That meant that patients assessed as "clinically suitable" would be sent home for weekends but would return to hospitals on Mondays.

I don't believe they said...no risk. No risk has but one meaning...please don't put words in a government administrator's mouth...

"Clinically suitable" will have many meanings...depending on the $$

For "Health Service Executive", substitute "Independent Payment Advisory Board." How do you like it now?

I want to make sure I'm understanding this correctly,

To save money the nationally run healthcare system, PaddyCare, is sending patients home to cut costs.

How long until they start rationing treatments "you're 80 years old, take this pain pill and go home" ?

Sounds like they're getting close to Death Panels.

If they were really well enough to go home on the weekends, maybe they shouldn't be in the hospital? Or is it just how much National healthcare is failing in Ireland? I'd be hot if I were one of those patients. Here, (in the US) we have a President who wants to copy this failing system. Wouldn't it be much smarter to not waste money copying a bad plan and work on the good instead? Common sense is too much to ask from Politicians, and apparently from Europe, for the most part, as well.

The health plan isn't failing in Ireland: the economy is. With the economic decline tax revenue has fallen, and the budget for every government program is being cut. You can't consider that a health plan failure. In the US many of those people would never get any health care at all.

I guess they figure that on the weekends they have family members at home to provide nursing care to the patients. What this sounds like is that their health care system has people in the hospital that would have been sent home in most other countries. A hospital should be for people who need round the clock professional care that can not be administered at home. A hospital is not a nursing home and should not be used as one, this just drives up costs unnecessarily. If a patient is OK to go home for the weekend then they do not need to be in a hospital to start with, they should be at home with a home health care aid or in a nursing home. If the patient needs a level of care that can not be provided at home or in a nursing home then to send them home from the hospital for the weekend is dangerous and grossly negligent. It would be very interesting to see the types of patients they send home for the weekends under this plan and whether they are risking patients lives or if they have people in the hospital who really do not belong there.

I was watching a british tv show (rosemary & thyme) last night via Netflix. One of the characters was injured: broken leg and a concussion. The plot called for her to be in the hospital for a "couple" weeks. Broken leg and concussion? These require lenghty hospital stays? Wouldn't happen here. The Irish just might find that their loved ones do better at home since they are exposed as much to nosocomial infections (those acquired from the hospital).

If we adopt this obamacare, the US is headed right down the same road. Everyone better wake up.....quickly

Robert,

The health care plan is failing because the economy cannot support it. The drain has led to the economic downfall of many European countries. When people expect the government to be their parents, i.e. responsible for everything, it all will fail eventually. You see, you run out of people working for a living and paying into the system.

I had a baby in Ireland and was in the hospital for 5 days (it would have been 10 for a Csection). Best hospital stay I ever had.

I live in a rural area and home health out here stinks so I take care of my husband myself. He has terminal brain cancer and is on his 6th abdominal surgery for a hernia surgery that refuses to heal due to the mesh being consistently rejected. The docs finally removed the mesh and it is healing this time but I have spent 9 months cleaning infected wounds, giving him IVs and looking at his intestines... I mean literally being able to see my husband's intestines. Then there are the post brain surgery issues. At times he can walk and talk. At times he needs help with the most basic body functions and cannot stand alone.

He is home because I do not want him to die in a nursing home and the doctors agree it is "medically safe" for him to be home. It makes me wonder what is considered medically safe in Ireland that would allow for someone to be stuck in the hospital 5 days a week and then sent home on weekends. Seriously if my husband is ok to be home 24/7 then how much worse could someone be and be allowed to be home just on weekends?

I am blessed that we have a farm and I do not have the normal 9 to 5 job most women have but it is still very hard at times because we have a toddler. I cannot imagine the situation for someone trying to cope in a different set of circumstances. If I were older, had to work a normal job or had any number of other issues to deal with that other women must cope with how would I care for him?

All I can do is pray for the families forced into a situation they are not able to cope with. This is so sad for so many people who will not have the emotional and physical resources to cope.

I was told by an Irish friend some years ago, before the financial collapse of the Irish economy, that it was quite common for some people to check themselves into hospital for a week or more for something as simple as the common cold. I couldn't believe this but I'm sure they were correct. I think their health care system has been overtaxed for years and now has reached the breaking point. I'm quite sure those who need nursing care to live will not be sent home at all until they are well enough. Personally I would not want to stay in hospital one moment longer than required. Infection control isn't what is should be in some of these facilities, and I don't think it matters if it's in Ireland or here.

Coming to America very soon.

The decision that they don't need to be in a hospital was made by the Health Service Executive. That is to say, the government. It was made because of budget constraints. Personally, I would rather that decision be made by my doctor than by my government. How about you?

Who ate my soup

If they don't NEED to be staying in a hospital,,,, why are they staying in a hospital?

-------My thoughts exactly. If they were admitted to the hospital, it was probably for a good reason. These kinds of things usually don't end well. Good luck to the "sent home" patients

That meant that patients assessed as "clinically suitable" would be sent home for weekends but would return to hospitals on Mondays.

