Ireland’s first national strategy dedicated to the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in health and social care has been launched.  

‘AI for Care’ sets out how AI will improve care across four areas: Clinical care, operations, research and innovation, and public health.

These include faster diagnosis with certified AI solutions that will enable radiologists to read images (X-rays, CT scans and MRIs) faster and detect strokes, cancers and fractures earlier.

The new strategy also noted that AI‑supported discharge planning for patients will help reduce delays and AI will lead to less paperwork for clinicians.

Welcoming the strategy, Mr Damien McCallion, HSE Chief Technology and Transformation Officer, said Ireland is facing ever increasing demands for healthcare as our population continues to grow. “Our use of AI will be pivotal in fostering further innovation and addressing the challenges facing the system.” 

Prof Richard Greene, HSE Chief Clinical Information Officer, said that potential use cases for AI are being identified, “and we have several projects already underway in some parts of the health service”.

He added that the strategy sets out the path forward to build on “this positive work and harness the power of AI to support more areas of the health service in a safe and responsible way”.

The HSE said it will soon publish an ‘AI Implementation Framework’ to complement ‘AI for Care’ and ensure consistent rollout of AI across all health regions.

The Irish Kidney Association (IKA) has welcomed the announcement of the initial prototype for the Irish Kidney Disease Data System (IKDDS).

IKA CEO Ms Carol Moore said the IKDDS is “a proactive initiative within the health service to effectively capture key information and improve the identification and management of kidney disease, which should lead to better outcomes for patients”.

In advance of World Kidney Day on 12 March, the IKA is highlighting the high prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and encouraging the public to learn about the risk factors and seek early testing.

CKD affects approximately one-in-ten adults in Ireland, rising to one-in-seven among those over 50. On its current trajectory, kidney disease is projected to become the fifth leading cause of death globally by 2040. Despite its prevalence, CKD is often described as a ‘silent condition,’ with an estimated 98 per cent of people in the early stages unaware they have it.

The risk of having CKD increases if a person has diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure, a family history of kidney disease, are over 50, or use certain over-the-counter medications long term. A blood and urine test undertaken by a GP can help assess kidney health. More information is available at www.ika.ie/kidneyhealth.

The number of people in Ireland requiring dialysis has more than tripled in the past 25 years. At the end of 2025, some 2,647 people – including 30 children – were receiving dialysis treatment, with 351 people receiving home dialysis and 2,296 receiving in-centre haemodialysis. In 2024, there were 559 patients on the kidney transplant waiting list.

Ms Moore said: “Behind every statistic is a person and a family whose lives are permanently changed by kidney failure. There is a profound human cost to patients and their families – including the physical and mental health toll of treatment, emotional strain, and significant disruption to daily life.  Dialysis treatment is already costing the HSE more than €300 million per year, showing the urgent importance of prevention and early intervention.

“Dialysis treatment is life-sustaining but demanding, and transplantation, while transformative, requires ongoing life-long specialist care. The burden on patients, families and the health service is significant. Early detection and prevention are the most effective way to reduce avoidable suffering and long-term healthcare costs. New treatments can often help ensure dialysis is not needed.  Our awareness campaign highlights the importance of early detection and treatment. We ask people at risk this World Kidney Day to take charge of their kidney health and get tested.”

She added: “We welcome the development of the IKDDS as an essential resource for improving services for patients and we call for the prototype to be guaranteed multi-annual funding to ensure it can be expanded beyond a prototype.”

Prof Austin Stack, Professor of Medicine and Consultant Nephrologist at University of Limerick and University Hospital Limerick and one of the leaders in the development of the IKDDS prototype, said: “Early detection of chronic kidney disease is crucial to preventing progression and improving outcomes through timely intervention and effective management. The development of the Irish Kidney Disease Data System, under the governance of the Health Service Executive, brings Ireland to an important juncture and once fully implemented, will mark a significant step forward in strengthening how we understand and manage kidney disease at a national level, and aligning our services with international standards.

