Fine Gael Cork South Central TD, Jerry Buttimer, has said that reduced waiting times at Emergency Departments (EDs) in Cork is due to the dedication of frontline staff and reforms implemented by the Minister for Health, James Reilly, TD.
 
“The number of people waiting on trolleys in the Emergency Departments at CUH and Mercy Hospitals from 3rd to 25th January has dropped significantly from the same time last year.  Comparing this year’s figures with 2011, there were 235 fewer people waiting on trolleys between the two hospitals.
 
“The CUH had a reduction of 95 people or 16%, while the Mercy saw a reduction of 140 people or 59%.  These improvements are testament to the dedication and tremendous work done by frontline health staff in both hospitals.  It also shows that the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), set up by the Minister for Health James Reilly, TD, is achieving real results.
 
“The initial priorities of the SDU were to reduce waiting times in Emergency Departments and for scheduled care and also to improve access to diagnostics.  The SDU prepared a Winter Capacity Plan and invested over €4.8 million in opening intermediate care beds, purchasing Nursing Home places, providing additional home care packages and increasing out of hours diagnostic services.
 
“While these improvements are welcome there is a need to set new targets for the next twelve months. The Minister has said that the next set of targets will aim to ensure that 95% of people will be no longer than six hours on a trolley and that no-one should wait longer than nine months for elective treatment in hospitals. 
 
“At a time when funding is limited, improved and reformed health services can only be delivered by changing work practices.  So far, this has been possible because of dedication and commitment by frontline health staff.  The staff must be congratulated for their efforts; without their support the Minister and the HSE would not be able to deliver an improved health service.”

Posted under Carrigaline, Cork City, Douglas, Health, South Central, South East, South West

Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children Report
 
Tuesday, 24th January 2012
 
A ban on all retail advertising relating to the discounting of alcoholic products, a ban on the advertisement of alcoholic products on television before 9pm and a ban on the advertisement of alcohol products on social networking websites should be explored by the Government to help deal with the misuse of alcohol and drugs in Ireland, according to a new report by the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children.
 
The report, The misuse of alcohol and other drugs, which was published today also recommends that the Government end VAT refunds on below-cost sales of alcohol and that the Government prohibit the practice of retail deliveries of alcoholic products directly to consumers’ homes.
 
The majority of the members of the Committee support the introduction of minimum pricing in respect of alcoholic drinks in a forthcoming public health bill. However, there was a divergence of views within the committee on this matter with a minority supporting, as an alternative, an increase in either or both alcohol expenditure taxes (with the additional revenue generated being ring-fenced for preventative education and the provision of alcohol addiction services).
 
Other key recommendations are:

• That the Government consider how a programme of new, preventative, educational initiatives, aimed at the public in general, could be devised and implemented. The aim of this programme would be to highlight the implications and dangers of alcohol and drug misuse, and to influence the prevailing cultural attitudes, particularly in relation to the use of alcohol. 
•  That the Committee are extremely concerned about the proliferation of outlets which sell alcoholic products and the presentation of such products therein. The Committee recommends that legislation be introduced which would ban the presentation and sale of alcoholic products alongside groceries, confectionary and fuel. 
    
• Consider should also be given to outright ban on the sale of alcohol in certain outlets in the longer term.
• That legislation be introduced criminalising the importation of cannabis seeds.
   
• That the Misuse of Drugs legislation be amended to include stricter controls on the importation and prescribing of benzodiazepines. 
   
• That there be renewed emphasis on the implementation by the HSE of the four tier model as recommended by the National Drug Rehabilitation Implementation Committee (NDRIC), as well as on the aims and objectives of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016.
   
• That funding under the medical card should cover rehabilitation treatment for alcohol addiction.
   
• That youth work and peer support be considered by policymakers as an integral part of any strategy aiming to divert children away from substance misuse.  

Committee Chairman, Jerry Buttimer TD said: “The over-arching aim of this report is to highlight the prevalence of alcohol and other drugs in society and to emphasise the misuse of alcohol in particular, this being the most commonly used drug – what some have called the ‘national drug.’
 
The report hopes to bring about a change in attitudes towards the misuse of alcohol by illustrating the huge personal and economic costs caused by hazardous drinking.
 
It is the Committee’s belief that there is no single measure which will solve the problem of alcohol misuse. Rather, a package of measures is needed to change our attitudes towards, and behaviour regarding, the consumption of alcohol.
 
The Committee is aware that alcohol consumption per capita is an indicator for alcohol-related harm in any country. Noting the lower levels of total alcohol consumption per capita in 1960’s Ireland, the Committee wishes to see the implementation of measures which will bring about a significant reduction in the overall consumption of alcohol per capita in the coming years.”
 
The full report can be accessed by clicking on the following link:
 
http://bit.ly/yUYn5p
 
Access a clip of the Chairman introducing the report:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKx2w118V3Y&feature=youtu.be

Posted under Health, National Work

Chief executive of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), Dr Tracey Cooper, will attend the meeting of the Joint Committee on Health and Children on Thursday, 19th January at 11.30am in Committee Room 2, Leinster House.
 
Chairman of the Committee on Health and Children, Jerry Buttimer TD, said: “HIQA is attending the Health committee for the first time of this present Oireachtas. I am looking forward to listening to the presentation and engaging with the authority on its role, remit and work. It is important that we as a Health committee engage with HIQA as it plays a very important role as an independent authority reporting to the Minister in the Health system.
 
HIQA has a critical role to play in the health sector, ensuring the safe and effective delivery of health services. The meeting will facilitate dialogue which is essential to securing an understanding of the role of all bodies involved in the health system as the Government embarks on delivering a reformed health service.”

Posted under Health, National Work