Report of the Forum on Medical Manpower

The proposals for change which emerged from the debate were put in context with the announcement by the Minister for Health and Children on 7th May 1998 of the establishment of the Forum on Medical Manpower to develop a programme of action to deliver changes necessary in this area. The purpose of the Forum was to: ofacilitate the development and implementation of a comprehensive Manpower policy relating to training, career structure, and service delivery, designed to address the problems that have been identified.â?Âù Download the Report here

Report of the National Joint Steering Group on the Working Hours of Non Consultant Hospital Doctors

The introduction of a maximum 48 hour working week for Non Consultant Hospital Doctors by 2010 will have significant implications for both Doctors in training and service delivery in our hospitals. This report focuses on how this reduction in working hours can be achieved and the many directly related issues that need to be addressed Download the Report here

An Action Plan for Dementia

The Action Plan takes as its guiding principle the recognition of the individuality of the person with dementia and of his or her individual needs. This principle has informed and influenced the development of the plan. The needs and uniqueness of the person with dementia must be paramount when we talk of care and service provision. Action on the treatment of dementia can be delayed no longer. Given the increasing proportion of older people in the population and the higher prevalence of dementia in older age groups, action is needed now. This plan should serve as a model of best practice for the provision and planning of services to meet the individual needs of people with dementia and their carers Download the Report here

Report of the Paediatric Nurse Education Review Group

10.12.2000 The Department of Health and Children is implementing the recommendations of the Commission on Nursing (1998). It agreed with the Nursing Alliance in early 2000 to set up working groups to inform the implementation of specific recommendations in relation to nurse education. One of these working groups was to address paediatric nurse education. In March 2000, a Steering Group to oversee a review of paediatric nurse education was convened and the following terms of reference agreed. To consider the future of paediatric nurse education in the light of the recommendations of the Report of the Commission on Nursing, Labour Court recommendation LCR 16330, and current practice and development in child health services. To make recommendations within the context of current developments in nursing, nurse education and service delivery. Download the Report here

National Positive Ageing Strategy

The Programme for Government committed to completing and implementing the National Positive Ageing Strategy so that older people are recognised, supported and enabled to live independent full lives. This Strategy, which was published in April 2013, is a new departure in policy making for older people given its focus on the broader determinants of health. It is the blueprint for age related policy and service delivery in Ireland, outlining a vision for positive ageing and older people, the national goals and objectives required to achieve this vision and a suite of priority areas for action that are based on the broader determinants of health. Therefore, a whole of Government and whole of society approach will be required to implement the National Positive Ageing Strategy and to address these priority action areas. Click here to download PDF 2.49MB  

National Drugs Strategy 2009-16: Implementation of Actions Progress Report End 2012

The National Drugs Strategy 2009-16 is a cross cutting area of public policy and service delivery. It is based upon a co-ordinated approach across the full range of Government Departments and Agencies involved in delivering drugs policy. The overall objective of the Strategy is to tackle the harm caused to individuals, families and communities as a result of problem drug and alcohol use through the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. The progress achieved across the 63 Actions of the National Drugs Strategy by Government Departments and Agencies is reported here. Click here to download PDF 295kb  

Shaping the future: applying therapy research to practice

In these challenging financial times the use of research as a basis for effective health and social care cannot be overstated. 'Shaping the Future', a joint Public Health Agency and University of Ulster workshop (27 January) takes a fresh look at research within the Allied Health Professions (AHPs) to improve the care and experiences of people across Northern Ireland.The AHPs provide a wide range of services including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, radiography, podiatry, speech and language therapy and orthoptics.The nature of their work enables AHPs to carry out research that can rapidly benefit patient care and experience. 'Shaping the Future' will look at priorities for new AHP research and consider how existing research can be more effectively shared and used in health and social care development, rather than perhaps being limited to the academic world.Speaking at the event, Professor Bernie Hannigan, Director of Health and Social Care Research and Development (HSC R&D), aDivision of the PHA, said: "A sound base of evidence from research is vital for effective health and social care practice. I welcome this study as an important resource that will help generate new evidence and highlight the potential for existing evidence to be applied in practice. The evidence base points to beneficial innovations that use the most up-to-date knowledge and keep the service user at the centre of care practices. At this event, health and social care policy makers, commissioners, academics and researchers will be able to consider how they can do and use research to ensure our AHP services deliver the best outcomes for patients and are sufficiently cost-effective to be sustained."A recent study funded by HSC R&D was carried out by the University of Ulster working closely with leading AHPs, key stakeholders and service users* from throughout Northern Irealnd. Presenting the results of this study at the 'Shaping the Future' event will help to identify ways to gather evidence and contribute to innovative projects and programmes.Professor Suzanne McDonough, of the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Research Centre at the University of Ulster, said: "In our study we used the Delphi technique, which is a structured process using a series of questionnaires, to gather information and gain consensus from AHP groups, stakeholders and service users."The results identified seven major priority areas for research. These ranged from: the need for more practice evaluation particularly in the areas of mental health, cancer, obesity; diabetes; chronic disease management (especially stroke and brain injury); the role of AHPs in health promotion; service delivery issues such as access to services and waiting times. This study provides an important road map for AHP research priorities. It is the first step in the process of identifying what research still needs to be undertaken, what research already exists but needs to be translated, and some of the processes that need to be in place to ensure that research is an integral part of the day-to-day practice of AHPs and of service delivery."