A guideline for transfusion of red blood cells in surgical patients

Use of red blood cell transfusion in surgical patients must be based on clear expectation of benefit, based on the best available evidence. Transfusing patients with allogeneic blood exposes them to risks such as infection, adverse immunological or other morbid events 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

Publication of Report into the death of baby Bronagh Livingstone

The Minister for Health and Children convened a Panel and requested an independent evaluation be carried out of the report of the North Eastern Health Board into the handling of an obstetrical emergency at the Cavan Monaghan Hospital Group on 11 December 2002.   Report of the Independent Review Panel North Eastern Health Board Report

Report of the Benzodiazepine Committee

This comprehensive Report, which marks the fruition of extensive work and consultations undertaken by the Benzodiazepine Committee represents a major step towards addressing inappropriate benzodiazepine use in this country. It sets out in some detail the facts about benzodiazepine usage in Ireland and makes recommendations across a number of areas. It also includes Good Practice Guidelines to assist clinicians in adopting best practice in what is a complex and difficult area.   Download document here

Protecting Our Future - Report of the Working Group on Elder Abuse

The Working Group on Elder Abuse is pleased to present this Report. It provides a foundation for the development of policy and procedures to respond to actual or alleged cases of elder abuse.  Aim of policy and proceduresThe aim of the policy and procedures presented here is to create a context in which older people and those concerned about the abuse of older people can disclose their concerns and receive an appropriate response. The basis of the policy (and the procedures flowing from it) is the recognition of the right of older people to live independent lives with dignity. Download document here

Report on the Regulation of Practitioners of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Ireland

This report has been written in the context of this interest and in response to a request from the Department of Health and Children. It follows a Forum on regulatory issues that was held at the IPA in June 2001 and attended by many CAM practitioners. The Minister for Health and Children asked the Institute to build on the discussions at the Forum by preparing a report on possible options in the regulation of CAM practitioners in Ireland. The focus of the report is on regulatory and policy issues in general. It is not within the Instituteâ?Ts competence or brief to comment on more specific clinical or technical issues. Download the document here

Action Plan for People Management in the Health Service

In November of 2001 the Government launched its new National Health Strategy â?" â?oQuality and Fairness, A Health System for youâ?Âù (hereafter referred to as Quality and Fairness). Quality and Fairness was developed following one of the largest consultation processes ever undertaken in the public service. It sets out the vision for the health service, the four principles upon which this vision will be built, it also establishes four National goals and finally sets out six â?~frameworks for changeâ?T, which will be used to achieve the vision, principles and goals. One of the six frameworks for change is Developing Human Resources. The health service is one of the largest employers in the public sector, with the employment level at the end of 2001 approaching 93,000 full time employees. These employees are spread across a large number of organisations, in multiple locations and settings across the country. Each employee plays a key role in the delivery of health service, in all settings, to the public. Download document here

"I hadn't a penny": A review of State Income Supports Available to Young Parents

As Minister for Children, I am pleased to publish this paper which provides an overview of the income supports available for young parents. This paper has been commissioned as part of the evaluation of the Teenage Parents Support Initiative (TPSI) funded by the Department of Health and Children.The objective of this paper is to discuss the degree to which existing provision within the Irish welfare system meets the financial support needs of teenage parents, in particular, the level to which it meets the needs of different subgroups within the overall population of teenage parents. Download document here

Final Evaluation Report of the Teen Parents Support Initiative

The evaluation was commissioned by the Department of Health and Children and undertaken by the Centre for Social and Educational Research, Dublin Institute of Technology. The content of the report relates from the Initiativeâ?Ts launch in July 1999 to June 2002.The Initiative sought to provide a range of additional support services for teen parents during pregnancy, until their children reached 2 years of age. Download document here

Post Mortem Inquiry - Progress Report To The Minister for Health and Children

The Inquiry is of the view that the Terms of Reference are wide ranging and comprehensive. The issue of organ retention is not one which may be examined properly in isolation and involves consideration of many issues,  most notably the legal context within which the matters arise. The issue is one which needs to be seen in its proper context so that it may be properly and fully understood. Progress Report Addendum to Progress Report

Report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals for 2001

] The Mental Treatment Act 1945 requires the inspection of every public psychiatric hospital and unit at least once a year, and of every private hospital and the Central Mental Hospital twice a year. These inspections were carried out on both announced and unannounced visits. In recent years, the number of un-announced visits has increased. The general format of an announced visit is that the Inspectorate, before beginning the inspection, meets with senior members of the service being inspected, bringing with it the statistical returns made by that service to the Department of Health and Children at the end of the preceding year and a copy of the health boardâ?Ts service plan in respect of the service.   Download document here

Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Infection with HIV and Hepatitis C of Persons with Haemophilia and Related Matters

Pursuant to a resolution of Dail Eireann passed on the 2nd day of June 1999 and a resolution of Seanad Eireann on the 2nd day of June 1999, the Minister for Health & Children, Brian Cowen, T.D., on the 8th of September 1999 made an Order appointing a Tribunal to which the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921 (as adapted and amended) applied, to inquire urgently into and report and make such findings and recommendations as it saw fit to the Clerk of Dail Eireann on the definite matters of urgent public importance set out in sub-paragraphs 1 to 14 of the resolutions passed by Dail Eireann and Seanad Eireann.   Download document here   • Appendix 1-5 (4.03 MB)• Appendix 6-10 (13.7 MB)• Appendix 11-14 (1.06 MB)• Appendix 15-19 (1.25 MB)• Appendix 20-25 (2.75 MB)• Appendix 26-30 (1.59 MB)• Appendix 31-35 (2.12 MB)• Appendix 36-40 (4.13 MB• Appendix 41-45 (613 KB)• Appendix 46-50 (884 KB)• Appendix 51-54 (6.08 MB)

National Study of Turnover in Nursing and Midwifery

The report provides information to assist the Department of Health and Children and the Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development Units in each Health Board/Health Authority region, to prepare and develop strategic plans for nursing workforce requirements. Download the document here.  

Traveller Health A National Strategy 2002-2005

Traveller Health A National Strategy 2002-2005 Travellers are a distinct minority group of Irish people. They differ from the general population in many respects including their life-style, their culture and their treatment by society. In the Ireland of today, the Traveller community continues to experience high levels of social exclusion and disadvantage â?" a situation which requires an urgent, planned response. Click here to download PDF 831kb

Your Views about Health - Consultation report for the Health Strategy

Your Views about Health – Consultation report for the Health Strategy The purpose of the Health Strategy is to improve the health of people living in Ireland and to develop, reform and modernise health and personal social services over the next 7 to 10 years. It builds on Shaping a Healthier Future, which was published in 1994 as a strategy for effective healthcare in the 1990s. Click here to download PDF 719kb