Irish Hospital Mortality Index (IHMI) to be implemented - Under the new system, patient outcomes will be assessed based on the condition they were treated for, and the expected number of deaths for each hospital for each condition according to set norms will be compared to the actual number of deaths recorded.

http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=22195

The specific purpose of comparative hospital mortality patterns is to enable hospitals to use the data generated to prioritise areas for review and potential improvements so that the best outcomes are achieved.

The HSE intends that this data will be made publicly available once the system has been fully developed and its accuracy assured, allowing a period of time for the HSE to work with hospitals to ensure accuracy of data generated.  In order to arrive at accurate comparative mortality rates between institutions, confounding factors that might explain variations in death rates would first be taken into account.

These would include age of patients, medical card status, patient numbers, and whether patients had other conditions along with the condition being treated.

Meanwhile, a separate national audit of mortality following surgical procedures is expected to get underway by the end of this year.  The Irish Audit of Surgical Mortality will involve surgeons reviewing the outcomes of procedures undertaken by their colleagues.

http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsarchive/2012archive/may2012archive/clinicalauditoffice.html

It is not planned at this stage to make any data on hospitals' surgery performance publicly available under the surgery audit. The audit will, however, be able to identify poor performance among individual surgeons or units so that remedial or regulatory action can be taken where necessary.

The surgery audit is being run by the National Office of Clinical Audit at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, in cooperation with the HSE.

http://www.rcsi.ie/national-office-of-clinical-audit

Social Workers Register with CORU  (CORU is Ireland’s first multi profession health regulator) - Last Friday over 2,300 of the State’s 2,500 Social workers registered with CORU the body designated with the regulation of health and social care professions.  The new arrangements for Social Workers are the first step towards regulating 12 professions along the lines of similar systems in place for medicine and nursing.  Professions covered by the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 include; Clinical Biochemists, Dieticians, Medical Scientists, Occupational Therapists, Orothoptists, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Psychologists and Speech and Language Therapists. 

 http://www.coru.ie/media-events/press-releases/alias-153/

Stress Levels – The parents of children with autism have higher stress levels than parents of children without autism, or children who have other disabilities. That is according to preliminary data from a study by NUI Galway’s Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research (ICAN).
The research indicates cutbacks in services are having a real and measurable effect on parents’ wellbeing, as well as highlighting stress levels among parents of children with autism. The study shows that levels of stress among parents of children with autism are higher when those families have less access to services. Dr Geraldine Leader, Director of ICAN at NUI Galway, explained: “Our research is highlighting the negative impacts that cutbacks and inadequate service provision may have, not only on child outcomes, but also on the health and wellbeing of the parents.”
http://www.thejournal.ie/autism-ireland-936256-Jun2013/

Oireachtas Update 4th June 2013

The sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform will meet on Wednesday and Thursday of this week to discuss the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquires, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013.  Dáil Éireann is adjourned until 2 pm on Tuesday June 11 2013. The Seanad is adjourned sine die.

News

Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments)

(Amendment) Bill 2013 published

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has published the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013.  The Bill will enable an employee of a public service body to be redeployed to a comparable post in another public service body following designation by the Public Appointments Service (PAS).  The PAS will identify the most appropriate placement taking account of the competencies, qualifications, grade, pay, etc. of the person and the requirements of the post on offer.

Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement publishes annual

report 2012

The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) has published its Annual Report for 2012. The Report shows that during 2012, the ODCE submitted further investigation files to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) concerning alleged offences under both section 60 of the Companies Act 1963 and section 197 of the Companies Act 1990. These offences were related to certain events at the former Anglo Irish Bank on the basis of which the DPP directed that a total of 60 charges be preferred against a number of individuals.  These issues subsequently moved to the courts and the Office worked to support the DPP in discharging its disclosure obligations to those persons against whom legal proceedings are pending. This work, according to Ian Drennan, Director of Public Prosecutions, is “likely to be a significant and continuing feature of the Office’s work for some time to come.”

Dates for your diary

Autism Conference highlighting practical solution for parents with emphasis on the latest evidence based approach to diagnosis, management and services for adults.

The Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research
National University of Ireland, Galway

2nd International conference on Autism Spectrum Disorders: From Research to Practice
June 11-12, 2013

Reachout.com is a service dedicated to taking the mystery out of mental health and to help young people to get through tough times and is run by the Inspire Ireland Foundation.  Reachout.com are calling all aspiring young film makers and or animators to make a film or animation that is under two minutes long demonstrating ways to get through a tough time in one's life.  The project is called “inspire a generation”.

http://ie.reachout.com/

Closing Date 8^th July!

Oireachtas Update 27th May 2013

In the Dáil this week, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013 will be discussed at second and remaining stages. In the Seanad, there will be a discussion on EU - US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. MEP Paul Murphy will speak on the topic. The Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform will meet with Ms Josephine Feehily, Chairman of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners to discuss the ongoing property tax collection.

As a consequence of the European Court of Justice ruling, Ireland can no longer set a mandatory level below which cigarette prices cannot be lowered as this would be restricting the freedom of industry to make effective use of competitive advantage.  Therefore, the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2013 will be discussed in the Seanad – Second Stage on Wednesday 29^th May 3pm - 4.30pm by Minister for Health spokesperson Senator Colm Burke.

Government approval for plain cigarette packaging In advance of No Tobacco Day on Friday 31^st May, the Minister for Health James Reilly has announced that Ireland is to become the second country in the world to introduce plain packets of cigarettes, after Australia.  Minister Reilly said he was “confident that this legislation will be justified and supported purely by the fact that it will save lives”.  The plain packs will have no branding, such as trademarks, logos, colours and graphics.  A uniform typeface will be used for all brands and the packs be in one plain, neutral colour. 

Evidence suggests that standardised packaging will: Increase the effectiveness of health warnings; reduce false health beliefs about cigarettes; and reduce brand appeal particularly among youth and young adults.

The Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Heart Foundation have welcomed today’s Government announcement that Ireland will become one of the first countries in the world to ban branding from cigarette packaging.

Holles Street Hospital to be relocated to St. Vincent’s Hospital The relocation of Holles Street Hospital, which is housed in an outdated building and has suffered from severe pressure on its space for many years, was announced by Minister Reilly.  Co-location of maternity hospitals with adult acute services is the optimal solution for the provision of hospital-based maternity services, as it can provide access to the full range of medical and surgical specialties and clinical support services in sufficient volume and complexity to provide added value.  The new maternity hospital on the St Vincent's site will be designed to accommodate up to 10,000 births per annum. It will be located beside the main St Vincent's general hospital building.  A total of €150 million has been allocated for the relocation project,

Patient Safety Conference in Dublin Watch Live

The 3rd National Patient Safety Conference is taking place on Friday 24th May 2013 in the Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin 3.

 Watch the livestream for free here:

http://new.livestream.com/accounts/1086204/PatientSafety

The Irish Institute of Mental Health Nursing is pleased to announce its 4^th Annual Symposium:

'Recovery and Mental Health in Ireland: The State of Play',

6 June 2013 in the Douglas Hyde Lecture Theatre, Main Building, Athlone Institute of Technology.

http://www.pna.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=551:the-fourth-symposium-of-the-irish-association-of-mental-health-nursing&catid=53:events&Itemid=161

Health Film Festival the National Centre for Arts and Health at Tallaght Hospital and Rua Red will stage a special festival of health films titled “through the lens” aimed at health professionals, film makers, the public and service users interested in the perceptions of older age as represented oin film

http://www.amnch.ie/Departments-Clinics/Departments-A-Z/Arts-National-Centre-for-Arts-and-Health-/

Public Hearings on the Heads of Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013:

THE OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE on Health and Children are currently in session for three days of public hearings on the government’s proposed new legislation on abortion, following its publication of the heads of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013.  The debate in relation to the Bill has crystallised around one issue, the threat to the mother’s life where there is a risk of suicide.  Leading psychiatrists at the Public Hearings have been voicing opposing views to the inclusion of the suicide clause to the Bill.  There was a deep divide in the stance of the 13 psychiatrists that reported to the committee yesterday.  Some acknowledged that although suicide is a very small risk it is a “real” risk, others see their role as merely assessing a woman’s eligibility for termination, while others are concerned about the “normalising suicidality” in legislation, a further group expressed that termination can never be a treatment for suicidality while others are concerned that psychiatrists might become “gatekeepers to abortion”.  Legal Hearings on the Heads of Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 are being held today: