Press Releases
Minister for Health appoints Chair of the National Screening Committee
Minister for Health Simon Harris TD has announced the appointment of Professor Niall O’Higgins as Chair of the National Screening Committee. The appointment follows an open competition for the position of chair. Professor O’Higgins brings a wealth of experience to the role. He was extensively involved in establishing a system of breast cancer services and
Minister for Health launches public consultation on access to contraception
Minister for Health Simon Harris TD launched a public consultation today (Tuesday) on increasing access to contraception. Earlier this year, Minister Harris established a Working Group to consider the policy, regulatory and legislative issues relating to enhanced access to contraception, following the recommendation of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment. The public consultation launched
Minister for Health publishes fifth report of the National Healthcare Quality Reporting System
stroke mortality rates at their lowest level ever heart failure and asthma hospitalisation rates below international averages benzodiazepine use in over 65s is higher than known international averages Minister for Health Simon Harris TD has today (Monday) welcomed the publication of the fifth annual report of the National Healthcare Quality Reporting System (NHQRS), which gives
Minister for Health welcomes the first meeting of the new HSE Board – Enhanced HSE governance and accountability marks a key Sláintecare deliverable
Minister for Health Simon Harris TD has met with the new HSE Board members today (Friday) prior to the inaugural meeting of the Board. This week, the Minister signed a commencement order for the Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2019 which formally establishes the HSE Board with effect from 28th June 2019. To mark this, the
Medical Cannabis Access Programme launch enables compassionate access to cannabis for medical reasons
Minister for Health Simon Harris TD today signed legislation which will allow for the operation of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme on a pilot basis for five years. The Programme will facilitate access to cannabis-based products for medical use in line with legislation. Minister Harris said: “Today is a significant milestone. For years, families have
Cabinet approves publication of the CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill and Minister Harris announces an ex gratia payment of €20,000 for non-disclosure of the CervicalCheck audit
The Minister for Health, Simon Harris, TD, has received Cabinet approval to proceed with publication, in the coming days, of the CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill. The Tribunal will hear and determine claims arising from the retrospective CervicalCheck cytology clinical audit and from the Expert Panel Review of Cervical Screening, in particular in respect of the reading
Minister for Health welcomes appointment of Mr Keith Synnott as National Clinical Lead for Trauma Services
Minister for Health Simon Harris TD today (Sunday) welcomed the appointment of Mr Keith Synnott as National Clinical Lead for Trauma Services The appointment of Mr Synnott is one of the immediate actions prioritised in ‘A Trauma System for Ireland’ and will provide an essential foundation for the implementation of that system. As recommended in
Minister Simon Harris announces launch of new helicopter emergency service for Munster
Service Level Agreement has been signed between the HSE and Irish Community Rapid Response for the launch of a new aeromedical service Minister for Health, Simon Harris, TD, announced today (Friday) that a new aeromedical service in the South will be launched in the coming weeks following the signing of a Service Level Agreement between
Minister for Health marks World Blood Donor Day and encourages individuals to give blood
Minister for Health Simon Harris TD today (Friday) marked World Blood Donor Day. Since 2004, 14th June has been recognised as World Blood Donor Day by the World Health Organisation to raise awareness of the need for blood donation. This year it is being hosted by Rwanda and the theme of the campaign is “Safe
Ministers for Health Commit to Delivering a PrEP HIV Prevention Programme in the Autumn
Minister for Health Simon Harris and Minister for Health Promotion Catherine Byrne today (Friday) committed to implementing a PrEP HIV prevention programme in 2019, following the formal advice from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) that such a programme would be safe, effective and cost saving. Welcoming the advice from HIQA , Minister Harris