Department of Health

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

‘Heartbroken’ family call for access to specialist cancer treatment

‘Heartbroken’ family call for access to specialist cancer treatment

Mon, 22 Sep, 2025

The call for treatment not available in Northern Ireland comes after the death of a mother.
Sláintecare reforms linked to rising health insurance costs

Sláintecare reforms linked to rising health insurance costs

Mon, 01 Sep, 2025

With more consultants moving to public-only contracts, fewer insured patients are treated in public hospitals.
Stress and cost preventing women from protecting heart health – research

Stress and cost preventing women from protecting heart health – research

Mon, 01 Sep, 2025

The high cost of healthy foods and gym memberships are also creating barriers to living a healthy lifestyle, according to the research.
Health Minister casts doubt on Children’s Hospital completion date

Health Minister casts doubt on Children’s Hospital completion date

Wed, 27 Aug, 2025

The project is scheduled to finish in September, from an original completion date of August 2022.
State ‘completely failed’ boy (9) who died after waiting for scoliosis surgery

State ‘completely failed’ boy (9) who died after waiting for scoliosis surgery

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

Harvey Morrison Sherratt (9) died on July 29th.
Belfast health trust chairman sacked by Stormont minister

Belfast health trust chairman sacked by Stormont minister

Fri, 04 Jul, 2025

Ciaran Mulgrew’s dismissal comes amid a series of controversies within the trust.
Residential supports for older people need to increase 60% by 2040, research finds

Residential supports for older people need to increase 60% by 2040, research finds

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the findings will ‘help us plan better’.
Consultants question Department of Health productivity stats

Consultants question Department of Health productivity stats

Thu, 26 Jun, 2025

New analysis shows that consultants could have have held 1.5 million more appointments last year if they were operating on 2016 productivity levels.
Demand for GP consultations to increase by 23 per cent by 2040

Demand for GP consultations to increase by 23 per cent by 2040

Wed, 18 Jun, 2025

Requirements for an additional 943 to 1,211 GPs by 2040 are projected, relative to a 2023 headcount of 3,928 GPs.
Nursing homes controversy: What we know so far

Nursing homes controversy: What we know so far

Thu, 05 Jun, 2025

A documentary broadcast on RTÉ this week revealed serious issues at a number of nursing homes.
First obesity management service approved for Northern Ireland

First obesity management service approved for Northern Ireland

Wed, 21 May, 2025

The first phase of the new service is scheduled to start early next year.
Rally hears calls for Government to address ‘soaring’ abortion numbers

Rally hears calls for Government to address ‘soaring’ abortion numbers

Mon, 05 May, 2025

Anti-abortion campaigners took part in the annual March for Life in Dublin city centre on Monday
Over 90 people on waiting lists for eating disorder services

Over 90 people on waiting lists for eating disorder services

Sat, 19 Apr, 2025

Figures seen by Breakingnews.ie through the Freedom of Information Act 2014 show that as of March 13th, there were 92 people waiting for access to 11 specialist eating disorders teams.
Over 487,000 anti-depression prescriptions issued for adults last year

Over 487,000 anti-depression prescriptions issued for adults last year

Sat, 12 Apr, 2025

362, 070 were issued under the General Medical Service (GMS) scheme.
Nutritional value of hot school meals to be reviewed by Government

Nutritional value of hot school meals to be reviewed by Government

Fri, 11 Apr, 2025

The review will be completed by a dietitian, who will be supervised by the Department of Health.
Children’s Health Ireland informed of hip surgery concerns in 2023, Taoiseach says

Children’s Health Ireland informed of hip surgery concerns in 2023, Taoiseach says

Tue, 01 Apr, 2025

Hundreds of children which received hip surgeries between 2021 and 2023 did not meet the threshold for the procedure.
Hundreds of children put through unnecessary hip surgeries in Dublin hospitals – report

Hundreds of children put through unnecessary hip surgeries in Dublin hospitals – report

Thu, 27 Mar, 2025

Pearse Doherty said it was alleged that the surgeries were conducted ‘purely for financial gain’.
Deaf charity hits out over rising waiting lists

Deaf charity hits out over rising waiting lists

Sun, 02 Mar, 2025

Chime said a three-year delay in the provision of audiology services in many parts of the country has revealed a ‘dysfunctional’ system.
Minister for Health concerned about spike in trolley numbers after bank holiday

Minister for Health concerned about spike in trolley numbers after bank holiday

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

The Department of Health said patients waiting on trolleys rose from 253 on Saturday to more than 617 on Tuesday.
Work to begin on delayed €810m children’s hospital in Belfast

Work to begin on delayed €810m children’s hospital in Belfast

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

The 10-floor facility will be located within Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital site.
Calls for ‘full transparency’ over cost of rolling out HPVP pilot programme

Calls for ‘full transparency’ over cost of rolling out HPVP pilot programme

Mon, 10 Feb, 2025

The system aims to share real-time health data across emergency departments, outpatient services and other areas.
Dept of Health spent €47m on consultants on delayed National Maternity Hospital in D4

Dept of Health spent €47m on consultants on delayed National Maternity Hospital in D4

Tue, 28 Jan, 2025

The new maternity hospital will ­relocate facilities from its cramped and outdated building in Holles Street in Dublin city to the St Vincent’s ­Hospital campus in Dublin 4
Beaumont hospital spent over €400k on accommodation after taking over building owned by a charity