“High-quality, reliable data are fundamental to improving outcomes, enabling earlier intervention, and ensuring that health services are designed around population needs rather than reacting at the point of crisis. By enhancing how kidney health is monitored and measured, Ireland has an opportunity to shift from reactive treatment of kidney failure to proactive protection of kidney health.”

Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE, added: “I welcome the work of the Irish Kidney Association in raising awareness about kidney health while marking World Kidney Day. Chronic kidney disease is closely linked with other major health priorities, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, and requires a coordinated, system-wide response in the health system including primary care. The establishment of the prototype Irish Kidney Disease Data System reflects the HSE’s commitment to strengthening chronic disease surveillance and evidence-informed service planning.”

The IKA’s awareness campaign has the endorsement of the HSE’s National Renal Office and the Irish Nephrology Society, along with the support of the Irish Pharmacy Union and various pharmacy chains across Ireland. The HSE is also amplifying the campaign’s messaging.

A new planning permission for the development of maternity services at the Rotunda Hospital Dublin is to be submitted. The new planning permission no longer contains plans to relocate the Rotunda to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown. 

This follows a meeting between the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, officials from the Department of Health, the Rotunda Hospital and the HSE.

Last month a decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála to reject plans for a €100 million extension to the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, was described as “short-sighted and regrettable”, by the IMO.

According to a statement from the Minister for Health, the application will include critical care capacity for women expanding on the earlier application which was focused solely on infants. The new application will also include an enhanced Sexual Assault Treatment Unit.

The Department statement added that it was the “intention of this Minister” to focus on the future of the Rotunda on the current site, while noting that “it is open” to a future Government to take a different approach.

“Our meeting today focused on the next steps for the provision of modern maternity care at the Rotunda,” said Minister Carroll MacNeill. 

“Working collaboratively, and with the support of Government, the Master will bring forward a new enhanced planning application for critical care capacity for women and babies at the Rotunda as well as plans for a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit. I am grateful to the Master for his ongoing engagement with me and with officials in my Department. We will continue to work together to deliver appropriate critical care, as quickly as possible.”

Three doctors have been elected in the Medical Council elections. In total, eight candidates contested three positions in three categories. 

Today the following have been deemed elected by the returning officer:

Specialist Division – Anaesthesia: Dr Ehtesham Izhar Khan.

Specialist Division – Public Health Medicine: Dr Mai Mannix.

Specialist Division – Pathology or Radiology: Prof John Conor O’Keane.

This election took place as the current term of office of one of the directly elected members of the Medical Council is due to expire at the end of May and there were two existing vacancies.

“My sincere congratulations to the three doctors elected to the Medical Council for the upcoming term,” said Dr Maria O’Kane, CEO of the Medical Council.

“I know the newly elected members will have a great impact on strengthening patient safety and shaping the future of the Medical Council through their contributions. I look forward to working with all our members over the coming years.

“Council members hold responsibility for making decisions and upholding principles that protect patients and support the highest standards of medical practice. 

“We are very grateful to all those who put themselves forward for election, and I hope all our election candidates continue to engage with the Medical Council in the future. Our thanks also to the doctors on our register who cast their vote.”

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD has today approved the publication of the HSE Building and Equipment Capital Plan 2026 and the HSE Digital for Care Capital Plan 2026. According to the Department, the investment set out in these plans demonstrates the Government’s commitment to improved services, increased productivity, and strategic reform in the health service.

The publication follows the completion of the National Development Plan (NDP) review in July 2025 which provided the largest ever investment in public health infrastructure in the State. Following this, the publication of the NDP Review 2025 Sectoral Investment Plan for Health 2026-2030 in November 2025 sets out the strategic infrastructure and digital health priorities over the next five years.

The 2026 HSE Capital Plans are “strategically focused” on enhancing the health service’s physical and digital infrastructure. Capital investment in 2026 will increase “systemic resilience” by advancing a range of acute and community projects nationally, enabling integrated care, progressing Sláintecare, and expanding system capacity in both built and digital environments.

