{"id":725,"date":"2021-06-14T22:07:58","date_gmt":"2021-06-14T22:07:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legalblog.ie\/?p=725"},"modified":"2023-10-30T10:01:49","modified_gmt":"2023-10-30T10:01:49","slug":"health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/health\/","title":{"rendered":"Dept Health"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/health\/#Chief_Medical_Officer\" title=\"Chief Medical Officer\">Chief Medical Officer<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/health\/#Key_Units\" title=\"Key Units\">Key Units<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/health\/#Private_Health_Insurance\" title=\"Private Health Insurance\">Private Health Insurance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/health\/#Drugs\" title=\"Drugs\">Drugs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/health\/#Primary_Care\" title=\"Primary Care\">Primary Care<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/health\/#Research_Finance_Information\" title=\"Research Finance &amp; Information\">Research Finance &amp; Information<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/health\/#Personnel\" title=\"Personnel\">Personnel<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/health\/#Disability\" title=\"Disability\">Disability<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/health\/#Fair_Deal\" title=\"Fair Deal\">Fair Deal<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/health\/#Support_Units\" title=\"Support Units\">Support Units<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Chief_Medical_Officer\"><\/span>Chief Medical Officer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Chief Medical Officer has overall responsibility in relation to patient safety and quality in the health service in this context and has developed and implemented proposals for the<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>establishment of a Patient Safety Authority supporting the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance, supporting National Patient Safety Advisory Group,<\/li>\n<li>management of patient safety protocols within the Department,<\/li>\n<li>undertaking the corporate relationship between HIQA and the Department,<\/li>\n<li>maintaining relationship with HSE on protected disclosures,<\/li>\n<li>provide administrative support for National Clinical Effectiveness Committee<\/li>\n<li>maintenance of Patient Safety First Website<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The following are\u00a0 part of the Chief Medical Officer&#8217;s Department.\u00a0The Bioethics Unit supports the Chief Medical Officer&#8217;s Office and wider Department in achieving objectives through the provision of expert bioethical analysis and advice.\u00a0 \u00a0It provides bioethical advice and input into policy and legislation including issues in relation to end of life, organ transplant, human tissue, health information, clinical trials and transplantation of organs.\u00a0 It acts as a focal point for bioethical expertise at cross sector level.\u00a0 The National Advisory Committee on Bioethics was established in 2012 and is under the aegis of the Department.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Units\"><\/span>Key Units<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Department of Health supports the Minister in the formulation and evaluation of policies for health services.\u00a0 It has a role in strategic planning of health services which is carried out in conjunction with the HSE, voluntary service providers, other government departments and other interested parties.<\/p>\n<p>The Blood and Organs Policy Unit support standards in relation to the use of blood tissues and organs in order to ensure compliance with international standards.\u00a0 It oversees the provision of services under the Health legislation relevant to blood and organ.\u00a0 It manages litigation on behalf of the Minister relating to Hepatitis C and HIV.<\/p>\n<p>The Cancer Policy group supports HSE to ensure implementation of the policy on the delivery of cancer service through the HSE&#8217;s National Cancer Control Program.\u00a0 It monitors the performance of HSE against agreed performance standards. It supports and funds National Cancer Registry.\u00a0 It participates in an All Ireland Cancer Consortium with Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n<p>The Clinical Effectiveness Unit is made up of stakeholders including clinicians, patient representatives, Department of Health, patient safety representatives, managers and regulatory bodies, insurance and clinical indemnity agencies and private health care providers.\u00a0 It prioritises quality assurance, clinical guidelines and clinical audits. It gives recommendation to the Department as part of the National Clinical Guidelines.\u00a0 The guidelines seek to provide guidance and standards for improving quality, safety and cost effectiveness of health care in Ireland.<\/p>\n<p>The Food Safety and Environmental Health section is responsible for legislative development, policy formation, monitoring and evaluation of the HSE in the context of food safety and environmental health.\u00a0 The HSAI is the scientific body which is directly dedicated to public health and consumer&#8217;s interest.<\/p>\n<p>The Health Promotion Unit monitors and evaluates national strategies in relation to health promotion and improvement. It \u00a0contributes to health promotion policies in the North-South context and EU in international level.\u00a0 It leads to development of policy on rare disease.<\/p>\n<p>It deals with policies in the areas alcohol, smoking, diet, nutrition, cardiovascular health and physical activity.\u00a0 It supports research on health trends and behaviour.<\/p>\n<p>The Health Protection Unit monitors notifiable diseases.\u00a0 It undertakes public health emergency planning and monitors update of immunisation. Its key objective is to support public health, through control of infectious diseases, immunisation, public health emergency including in particular for pandemics.\u00a0 It implements HSE policy and legislation.<\/p>\n<p>The Social Inclusion Unit oversees responsibilities in the area of social inclusion and reproductive health.\u00a0 This includes policies in relation to socially excluded and minority groups as well as issues on gender-based violence, HIV, female genital mutilation and assisted human reproduction.