Beaumont hospital spent over €400k on accommodation after taking over building owned by a charity

Mon, 14 Oct, 2024

Beaumont Hospital was taken to the High Court by the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) after it repeatedly failed to hand back a 13-bedroom support centre to the charity.
Over 90 people on waiting lists for eating disorder services

Over 90 people on waiting lists for eating disorder services

Sun, 01 Sep, 2024

In a statement from the Department of Health, they acknowledged the progress that has been made and the number of new eating disorder teams.
Paschal Donohoe ‘confident’ reforms of health spending will be implemented

Paschal Donohoe ‘confident’ reforms of health spending will be implemented

Thu, 08 Aug, 2024

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Ifac) warned that the health overspend could go above €2 billion this year.
IT outage impacts two-thirds of GP practices in Northern Ireland

IT outage impacts two-thirds of GP practices in Northern Ireland

Fri, 19 Jul, 2024

The outage has hit industries across the world.
Two-year deal aims to resolve health budget rows

Two-year deal aims to resolve health budget rows

Tue, 09 Jul, 2024

Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe said the deal aims to get ‘the balance right’ on funding the health service
Misinformation around vaccines damaged efforts to combat spread of measles

Misinformation around vaccines damaged efforts to combat spread of measles

Thu, 06 Jun, 2024

In documents urging a “catch-up” programme for the MMR vaccine, officials said that nearly one in five males in the 18-to-19-year-old age bracket were “non-immune”.
University Hospital Limerick accounts for one fifth of patients on trolleys nationally

University Hospital Limerick accounts for one fifth of patients on trolleys nationally

Wed, 15 May, 2024

Of the 545 patients waiting for a hospital bed on Wednesday morning, 115 were in University Hospital Limerick
No ‘specific isolation facilities’ in Northern Ireland at pandemic outbreak

No ‘specific isolation facilities’ in Northern Ireland at pandemic outbreak

Tue, 14 May, 2024

The Department of Health had sought help to find suitable premises.
Visit of Wuhan tourists to Larne ‘dispelled notion Covid could be contained’

Visit of Wuhan tourists to Larne ‘dispelled notion Covid could be contained’

Tue, 07 May, 2024

A senior civil servant also said that Northern Ireland entered the pandemic with a ‘very tired’ health workforce.
Over 100,000 children denied school dental screening appointments last year

Over 100,000 children denied school dental screening appointments last year

Thu, 25 Apr, 2024

Despite 208,233 children being eligible for the scheme in 2023, only 104,488 were assessed by a public dentist.
250,000 hospital appointments cancelled last year, says Mary Lou McDonald

250,000 hospital appointments cancelled last year, says Mary Lou McDonald

Wed, 17 Apr, 2024

The Sinn Fein leader said there are not enough staff working in the healthcare system.
Harris’ ‘broken promises’ probed during first Leaders’ Questions as Taoiseach

Harris’ ‘broken promises’ probed during first Leaders’ Questions as Taoiseach

Tue, 16 Apr, 2024

As health minister in 2017, Mr Harris set a target that no child would be waiting longer than four months for scoliosis surgery.
Taoiseach says ‘careful consideration’ must be given to review of abortion laws

Taoiseach says ‘careful consideration’ must be given to review of abortion laws

Mon, 15 Apr, 2024

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly is considering the review and will bring forward proposals, Simon Harris said.
Government accused of ‘deliberately underfunding’ cancer services

Government accused of ‘deliberately underfunding’ cancer services

Thu, 11 Apr, 2024

It comes after the Irish Cancer Society warned that cancer survival rates are unlikely to improve because services are underfunded.
Galway hospital makes changes after concerns raised about baby head injuries

Galway hospital makes changes after concerns raised about baby head injuries

Thu, 11 Apr, 2024

Nine babies at Galway University Hospital were identified as suffering subgaleal haemorrhages in 2022.
Michelle O’Neill criticises health department over free hospital parking delay

Michelle O’Neill criticises health department over free hospital parking delay

Tue, 26 Mar, 2024

Michelle O’Neill made the comments after the Northern Ireland Executive approved a request from the health minister to defer the removal of the charges for another two years.
Ban on tobacco and disposable vapes to be extended to Northern Ireland

Ban on tobacco and disposable vapes to be extended to Northern Ireland

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

The new UK Bill will need the approval of the Stormont Assembly
Growing risk of ‘breakdown’ in North's health services, Minister warns

Growing risk of ‘breakdown’ in North's health services, Minister warns

Tue, 27 Feb, 2024

Stormont’s Health Minister Robin Swann said the system is in ‘very real trouble’, adding ‘every part of it is in profound distress’.
Mental health service provider St John of God transfers operations to HSE

Mental health service provider St John of God transfers operations to HSE

Fri, 16 Feb, 2024

Saint John of God Community Services said the move comes after failure to reach a new funding agreement with the HSE.
National Children’s Hospital cost rises to over €2bn, Donnelly confirms

National Children’s Hospital cost rises to over €2bn, Donnelly confirms

Tue, 13 Feb, 2024

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has appealed to the contractor to stick to the construction deadline
'There's so much health disinformation out there' ­– nutritional scientist tackling social media myths

'There's so much health disinformation out there' ­– nutritional scientist tackling social media myths

Sun, 04 Feb, 2024

PhD researcher Patrick Elliott is part of the SciComm Collective, which shares science-backed information on maintaining a healthy weight

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