Government policy hurts public patients
The RTÉ Investigates programme Public v Private: the Battle for Care expertly portrayed the most insidious aspect of the Irish health system, whereby private patients are privileged at the expense of public patients within the Irish public hospital system.
Whatever happened to the promise of Sláintecare?
This opinion piece appeared in the Irish Times on 13 November 2017
Simon Harris is totally committed to making sure Sláintecare – the 10-year cross-party plan for health reform – happens. The Minister for Health has the full support of the Taoiseach, and the health department is tasked with devising a “response” to it by year-end. (more…)
The opportunity to make real progress in meeting our needs was missed
Analysis of Budget 2017 from the Irish Independent on 12 October 2016
We know that increased spending on healthcare is top of all the things Irish citizens wanted from Budget 2017, way ahead of tax cuts, a first-time buyers’ grant or increasing the pension. Interestingly, Fine Gael voters, wealthy people and those over 50 wanted most spending on healthcare. (more…)
Simon Harris destined for failure with inept plan to tackle waiting lists
Analysis in the Irish Independent on 10 August 2016
As record numbers of people – more than half a million – wait for diagnosis and treatment, Health Minister Simon Harris has come up with ‘five specific actions’ to reduce hospital waiting lists. (more…)
Now is the time to act to ensure safe staffing of our maternity units
Analysis from the Irish Independent 4 June 2016
Over one year since Hiqa published its damning report into five baby deaths in Portlaoise hospital, news emerged of the death of one new-born baby in Cavan hospital, and the death of another baby after an emergency C-section. (more…)
Pitfalls of predecessors a danger for positive Harris
Opinion piece from Irish Independent on 14 June 2016
Being Minister for Health is a big, important job and Simon Harris has got off to a good start. In his first interview in the post, he specified that he wanted to take party politics out of health. (more…)
Why do we get major health infrastructure projects so wrong?
Irish Independent column from 29 April 2016
It is good news that the National Children’s Hospital has got the go-ahead to be built. Construction is due to start this summer, and they say it will be open by 2020. At long last.
Shoddy proposals and pet demands – a new low for Ireland’s health policy
My analysis from the Irish Independent on 14 April 2016
Repeated surveys show that the state of our health system is the people’s number one concern. Yet Fine Gael’s health proposals (covered in previous articles) are very weak while health gets barely three pages in Fianna Fáil’s ‘Priorities for Government’ document. (more…)
The Fine Gael foundation document fails to provide a clear vision for a fair health service
Analysis from the Irish Independent on 9 April 2016
It seems like the drafters of Fine Gael’s ‘foundation document’ presented to Independent TDs last Tuesday live in a different world to most of us mere mortals. A cursory read of the health section would lead you to believe that we lived in a country with a decent health service. (more…)
Reilly’s time in Health was tough but the difficulties were of his own making
From the Irish Independent on 02/03/2016
James Reilly reckons the Government will be “remembered for turning the country around”. Speaking from the count centre on Sunday after losing his seat in the Dublin Fingal constituency, the former Health Minister used a medical metaphor to assess Fine Gael and Labour’s time in government: “The operation was a success, but the patient is still in a lot of pain.” (more…)
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