Minister Carroll MacNeill Seeks More Pharmacy Vaccinations for Children Amid New Hospital Preparations
Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill wants pharmacies to administer more childhood vaccines, citing increased flu vaccine uptake and the new Children's Hospital's opening. She also addressed HSE recruitment, aiming to reduce agency staff, and highlighted new pharmacy services. The Irish Pharmacy Union seeks a critical fee review to reflect public funding.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill advocates for pharmacies to administer more vaccines to schoolchildren this year, particularly as preparations for the new Children's Hospital advance. She noted that the flu vaccine uptake for children rose from 17% in 2024 to 25% last year, emphasizing its importance for public health and managing respiratory illnesses, especially with the hospital transition.
Regarding HSE budget overruns and nursing shortages, the Minister clarified that recruitment for frontline clinical positions is ongoing. She aims to reduce reliance on agency staff by converting temporary contracts to permanent HSE positions, noting that too much money is spent on agency workers to fill funded vacancies. She acknowledged recruitment challenges faced across Europe.
Carroll MacNeill also mentioned meeting staff at Crumlin Children's Hospital who expressed excitement about moving to the new facility, assuring that practicalities would be resolved to ensure excellent clinical care. A new Chief Pharmaceutical Officer role will be advertised next month to provide expert advice to the Department of Health.
Newly elected Irish Pharmacy Union President Caoimhe McAuley highlighted increasing cost bases for pharmacists and an upcoming fee review in June. She stressed this review is crucial to ensure funding reflects that 82% of dispensary revenue is publicly funded. McAuley also noted the expansion of pharmacy services, allowing pharmacists to triage and dispense prescriptions for eight common conditions, a service the Minister wishes to expand further. These conditions include allergic rhinitis, cold sores, conjunctivitis, impetigo, oral and vulvovaginal thrush, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections. Bowel cancer screening is also now available at local pharmacies.