HIQA seeks feedback on recommendations on a model for health information standards

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is asking the public for their feedback on its ‘Draft recommendations on a model for health information standards to support the delivery of health and social care services in Ireland’. Health information plays a key role in Irish health and social care services as front-line staff use patients’ data on a daily basis, while this data also informs future public policy decisions.

HIQA is encouraging submissions from the public during a six-week consultation on these draft recommendations, following which a final version will be submitted to the Minister for Health for consideration.

Health information standards deliver efficiencies in sharing patients’ data across our health and social care services. HIQA’s draft recommendations outline the need to establish a strategic independent entity to develop and implement health information standards in Ireland. This project is aligned with key national eHealth priorities, including Sláintecare, and it also follows on from HIQA’s 2021 paper on the need to reform of Ireland’s health information system, which made six recommendations to achieve reform across health and social care.

HIQA is now seeking to ensure that patients, their families and carers, healthcare professionals, and the general public can provide their views and contribute to the development of these recommendations. All feedback received will be analysed and used to inform the final recommendations.

The ‘Draft recommendations’ are available on www.hiqa.ie. To take part in the consultation, please complete the short survey either online or in the feedback form by 5pm on Tuesday, 2 August.

21 years ago, the new ‘Timepiece’ sculpture in New Square, Mitchelstown was unveiled in the hot sunshine. The sundial was intended to add interest to the square and complement the John Mandeville statue.

A court case in Fermoy District Court found 70 year old Cllr Arthur Dowling guilty of assaulting fellow councillor John Hussey, who was also now the recently-appointed chairman of the UDC. Cllr Dowling was fined £100, but welcomed the case as he felt it exposed those ‘who plotted outside the

Council chamber’ on the allocation of £14,000 in grant funding. He was to consider his position as an elected member.

Kildorrery GAA Festival was scheduled for early July amidst some doubt, after the organisers had their drinks licence turned down. A compromise was reached where they could serve alcohol on the second weekend of the festival only. The alcohol-free and teenager-friendly first weekend had ‘Picture This’ and ‘The 4 of Us’, while the second weekend would be adults-only for the ‘Saw Doctors’ and ‘The Wolfe Tones’.

Bad news for Mitchelstown in June 2001, as they loitered in last place in the county’s litter challenge. The writer of the news article called for a ‘united effort’ from the town. Meanwhile, Fermoy were happily holding on to third place in the overall leaderboard.

In Lismore, work to the tune of £200,000 began on the humpback bridge opposite Hornibrook’s Garage. In nearby Ballyduff, postman Tom Enright celebrated his retirement after forty years of service. He had delivered an estimated one million letters in the course of his career.

Another retirement was marked in Mitchelstown as after 16 years, popular porter Mike Sheehan retired from AIB and a presentation was held for him with a large attendance of grateful staff, both former and present, at the occasion.

Summer sales were all over the place, with a pair of Wrangler ‘Seasonal Jeans’ from Shaw’s less than £10. 20 fish fingers from SuperValu would cost you 99p, while Joe Murphy’s had a 25% sale to celebrate 25 years of four staff members working sideby-side; John O’Mahony, Seamie Day, Patricia Owens and Helen Whelan had worked together in the shop for quarter of a century.

Meanwhile, the winds of change were blowing, as Ryan’s Centra in Fermoy had a fullpage advert notifying shoppers of a free, sturdy reusable bag-for-life with an in-store spend of £30.

Glanworth hotelier and stuntman Emelyn Heaps called for the public’s opinion on his Floating Restaurant. He had been denied planning permission and wondered if the people of Fermoy thought he should try again. All thoughts were to be passed on to The Avondhu.

Kilworth’s ‘Community Field’ meeting was poorly attended, but the dedicated ‘hardcore supporters’ were continuing their quest to secure a field for Kilworth Celtic FC. They found themselves in an unusual position where they could buy an excellent site, adjoining

both the school and the GAA field, but unable to access it. The meeting, though small, resulted in the formation of a fourman committee.

Tipperary South were to go to the polls for a by-election, caused by the untimely death of Fine Gael TD Theresa Ahern. The candidates were Senator Tom Hayes, FG; Cllr Denis Landy, Lab.; Cllr Michael McGuire, FF and Independent Cllr Phil Prendergast.

Porky’s Nightclub in Master McGrath’s, Bridesbridge, held their opening night ‘ with an enthusiastic response from local night owls’.

In Fermoy, a bullock was rescued from a rock ledge by the river by the Blackwater Sub Aqua Search and Rescue team. The animal had been trapped for a number of days, and was reunited with his buddies after a swim home. It was a mystery how the bullock got there in the first place.

A monument to Michael Cavanagh was unveiled in Cappoquin, the culmination of a weekend of events dedicated to the Fenian poet and writer who was born in the town.

In Tallow, a public meeting was held to quell residents’ fears of a proposed new fish plant. Locals had fears of noise and potential

odours, and met with council staff in advance of any planning decision.

Mary Malone, spiritual healer was in The Firgrove Hotel hosting private sessions. She had a reputation for healing people through the Rosary and Divine

Mercy.

The Féile na nGael Hurling Competition came to Cork after a late venue change from Antrim due to the Foot and Mouth scare. Bride Rovers played host to Rasharkin, Co. Antrim, while Watergrasshill took in the 4 Roads

Clubs from Atlee in Co. Roscommon.

Finally, in local snowboarding news, Kildorrery trio Kevin O’Farrell, Anthea O’Brien and Kevin Gallagher returned with two gold and one silver medal from a competition in Livigno, Italy.