Latest news with #MacNeill
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Financially strained Brockton Hospital and its parent cut 80 jobs and service lines
Signature said its financial pains are tied not only to the massive fire that shut down Brockton Hospital for more than a year, but also to inadequate Medicaid and Medicare payments that 'have not kept pace with the rising cost of care delivery.' Nearly 80% of Signature's revenue is tied to the federal insurance programs for low-income or disabled adults and for those over 65. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The health care organization, which also owns a physician group, posted a $42 million operating loss in the first half of fiscal year 2025, according to the most recent state data. Brockton Hospital alone lost more than $34 million during that time. Advertisement 'These were extremely difficult decisions that were not made lightly,' Robert Haffey, president and CEO of Signature Healthcare, said in a statement. 'We are deeply grateful for the hard work and commitment of every member of our team.' Advertisement Haffrey's statement said the moves 'are necessary to ensure that we can continue delivering safe, high-quality, and compassionate care to the communities we serve.' Layoffs and unfilled job openings account for the workforce cuts, which did not include bedside positions, Signature vice president of marketing and development Beth MacNeill said. The cuts instead were directed at leadership and administrative positions. Signature will end its bariatric surgery services — a weight-loss procedure — in part because of the MacNeill said that, while Signature is monitoring the looming Medicaid cuts, which could cost Massachusetts providers $3.5 billion, they did not affect the decision to make these recent changes. 'We've been here almost 130 years and our goal is to be here for the long run,' MacNeill said. 'We recognize after the fire how much our community needs us and we need to make sure we're here for them.' Marin Wolf can be reached at
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish firm hires ‘seasoned international headhunter'
Livingston James said it has hired Dan MacNeill, a 'seasoned international headhunter with a background in electronics and deep tech', who joins as director to lead the firm's expansion in technology and advanced industry, both in Scotland and internationally. The firm's first half performance was 'significantly ahead of forecast', with record-breaking first quarter net fee income, which was up 21% year-on-year, continuing into the second quarter. Livingston James NFI is up 26% year on year for the first half of 2025. Mr MacNeill joins Livingston James having spent a successful period working for a London-based firm, where he worked with VC and PE-backed businesses on senior appointments across semiconductors, photonics, quantum, AI, and clean tech. READ MORE: Mr MacNeill, who will be based at the firm's Edinburgh office, said: 'Scotland is undergoing a quiet tech revolution. From Glasgow's semiconductor cluster to breakthroughs in space, quantum, and AI, there's real momentum – but scaling innovation requires leadership. 'Livingston James's extensive contacts and partnerships throughout the UK and overseas provide the perfect platform to connect world-class executive talent with Scotland's most ambitious companies, and to help those companies tell their story on the global stage.' Alistair Shaw, director at Livingston James, said: 'We're seeing rising demand from businesses developing cutting-edge technologies, and from Scottish firms expanding overseas. Dan brings deep knowledge of global tech markets and a sharp understanding of what it takes to scale. He'll be central to our continued growth in deep tech and industry. 'Every leadership brief we work on is touched by technology. From CMOs to CEOs, boards are asking how digital, AI, and innovation can drive performance. Dan's appointment signals our belief in Scotland's tech future – and our commitment to helping clients stay ahead of it.' Livingston James has also strengthened its research function with the appointment of Lauren Crichton, a University of St Andrews graduate with an MSc from the University of Glasgow. Her expertise in market mapping and data-led insight enhances the firm's commitment to robust, evidence-based search.
RTÉ News
25-06-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Hospital activity 'falls behind' investment
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is expected to tell the Select Committee on Health that activity in the health service is not keeping pace with investment. New hospital productivity data, to be discussed at the hearing, will indicate that over the past five years, investment in real expenditure in hospitals has risen by around 36% above inflation. This includes an average increase of 18% more staff. In her first appearance before the committee, Minister MacNeill will say that at the same time, activity in hospitals - inpatient care, day cases, outpatients and emergency department presentations - have increased by on average 12% over the same time period. "This shows that activity on average has fallen behind investment. This average also masks considerable variation in performance," she will say in her opening address. The new data is from the Productivity & Savings Task Force. Medical and health unions have repeatedly made the case that the service needs more beds and staff, that activity in specific hospitals is also affected by the age profile and population served, the specialties covered and referrals to major hospitals from smaller ones. Hospital overcrowding also means at times that planned operations must be cancelled due to beds being occupied by admissions, from emergency departments, which affects hospitals in terms of individual performance. Medical inflation - the specific rise in healthcare costs - is also different to general inflation. The new data to be presented today says that in the case of one major hospital - a Model 4 centre - it only saw a 3% increase in overall activity, from a 36% rise in workforce and a real expenditure increase of 42%. In contrast, another Model 4 hospital saw a 22% increase in overall activity from a 40% rise in the workforce and a 46% increase in real expenditure. Minister MacNeill will say that she has a higher expectation of performance in return for public investment and that the new data shows differences in performance across hospital sites, between specialties and within sites. But she will also note that in the last year, there has been a reduction in patients on waiting lists waiting over 12 months and a reduction in average waiting times, and that trolley numbers have reduced. The committee will hear that a recent IMF efficiency benchmarking review found that Ireland's health system is inefficient compared to other countries with good outcomes but high costs. It estimated that up to 15% of expenditure could be saved while maintaining life expectancy. The committee will discuss the spending plan for the health budget for this year of over €25 billion.