The capital funding in the HSE Capital Plan for Building and Equipment 2026 is €1,327 million and €263 million in the HSE Digital for Care Capital Plan 2026.

Capital investment in 2026 will enable the HSE to progress Government priority projects, including:

• Completion of the construction of National Children’s Hospital Ireland
• Progressing the National Maternity Hospital relocation to Elm Park
• Continued construction of additional acute capacity including bed capacity
• Completion of new surgical hubs at Cork, Galway, Waterford, Limerick, and North Dublin and advancing surgical hubs in Sligo and Letterkenny
• Progressing development of elective treatment centres, known as elective hospitals, in Galway, Cork, and Dublin
• Progressing the design at the six mental health priority sites
• Investment in community care capacity including progressing the HIQA community nursing units (CNUs) programme and advancing additional community bed capacity projects
• Progressing social inclusion healthcare infrastructure
• Investing in infrastructure risk, replacement of equipment, ambulance renewal, climate projects, and essential infrastructure upgrades

Investing in Digital Health to progress projects including:

• the HSE Health App
• the National Shared Care Record
• Electronic Health Records (EHR)
• ePharmacy comprising ePrescribing and Hospital Medicines Management
• Virtual Care, Telehealth, and Remote Monitoring
• Expanding the National Finance Management System (IFMS), the National Staff Records and Payroll System (NiSRP), and eRostering
• AI and automation initiatives (Clinical, Operations, Research and Innovation and Public Health)
• Core ICT infrastructure and strengthening cyber resilience.

Minister Carroll MacNeill said: “Our investment plans for healthcare in 2026 will bring real benefits to people across the country. We’re investing €1.327 billion into new buildings and equipment, showing the Government’s ongoing commitment to better healthcare and increased capacity.

“We’re also investing €263 million in digital health reforms in 2026 which will drive implementation and expansion of the National Electronic Health Record and the HSE app.

“By expanding capacity and building the right physical and digital infrastructure, both in hospitals and in communities, we are advancing the Sláintecare vision to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”

 Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health Mary Butler said: “The investment set out in the Capital Plan for 2026 reaffirms our commitment to deliver improved mental health infrastructure in line with national mental health policy.

“This year’s plan prioritises the development of the perinatal mental health unit for new mothers, specialist eating disorder beds for adults, and the progression of six priority acute mental health units around the country.

“There has never been more momentum behind transforming the mental health capital estate, with unprecedented levels of funding being made available to the HSE.  This investment will ensure people experiencing mental illness will access services in safe, therapeutic, and recovery-focused environments.”

 Minister of State with responsibility for Older People, Kieran O’Donnell said: “Older persons’ services are central to strengthening community care through an integrated model that supports older adults at home and in the community.

“The investment set out in the HSE Building and Equipment Capital Plan and Digital for Care Capital Plan for 2026 will support the development of older persons’ services facilities and will increase capacity across the country to help meet the needs of a growing older population.”

Minister of State of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, said: “This investment will support our community services and the development of social inclusion across the country, reducing health inequalities and improving access to healthcare for all, including vulnerable and marginalised groups. It will enable the development of facilities that can support people across the life course, to enjoy improved health and wellbeing.”

The report of the North Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Lookback Review has raised “serious issues of concern”, according to the Department of Health.

The review involved the examination of all clinical files (374) of children and young people attending the North Kerry CAMHS on 21 November 2022. Of the 374 files reviewed, the potential for harm was identified in 209 files, of which 197 met the threshold for open disclosure. All 197 children, young people, and their families, have been contacted by the HSE, offered open disclosure meetings, and provided with the supports of a clinical liaison team to meet their needs.

“My priority today, as it has been since I initiated this Lookback Review in 2022, is the children, young people and their families,” said Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler.

“Today will be a difficult day for them, as they will be looking for answers to questions they have had for a number of years.”