<\/p>\n<p>The National Patient Safety Office Unit seeks to improve the overall quality of care including safety, effectiveness, appropriateness, access, efficiency, acceptability issues identified in policy reviews.\u00a0 It undertakes a range of initiatives to progress the patient safety agenda. It seeks to strengthen and reform the regulatory framework for providers and healthcare professions.\u00a0 It is involved in the establishment of HIQA and structural reforms within the HSE.<\/p>\n<p>The National Patient Safety Advisory Group represent Ireland in meetings of the EU Patient Safety Working Group.<\/p>\n<p>The Tobacco Control Unit seeks to ensure that appropriate legal framework policies and structures are in place to facilitate tobacco control to protect public health.\u00a0 It contributes to policies at EU level.\u00a0 It monitors enforcement of legislation and works with \u00a0the HSE to build\u00a0compliance.<\/p>\n<p>The Money Follows the Patient initiative is a new model for funding public hospital care.\u00a0 It seeks to moving away from block grants to a system where hospitals are paid on the level of activity.\u00a0 Funding will also be gauged on the quantity and quality of services delivered.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Private_Health_Insurance\"><\/span>Private Health Insurance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Private Health Insurance Unit deals with the regulation and policy in the Private Health Insurance Market.\u00a0 It deals with authorisations on private health insurance matters, the Risk Equalisation Scheme, Corporate Governance in relation to the Health Insurance Authority and the VHI, and litigation management in the Private Health Insurance area.<\/p>\n<p>It deals with Lifetime Community Ratings Regulations and Minimum Benefit Regulations.\u00a0 The Drugs Program Unit has overall management and administrative responsibility for the financial allocation under the Drugs Initiative Programs current and capital.\u00a0 These are drug related projects and initiatives in the Drugs Task Force area to address the drug problem at the national and local level.\u00a0 It is responsible for the management of the work of the Drugs Advisory Group which supports the Task Force.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Drugs\"><\/span>Drugs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Drugs Policy Unit seeks to implement the national drugs strategy to tackle damage caused\u00a0 to individuals, families and communities by the problem of drug and alcohol abuse.\u00a0 It seeks to operate through the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research.<\/p>\n<p>The Medicines, Controlled Drugs and Pharmacy Legislation Unit develops policy and legislation in relation to medicine, poisons, cosmetics, controlled drugs and pharmacy services.\u00a0 \u00a0It engages at EU and international level in the areas concerned.\u00a0 \u00a0It monitors and evaluates the work of the HPRA which is a statutory agency in Ireland.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Primary_Care\"><\/span>Primary Care<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Primary Care Unit develops policy and legislation in relation to healthcare services in the community.\u00a0 This includes development of primary care teams, supply and pricing of drugs under the GMS medical card scheme and community drugs schemes, dental and optical scheme.\u00a0 It deals with contractual issues with GPs, dentists, pharmacists and opticians.\u00a0 It develops policy and monitors service in respect of general practice, dental, ophthalmic, community, audiology and chiropractic services.\u00a0 It deals with pricing and reimbursement policy for medicines under GMS Community Drugs Schemes.<\/p>\n<p>The Blood and Organs Policy Unit support standards in relation to the use of blood tissues and organs in order to ensure compliance with international standards.\u00a0 It oversees the provision of services under the Health legislation relevant to blood and organ.\u00a0 It manages litigation on behalf of the Minister relating to Hepatitis C and HIV.<\/p>\n<p>The Cancer Policy group \u00a0supports HSE to ensure implementation of the policy on the delivery of cancer service through the HSE&#8217;s National Cancer Control Program.\u00a0 It monitors the performance of HSE against agreed performance standards. It supports and funds National Cancer Registry.\u00a0 It participates in an All Ireland Cancer Consortium with Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Research_Finance_Information\"><\/span>Research Finance &amp; Information<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The EU International and Research Policy Group deals with EU draft Directives on Patient Rights in Cross-border Healthcare.\u00a0 It manages the Department&#8217;s responsibilities under EU scrutiny legislation.<\/p>\n<p>The internal external ICT Group advises, services the Department on a number of agencies regarding infrastructure management, development programs, web development, procurement and security.\u00a0 Its role includes services in the area of infrastructure management, application development programs, web development and disaster recovery\/security.<\/p>\n<p>The Finance Department is responsible in respect of certain key health votes.\u00a0 It is an important relation to health funding policy and has a role in respect of internal accounts and accounting.<\/p>\n<p>The Information Unit plays a role in management and the application of health information and policy to improve health information.\u00a0 It provides data and statistics to aid the department in planning, evaluating and monitoring.\u00a0 It publishes and disseminates health data.\u00a0 It implements systems for collection and use, reporting of data, provides an analysis and statistical expertise and supports working group.<\/p>\n<p>The Group Unit supports strategic development for cross departmental and intersectoral purposes.\u00a0 It develops the contribution of health information policy and the development of data and indicators.<\/p>\n<p>The Research Utilisation Team supports the department&#8217;s personnel in the more effective and efficient use of research evidence in their work and the overall enhancement of analytical capability within the Department.\u00a0 It seeks to ensure the personnel and the Department of access to the relevant material through the development and provision of library material \u00a0and awareness.