2nd Report of the Independent Monitoring Group on A Vision For Change

This is the Second Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Group for A Vision for Change the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy. The Monitoring Group was established in March 2006 to monitor and assess progress on the implementation of A Vision for Change. In this Second Report, the Monitoring Group has found that by and large the recommendations in its first report were not addressed in 2007, although some have been prioritised for implementation in 2008. Download document here

Third Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Group for A Vision for Change - the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy - April 2009

Third Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Group for A Vision for Change – the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy – April 2009 Click here to download PDF 322kb

A bird's eye survey of central american planorbid molluscs

In the course of two trips to Central America (June 1967 and JulyAugust 1976) I had the opportunity of collecting topotypic specimens of Planorbis nicaraguanus Morelet, 1849, anatomically defined in this paper, and of P. yzabalensis Crosse & Fischer, 1879, the identity of the latter with Drepanotrema anatinum (Orbigny, 1835) is confirmed. The following planorbid species were also found: Helisoma trivolvis (Say, 1817) in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Belize; H. duryi (Wetherby, 1879) in Costa Rica; Biomphalaria helophila (Orbigny, 1835) in Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and El Salvador; B. kuhniana (Clessin, 1883) in Panama; B. obstructa (Morelet,1849) in Guatemala, Belize and El Salvador; B. straminea (Dunker, 1848) in Costa Rica; B. subprona (Martens, 1899) in Guatemala; D. anatinum (Orbigny,1835) in Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica; D. depressissimum (Moricand,1839) in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama; D. lucidum (Pfeiffer, 1839) in Guatemala, Belize and Nicaragua; D. surinamense (Clessin, 1884) in Costa Rica and Panama; and Gyraulus percarinatus sp. n. in Panama. The occurrence of B. kuhniana and D. surinamense is first recorded in Central America, and Gyraulus percarinatus is the first representative of the genus provenly occurring in the American continent south of the United States. The following synonymy is proposed: Planorbis declivis Tate, 1870 = Biomphalaria helophila (Orbigny, 1835); Planorbis isthmicus Pilsbry, 1920 = Biomphalaria kuhniana (Clessin, 1883); Planorbis cannarum Morelet, 1849 and Segmentina donbilli Tristram, 1861 = Biomphalaria obstructa (Morelet, 1849); and Planorbis yzabalensis Crosse & Fischer, 1879 = Drepanotrema anatinum (Orbigny, 1835), confirming Aguayo (1933).

Fourth Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Group for A Vision for Change - the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy - June 2010

  Click here to download PDF 222KB Please scroll down for related documents   Related Documents: HSE National and Regional Progress Reports HSE – Key Deliverables 2009 – Report PDF 55KB HSE – National Report PDF 363KB HSE – Regional Report – Dublin Mid Leinster PDF 82KB HSE – Regional Report – Dublin North East PDF 89KB HSE – Regional Report – West PDF 91KB HSE – Regional Report -South PDF 152KB HSE Local Area Progress Reports HSE – Tipperay South PDF 395KB HSE – Tipperary North PDF 367KB HSE Sligo/Leitrim and West Cavan PDF 359KB HSE – Roscommon PDF 352KB HSE – Mayo PDF 338KB HSE – Louth/Meath PDF 525KB HSE – Limerick PDF 395KB HSE – Laois/Offaly PDF 366KB HSE – Kildare/West Wicklow PDF 317KB HSE – Galway West PDF 297KB HSE – Galway/Mayo and Roscommon Child and Adolescent PDF 59KB HSE – Galway East PDF 400KB HSE – Dun Laoghaire PDF 262KB HSE – Dublin West South West PDF 346KB HSE – Dublin South City PDF 361KB HSE – Dublin North PDF 371KB HSE – Dublin North West PDF 432KB HSE – Dublin North – Dublin Central & part of NW Dublin – Child and Adolescent PDF 53KB HSE – Dublin North Central PDF 341KB HSE – Donegal PDF 485KB HSE – Cork West PDF 424KB HSE – Cork South Lee PDF 469KB HSE – Cork North PDF 423KB HSE – Cavan/Monaghan PDF 371KB HSE – Carlow/Kilkenny PDF 451KB Progress Reports from Government Departments Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs PDF 20KB Department of Education and Science PDF 121KB Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment PDF 25KB Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government PDF 47KB Department of Health and Children PDF 50KB Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform PDF 19KB Department of Social and Family Affairs PDF 27KB Submissions Received by the IMG Amnesty International Ireland submission PDF 87KB Association of Occupational Therapists submission PDF 81KB College of Psychiatry of Ireland submission PDF 21KB Disability Federation of Ireland submission PDF 81KB Health Research Board submission PDF 24KB Inclusion Ireland submission PDF 18KB Independent Mental Health Sevice Providers submission PDF 82KB Irish Association of Consultants in Psychiatry of Old Age submission PDF 37KB Irish College of General Practitioners submission PDF 25KB Irish Hospital Consultancts Association submission PDF 155KB Irish Medical Organisation submission PDF 63KB Irish Mental Health Coalition submission PDF 90KB Mental Health Commission submission PDF 64KB Mental Health Nurse Managers submission PDF 206KB National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery submission PDF 67KB National Disability Authority submission PDF 49KB National Service Users Executive submission PDF 28KB Neurobehaviour Clinic – National Rehabilitation Hospital submission PDF 24KB Neurological Alliance of Ireland submission PDF 20KB