Translation: "They don't need to be here but we can still milk a couple more dollars (euros?) out of somebody"

Exactly what I was thinking, too. If they are well enough to go home for the weekend, why not discharge them? What criteria determines who gets the weekend off from medical care? How will this sliding scale of patient eligibility for professional care also be cut in the future? Is it maybe so patients must incur the cost of emergency care during their weekend off before readmission?

It doesn't make any sense for the patient.

I had the same thought myself.

I agree with you 100%. I think some, not all or even a large number or patients, hospital stays are extended to make money.

lady cat, in my experience with multiple hospital stays, I have observed just the opposite--patients being sent home asap, not being held there for no good reason.

Of course headhunter, it is true about American hospitals, especially when Medicare and Medicaid are the patient's insurance providers.

Maybe they are talking about chronically ill patients who'll get weekends off during their extended stay?

??

But sometimes, headhunter, they send patients home too soon. It may be good for the hospital, but isn't always for the patients.

Well, aren't we all so smart. Anyone who knows anything about the Irish health-care system from first hand experience or studied effort, raise your hand! I'm only guessing here, but I don't think there are too many hands going up. So it boils down to folks expressing opinion about something they know little or nothing about.

Maybe clinically stable patients are kept in hospital because there are fewer support services in the community than maybe are available in the US. Maybe patients that are clinically stable remain in hospital to get chemotherapy, wound care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc., etc., etc. that isn't available in the community.

Now some bright enterprising person could start up businesses that provide those services, but don't because there's little money to made doing it because of the structure of the health-care reimbursement scheme in Ireland.

Maybe in Ireland they haven't put in place the infrastructure to support home health-care because of a multitude of practices; unions, government mandated and regulated health-care reimbursement, and the tradition that everything comes through the government and little is left to the private sector except for those with the means to pay for it out of pocket.

Maybe, I don't know, I'm just guessing like the rest of you.

Maybe, I don't know, I'm just guessing like the rest of you

Then why are you bashing other posters?

Yes it is.

Under English rule, millions died of starvation and curable diseases. I thank God that my great-grand parents left for this land of opportunity and social consciousness.

You think it is Irish because YOU don't pay taxes to PAY FOR IT. Those that do PAY, do not get to have the money they need for their own families because freeloading bums like you will NOT work and PAY for your own needs. Sure you think this is terrific, you selfish freeloader bum.

I'm pretty sure he was being sarcastic.

Libsareidiots-I officially nominate you for most clueless, culturally dense post of the day

The world health organization ranks Ireland 19th and the U.S. 37th for best health care. Using factors such as deaths, infant mortality, infections, longevity etc. We might have the best health care in the world but if you're on an HMO, regular insurance, Medicare or medicaid you don't have access to it. People here delude themselves thinking because we pay so much it must be better even when they go to emergency rooms and wait 8 hours to be seen.

coo-coo coo-coo

The young lady you wrote about should be helped,it's good that she is helping herself.But,$120,000 for military retirement....ah! no doubt it's true but that is not your average military retired person.As for the service disability,we don't no what caused it and whether it is combat related or not is irelavent.As for government lording it over us?your talking to the choir,I totaly agree. ...:o)

Kevin is an idiot.

And the 120000 salary if for their job now at the FAA. The Air Force retirement and disability are also both separate payyments. The point is government is CORRUPT as hell.

On the other hand the retired Air Force people making $120,000 or more per year salary also get an Air Force retirement starting at 40 till they die, and 80% of them are also "disabled" at 80% and so gets another disabilty check.

Do you have a source for these numbers, or did you just make them up?

I have to comment on the military retirement/disability comment. I know for a fact that if someone is getting disability from the military they take that amount from their retirement. My dad gets 20% disability from the Army and only 80% retirement. I also have an uncle who get's 100% disability from the Army, so no retirement. So, the military balances out how you get disability and retirement. This is why you see a lot of people retire from the service on partial disability and get jobs in the private sector. Their disability kept them from continuing in the service, but they can advance in the civilian world

@Libsareidiots - You are a big-mouthed moronic liar and fraud. Add clueless ignoramous. You obviously know absolutely nothing about the US military. If you could get $120,000 a year retirement from the military, why aren't you in the military staying for 20 and getting your fat gravy-train monthly check for $10,000????? Were you too stupid to cash in on the greatest financial boondoggle available???