The Irish Sun
16-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Free HRT for women breakthrough as pharmacies agree new deal clearing way for scheme worth €840 for thousands to begin
PHARMACIES will start providing free hormone replacement therapy for women from next month. The move follows a breakthrough in talks between the Irish Pharmacy Union and 2 Women can get free hormone replacement therapy from next month Credit: Getty Images - Getty 2 Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said a deal has been struck Credit: © 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved Minister MacNeill today announced a deal had been struck after a row over the amount of Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is a treatment that involves taking hormones to address The IPU and the The impasse had centred on whether pharmacists should be paid a €6.50 dispensing fee in order to provide the service. READ MORE IN HEALTH But Ms MacNeill yesterday told how an agreement has now been reached that the dispensing fee will be €5 with further discussions on related costs. The Minister said: 'We've landed on €5. 'We gave a couple of options, one was €5 and the other was for pharmacies to charge whatever they chose to charge and I would give them a signing-up fee to do that. 'Everybody has had a chance to reflect on that.' Most read in Health The deal means the path has been cleared for the scheme to roll out on June 1. Ms MacNeill said: 'From 1 June women will be able to go in and get their HRT for free', adding that she hopes pharmacies sign up to the plan 'quickly so as to be ready for June to enable women to get their free HRT.' Drug could make women fertile for an extra 5 years and help them live longer IPU president Tom Murray welcomed the agreement, saying: 'Our main priority with the HRT scheme has been to ensure women receive the 'We are endorsing the scheme in good faith, backed by the broader commitments in this framework, including a review of the pharmacy fee structure.'
RTÉ News
16-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Pharmacies to provide free HRT for women from 1 June
Pharmacies will start providing free hormone replacement therapy for women from 1 June after an agreement with Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Minister MacNeill and the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) confirmed the development today, after a dispute over the amount of money pharmacies should be paid by the State for dispensing the service. Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is a treatment that involves taking hormones to address menopausal symptoms, and which can help to manage related health conditions. The IPU and the Government have been in discussions for a number of months over how to provide the service for free to women who wish to avail of it, with the issue being raised earlier this month at the IPU's annual conference attended by Minister MacNeill. Negotiations had centred on whether pharmacists should be paid a €6.50 dispensing fee in order to provide the service. However, Ms MacNeill told RTÉ News it has now been agreed that the dispensing fee will be €5 with further discussions on related costs. "We've landed on €5," Ms MacNeill said. "We gave a couple of options, one was €5 and the other was for pharmacies to charge whatever they chose to charge and I would give them a signing-up fee to do that. "Everybody has had a chance to reflect on that," she said. Ms MacNeill said the scheme means that "from 1 June women will be able to go in and get their HRT for free", adding that she hopes pharmacies sign up to the plan "quickly so as to be ready for June to enable women to get their free HRT". In a separate statement, IPU president Tom Murray said: "Our main priority with the HRT scheme has been to ensure women receive the medication they need without cost. "We are endorsing the scheme in good faith, backed by the broader commitments in this framework, including a review of the pharmacy fee structure." Women should be reimbursed for HRT spend - Soc Dems The Social Democrats' health spokesperson Pádraig Rice said that women "who have spent hundreds of euro on HRT already this year" should be reimbursed. "A firm commitment was given, by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, that free HRT would be rolled out for women from January this year. That commitment was breached," said Mr Rice. "Instead, the Health Minister has been unable to get an agreement, with the Irish Pharmacy Union, over the line until today. "While I welcome the fact that this deal has belatedly been reached, women who rely on HRT have already spent, on average, hundreds of euro on this vital medication this year. "If government promises are to mean anything, then this money should be reimbursed to all of those women," added Mr Rice.