She said that the families received the report earlier “and I briefed Government colleagues on the report at the Cabinet meeting … including the apology from the HSE for the harm caused to these children and young people.”

The report “raises serious issues of concern which have been considered by the Minister”, according to the Department of Health. The issues have also been considered by the Department itself and the HSE, at a regional and national level.

HSE South West accepts all of the recommendations in the report and has, in conjunction with the HSE National Child and Youth Mental Health Office (CYMHO) “ensured they are already being implemented across services in North Kerry. Minister Butler is satisfied that all immediate concerns raised within the report have been addressed as a matter of priority,” the Department said in a statement.

In response to the report, HSE CEO Mr Bernard Gloster said: “I apologise unequivocally to the children and families under our care who have been affected by the North Kerry CAMHS Look Back Review.  I am truly sorry for the harm caused and we will continue to work to improve, reform and invest in mental health services for young people in Kerry, and indeed throughout the country. For families and children attending services today, I want to offer reassurance that our services will respond to you and it is a safe service unlike that which led to this review.”

“In 2023, on foot of the Maskey report I received the support of Government and directed the establishment of the National HSE Child and Youth Mental Health Office.  That office has published the Child and Youth Mental Health Action Plan, which takes into account all the recommendations of Maskey; the HSE’s internal audits on prescribing practice; HSE audits of adherence to CAMHS operational guidelines; and the recommendations of the Mental Health Commission’s Report on CAMHS provision.

“The HSE will continue this significant programme of service improvement and investment to ensure the recommendations of this Look Back Review into North Kerry CAMHS report are implemented and to provide high-quality mental health services for children and young people in Kerry, and throughout the country.

“I am conscious that for the people of Kerry and indeed CAMHS service users across the country that their confidence has been eroded. While all of our improvements are good and welcome, there is no doubt but that our services in Kerry were so far below the acceptable standards as to cause risk of harm. That is unacceptable, it is not good enough and for that I am sincerely sorry. I have also clarified that the HSE has made a referral to the Medical Council in this case, and it is important that their assessment is allowed to progress.”

Prof Matthew Sadlier, Vice-President of the IMO and Chair of its consultants’ committee, who is also a consultant psychiatrist, said that “mere apologies” to the victims and their families were not sufficient, and that root and branch reform of the services were needed as an urgent priority.

“At the heart of this issue are poor governance and under-resourcing of mental health services – none of the teams in north Kerry was staffed at appropriate levels, denying patients the high-quality standard of care they needed. The system is set up to fail as geographically isolated community-based services have always had difficulties with staff recruitment and retention which leads to poor outcomes for patients.”

Minister Butler added: “I am seriously concerned that such a significant shortfall in standards in the North Kerry CAMH service constituted a risk of harm to children, However, I am satisfied that throughout the review process, and with the findings and recommendations from the South Kerry review, HSE South West has taken the necessary steps to address the deficits in care experienced by children and young people as highlighted in this report and in the Maskey review.”

“I am also assured that the necessary safeguards have been put in place to ensure that similar risks do not happen again. Throughout the Lookback process all young people and families have had access to on-going support, including the open disclosure helpline and a Clinical Liaison Support Team. My absolute objective in completing and publishing this review was to keep the best interests of young people and their families to the fore.”

The decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála to reject plans for a €100 million extension to the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, is “short-sighted and regrettable”, according to the IMO.

Prof Matthew Sadlier, IMO Vice President and chair of the organisation’s consultants’ committee, added that the decision will “jeopardise the wellbeing” of many women and their infant children.

“The Government has rightly given special status to energy, water and transport in its latest critical infrastructure plan, but it is clear that healthcare infrastructure needs to be added to the list,” he said.

“For too long, patients and the healthcare staff who treat them have been forced to endure inadequate conditions in archaic facilities around the country, and this latest decision will perpetuate this dangerous reality for patients of the Rotunda Hospital.

“Our perennial inability to adequately fund and resource our health system has led to a multitude of chronic problems, of which infrastructure is just one. The Government must take action to address the issue of planning in the context of building much needed healthcare infrastructure.”

