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Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
NTPF to face Public Accounts Committee over CHI oversight and funding concerns
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) must appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to answer questions about its oversight arrangements, a PAC member has said. Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly has written to the committee's chair, calling for the NTPF to be added to its programme for this term. "The budget of the NTPF has increased exponentially in recent years and now stands at more than €220m this year alone," said Mr Farrelly. "However, recent scandals at Children's Health Ireland (CHI) have raised serious concerns about the NTPF's oversight of the allocation of public money for insourcing treatment." He added that the NTPF's decision to suspend all funding for insourcing at CHI suggests a lack of confidence in existing monitoring systems. While it is welcome that the NTPF has begun reviewing its operations at CHI, The Kildare TD said the results must be brought before PAC and thoroughly examined. "It must also provide assurances that the problems identified in insourcing at CHI are neither replicated across the country nor repeated when it comes to outsourcing treatment." Labour TD Marie Sherlock said she is deeply concerned that what is happening with CHI waiting lists is 'highly likely' to be occurring elsewhere in the health service. "It is abundantly clear that patient safety has taken a backseat across the health service," said Ms Sherlock. "I am deeply concerned that what is happening at CHI represents but a microcosm of the scale of abuses across the health sector. With more questions than answers, we need to hear in detail from the board of CHI, the minister and the CEO of the HSE." Labour TD Marie Sherlock said she is deeply concerned that what is happening with CHI waiting lists is 'highly likely' to be occurring elsewhere in the health service. Picture: SAM BOAL/Collins Photos Referring to the allegations involving an individual consultant, she warned that "the rights of one individual simply cannot trump patient safety". The Labour health spokesperson said extracts of CHI's internal review paint a "damning picture of a broken culture", and urged that the full report be published to provide transparency for affected families. On Wednesday, health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked parents for patience, saying: 'Sit with me just for a week or 10 days' to allow the NTPF to complete its work. "The NTPF has already assured that existing surgery scheduled will not be impacted but our concern is we need to make sure that this isn't happening anywhere else in the system," she said. Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked parents for patience, saying: 'Sit with me just for a week or 10 days' to allow the NTPF to complete its work. Ms Carroll MacNeill also revealed that the NTPF only recently became aware that no referral had been made to the National Patient Safety Office, nor had any notification been sent to the department of health. "Let's not underestimate the impact of that, nor was there a referral to the department or a notification to any of us. So that's not a satisfactory way of managing that, and I expect that to be very, very different," Ms Carroll MacNeill told RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland. She stressed the need for the NTPF to prevent cases where children wait so long that they end up on the NTPF list unnecessarily, missing earlier opportunities for surgical intervention. "That is the bigger issue and that is what raises such particular concerns around the issues in this report but it also raises the broader patient safety concerns and what we need to do is make sure that that is happening in the most productive way in the public system in every discipline," said Ms Carroll MacNeill. The minister added that, alongside the audit, there will be a move towards a centralised referral system. Under the proposed change, children referred for surgery would be added to a central list rather than being assigned to a specific consultant, improving transparency and equity. Read More Ireland does not satisfy international standard for election observation, group claims
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
More than half of funded staff posts in endometriosis clinics unfilled, new figures show
More than half of the staff posts funded in clinics for endometriosis , a debilitating gynaecological condition , are currently unfilled, new figures show. Endometriosis is a chronic disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It affects about 10 per cent of women and girls of reproductive age globally. There is currently no cure for endometriosis and treatment is usually aimed at controlling symptoms, which include severe, life-affecting pain during periods, sexual intercourse, bowel movements and/or urination. It can also cause chronic pelvic pain, abdominal bloating, nausea, fatigue, and sometimes depression, anxiety, and infertility. The Government has established two supra-regional endometriosis centres at Tallaght University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), supported by regional endometriosis hubs in each of the six maternity networks. READ MORE According to staffing data obtained by Labour's health spokeswoman Marie Sherlock in response to a parliamentary question, of the 50.2 whole-time equivalents funded for these clinics, 24.6 of these roles are filled. Tallaght has the highest staffing numbers, with 11.6 funded posts, of which 9.6 are filled. In CUMH, there are 12.6 funded posts, of which three are currently filled. The National Maternity Hospital in Dublin has five funded posts, none of which are filled. Three of the five posts in both the Rotunda Hospital and University Hospital Galway are filled. The Coombe has staff in four of the six posts, while University Maternity Hospital Limerick has two of the five posts filled. Ms Sherlock said it takes women 'an average of seven years to receive a diagnosis' of endometriosis, describing the situations as 'utterly unacceptable'. 'In the meantime, women are left to suffer with debilitating pain, chronic fatigue, damage to internal organs, and fertility issues. The cost of this delay is enormous,' Ms Sherlock said. She said the revelation that only half of the hubs are properly staffed raises serious questions about the Government's commitment. 'How can these services be expected to deliver for women if they are not even adequately resourced?' she asked. A Health Service Executive (HSE) spokeswoman said funded posts include a range of consultants across various specialities, women's health physiotherapists, dietitians, psychologists, specialist nursing staff and healthcare assistants. 'Recruitment of the posts funded across services is ongoing to further develop endometriosis specialist services,' the spokeswoman said. 'It is not possible for the HSE to provide a definitive date as to when all posts will be filled given the nature of recruitment processes including availability of required skilled personnel in the employment market, [the] suite of employment checks that must be undertaken pre appointment, including Garda clearance, professional and academic qualification verification and reference checks, and leave notification of successful candidates to existing employers.' In March 2023, the department announced the development of the National Endometriosis Framework. The HSE said publication of the framework is pending further engagement with the Irish Medical Organisation on the role played by GPs in implementing the model of care.
Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Parents take issue with calls to hip dysplasia surgery helpline being recorded
The issue emerged as a concern among parents who were part of an online meeting at the weekend organised by Scoliosis Advocacy Network and Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group. Around 200 calls were received by the helpline over the weekend after the audit report by a British surgeon highlighted concern about the high level of potentially unnecessary hip dysplasia surgeries in Temple Street Hospital and Cappagh Hospital. The HSE records calls to enable monitoring and quality assurance and to help with appropriate support to improve the overall service. But parents who may be taking legal action say they are cautious about being recorded. Over 2,200 parents are to be invited to have their child medically reviewed over the next six months. Some 147 children who had the surgery, involving 14 surgeons between 2021 and 2023 across three hospitals, including Crumlin Hospital, were audited. The advocacy groups are still unclear if the parents whose children were part of the audit have been contacted and those whose surgery may not have been necessary have been notified. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she will bring the terms of reference for the establishment of an expert panel to review the cases in the report to the Cabinet next week. The revelations strengthen the call by the advocacy groups for a strong inquiry into Children's Health Ireland (CHI) to examine how it was run and its management of areas such as waiting lists. Labour spokeswoman on health, Marie Sherlock said, 'it's crucial that there will now be enhanced operational oversight of CHI by the HSE ... The minister must compel CHI to stop the appalling drip-feed of revelations, ensure all inquiries into wrongdoing are published, ensure full operational oversight by the HSE of CHI and move to appoint a Scally review type of inquiry into how overall systems can be improved across CHI.'
Irish Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Sinn Féin failed to build required bridges with left parties before last election, McDonald says
Sinn Féin failed to build the sort of alliances it should have done across the political left in the lead-up to the last general election, party leader Mary Lou McDonald has said. She said she had learned from last November's experience and was aware of the growing need for left-leaning Opposition parties to work together more closely. Speaking at the trade union-organised Robert Tressell Festival on Saturday in Liberty Hall, Dublin , Ms McDonald said she was proud of Sinn Féin's achievements but also 'conscious of our shortcomings'. 'I will say very, very openly that in the last election, as kind of the larger party [of the left] going in and emerging from it, it became apparent to me we had fallen down in respect of building those collaborative relationships more strongly and I'm not going to make that mistake again,' she said. READ MORE 'I don't we think we have the luxury any more of looking at our own peculiarities or the tyranny of small differences, tactical differences or even substantive differences. I think we are facing a real challenge now and we have to decide: 'Are we up for this?'.' Ms McDonald was taking part in a panel discussion with Labour TD Marie Sherlock , Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney and People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger. She said Sinn Féin accepted that in order to make a difference to the people who vote for the party, 'we are going to have to coalesce'. [ Sinn Féin's US fundraising arm raises further €233,000 in donations Opens in new window ] Ms Sherlock described the last general election as 'an own goal' for the left parties but said there was 'enormous potential for us all to paint a picture of a credible, working alternative'. 'But the political will has to be there and if we are going to do it, we have to do it as equals,' she said. Labour TD Marie Sherlock. Photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins Ms Sherlock said there had been greater co-operation between the parties in the new Dáil, but she suggested it was not enough if the Government parties were to be challenged and the ideas of the far right effectively countered. Ms Gibney acknowledged there were people in her party, and others, who would baulk at greater collaboration with specific individuals or their parties, but said they needed to work together to offer 'a real alternative'. She said there was evidence of progress being made – noting that her election in Dublin Rathdown was aided by transfers from Sinn Féin and other left candidates – 'but we can't be in denial about the challenges involved, we are all also competing for the same votes'. Ms Gibney said any future alliance would have to challenge the idea Ireland could have 'low or absolutely no tax on multinational corporations'. Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Photograph: Sam Boal/Collins 'I think the huge issue in Ireland has been about coalition and the fact the parties of the left, the parties that would claim to be of the left, that have gone into coalition with Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael , have invariable gotten eaten up,' she said. 'We saw the Green Party getting absolutely destroyed in the last government so I think people do want to know where you stand on that and I do think ruling out coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael would be a good start.'
