‘News Room’

In welcoming the report from the Health Information and Quality Authority into the services provided to patients in the Emergency Department at Tallaght Hospital, Dr James Reilly, Minister for Health, offered his condolences to the family involved. The report results from an investigation following the death on a corridor of a patient awaiting admission in March 2011.

The Minister said “I want to offer my deepest sympathies to the family concerned. We must never forget that this report is first and foremost about patient safety and that it all began because of the death of a patient on a trolley in a corridor adjacent to the Emergency Department. I know that the loved ones involved will find this traumatic and that patients in all of our acute hospitals need the assurance that this matter is being dealt with in an effective way, that lessons have been learned and that Quality Assurance Systems are being put in place across the country” Read the rest of this entry »

Pictured: Jerry Flannery, former Irish rugby player and Minister for Health Dr James Reilly, T.D. pictured today at the launch of Back-Up by Aviva Health Insurance

Speaking at the launch of Back-Up at Aviva Stadium, Minister Reilly said,

 “I very much welcome this innovative case management initiative which provides advice on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation for neck and back pain.  It complements this Government’s policy of strengthening primary care services and ensuring that, to the greatest extent possible, care needs are met in the primary care setting.  Our aim is to provide up to 95% of health and social care services in local communities and this will be achieved by increasing activity in the primary care setting and redirecting health services away from acute hospitals to the community.  I am confident that this initiative can play a part in achieving this aim.”

16th May – Minister Reilly Speech at Aviva

• Read Aviva Press Release (word document) Back Up Press Release
• Listen to Minister Reilly doorstep at this event

Extension of deadline for receipt of the report of the Review Group on the National Paediatric Hospital

The Minister for Health Dr James Reilly has today (16th May 2012) agreed to an extension of the deadline for the receipt of the report of the Review Group on the National Paediatric Hospital.

The move follows a request from the Chairman of the group, Dr Frank Dolphin, seeking a 14 day extension. The group, which was established by the Government to review the decision of An Bord Pleanála to refuse permission for the hospital on the Mater Hospital site, had been due to report next week. Read the rest of this entry »