Robert Graves Lecture 2017_Professor Alf Nicholson_Thursday 12th October 2017

12/10/2017 in Corrigan & Graves Halls, RCPI, 6, Kildare Street, Dublin 2

Professor Alf Nicholson

RCSI Professor of Paediatrics

National Clinical Lead in Paediatrics

‘Towards a more positive view of healthcare in Ireland’

Summary:

On a daily basis, our health system is the subject of debate, critique, and apparent despair with distressing and emotive stories of patients and families all receiving front-page news. The positive stories remain buried elsewhere. Similar coverage pertains in the United Kingdom. Where does the truth lie? How do we measure progress and is real progress commensurate with massive state funding being made? I wish to explore these issues in the context of a  near lifetime’s work in the health service both as a trainee and consultant. I would like to chart the progress made in terms of child and adolescent health, how we compare with others, and the future challenges in paediatrics.  What do patients and families really think of the health service? What can we learn from them and how can we adopt their views in terms of health planning?  The future is very bright but requires a  more integrated approach,  greater support for primary care and general practice,  greater use of technology, and transparency so that our results and outcomes are available to all.  How easy is that?

Starting at 7:00pm in the Corrigan & Graves Halls, RCPI, 6, Kildare Street, Dublin 2