Health

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention must be core elements of a Progressive Health Policy

Andrew 2015, Health, Wicklow - East Carlow

19230095Fine Gael TD for Wicklow/East Carlow Andrew Doyle spoke of the value of gaining input from the medical profession in guiding Government policy on health issues following a meeting of East District Fine Gael addressed by Dr. Liam Twomey TD and reiterated an approach emanating primarily on the need to educate on disease prevention and obesity as key to the provision of a progressive health policy.

“Prevention is always better than cure and nowhere is this more relevant than in relieving an overstretched health service. Chronic disease care management as well as the provision of acute services and how the Government can best manage these formed part of the discussion as well as recognition of the crisis we face with childhood and adult obesity and how to overcome the fact that our children are taking less exercise and as a population our sugar intake is soaring.

“The medical profession which included doctors, dentists, nurses took the opportunity to highlight issues that are affecting them on a daily basis as well as the implications of proposed health policies and their ability to provide continued sustainable and effective care in their community.

“Input from Liam Twomey as a practising GP and TD who is also chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform gave a very valuable insight into the reforms that are taking place as well as the challenges that are there. He alluded to the vital work of his committee in overseeing scrutiny of the department of Health as critically important even though it may often go unnoticed in the greater scheme of issues in the health service.

“Other issues discussed included free GP care to Under 6’s and how this could impact a GP practice’s service provision ability, child and adolescent mental health care and difficulty of access, dentist , need for equipment for tertiary hospitals to do smaller surgeries, emergency room management protocols, lack of adequate post graduate medical schools student options which is resulting in the loss of many qualified doctors, nurses, dentists to emigration.

“Another point highlighted was from a member of the dental profession who highlighted the issue of dental care and many specific issues pertaining to the quality and type of care that is delivered to children in particular.

“It was a good opportunity to discuss some of the issues that exist in the health service. There will always be issues and reform does happen slowly but it is hugely important to seek feedback from the people who are working in the industry. I thank those who attended and I look forward to similar engagement when further meetings take place.”

 

 

ENDS

‘Premature’ Decision to suspend ambulance transfers to Vincent’s Hospital must not be repeated – Doyle

graham 2014, Dáil Éireann, Health

HSE needs to engage with all stakeholders in PCI review

Andrew Doyle Fine Gael TD for Wicklow/East Carlow is urging the HSE to engage with all stakeholders in any review of cardiac intervention services in the Dublin area to ensure there will be no repeat of the recent situation of Friday 7th November which resulted in the closure of emergency cardiac services at St. Vincent’s hospital.

The announcement that Vincent’s would cease to provide emergency care for people suffering from cardiac seizure/heart attacks sent shock waves through the county of Wicklow because of the nature of the decision as well as the resulting impact it would have on patient care.

On foot of this ill-thought out decision, I wrote immediately to the CEO of St Vincent’s Hospital in order to ascertain what was the rationale behind the decision? I asked were all stakeholders informed of the decision in advance, were ambulance personnel advised of the decision, was the relevant on-call hospital informed, and were adequate staff put in place in the on-call hospital. What was most alarming was that the decision was taken so suddenly and without consultation with relevant stakeholders. I have been informed “that a premature decision was taken in this regard, without the normal notification to stakeholders”.

The HSE is carrying out a review of Percutaneous Cardiac Intervention (PCI) emergency service which will lead to a redesign of the PCI-especially in relation to out of hours. An international expert review to PCI requirements in Dublin is engaged in this process with the HSE and I trust that all the relevant stakeholders involved in this process will be consulted and advised in the best interest of patient care. In turn, I will be following up with the HSE to get an understanding of timescales of the PCI review and to remind them of the need to keep all parties involved and informed during this process.