Extra.ie
22-05-2025
- Health
- Extra.ie
Government accused of ‘betrayal' of women as IVF scheme expansion delayed
The Government has been accused of another 'betrayal' of women as the expansion of the free IVF scheme has been delayed indefinitely. In last October's budget, plans were announced to expand the free IVF measure to couples who already have children as part of a 'women's health scheme'. Seven months on, the scheme is no closer to taking effect, and couples have been taking part in a 'gruelling' application process that can take six months, only to be told they are not yet eligible. Pic: Getty Images The Department of Health told it could not provide a date for when the scheme would be up and running. However, has learned that the department is still in discussions with the HSE and other stakeholders to 'iron out any kinks' that may arise from its implementation. The 'women's health scheme' also included promises of free hormone replacement therapy (HRT), used to treat menopause, but this was also shrouded in controversy, with women having to foot the cost of the medication until June 1. Opposition TDs have now criticised the Department of Health for once again 'making promises first and working out the details later'. Senior Government sources have also criticised the delays, saying the legislation to expand the scheme should have been 'a quick fix'. Labour's health spokeswoman Marie Sherlock. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos Labour's health spokeswoman Marie Sherlock said the failure to follow through on budget promises to reform women's health care 'smacks of tokenism'. She said including couples with children and those requiring donor assistance 'should be straightforward' from a legal perspective. The TD described the expansion of the scheme as 'another commitment in Budget 2025 that has fallen off the wagon', referencing the botched 'free' HRT rollout. 'The Government seems to have a habit of making promises first and working out the details later, and it is just not fair,' she said. 'This is the second instance where this has happened in policies for women's healthcare. The failure to follow through on these promises smacks of tokenism.' Ms Sherlock acknowledged that there is an onus on the Coalition to 'get it right' when it comes to legislation. Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos 'But we cannot keep having instances where things are dragging on indeterminately,' she said. Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane said that the 'failure to follow through on budget announcements' is 'a betrayal of promises and [is] happening too often'. Mr Cullinane highlighted thousands of children born through surrogacy who are awaiting formal retrospective recognition of their parentage in Ireland, but who have not yet received it due to complexities in the Assisted Human Reproduction Act 2024. 'We have seen numerous examples where policy commitments are being made without the i's crossed and the t's dotted. Here we go again with IVF,' he said. Government TDs have also called for Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to review what is causing delays in the expansion of the scheme. Fianna Fáil backbencher Catherine Ardagh. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos Fianna Fáil backbencher Catherine Ardagh has previously disclosed the 'emotional struggle' of going through five rounds of IVF before giving birth to twin boys. Ms Ardagh said that she is frequently contacted by couples who are hoping to qualify for the State scheme, adding that IVF should be viewed as 'general healthcare'. She told 'When this was first introduced, there were stringent obstacles to qualify – but it was very much described as a starting point with further expansion promised. 'I would like to see this measure reviewed so we can understand what is causing the delay and how to fix it.' In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a fertility treatment used for couples struggling to conceive naturally. One round of IVF can cost up to €10,000, with couples often requiring multiple rounds before conception is achieved. Pic: Getty Images Former health minister Stephen Donnelly announced the State's first publicly funded IVF scheme in 2023, which included rigid eligibility criteria and allowed for one single state-subsidised round of the treatment. Among these was the requirement for women to be below the age of 40, to have a specific BMI (body mass index) and to have been with their partner for more than one year. Medical practitioners took particular issue with the 'existing child' limit, whereby couples who already had a child together could not qualify for the scheme. Following criticism, Mr Donnelly confirmed in last October's budget that he would expand the IVF scheme to include couples with children, in addition to couples requiring egg or sperm donations. While no deadline was set for this measure, an additional € 35 million was allocated for the expansion of the IVF scheme and free HRT medication. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/ Mr Donnelly previously told the Dáil that an estimated € 20 million would be allocated towards the HRT provision. Ms Carroll MacNeill told the Dáil in February that the publicly funded IVF scheme has been 'very successful overall', with 1,900 couples being referred for fertility treatments as of February 21. But she said that the access to the scheme is 'being kept under ongoing review' and requires 'further extensive consultation'. Like the HRT scheme, which will now be rolled out on June 1, the expansion of the free IVF scheme was championed by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael during the election campaign. When asked what is causing the delay to the expansion of the IVF scheme, a spokesman for the Department of Health said that 'access criteria and the scheme are being kept under ongoing review', adding: 'Decisions in respect of any proposed changes to the access criteria or the scheme more broadly, require further extensive consultation between department officials, colleagues in the HSE and with relevant specialists in the field of reproductive medicine. 'Couples with at least one existing child in their current relationship are currently not eligible to avail of publicly funded AHR [assisted human reproduction] treatment,' he said. A well-placed source said discussions between the department and stakeholders remain 'active' but could not disclose when the scheme may be implemented.
