Blog

Consultant rostering and productivity under the microscope

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) position is that no patient should be on a waiting list for more than six weeks. This objective is “realistic when looking at other EU countries”.

“To achieve this, the very obvious shortages of hospital beds, theatres, diagnostic, and other facilities across the country need to be addressed, together with filling the hundreds of consultant posts that are vacant or filled on a temporary basis.

@mccarthymt7 “I think there is a big gap between the department of health and in-real-time hospital operations.

Consultants cannot deliver all of the activities that are necessary for efficient patient care. It is necessarily a multidisciplinary effort. If someone from the department could come and spend a day with me, then maybe they might get some clearer ideas on how to enhance productivity in a meaningful way.“

Consultant rostering and productivity under the microscope

Lynch Syndrome News

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time when healthcare professionals emphasize the importance of regular screenings for early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer. Recent studies have shown an increase in colorectal cancer cases among individuals under 50, making awareness and early detection even more critical.

https://www.facebook.com/share/16CNb4nfzA/?mibextid=wwXIfr

New Approaches to Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment in Lynch Syndrome and Beyond

Case Conference, during which Matt Yurgelun, MD (@MattYurgelun) from @DanaFarber discusses new approaches to hereditary colorectal cancer risk assessment.

HSE Health App

This innovative tool empowers patients by providing easy access to their health information and will become the digital front door for patients in the coming months and years to navigate and access the health service.

Easily accessible health information that is accurate and trustworthy. The phased introduction of appointment notifications and reminders will make it easier for people to manage their care.

The first release includes functionality that allows people to:

  • carry a digital list of self-declared medications and see a list of medicines received through the Drugs Payment Scheme or Medical Card Scheme
  • store your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), medical card, Long-term Illness card (LTI), Drugs Payment Scheme card (DPS) and GP Visit card
  • access ‘flu and COVID-19 vaccination records
  • easily find information about HSE services, such as Emergency Departments and Injury Units
  • view maternity service appointments (for expectant mothers)

Further planned releases over 2025 will allow people to:

  • access public hospital and screening appointments information for public patients
  • check referrals and waiting times information
  • receive additional self-care information and support services including smoking cessation and chronic disease management

People will need to ensure that they have a MyGov Identification. This is required to ensure that the HSE Health App has the highest level of authentication and security. If people do not have a MyGov Identity, then this can be received on the MyGovID website.

You can download the Free HSE Health App from the App Store or Google Play .

Lynch syndrome- Georgia

Fighting against misinformation and watching science be dismissed is draining.

Social media, once a tool for connection, has become a battleground—especially platforms like Twitter (now X) and Facebook, where conspiracy theories and political toxicity overshadow genuine efforts to help.

https://open.substack.com/pub/lynchsyndromenews/p/lynch-syndrome?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

GeNotes

The new Gastro-Hepatology collection joins existing specialties such as endocrinology, oncology and neurology, and has been developed by leading experts in gastroenterology and hepatology, including Dr Kevin Monahan, Professor Guruprasad P Aithal and Dr Robert Scott. This collection aims to meet a wide spectrum of genomics education needed for these specialist communities – from when and how to order genomic testing for a patient with a family history suggestive of Lynch syndrome to the underlying genomics at play in hereditary pancreatitis.

https://www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/news/new-in-genotes-gastro-hepatology/

https://www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/genotes/in-the-clinic/presentation-patient-with-a-family-history-suggestive-of-lynch-syndrome/

Reforms needed to get quicker access to new medicines, says IPHA

The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) has said that patients in Ireland could get access to new medicines a year earlier, if there were reforms here.

The new Programme for Government said the coalition is committed to ensuring that patients have access to news medicines as quickly as possible.

The IPHA has said it is clear that the system for covering new medicines needs to be funded, governed and designed to operate within the legal 180-days timeline set by the Oireachtas.

Meanwhile, a new four-year Framework Agreement on the pricing and supply of medicines between the State and IPHA is due to be negotiated this year.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/0226/1498941-ipha-medicines/

Interesting discussion on the “human cost” of delayed approval….

“System not very transparent”

“Strategically a commercial process”

“Difficult conversations on a daily basis”

https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/today-with-claire-byrne/2025/0226/1499089-today-with-claire-byrne-wednesday-26-february-2025//

IPPOSI Citizens’ Jury report on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare

Read the #IPPOSI Citizens’ Jury report on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare- 25 recommendations calling for regulation, public interest champions, ongoing engagement, and more.

This report reflects the outputs from the 2024 IPPOSI citizens’ jury process and it has been compiled by the IPPOSI project team.

Click to access Citizens-Jury-Verdict-Report-21.02.25.pdf