National Paediatric Hospital Independent Review

National Paediatric Hospital Independent Review Click here to download Overview of the Report PDF 403KB Click here to download National Paediatric Hospital Independent Review: Financial Analysis PDF 4.95MB Click here to download National Paediatric Hospital Independent Review: Financial Analysis Vol II: Appendices PDF 16.12MB Click here to download National Paediatric Hospital Independent Review: Clinical Analysis PDF 415KB Click here to download FAQs PDF 10KB

Towards standardization of UV eye protection: what can be learned from photodermatology?

While knowledge about standardization of skin protection against ultraviolet radiation (UVR) has progressed over the past few decades, there is no uniform and generally accepted standardized measurement for UV eye protection. The literature provides solid evidence that UV can induce considerable damage to structures of the eye. As well as damaging the eyelids and periorbital skin, chronic UV exposure may also affect the conjunctiva and lens. Clinically, this damage can manifest as skin cancer and premature skin ageing as well as the development of pterygia and premature cortical cataracts. Modern eye protection, used daily, offers the opportunity to prevent these adverse sequelae of lifelong UV exposure. A standardized, reliable and comprehensive label for consumers and professionals is currently lacking. In this review we (i) summarize the existing literature about UV radiation-induced damage to the eye and surrounding skin; (ii) review the recent technological advances in UV protection by means of lenses; (iii) review the definition of the Eye-Sun Protection Factor (E-SPF®), which describes the intrinsic UV protection properties of lenses and lens coating materials based on their capacity to absorb or reflect UV radiation; and (iv) propose a strategy for establishing the biological relevance of the E-SPF.

Leukemic cluster growth in culture is an independent risk factor for acute myeloid leukemia and short survival in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome

In patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) precursor cell cultures (colony-forming unit cells, CFU-C) can provide an insight into the growth potential of malignant myeloid cells. In a retrospective single-center study of 73 untreated MDS patients we assessed whether CFU-C growth patterns were of prognostic value in addition to established criteria. Abnormalities were classified as qualitative (i.e. leukemic cluster growth) or quantitative (i.e. strongly reduced/absent growth). Thirty-nine patients (53%) showed leukemic growth, 26 patients (36%) had strongly reduced/absent colony growth, and 12 patients showed both. In a univariate analysis the presence of leukemic growth was associated with strongly reduced survival (at 10 years 4 vs. 34%, p = 0.004), and a high incidence of transformation to AML (76 vs. 32%, p = 0.01). Multivariate analysis identified leukemic growth as a strong and independent predictor of early death (relative risk 2.12, p = 0.03) and transformation to AML (relative risk 2.63, p = 0.04). Quantitative abnormalities had no significant impact on the disease course. CFU- C assays have significant predictive value in addition to established prognostic factors in MDS. Leukemic growth identifies a subpopulation of MDS patients with poor prognosis.

Sixth Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Group for A Vision for Change - the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy - July 2012

Sixth Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Group for A Vision for Change – the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy – July 2012 This is the 6th Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Group for A Vision for Change (IMG) and the final report of the Second Group. It is clear to the IMG that the implementation of A Vision for Change (AVFC) to date including 2011 has been slow and inconsistent. There is a continued absence of a National Mental Health Service Directorate with authority and control of resources. Such a body has the potential to give strong corporate leadership and act as a catalyst for change. Click here to download HSE National and Regional Progress ReportsHSE – 6th Annual Report HSE – National and Regional Progress Report Progress Reports from Government DepartmentsDepartment of Children and Youth AffairsDepartment of Education and SkillsDepartment of Health Department of Justice and Equality Department of Social ProtectionDepartment of Environment, Community & Local Government National Mental Health Programme Plan Consultation Document What We Heard Submissions Received by the IMGAmnesty International Ireland submission Association of Occupational Therapists submission College of Psychiatry of Ireland submissionCollege of Psychiatry of Ireland – Press Release regarding Social Psychiatry and Recovery Conference College of Psychiatry of Ireland – regarding Psychotherapy Training for Psychiatric TraineesCollege of Psychiatry of Ireland – regarding relationship with Pharmaceutical Industry College of Psychiatry of Ireland – Mental Health in Primary CareDisability Federation of IrelandHealth Research Board submission Irish Association of Social Workers – Adult Mental Health Irish Association of Social Workers – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Irish College of General PractitionersMental Health CommissionMental Health ReformPharmaceutical Society of IrelandIrish Advocacy Network Childrens Mental Health CoalitionNational Disability AuthorityNational Service Users ExecutiveNational Service Users Executive – Second Opinions ReportNational Federation of Voluntary BodiesHeadstrong  

