‘Featured’

The High Level eHealth Conference 2013 is an annual event co-organised by the European Commission and the Presidency targeting health ministries and government officials within health from Member States, Accession, Candidate and EFTA countries. This year’s Conference, which took place in the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) from 13th – 15th May,was hosted by the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union as part of International eHealth Week.The event attracted speakers, delegates and organisations from Ireland, United States, Canada and Europe and over 2,500 people attended over the course of the three days.The theme of this year’s event was “eHealth: Delivering Innovative Healthcare and Well-being” with a particular emphasis on the development of eHealth ecosystems in Europe.

• Photographs of An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, Minister James Reilly and Governor Deval Patrick at the eHealth Conference Dublin, 13-15 May 2013 are available on the following website: – www.stillwords.com/WoHIT2013/Press
• Further information is available at http://eu2013.ie/

Minister Announces Hospital Groups and Publishes The Framework for Smaller Hospitals

The Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly TD today (Tuesday, 14 May, 2013) announced a reorganisation of public hospitals into more efficient and accountable hospital groups that will deliver improved outcomes for patients.  This represents the most fundamental reform of the Irish acute hospital system in decades.

The Government’s decision regarding the establishment and operation of the new hospital groups was informed by two reports – ‘The Establishment of Hospital Groups as a Transition to Independent Hospital Trusts’, produced by an expert group led by Professor John Higgins following consultation with stakeholders, and ‘The Framework for Development – Securing the Future of Smaller Hospitals’.  Both reports were published today.  These reports fulfil important commitments in Future Health, the strategic framework for reform of the health service which was published last November.  Read the full press release

Listen to today’s presentation

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Minister Reilly spoke to MerrionStreet.ie after the announcement. Link to the video below…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vI-M7iT3xNI#!

Ms Kathleen Lynch TD, Minister of State for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People today (Tuesday 14 May 2013) formally launched National Standards for Residential Services for Children and Adults with Disabilities.

The standards outline what is expected of a provider of services and what a person with a disability, his or her family, and the public can expect to receive from residential care services.  They seek to ensure that vulnerable people with disabilities in residential services are safeguarded and protected, and their quality of life is enhanced. Read the rest of this entry »