Separately in a joint statement released on Friday, the Rotunda Board and Executive Management Team said they were “bitterly disappointed”.

“This decision will have devastating consequences for the women and infants who trust us with their care,” according to the statement.

“Most affected will be the tiny fragile premature infants who require prolonged, safe intensive care which should be provided in a modern 21st century neonatal intensive care unit.  As Ireland’s busiest maternity hospital providing care to a quarter of the state’s premature and critically ill babies it is essential that we address the infrastructural deficits and spatial constraints in a timely fashion.

“This decision will not only create clinical risk for the most vulnerable cohort of patients in the health system but may have a national impact in terms of neonatal capacity.”

A new “comprehensive” national framework designed to strengthen patient safety, accountability and quality improvement across surgical services in Ireland has been published.

A Framework for Surgical Clinical Governance was launched by the RCSI following work by the College’s Expert Group on Best Practice in Clinical Governance Surgical Leadership.

Aligned with international best practice, the framework is intended for use across public, voluntary and independent healthcare settings. It outlines four key domains – morbidity and mortality meetings, multidisciplinary team engagement, patient safety and clinical audit, and the governance of innovation, research and new technologies – which are “central to the safe and effective governance of surgical care”.  

The framework provides a “governance maturity model” that surgical services can use to assess the extent to which their governance arrangements are embedded, reliable and integrated within the wider hospital system, and in planning progressive improvement over time. 

Prof Deborah McNamara, President of the RCSI, said: “Surgeons are privileged to care for people at some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives. With that privilege comes the profound responsibility to learn from our experiences, as enabled by safe, transparent and learning-oriented surgical governance.”

“High-quality surgical care depends on strong clinical governance, clear accountability and a culture of continuous learning,” continued Prof McNamara. 

“The public have the right to high quality and safe surgical care. This framework is RCSI’s constructive contribution to the national effort to improve patient safety and support our surgical workforce, providing practical guidance for surgeons, clinical leaders and healthcare organisations to support patient safety and improve outcomes. In particular, the use of the governance maturity model will support our hospitals in reflecting on the areas of improvement they need to prioritise.” 

Mr David Moore, Chair of the Expert Group on Best Practice in Clinical Governance in Surgery and RCSI Council Member, said: “Surgical teams across Ireland are committed to delivering safe, effective care, often under significant pressure. This framework is designed to support that work by providing a clear, consistent structure for governance that is clinically led, evidence-informed and focused on learning and improvement. Our aim is to help surgical services strengthen governance in a way that is practical and sustainable.” 

The framework is now available on the RCSI website here. 

The implementation of the new the Waiting Time Action Plan (WTAP) 2026 will be overseen by the waiting list task force.

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the WTAP, which was published on Friday 30 January, “is a multi-faceted approach with one overarching aim, to ensure people get access to faster care and achieve better health outcomes.”

According to the document, the governance structure of the WTAP 2026 “will broadly” follow the model and principles developed for previous action plans, with oversight of its implementation conducted through the task force.

The task force, co-chaired by the Department of Health Secretary General and the HSE CEO, will be comprised of senior representatives from the Department, the HSE Centre and Regions and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).

“It will report directly to the Minister for Health, with whom issues will be escalated as required,” reads the plan. “The WTAP 2026 also falls under the broader umbrella of Sláintecare reforms in relation to improving access to care and progress reports will continue to be provided to the Sláintecare Programme Board for discussion at their meetings,” according to the plan.

Minister Carroll MacNeill said: “In order to reduce waiting times we need to see more activity that results in patients receiving care, particularly those waiting the longest. As detailed in the action plan, this will be achieved through a combination of measures including service reforms and innovation; increased productivity and improved performance; investment in infrastructure and staffing; embracing digital solutions; and supplemented by targeted additional capacity via the NTPF.”

