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October 2009
.jpg) Letter from HSE to all Nurses & Midwives re: Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
Re: Policy on clinical and public health management of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
The WHO has now changed the official name of the pandemic virus from Influenza A(H1N1) to Pandemic (H1N1) 2009. Read latest updates and information leaflets from HSE more ..... Read latest updates from the WHO more ......
www.stophealthcuts.ie - World of Irish Nursing - April 2009
Cutbacks Watch, an initiative, similar to Trolley Watch, which aims to highlight the effects of cutbacks on staff and patients and encourage members of the public to get more involved in the health services in their area, was recently launched by the INO. Cutbacks Watch is a web-based initiative which will allow members, patients, families and the general public to post comments online and record where they experience cutbacks, how these affected patient care and, finally, to air their views on how to improve services. It can be accessed via www.INO.ie or directly on www.stophealthcuts.ie. As well as leaving comments there is a facility to send photographs and video clips of, for example, a closed ward, ambulances held up outside ED’s etc. The INO will share this campaign on other sites such as Facebook, Youtube, Twitter among others to reach as many people as possible.  | | Resolute: pictured at the launch of the INO’s new website, www.stophealthcuts.ie INO first vice president; Liam Doran,INO general secretary; and Sheila Dickson,INO president | Comments, photos, video clips will all be vetted before going live on the site and patient confidentiality will be upheld at all times. In tandem with the new website the INO has produced a FREEPOST postcard for patients and their families who do not wish to go online but who do want to make a comment. Completed postcards will be delivered in bulk to the Minister for Health. According to INO President, Sheila Dickson: “This web-based initiative was never more relevant in the light of the statement, by Prof Brendan Drumm, HSE CEO when he openly acknowledged the immediate need to cut e70 million and his admission that this would negatively impact upon frontline services.” Another initiative launched by the INO was a booklet for members containing guidelines, whenever and wherever they are faced with health service cutbacks, with the three priorities being: - Maintain safe standards of care
- Maintain the maximum number of jobs
- Maintain all negotiated pay rates including allowances, premium payments etc
Speaking at the launch, INO general secretary, Liam Doran said it was undoubtedly a struggle to protect and maintain any vestige of a public health service worthy of the name. “It is simply impossible to further reduce health expenditure without there being a serious, damaging and long-term impact upon patients, clients and the staff who work in the health service. “Every citizen of Ireland is aware that we are in a difficult economic situation and that the public finances must be corrected. However the government must understand that a society, if it is simply to survive, must have access to a public health service in order to maintain the common good. “The INO is absolutely committed to protecting the interests of our members, both in terms of delivering safe care and in the context of their terms and conditions of employment,”said Mr Doran.
 Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - Letter from HSE - August 2009 Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Information
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