Despite the alarming numbers, the report shows a significant improvement compared to November 2023, when 804 patients faced similar delays at Sligo University Hospital. This marks a reduction in overcrowding by 178 patients year-on-year.

In contrast, Letterkenny University Hospital saw an increase in overcrowding. The November 2024 figures reveal that 401 patients waited for a bed, compared to 341 during the same period last year.

Nationally, over 10,561 patients were treated without a bed across Irish hospitals in November, highlighting a persistent issue of overcrowding in the healthcare system.

The INMO has renewed its call for urgent action, emphasizing the need to lift recruitment caps and implement the government’s safe staffing framework to address the growing crisis. The organization warns that without these measures, overcrowding will continue to compromise patient care and hospital efficiency.

Despite the conclusion of the investigation into her death two months ago, led by former Chief Justice Frank Clarke, the Johnston family is deeply dissatisfied. They allege that the Health Service Executive (HSE) has once again let them down by providing a report they consider “utterly superficial”. Their solicitor, Damien Tansey, voiced these concerns on RTÉ’s Drivetime, suggesting significant limitations were placed on Justice Clarke, impeding his ability to fully ascertain the facts or make conclusive findings.

The family’s grievances are twofold: the substandard care Aoife received at what is deemed a regional excellence center and the perceived shortcomings of the Clarke investigation. They anticipated that the investigation would address discrepancies and make definitive adverse findings. In a bold move, they’ve threatened to publicly release the report themselves unless the HSE takes immediate action to disclose it without redactions.

The call for transparency has been echoed by the Irish Hospital Consultants’ Association, advocating for the report’s publication to facilitate further processes, whether legal or procedural. This insistence comes amid whispers of possible disciplinary actions against senior figures at the University of Limerick Hospital Group, a prospect that solicitor Tansey insists should not prevent the report’s release.

Amidst this turmoil, both Taoiseach Simon Harris and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly have been apprised of the ongoing situation, having previously met with Aoife’s parents and expressed concern over her case, which continues to resonate with the public.

The HSE and the University of Limerick Hospital Group have publicly apologized to Aoife’s family, expressing deep regret for the circumstances leading to her untimely death. HSE CEO Bernard Gloster has communicated a commitment to publish the Clarke report in a “responsible and lawful format” later this month, considering the privacy and sensitivity of the data involved.

While the HSE urges restraint in the report’s premature release, promising ongoing dialogue, the Johnston family remains steadfast in their demand for immediate action, reflecting a broader call for accountability and transparency within the healthcare system.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to digitize health records across the nation, a move currently in practice at four Irish maternity hospitals and another regional hospital utilizing its own system. The new app will integrate functionalities allowing patients to schedule and manage their appointments, access a trove of reliable health information, and seamlessly connect with public health services.

One of the app’s groundbreaking features will be the digital integration of European Health Insurance Cards and medication details, initially available to medical card holders, with a particular focus on women and maternity services. This aligns with the existing use of electronic health records in these areas.

In a recent announcement, McCallion highlighted the successful completion of the app’s testing phase during the summer, promising a nationwide launch. Patients will access the app using a MyGov ID, beginning with its first phase at the year’s end.

The HSE is also enhancing connectivity within its premises. By the end of next year, free Wi-Fi will be accessible at all HSE locations for both staff and patients, supporting the ongoing digital transformation efforts. This development follows the significant cybersecurity investments post the 2021 cyberattack, ensuring robust security measures for the new app.

Furthermore, the HSE is developing an “individual health identifier” for each patient, which will link to internal records such as charts and blood results. This identifier is set to be promoted next year, facilitating better patient identification and record management across the healthcare system.

This comprehensive digital upgrade, slated for completion by the end of 2025, will encompass both hospitals and community sites, marking a new era of digital healthcare in Ireland.

The recruitment freeze, which affected most HSE grades except for consultants, doctors in training, and 2023 graduate nurses and midwives, was implemented to manage the HSE’s significant budgetary pressures. The freeze was extended to include agency staff and junior doctors, further complicating the staffing situation.

With the lifting of the freeze, the HSE plans to advertise 2,350 new jobs this year. However, the new control mechanism means that only ten managers will have the authority to approve the addition of new staff to the payroll system. This measure aims to ensure tighter control over recruitment and prevent budget overruns.

Health unions have expressed concerns about the impact of the recruitment freeze and the new control measures on patient safety. They warn that the freeze has led to increased workloads for existing staff, potentially compromising patient care. Unions have also criticized the lack of consultation and the perceived targeting of management and administrative grades.

The HSE’s Chief Executive, Bernard Gloster, acknowledged the challenges posed by the rapid increase in staff numbers since December 2019, which saw a net growth of over 31% in managerial posts. This growth contributed to the HSE’s estimated budget overrun of €1.5 billion this year.

In response to these financial challenges, the government has allocated an additional €1.5 billion to the HSE for this year, with a further €1.2 billion planned for 2025. This funding is intended to secure the 4,000 posts that were previously unfunded and support the overall stability of the health service.

The decision to lift the recruitment freeze and implement new control mechanisms is expected to alleviate some of the pressures on the health service and improve patient care. However, the HSE will need to navigate the challenges of managing its budget while meeting the growing demand for healthcare services.

The recruitment freeze was introduced by the HSE in October last year. It was extended in November to include all categories of staff, with the exception of consultants, doctors in training and 2023 graduate nurses and midwives.

