Bringing together clinicians, policymakers, system leaders, technologists, patients and their advocates, the event will examine practical, scalable approaches that strengthen continuity of care
The top civil servant in the Department of Health will address clinicians, patients and health sector leaders on the solutions required for high-quality patient care this November. Derek Tierney was appointed secretary-general of the Department in April, having previously served as assistant secretary-general where he led on health infrastructure, advancing digital health and the coordination of Sláintecare reform.
Derek Tierney, Department of Health
For many attending Patient Solutions – a one-day conference taking place in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Tuesday November 3 – it will be the first time they get to hear Mr Tierney’s vision for the health service since taking on his new highly influential role.
In a keynote address entitled: ‘National reform update: What is changing in Irish healthcare now?’, Mr Tierney will update delegates on legislative, regulatory and structural reforms currently shaping Irish healthcare.
He will also outline key policy changes, governance developments and implementation milestones that will influence how services are delivered in the coming year.
Returning for its second year, Patient Solutions aims to place a renewed focus on the full patient journey, from prevention and early intervention through acute care, discharge and ongoing support in the community.
Bringing together clinicians, policymakers, system leaders, technologists, patients and their advocates, the event will examine practical, scalable approaches that strengthen continuity of care and ensure patients receive the right support at the right stage of their journey.
Dr Andrée Rochfort
Other contributors to the conference will include Damien McCallion, HSE chief technology and transformation officer and deputy CEO. Mr McCallion will deliver a talk entitled ‘Right care, right place, right time: What it means for patients’.
Sessions will be scheduled throughout the day across three stages: ‘Putting the Patient ‘Centre Stage’’, ‘Digital Health Solutions’ and ‘Patient Innovation’.
Highlights of the ‘Centre Stage’ include ‘Prevention and risk reduction: Reducing risk before illness develops’, a panel discussion featuring ICGP director of quality improvement Dr Andrée Rochfort; HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry and co-chair of Bowel Cancer Ireland Brendan Donlon.
Panellists will explore how behaviour change can be realistically supported, how prevention can be embedded into primary care and community settings, and what measurable impact is being seen.
‘Living with and beyond illness: Rehabilitation, adaptation and long-term support’ is the title of a discussion that will feature consultant in rehabilitation medicine Dr Éimear Smith; psychologist, psychotherapist, and cognitive scientist Dr John Francis Leader; and UCD full clinical professor and consultant in palliative medicine Prof Karen Ryan.
Prof Mary Horgan
The panel will focus on rehabilitation pathways, post-discharge coordination and the clinical, community and social supports required to help people maintain independence, adapt to changing needs and improve quality of life.
Chief medical officer Prof Mary Horgan will take part in ‘From reform to reality: Progress, gaps and patient expectations’ alongside HSE national chief nursing and midwifery information officer Loretto Grogan; TCD professor of health policy Steve Thomas; and UCAN Ireland patient advocate Martin Sweeney.
Highlights of the ‘Digital Health Solutions’ stage include ‘Co-designing digital health: building technology with patients, not around them’.
This session will explore how clinicians, patients and technology partners can collaborate to design tools that are practical, trusted and clinically effective.
Speakers include HSE digital transformation officer Edward Harte, HIQA chief information officer Bala Krishnan and Irish Cancer Society head of research Claire Kilty PhD.
Later in the day TCD professor of neurology Orla Hardiman and Lynch Syndrome Ireland patient advocate Roberta Horgan will explore how genomic testing, biomarker-driven treatment and personalised therapies are being embedded into Irish healthcare.
The talk, entitled ‘Precision medicine in practice: From genomics to personalised care’ will also address capacity challenges in genetic counselling, inherited cancer pathways, cascade screening and the integration of precision diagnostics into routine care.
Highlights of the ‘Patient Innovation’ stage will include a workshop on financial and social support after serious illness with Marie Keating Foundation CEO Liz Yeates and ARC Cancer Support Centres, CEO Amy Nolan.
Later, ‘Caring for the whole person: A biopsychosocial approach to health and care’ will hear from Irish Cancer Society head of education and engagement Aoife McNamara and Féach CEO Eithne Walsh.
The conference will also feature an invitation-only roundtable sponsored by GSK, and a workshop in partnership with Johnson and Johnson.
Patient Solutions is hosted by Irish Medical Times in collaboration with MIMS Ireland. For more information and to book your place, visit www.patientsolutions.ie.
Pic: David Coleman, Bobby Studio