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1 month ago | 
medicalindependent.ie | David Lynch |Bette Browne |Catherine Reilly |Pat Kelly
The use of AI in Irish healthcare is growing, raising important questions about regulation and oversight. David Lynch reportsThe coming months will see important developments in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Irish healthcare. The HSE is developing an “implementation framework” to ensure that AI systems are used “ethically, legally, safely, and effectively”.
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1 month ago | 
medicalindependent.ie | Pat Kelly |Priscilla Lynch |David Lynch |Alan Moran
Poster winnersThe two winners in the poster category were Dr Ruth Kieran, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, and Dr Rachel Dillon, St James’s Hospital, Dublin. The title of Dr Kieran’s poster was ‘Identification of new drug development and repurposing targets for phosphorylated HER2-overexpressing cancers’.
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1 month ago | 
medicalindependent.ie | Bette Browne |Catherine Reilly |David Lynch |Pat Kelly
Illustration: Laura Kenny.
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1 month ago | 
medicalindependent.ie | David Lynch |- Pat Kelly |- David Lynch |Pat Kelly
istock.com/Natalya Kosarevich The issue of consultant productivity is receiving increasing political focus. David Lynch reports If you created a word-cloud to represent the discussion and debate within Irish healthcare over recent months, “productivity” would certainly stand out – large and bold. The term is referenced across the pages of the HSE National Service Plan (NSP) 2025 and has been on the agenda of HSE and Department of Health meetings. For instance, minutes from the Sláintecare...
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1 month ago | 
medicalindependent.ie | Niamh Cahill |Catherine Reilly |Pat Kelly |David Lynch
HIQA is conducting a health technology assessment (HTA) of teledermatology for triaging primary care referrals, the Medical Independent has learned. The Authority was requested by the HSE to undertake a HTA to establish the clinical benefits and economic impact of teledermatology for adult and paediatric patients. HIQA’s board approved the scope and terms of reference in October 2024. The assessment, which will include a public consultation process, is due to be completed by the end of 2025.
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1 month ago | 
medicalindependent.ie | Pat Kelly |- David Lynch |David Lynch |Catherine Reilly
An expert taskforce has laid the groundwork for the expansion of pharmacy services. Pat Kelly examines the practicalities for pharmacists, doctors, and for patient careIn August 2024, the Department of Health released the Final Report from the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy. It contained a range of recommendations aimed at improving access to care in “the evolving healthcare landscape”. The expert taskforce was established in 2023.
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1 month ago | 
medicalindependent.ie | David Lynch |Catherine Reilly |Pat Kelly
There are no plans at “the present time” to recruit a new Chief Bioethics Officer (CBO) at the Department of Health, this newspaper has been told. The post has remained unfilled since September 2022, when the former CBO Dr Siobhán O’Sullivan left the role. Dr O’Sullivan was the CBO from 2011 until September 2022.
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1 month ago | 
medicalindependent.ie | Pat Kelly |Catherine Reilly |David Lynch
The IMO remains firmly opposed to plans for pharmacist prescribing, citing ‘conflicts of interest’ among its concerns. In August 2024, an expert taskforce recommended the implementation of pharmacist prescribing. The taskforce was convened by the Department of Health in 2023 to advise on expanding the remit of pharmacists. Pharmacist prescribing would begin within a “common conditions service”.
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1 month ago | 
medicalindependent.ie | Catherine Reilly |Pat Kelly |David Lynch
Intern “leave principles” are currently being reviewed by the medical intern board following the HSE’s restructuring. The principles will support medical schools and intern networks in the management of intern leave, according to a HSE spokesperson. All HSE interns hold the NCHD contract and receive its full terms and conditions, including sick leave and maternity leave entitlements, saidthe spokesperson.
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1 month ago | 
medicalindependent.ie | David Lynch |Catherine Reilly |Pat Kelly
The HSE’s international relocation package was recently “reviewed and updated”, with a particular aim of alerting Irish-trained graduates living abroad, this newspaper has been told. The update did not involve any changes to the funding available through the relocation package. The HSE offers a relocation package to assist candidates to meet the initial costs of relocating from abroad. The accommodation allowance covers a maximum of three months (91 days) after relocation to Ireland.