According to the Department the WTAP sets out six overarching and interconnected targets, which will be achieved through the delivery of 36 actions under the themes of “reforming planned care”, “enabling planned care” and “capacity optimisation”.

Targets in the WTAP include:

Sláintecare wait time targets: 50 per cent of patients to be waiting less than the Sláintecare wait time targets of 10 weeks for outpatient (OPD) appointments and 12 weeks for inpatient and day case (IPDC) procedures; and 65 per cent of patients to be waiting less than the Sláintecare wait time target of 12 weeks for GI scopes. 

Weighted average wait time: Reducing the weighted average wait time to < 5.5 months for OPD and IPDC and to < 3.5 months for GI scopes.

Patients waiting less than 12 months: 90 per cent of patients to be waiting less than 12 months for first access to OPD services.

The first curative lung cancer surgeries connected to the Lung Health Check pilot programme have taken place in recent months, according to the Irish Cancer Society.

The €4.9 million lung cancer pilot programme is funded by the Society.

The Lung Health Check is an initiative led by the Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre that was launched last year.

This clinical trial, in collaboration with specific GP practices in North Dublin and the North East region, invited individuals at a high risk of developing lung cancer to attend community-based mobile scanning units for lung health checks.

Currently, six in every 10 lung cancer diagnoses are detected at late stage, when it is harder to treat. 

Thoracic surgeon at St James’s Hospital, Mr Gary Fitzmaurice, who operated on several of the patients identified through the Lung Health Check pilot, said the programme is already demonstrating its value by identifying cancers before symptoms appear, allowing patients to access curative treatment.

He added that the major impact of the pilot is that cancers which would normally be detected at a late stage are instead found at a much earlier point.

 “We’re identifying people who have very early lung cancer who have absolutely no symptoms and without a CT scan would not have been detected,” said Mr Fitzmaurice.  “That gives them the big advantage of having all the potential options for curative intent treatment and the best chance of long-term cure.”

Prof Daniel Ryan, Respiratory Consultant at the Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre and Clinical Lead of the Lung Health Check Pilot, said: “Lung cancer kills more Irish people every year than any other cancer, mainly because it is diagnosed late when it is difficult to treat. This pilot programme is saving lives by detecting cancer early.”

“Leading a mobile lung health check in the community is a major step forward for lung cancer care in Ireland, and we are proud to have initiated this work in Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre. This pilot is breaking down barriers that have long stood in the way of early detection of lung cancer, bringing together partners across the healthcare system. The support from the Irish Cancer Society, and our collaboration with Centric Health GP practices, Alliance Medical Diagnostic Imaging, and the GAA clubs in the region, is ultimately saving lives.”

The HSE has published its National Service Plan 2026. The plan sets out the delivery of a range of health and social care services that will be provided “within the budget of €29 billion”. This includes a €3.8 billion investment for disability services, a 20 per cent increase on 2025.

According to the HSE, highlights include:

• 428 community beds and 177 acute beds will be delivered
• Five new surgical hubs will be operational
• National Children’s Hospital Ireland will be completed
• Single point of access to disability, mental health and primary care services will be provided for children to improve timely access to the right care
• Expansion of core disability services including residential supports – delivering 199 residential placements, 58 de-congregation transitions, and 45 transitions from nursing homes for people under 65
• Greater access with more services available in the evenings and on weekends
• The Maternity and Newborn Electronic Health Record system will be deployed in four of the remaining 13 maternity units
• The Shared Care Record will be implemented in the Dublin South East region and implementation will commence in two other regions.

Speaking about the HSE’s priorities for 2026, Mr Ciarán Devane, HSE Chairperson, said: “The 2026 plan represents a continuation of our reform journey towards a health and social care system that is accessible, supportive, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of all. Ireland’s population now exceeds 5.3 million. Life expectancy continues to rise, projected at 82.7 years overall in 2025, placing us among the highest in Europe. Continuing improvement in life expectancy and in healthy life years remains an important goal now and for the long term.