\u00a0 It builds capacity in identifying reliable research evidence and appropriate application and use.\u00a0 It assists in the integration of research evidence into working practices.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Personnel\"><\/span>Personnel<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The National Human Resources Division drives and implements policy on employment in the public health sector.\u00a0 This includes oversight, policy direction, support and advice to the HSE and partners on \u00a0HR issues in the Health Sector.\u00a0 This includes terms and conditions of employment for grades in the public health service including drawing ups, pay scales, structural reform and policy on employment numbers and employment control framework as well as policy on pensions.<\/p>\n<p>The Workforce Planning\/Agency Governance and Clinical Indemnity Unit has responsibilities in relation to education and training of healthcare staff, workforce planning strategy for the health services, governance in relation to the Medical Council and Bord Altranais, management of issues relating to clinical indemnity, implementing government policy in the Department&#8217;s agencies relating to members, rationalisation, paying conditions and corporate governance, and monitoring compliance with the Disability Act.<\/p>\n<p>The Professional Regulation Unit is responsible for regulatory policy and legislation in relation to health and social care professionals, including doctors, nurses, midwives and dentists.\u00a0 \u00a0It coordinates Departmental policy on the recognition of foreign health professional qualifications including implementation of EU Directives on Recognition of Qualification.\u00a0 It has oversight of the Health and Social Care Professional Council.\u00a0 It manages the Department\u2019s position in relation to Complementary and Alternative Therapy.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Disability\"><\/span>Disability<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Disability\u00a0 Unit develops policies and supports provision of health and personal social supports for persons with disability.\u00a0 It monitors, evaluates and reports on the provision of health and personal social supports and services funded from the Health Vote, for persons with disabilities.\u00a0 It supports \u00a0the national disability strategy.<\/p>\n<p>It works with government departments to encourage cross-sectoral liaison on housing, employment and training needs for people with disabilities.\u00a0 It oversees implementation of the Value for Money Review of Disability Services, including transition towards a person-centred model of services.\u00a0 It advances a joint implementation Framework for the Housing Strategy for Persons with Disabilities with the Department of Environment, including supporting the transition to community living.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fair_Deal\"><\/span>Fair Deal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Long Stay Charges Unit oversees the Health Repayment Scheme Act 2006 and Fair Deal scheme. \u00a0\u00a0It monitors and liaises with the HSE in relation to the operation of long stay care charges repayments.\u00a0 It has oversight of the Health Repayment Scheme Appeals Office.\u00a0 It provides liaison and administrative support to the National Oversight Committee.\u00a0 It is involved in the management of long stay and disability litigation.<\/p>\n<p>It develops the policy on long stay charges and monitors the Mental Health Unit.\u00a0 It is involved in policy formation in the area of mental health and suicide prevention.\u00a0 It facilitates and monitors implementation of national strategy on suicide prevention.\u00a0 It monitors HSE performance in mental health services. It is \u00a0involved in the ongoing review of mental health legislation. It has \u00a0oversight of the Mental Health Commission.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Support_Units\"><\/span>Support Units<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The following units are not dedicated to specific medical areas or issues.<\/p>\n<p>The Freedom of Information Unit coordinates and manages responsibility under the Freedom of Information Acts and access to information on the environment regulations.<\/p>\n<p>The Human Resources and Corporate Development Department deals with HR matters for the Department.<\/p>\n<p>The Legal Section provides legal advice on \u00a0litigation matters for the Department.\u00a0 It participates in the legislative program and advises on heads of bills and the content of statutory instruments.<\/p>\n<p>The Press and Communications Office deal with liaison with the media, redevelopment of the website and communications with other health sector stakeholders.<\/p>\n<p>The Parliamentary Affairs Division assists, and coordinates matters with the Minister and Ministers for State, updates the essential briefing systems, liaises with the HSE in relation to parliamentary questions and ensures timely response.<\/p>\n<p>The Records Management Unit deals with the holding of files on-site and off-site and the audit of file holding.\u00a0 It processes access requests from applicants for access to personal information.<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-725\" data-postid=\"725\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-725 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chief Medical Officer The Chief Medical Officer has overall responsibility in relation to patient safety and quality in the health service in this context and has developed and implemented proposals for the establishment of a Patient Safety Authority supporting the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance, supporting National Patient Safety Advisory Group, management of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/725"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=725"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/725\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28682,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/725\/revisions\/28682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=725"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=725"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=725"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}