The independent psychological effects of participation in demonstrations

Street demonstrations have received the lion's share of scholarly attention to collective action. This article starts by returning to this research in order to raise some methodological questions about how to collect data on demonstrations and on the validity of the subsequent results. Next, based on my own research on demonstrations, I suggest some questions that deserve to be analyzed. In particular, I argue that we should work more on the psychological effects of participation in demonstrations. One potential line of investigation would be to more systematically explore the socializing effects of political events. Indeed, vivid political events should be important catalysts because they can have significant effects. Events may have an impact at any age but socializing effects will differ based on one's position in the life cycle, from conversion for younger participants to substantiation for older participants. I hypothesize, in line with Mannheim's (1952) "impressionable years" model of socialization research, that people especially recall events as important if they happened in their adolescence or early adulthood.

The Establishment of Hospital Groups as a transition to Independent Hospital Trusts

This is the Report on the Establishment of Hospital Groups as a Transition to Independent Hospital Trusts, as approved by Government on 14 May 2013. Click here to download The Establishment of Hospital Groups as a transition to Independent Hospital Trusts PDF 5.59MB Click here to download Securing the Future of Smaller Hospitals: A Framework for Development PDF 401KB Click here to download Frequently Asked Questions PDF 1.19MB  

Independent Review of Issues relating to Symphysiotomy by Judge Yvonne Murphy

On 26th November 2013, Judge Yvonne Murphy was appointed by the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly T.D. to conduct a review with the aim or assisting in finding closure for women who have undergone a symphysiotomy procedure. This is a non statutory review. The Terms of Reference for the reivew were: Download the review here

Communally breeding Bechstein's bats have a stable social system that is independent from the postglacial history and location of the populations.

Investigating macro-geographical genetic structures of animal populations is crucial to reconstruct population histories and to identify significant units for conservation. This approach may also provide information about the intraspecific flexibility of social systems. We investigated the history and current structure of a large number of populations in the communally breeding Bechstein's bat (Myotis bechsteinii). Our aim was to understand which factors shape the species' social system over a large ecological and geographical range. Using sequence data from one coding and one noncoding mitochondrial DNA region, we identified the Balkan Peninsula as the main and probably only glacial refugium of the species in Europe. Sequence data also suggest the presence of a cryptic taxon in the Caucasus and Anatolia. In a second step, we used seven autosomal and two mitochondrial microsatellite loci to compare population structures inside and outside of the Balkan glacial refugium. Central European and Balkan populations both were more strongly differentiated for mitochondrial DNA than for nuclear DNA, had higher genetic diversities and lower levels of relatedness at swarming (mating) sites than in maternity (breeding) colonies, and showed more differentiation between colonies than between swarming sites. All these suggest that populations are shaped by strong female philopatry, male dispersal, and outbreeding throughout their European range. We conclude that Bechstein's bats have a stable social system that is independent from the postglacial history and location of the populations. Our findings have implications for the understanding of the benefits of sociality in female Bechstein's bats and for the conservation of this endangered species.

CD4+ T cell count recovery in HIV type 1-infected patients is independent of class of antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, treatment options for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection have changed from nonboosted protease inhibitors (PIs) to nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) and boosted PI-based antiretroviral drug regimens, but the impact on immunological recovery remains uncertain. METHODS: During January 1996 through December 2004 [corrected] all patients in the Swiss HIV Cohort were included if they received the first combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) and had known baseline CD4(+) T cell counts and HIV-1 RNA values (n = 3293). For follow-up, we used the Swiss HIV Cohort Study database update of May 2007 [corrected] The mean (+/-SD) duration of follow-up was 26.8 +/- 20.5 months. The follow-up time was limited to the duration of the first cART. CD4(+) T cell recovery was analyzed in 3 different treatment groups: nonboosted PI, NNRTI, or boosted PI. The end point was the absolute increase of CD4(+) T cell count in the 3 treatment groups after the initiation of cART. RESULTS: Two thousand five hundred ninety individuals (78.7%) initiated a nonboosted-PI regimen, 452 (13.7%) initiated an NNRTI regimen, and 251 (7.6%) initiated a boosted-PI regimen. Absolute CD4(+) T cell count increases at 48 months were as follows: in the nonboosted-PI group, from 210 to 520 cells/muL; in the NNRTI group, from 220 to 475 cells/muL; and in the boosted-PI group, from 168 to 511 cells/muL. In a multivariate analysis, the treatment group did not affect the response of CD4(+) T cells; however, increased age, pretreatment with nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, serological tests positive for hepatitis C virus, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stage C infection, lower baseline CD4(+) T cell count, and lower baseline HIV-1 RNA level were risk factors for smaller increases in CD4(+) T cell count. CONCLUSION: CD4(+) T cell recovery was similar in patients receiving nonboosted PI-, NNRTI-, and boosted PI-based cART.

