure whether a drug-facilitated sexual assault had occurred. They also reveal that the share of incidents where the perpetrator was described as a stranger also increased to 31 per cent last year from 28 per cent in 2023 and 26 per cent in 2022. However, there was a fall in the rate of 'recent acquaintance' assaults by someone who the victim has met in the previous 24 hours which decreased by 4 percentage points to 11 per cent in 2024. Overall, the report shows the number of people attending the HSE-funded SATUs fell by four per cent last year with a total of 1,021 people who had experienced sexual violence attending the six centres – down 41 on the previous year. The largest SATU in Dublin recorded a 13 per cent decrease in attendances – down 57 compared with the previous year to 394 in 2024 while there was an 18 per cent decrease in numbers at the Galway centre – down 24 to 113. The other four centres – Cork, Mullingar, Letterkenny and Waterford – all reported modest increases in the number of people using their services. Approximately half of all people attending SATUs last year were aged under 25, while the average age of attendees was 28 years. The report revealed two per cent of individuals attending SATUs were aged under 14 years. According to official figures, 91 per cent of people using SATU services in 2024 were female, while eight per cent were male and one per cent identified as another gender or none – a similar trend to recent years. Approximately sven out of 10 people attending SATUs last year identified themselves as Irish. Individuals from 57 other nationalities also availed for SATU services with four per cent of all cases needing the assistance of a translator. The report shows a third of all incidents of sexual violence reported at SATUs occurred in Dublin, while 83 per cent occurred within Ireland. A further 7.5 per cent took place in the rest of Europe. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week While weekend days of Friday, Saturday and Sunday continued to account for the largest proportion of incidents, their share decreased from 79 per cent in 2023 to 56 per cent last year. The report reveals that 35 per cent of people attending a SATU last year did so less than 24 hours after their experience of sexual violence with another 25 per cent seeking assistance between 24 and 72 hours. The overwhelming majority of incidents (82 per cent) occurred between 8pm and 8am. More than two-thirds occurred indoors with 22 per cent in the victim's home and 21 per cent in the assailant's home. Despite some lack of facilities, the report showed that 95 per cent of people were seen within three hours of a request for a forensic clinical examination – the highest rate ever and ahead of the target of 90 per cent. However, it also highlighted how a third of cases where there was a delay beyond three hours was due to a SATU being 'unavailable for use.' SATU national clinical lead, Maeve Eogan, said in most cases this generally meant a unit was unavailable because another case was in progress. Another 24 per cent of delays were due to the unavailability of a forensic clinical examiner and 21 per cent due to the absence of SATU support staff. 'These findings highlight the need for additional forensic suites and sufficient staffing, particularly in high-demand units,' said Prof Eogan. She added: 'It remains imperative that people can access responsive care in a timely fashion and that all aspects of society are aware of the prevalence and potential impacts of sexual violence, and the location and type of services available.' Just over half of all individuals (52 per cent) attending a SATU last year opted for a forensic clinical examination which is available to anyone aged 14 years or over who wants to make a complaint to An Garda Síochána about experiencing sexual violence which has occurred within the previous seven days. A quarter of people, who did not want to report the matter to gardaí, opted for a sexual health screen with no forensic samples taken while 13 per cent, who were undecided about notifying gardaí about what happened to them, chose a forensic clinical examination where forensic samples are securely stored for a period of up to 12 months. The report also highlighted how SATU staff continued outreach activity last year including attendance at a number of concerts and festivals. Prof Eogan said engagement and collaboration with communities was increasingly recognised as an important factor in creating awareness, reducing incidents, facilitating disclosure and provide a swift care response for those who have experienced sexual violence. 'Nobody ever 'wants' to attend a SATU and we never cease to be amazed by the strength that our service users display, despite the significance of the events they have experienced,' Prof Eogan remarked.
