Minister knew last year of reports of unnecessary paediatric surgeries but families were only told in past week, Dáil hears
Pearse Doherty claims thousands of children could be affected as parents speak of procedures a decade ago
Stephen Donnelly
Timeline: Background to the controversies at CHI over orthopaedic surgeries for children
New health authority report is one of a number of investigations and reviews commissioned
HSE declines to confirm that children offered spinal surgeries abroad
Legal direction from former minister for health requested the board ‘closely monitor progress’
Watchdog report to criticise surgeon over use of unauthorised springs in spinal operations
Minister to brief Cabinet on findings into controversy over children’s operations at Temple Street hospital
More than 200 children awaiting spinal surgery as Minister says ‘trajectory’ improving
Long waiting lists have resulted in unacceptable delays for children with a deteriorating condition
Donnelly told HSE to send children overseas for spinal surgeries due to disappointment at backlog
In one of last letters as minister for health, Stephen Donnelly directed executive under Health Act to treat children with scoliosis and spina bifida
Surgeons carried out 513 scoliosis procedures last year but 233 children still on waiting list
‘We are nowhere near where we would want to be’ with waiting times, Minister for Health says
‘I will lose 30% of the beers in my fridge, the same with wine and spirits’: traders voice fears over alcohol health-warning labels
Small batch and artisan wines, beers and spirits may disappear from shelves as producers baulk at labelling every single bottle
Greater gender balance expected to feature in Taoiseach’s 11 nominees to Seanad
Former broadcasters Alison Comyn and Gráinne Seoige tipped as possible nominees
Retailers selling tobacco and vaping products will have to apply and pay for a licence from next year
Annual fee will be €1,000 for the sale of tobacco products and €800 for the sale of nicotine-inhaling products
Pat Kenny’s outrage at imaginary injustices raises his show to jaw-dropping heights
Radio: The veteran presenter grows ever more outraged by imaginary injustices as he highlights potential shortcomings of the new builders’ register
HSE plan for this year largely based around priorities set out by government
Stephen Donnelly told the HSE he wanted to see ‘new and better services’ in areas such as cancer, cardiovascular and stroke, as well as women’s health and mental health services
Social media has a limited effect on teenage mental health
The scientific evidence is not as compelling as some commentators suggest. But our negative narrative around social media may risk becoming a self-fulfilling one
HSE staffing increase would not prevent industrial action, union official warns
Proposed increase of just over 3,500 to staff numbers is intended to cater for new services and so will not address outstanding issues, unions say
HRT scheme roll-out to proceed ‘as soon as possible’, department says
State-funded scheme to provide hormone replacement therapy has been delayed due to issues between Department of Health and pharmacists
HSE told to shift staff working patterns
Donnelly orders new development funding for Beaumont, Mater and Tallaght be paused until new productivity systems implemented
Public-only consultant contracts: is the health system finally beginning to see some benefits?
Much staff opposition has fallen away and uptake is higher than had been predicted, though it seems clear the outgoing Minister is not content with the pace of change
Irish health system report card: a year of criticisms, concerns and innovations
From rows about staffing, waiting lists and cost overruns to resignations of senior staff, heathcare was never far from the news headlines in 2024
Total of 263 transplants as a result of organ donations carried out in 2024
HSE commends ‘selflessness of 84 deceased and 30 living organ donors and their families’ who made procedures possible
All women will receive same level of allowance for post-mastectomy and hair loss products after cancer treatment
HSE has introduced change to remove local variations in products and allowances available
‘It’s not for the faint hearted’: Catherine Murphy on poor planning, emigration and political conflict
The Social Democrats co-founder, who has retired from the Dáil, says problems that got her into politics four decades ago remain to be resolved
Audit shows spending of €19m to reduce spinal waiting lists for children was used for purpose intended
Minister told the Seanad in July that funding for spinal services had been allocated ‘far more broadly’ across the Children’s Health Ireland group
Subsidiary of main National Children’s Hospital contractor to secure major State building project
Analysis by State determines benefits ‘clearly outweigh’ costs of Technological University buildings planned for Galway and Letterkenny, Carlow and Waterford, and Shannon
Stephen Donnelly sought advice on whether State could take over children’s hospitals in Dublin
Legal advice was that such intervention could only take place if independent review identified serious governance or other failings
Stephen Donnelly’s frustration with Children’s Health Ireland building for some time
Delays in children’s orthopaedic surgery and the appointment of a CEO, along with concern around investment priorities were issues for Minister for Health
Who is in government now, when does the new one start and what happens to losing TDs?
General election explainer: The earliest we can expect negotiations about the formation of the next government to conclude is mid-January
Stephen Donnelly becomes biggest political casualty of election as he loses seat in Wicklow
Fianna Fáil Minister for Health loses out in marathon count as constituency rival, Taoiseach Simon Harris, earns strong ‘Government vote’ at his expense
Winners and losers in general election 2024
Close-fought races and the tantalising prospect of power brought relief for the victorious but crushing lows for those rejected by the electorate
Election claims number of ministers’ seats as Fianna Fáil’s Stephen Donnelly look set to lose out
Fianna Fáil Minister for Health won just 6 per cent of first preference votes as his Cabinet colleague and constituency rival Simon Harris topped the poll
Wicklow constituency candidates list: One of the bear pits of Election 2024 after loss of territory to neighbouring area
Election 2024: Taoiseach Simon Harris will be safe but bringing home a running mate is not assured
Lucy Nugent has been appointed new chief executive of Children’s Health Ireland
Appointment follows two senior resignations at CHI as it prepares for completion of new national children’s hospital next year
Ireland’s landscape for clinical trials ‘overly complex’, study finds
Report for Minister of Health recommends introduction of contract templates, key performance indicators and a unified costing framework
A race for the magic number across 43 constituencies to rule the largest Dáil in history
The number of seats has risen from 160 to 174, and the only certainty is that there will be plenty of skirmishes and subplots in the electoral battle
‘There has to be a shorter, more compassionate way,’ says woman who considered taking medical negligence case after husband’s death
Doctors, patients and family members are all suffering due to the lengthy and expensive management of clinical negligence claims
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