Staff eye lens and extremity exposure in interventional cardiology: Results of the ORAMED project

Within the ORAMED project a coordinated measurement program for occupationally exposed medical staff was performed in different hospitals in Europe. The main objectives of ORAMED were to obtain a set of standardized data on doses for staff in interventional cardiology and radiology and to optimize staff protection. Doses were measured with thermoluminescent dosemeters on the ring finger and wrist of both hands, on legs and at the level of the eyes of the main operator performing interventional procedures. In this paper an overview of the doses per procedure measured during 646 interventional cardiology procedures is given for cardiac angiographies and angioplasties (CA/PTCA), radiofrequency ablations (RFA) and pacemaker and defibrillator implantations (PM/ICD). 31% of the monitored procedures were associated with no collective protective equipment, whereas 44% involved a ceiling screen and a table curtain. Although associated with the smallest air kerma - area product (KAP), PM/ICD procedures led to the highest doses. As expected, KAP and doses values exhibited a very large variability. The left side of the operator, most frequently the closest to the X-ray scattering region, was more exposed than his right side. An analysis of the effect of parameters influencing the doses, namely collective protective equipment, X-ray tube configuration and catheter access route, was performed on the doses normalized to KAP. Ceiling screen and table curtain were observed to reduce normalized doses by atmost a factor 4, much smaller than theoretical attenuation factors typical for such protections, i.e. from 10 to 100. This observation was understood as their inappropriate use by the operators and their non-optimized design. Configurations with tube above the patient led to higher normalized doses to the operator than tube below, but the effect of using a biplane X-ray suite was more complex to analyze. For CA/PTCA procedures, the upper part of the operator's body received higher normalized doses for radial than for femoral catheter access, by atmost a factor 5. This could be seen for cases with no collective protection. The eyes were observed to receive the maximum fraction of the annual dose limit almost as frequently as legs and hands, and clearly the most frequently, if the former 150 mSv and new 20 mSv recommended limits for the lens of the eye are considered, respectively.

Eye screening for diabetics - prevents blindness

Diabetes is a common condition affecting around 69,000 people in Northern Ireland. One of the possible complications of diabetes is a condition called diabetic retinopathy, which can cause sight loss and blindness. Retinopathy causes damage to the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish the retina, the tissues in the back of the eye that deal with light. This can seriously affect vision.Research shows that if retinopathy is identified early, for example through retinal screening, and treated appropriately, blindness can be prevented in the majority of people with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2.Screening programmeIn Northern Ireland, a diabetic retinopathy screening programme (DRSP), run by the Public Health Agency, has been put in place to screen all eligible people with diabetes aged 12 years and over. Dr Bernadette Cullen, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, PHA, said: "Screening detects problems early and allows appropriate treatment to be offered. It is vital that everyone with diabetes attends diabetic retinopathy screening when it is offered. Early detection of potential problems offers a very real opportunity to intervene and, with appropriate treatment, can prevent blindness in the majority of those at risk."The screening testThe screening test involves photographs being taken of the back of each eye, using a special camera. The test is painless and takes about 15 minutes. If the person is over 50 years of age, they will need to have drops put in their eyes about 15 minutes before the test to dilate their pupils.The photographs are sent to the regional screening centre for analysis by trained graders. Results will show whether patients require further referral for assessment or treatment by hospital eye services (HES). If this is not required, screening will be offered again the following year.GPs are informed of all results and if the patient is under the care of a diabetologist, they too will be informed. Patients are informed of results by their GP and if they need an urgent referral, protocols are in place to ensure this happens.Many people with diabetes attend their optometrist (optician) on a regular basis to have a sight test for glasses. It is important they continue to do this - this test is free to people with diabetes. It is also vital that people with diabetes attend for diabetic retinopathy screening when invited, regardless of how or where their diabetes is treated, or whether they visit a hospital consultant/GP for their diabetic care.Patients are invited to screening via their GP practice. An information leaflet to help patients make an informed decision to attend for screening is also sent. This can be accessed via the PHA website: www.publichealth.hscni.net.