Here's a dose of reality. Military retirement is at most 50% of base pay for 20 years' service. There are other schemes that pay only 35% or 40% at 20 years service. 83% of service members never make it to retirement. Of the 17% who do, most never make it past 20 years. The huge majority of service members and therefore retirees are enlisted personnel. The usual grades at retirement are E-6 to E-9 at 20 years of service. Military retirees get 50% of only their base pay. Base pay at 20 years is for E-6 to E-9 is $3,590 - $5,524 per month. They retire on $1,795 - $2,762 per month or about $21,540 - $33,144 per year. A very tiny percentage of E-8 and E-9 personnel actually make it to 30 years of service. Assuming they this tiny percentage actually get to 30 years of service, they might get as much as $4,124 - $4,973 a month which is $49,488 - $59,676 a year. Retirees at 30 years service are retiring at age 50 or so, and have little prospect for a civilian job at that age. If they take ANY kind of federal job, they forfeit all their retirement while they are working and will forfeit at least part if not all of it if they draw any other kind of federal retirement. The highest rank possible, O-10, a 4-star flag-officer (i.e. full General or full Admiral, which you could count on less than the number of fingers and toes you have) capped at $14,975 by Level II of the Executive Schedule and half that is $7,488. Basic pay for O-6 (full Colonel in the USAF, USA and USMC; Captain USN) and below is capped at $12,142 by Level V of the Executive Schedule and half that is $6,071. Almost all of the few officers who actually make it to retirement retire at O-5 (Lt Colonel USAF, USA and USMC, Commander USN), some at O-6. A miniscule number become flag officers by Act of Congress (yes, it takes a specific act of Congress to make someone a General or Admiral). The maximum possible retirement is still less than your $120,000 and the more likely retirements are around $70,000 to $80,000 for O-5 and O-6 retirees.

"!But do Democrats see Ireland, Greece etc." Doubtful... but if they did have their eyes open, they would most likely only see their colon...

"!But do Democrats see Ireland, Greece etc." Doubtful... but if they did have their eyes open, they would most likely only see their colon...

They see them the same as republicans do. That's why Bush implemented his first stimulus and Obama the second to prevent what occurred to those countries. Had they simply implemented austerity measures as these countries under a single currency were required to do we'd be in the same boat as Greece and Ireland. Better if you don't try to understand economics too well you'll merely be confused.

No thanks Comrade. A little study of History shows the effect on the Middle-Class in these "Workers Paradises" ....THEY DON'T EXIST AT ALL ! !

rationing is already happening...to the poor...and the not quite so poor. rationing will be coming to look for you soon, if we don't change the system to a single payer government run system. it's inevitable. everyone in the pool, or eventually only the wealthy will swim.

So, I guess you didn't read the article?

40% of all Americans are already covered under government funded healthcare with medicare, medicaid and veterans. 50% already have health insurance through their employers or purchased on their own and are unaffected. The remaining few percentage that are required to buy insurance or pay a penalty will hardly make a drastic change to our health system. You brainless Obama bashers can spew all you want but you weren't voting for him anyway so who cares?

I guess you didn't read the article either. When the government is the sole source of $$$ for the system, and the government runs out of $$$ what do you think happens? The US has been getting away with paying one credit card off with another, but how long do you think it can go on? It has nothing to do with whomever is ion charge. I said Obamacare II because there is no Bushcare, Clintoncare, or Reagoncare to reference. It is interesting how you draw any conclusion about my intelligence from a few lines in a comment column. I suggest you get that chip off your shoulder and your head out of your a$$.

This will be an interesting experiment to watch from a safe distance.

Hospitals do decrease some of the services on weekends and holidays-ever had an MRI on a Sunday? (If so, you had something pretty scary going on!) A lot of people are in the hospital primarily for procedures, treatments, and tests that aren't routinely performed on weekends. If a patient is "stable" and doesn't require nursing care or daily physician oversight, they could be at home being helped by family/friends. I'm guessing the physican makes the decision of who's "stable" enough and that there's a back-up plan available.

If this experiment saves $$$, may be coming soon to an insurance company near you.

I disagree. The sub-prime mortgage meltdown primarily hurt the banks - until the government bailed them out. I find it hard to feel sorry for a buyer that made $50,000 a year buying a $500,000 house. He/she got hoodwinked. That salary does not support that house. The big bankers got their money back from the taxpayers via the bailouts so nothing to feel sorry for there.

Most people in most industrialized countries were living above their means, not just in Greece, Italy, Spain ect. The governments said let us tax you endlessly and we will make your lives great. Again, the money ran out. They ran out of people to tax. Now the southern Europeans are committing suicide probably out of shame that they let their own government mobsters talk them into this plan. If we let the democrats turn the US totally socialist, we will be in the same situation sooner rather than later.

We all have to suck it up, live within our means, and stop the government from behaving like loan sharks.

They have tort reform (no lawyers and malparactice crap) That is why they can provide that care but not now. Your just another liberal who failed to grasp the issues

In Ireland you're treated without regard to how good your insurance is. Most of those being sent home for the weekend wouldn't even be admitted to an American hospital. How right wingers can bash Ireland's health care is a mystery.

JT1364: They have tort reform (no lawyers and malparactice crap) That is why they can provide that care but not now. Your just another liberal who failed to grasp the issues

It isn't liberal ACLU lawyers getting rich off 100 million dollar lawsuits it's rich corporate right wing lawyers. Republicans regularly defend the right to sue for astronomical amounts. Could you make a better case for liberalism? Sadly you're not even smart enough to defend what you believe.

JT1364, figured out a long time ago, that you just like to read what you write. Doom and Gloom.

900 pages that reads almost like a copy of Romneycare that those in Massachusetts mostly love. It even has those same mandates republicans bash. Imagine that.