Government launches ‘Healthy Ireland’, a new framework for improved health and wellbeing.

The government has launched its latest health initiative entitled Healthy Ireland, a new policy set to improve the health of Ireland’s citizens and increase life expectancy.

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Interested in working with us? Junior Account Executive wanted!

Publicis D Healthcare is seeking an academic and enthusiastic graduate to join their established healthcare PR team.

If you want the opportunity to make a big impact, broaden your experience and work on Ireland’s largest pharmaceutical brands, then our dynamic agency is the one for you.

If you have recently graduated and have a keen interest in healthcare/medical marketing and communications then please read on. Continue Reading →

Realpolitik and hard lessons for Irish NGOs

On Wednesday evening, John Crown raised an issue in the Seanad that was picked up by mainstream media yesterday – the cut in Irish Patients’ Association core funding by the HSE.

Having worked in public affairs for the last decade, this development wasn’t all that surprising. Ireland’s NGO sector has burgeoned to the point that there are over 20,000 charities in operation.

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New resources to support youth mental health

Led by Kathleen Lynch, Minster of State at the Department of Health (with special responsibility for older people, mental health and disability) new guidelines for mental health and suicide prevention for post-primary schools were launched last week.**

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Breaking the Cycle of Suicide

Celebrities nationwide are joining forces to encourage the Irish public to “Break the Cycle” and heighten awareness of suicide within the Emerald Isle. Through an emotive video, familiar faces (including model Roz Purcell and rugby analyst Brent Pope) hearten viewers to take part in the upcoming Cycle Against Suicide. Continue Reading →

Irish Skin Foundation logo

Publicis D Healthcare Awarded Irish Skin Foundation Contract

Publicis D Healthcare has announced that is has been awarded the PR and marketing contract for the Irish Skin Foundation, a newly-formed, independent organisation set up to support people with skin conditions in Ireland. The Foundation brings together three existing organisations – the Psoriasis Association of Ireland, the Irish Eczema Society and the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Society. Continue Reading →

Reviving Relationships in 2013

EU policy, health, Government, public affairs

A new focus required for effective stakeholder engagement

Patient View Quarterly this week released new research on stakeholder engagement based 600 international, national and regional patient groups from 56 countries (72% of 2012 responses came from patient organisations in the EU giving a very definite European flavour to the work).

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‘Forget your health’, drinking will ruin your good looks

A new way of thinking

Alcohol awareness campaigners are considering a new approach to tackling the so-called ‘binge drinking issue’ among young people. The traditional campaigns focusing on key messages around associated liver, heart, and general health risks appear to be on the verge of falling out of favour with some (for the meantime at least). Continue Reading →

An austerity budget doesn’t mean targeting those in most need

With the dreaded Budget 2013 now only hours away, we consider the likely impact of Government cuts to the health spend for 2013.

Budget 2013

Over the last number of days, the Government have been frantically finalising the particulars of the forthcoming Budget 2013. We are told that while the Trokia (EU, IMF, and ECB) have dictated the overall scale of the measures, it is believed that the coalition parties have made most of the choices, in terms of “where” and “how” to cut. However, despite the spin, the impotence of our Government is all too clear.  Continue Reading →

Ireland’s Insistence Still Lunacy

Depression

Despite a push for equality, people impacted by mental illness are still victims of discrimination.  

A 140 year old act imposed under British rule is still in existence despite outcries over its discriminatory nature.

Signed into law by Queen Victoria and under the Government of William Gladstone, the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act of 1871 defines people of ill mental health as an ‘idiot, lunatic or of unsound mind’.

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Doctor-Rating Websites – the future of patient-lead healthcare?

Accessing our GP

Is choosing a GP based on the proximity of their surgery to your home or work place, personal previous experience, or the experience of family or friends a thing of the past? Are we now taking the “word of mouth” tool to a new level through the ever-increasing use of “doctor-rating websites”? The British Medical Journal (BMJ) Open has recently published results of a study on this very topic, entitled “Who is more likely to use doctor-rating websites, and why? A cross-sectional study in London”. Continue Reading →

Publicis D Healthcare pick up award for Lean on Me – to Win Campaign

The 2012 Irish Healthcare Awards, which took place on November 1st, saw Publicis D Healthcare pick up the award for ‘Best Patient Education Project – Pharmaceutical’ for depression awareness campaign ‘Lean on Me – to Win’, in partnership with Lundbeck Ireland. Continue Reading →