“Our priority for 2026 is to improve access to care by making significant improvements to waiting times for both emergency and scheduled care. Part of this will be expanding and strengthening health and social care capacity to meet the increasingly complex needs of a growing, ageing, and diverse population. More, however, will be using our existing resources to best effect, innovating our processes to ensure our colleagues are supported to have the time and resources to continue to deliver great care.”

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said: “The Government’s priority for 2026 is to improve healthcare access and quality across all health regions. This will be achieved through targeted investment that supports the shift to community-based care, reduces hospital overcrowding, and delivers services closer to home. Investment will be directed where it delivers the greatest impact for patients and return for taxpayers on the State’s sustained healthcare funding over the past decade.

“Over the past decade, targeted investment has resulted in faster diagnosis, improved outcomes, increases in activity and clearer care pathways for patients. But we still have work to do to make these improvements consistent. In some areas, patients are seen quickly; in others, access is slower. Meanwhile, services such as community therapies face severe backlogs, even in health regions that perform well in other areas. Our goal is that wherever you live in Ireland, you should have timely access to high-quality care.””

Mr Bernard Gloster, HSE CEO, said: “We enter 2026 with the foundations of organisational reform in place and a clear Government mandate to accelerate improvements in service delivery for the people we serve. The establishment of six health regions under Sláintecare and 20 integrated health areas, marks a critical step towards planning and delivering services around the specific needs of local populations leading to better co-ordination of care and improved access to services. This transition to population-focused funding aligns resources with need and empowers health regions to deliver integrated, responsive care, with the ultimate goal of achieving better health outcomes. 2026 is the first year and first major step towards the type of resource allocation and the pathway set by the Minister is clear – we must look at all resources existing and new together to achieve the priorities for the people.

“In addition, the expansion of community-based care and progress in digital transformation have marked important steps in our progress to date. We continue to work to enhance hospital services, improving patient flow, efficiency and capacity, and introducing new models of care to support timely treatment and better outcomes. The goal of right care, right place, right time can be our only real target as we balance the critical success factors of access, safety and outcome.”

The HSE National Service Plan 2026 is available here: HSE National Service Plan 2026

The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH) has become the first hospital in Ireland to successfully introduce new cancer tests for personalising treatment for patients with aggressive forms of gastrointestinal and ovarian cancers.

Claudin-18 (CLDN18) and Folate Receptor-1 (FOLR-1) companion diagnostic and therapeutic testing enables clinicians to determine whether patients with certain aggressive cancers may benefit from highly targeted and potentially life-extending cancer immunotherapies.

The newly validated tests, completed by Medical Scientists and Histopathology Consultants in the hospital’s Cellular Pathology Department, identify the presence of specific proteins in tumour tissue, helping to discern whether new, specialised cancer treatments could improve outcomes for individual patients.

“Pathology laboratories play a central role in clinical decision-making. Approximately 70 per cent of all medical decisions are informed by pathology test results,” said Dr Ann Treacy, Consultant Histopathologist at the Mater Hospital.

“By expanding our precision diagnostic capabilities, patients in Ireland can benefit from advanced testing that helps us match the right patient to the right treatment. This level of precision is vital for improving outcomes, particularly for patients with few remaining treatment options.”

Claudin-18 testing helps identify patients with upper gastrointestinal cancers who may benefit from novel immunotherapies. FOLR-1 testing supports precision treatment decisions for epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancers by determining whether a patient may be suitable for targeted therapies in cases of recurrent or chemotherapy-resistant disease. Together, these tests offer new possibilities for patients who have exhausted conventional treatment options.

“The introduction of these biomarkers represents a meaningful step forward for patients facing some of the most challenging cancers,” said Dr Darren Cowzer, Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Mater Hospital.

“Having rapid access to high-quality local Claudin-18 and FOLR-1 testing allows us to identify candidates for targeted therapies much earlier, ensuring treatment decisions are timely, and precise. These advances give more patients the opportunity to benefit from standard and experimental therapies that may significantly improve outcomes and quality of life.”