Bernard Gloster, the former Chief Executive of Tusla, has been appointed as the new CEO of the Health Service Executive (HSE). His appointment follows an open selection process and he is expected to bring his extensive experience in health services to the role. Gloster has over 30 years of experience in the health sector, having held several senior management positions, including Chief Officer of HSE Mid West Community Healthcare.

Gloster’s appointment comes at a crucial time for the HSE, which has been navigating significant challenges and changes. The HSE Board Chairperson, Ciarán Devane, expressed confidence in Gloster’s ability to lead the organization through this period of transformation. Devane highlighted Gloster’s track record and commitment to public service as invaluable assets for the HSE.

In his new role, Gloster will be responsible for overseeing the HSE’s operations and implementing health reforms aimed at improving service delivery and patient care. He has expressed his commitment to working with the HSE Board, colleagues, and partners across the health system to drive continuous improvement in how people access and experience health services.

One of the immediate challenges Gloster faces is addressing the HSE’s recruitment issues. The HSE had implemented a recruitment freeze in October last year, which was later extended to include all categories of staff except consultants, doctors in training, and 2023 graduate nurses and midwives. This freeze was introduced due to budget constraints and the need to manage the health service’s finances more effectively.

However, Gloster recently announced that the recruitment freeze will end tomorrow. This decision follows the government’s allocation of an additional €1.5 billion to the HSE to address its financial shortfall for this year. An extra €1.2 billion will also be provided next year to support existing service levels.

Gloster explained that the additional funding will help secure 4,000 previously unfunded posts, ensuring that the HSE can maintain and expand its workforce. Despite the recruitment freeze, the HSE managed to recruit more staff than those who left the service, demonstrating the organization’s resilience and commitment to meeting healthcare demands.

The end of the recruitment freeze is expected to have a positive impact on the HSE’s ability to deliver quality healthcare services. Gloster emphasized the importance of establishing a control environment to manage the additional funding effectively and ensure that the HSE operates within its budget. He also highlighted the need to reduce the dependency on agency staff, which has been a significant cost for the HSE in recent years.

As Gloster takes on his new role, the focus will be on driving health reforms, improving service delivery, and ensuring that the HSE can meet the healthcare needs of the population. His extensive experience and commitment to public service are expected to play a crucial role in navigating the challenges ahead and achieving the HSE’s goals.

HSE chief Bernard Gloster revealed to the Oireachtas health committee that the anticipated rollout of new jobs will be organized by the six health regions. This regional approach aims to ensure that recruitment caps in one region do not impact another. However, Gloster did not specify when the recruitment embargo would end, even though Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced funding for 2,969 new positions.

The HSE is on track to overspend significantly, potentially facing a deficit exceeding €500 million. This financial outlook was discussed with Sinn Fein TD, David Cullinane. Gloster assured that recruitment for key areas had proceeded in the first four months of the year and that developmental roles would also continue.

Engaging with the Departments of Health and Public Expenditure, Gloster described the discussions as positive for future workforce planning and sustainability. He emphasized the importance of these talks in achieving a stable and sustainable workforce for the HSE moving forward.

According to the annual report released by the Department of Health, the breakdown of abortions in 2023 included 21 procedures due to a risk to the life or health of the mother under Section 9 of the Act. Additionally, seven terminations were conducted in emergency situations involving life or health risks, while 129 were due to fatal foetal abnormalities. The majority, 9,876 abortions, were medical terminations carried out in early pregnancy.

The report highlighted that the months with the highest number of terminations were May (902), January (878), and March (874), with February recording the fewest notifications at 683.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) reported that two applications for review of termination were received and carried out in compliance with legal requirements last year.

Geographically, Dublin recorded the highest number of terminations at 3,645, followed by Cork with 873, while Leitrim and Monaghan reported the lowest figures at 47 and 74, respectively.

Meanwhile, new figures released by the HSE indicate that the annual cost of providing medical abortions through GPs and hospitals has reached €7.4 million. This includes €5.6 million allocated for GP payments and medications, with €1.7 million spent on hospital-based terminations.

The HSE noted that these costs represent the first detailed funding allocation for abortion services since the enactment of the 2018 legislation, which permits unrestricted medical abortion up to twelve weeks through GP services, as well as terminations in cases of fatal foetal abnormality.

In response to Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins, the HSE disclosed that community-based termination costs in 2022 amounted to €5.6 million, covering GP fees, medications, training, the My Options freephone helpline, and translation services. Hospital-based termination costs for the same period totaled €1.78 million.

Moreover, the HSE reported a 55% increase in hospitals offering termination services in 2023, with six additional facilities joining the network. Currently, termination services in early pregnancy are available in 17 out of the 19 maternity hospitals, with plans for the remaining two to commence operations this year.

New Covid-19 Variant JN.1 Circulates in Ireland

A new variant of the virus, JN.1, is currently circulating in Ireland, leading to outbreaks in hospitals, nursing homes, and other dedicated care centres. This Covid-19 outbreak in North West Ireland has prompted immediate action from health authorities.

Outbreaks Affecting Hospitals and Care Centers

Several wards in Sligo University Hospital experienced an outbreak earlier this week, resulting in the implementation of visitor restrictions to contain the spread. The HSE has emphasized the importance of vigilance and adherence to health guidelines to prevent further outbreaks.

HSE Recommendations

The HSE strongly advises anyone exhibiting symptoms to stay at home until at least 48 hours after symptoms have mostly or fully subsided. They stress the need to avoid contact with others, particularly those at higher risk from Covid-19, to help curb the spread of this new variant.

Conclusion

As the Covid-19 outbreak in North West Ireland continues to evolve, the HSE remains vigilant and urges the public to follow safety guidelines to protect themselves and their communities.