Top health leaders to address Patient Solutions 2026 - Irish Medical Times

Derek Tierney Outlines Healthcare Reform Vision at Dublin Conference

Ireland’s top health civil servant addresses clinicians, patients, and health sector leaders at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium this week to share his vision for the health service since taking on his new role. Department of Health Secretary-General Derek Tierney addresses clinicians, patients, and health sector leaders at the Patient Solutions conference. Appointed secretary-general in April after serving as assistant secretary-general overseeing health infrastructure and Sláintecare reform, Tierney uses his keynote to outline pressing structural, legislative, and regulatory shifts.

The one-day event, running for its second year, focuses heavily on the full continuum of patient care, ranging from preventative medicine and early intervention to acute hospital treatment and community discharge support. Tierney’s keynote address, titled “National reform update: What is changing in Irish healthcare now?”, details the implementation milestones expected to drive service delivery over the coming year.

Technology, Prevention, and Precision Medicine Take Center Stage

Alongside the Department of Health leadership updates, the conference schedule features specialized tracks tackling digital transformation, chronic illness management, and personalized care. Damien McCallion, HSE chief technology and transformation officer and deputy CEO, addresses delegates on matching patient needs with timely care under the banner “Right care, right place, right time: What it means for patients.”

Discussions dive deep into preventative strategies and chronic disease adaptation. A panel addressing risk reduction before illness develops features ICGP director of quality improvement Dr Andrée Rochfort, HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry, and Bowel Cancer Ireland co-chair Brendan Donlon. Later sessions pivot toward long-term support, bringing together consultant in rehabilitation medicine Dr Éimear Smith, cognitive scientist Dr John Francis Leader, and UCD clinical professor of palliative medicine Prof Karen Ryan.

Effective clinical tools are explored by Irish Cancer Society head of research Claire Kilty PhD, HIQA chief information officer Bala Krishnan, and HSE digital transformation officer Edward Harte as they discuss how technology partners and clinicians can collaborate on design. In a parallel session, TCD professor of neurology Orla Hardiman and Lynch Syndrome Ireland patient advocate Roberta Horgan explore the integration of precision diagnostics, biomarker-driven treatments, and cascade screening into routine medical pathways.

Progress, Gaps, and Whole-Person Care

The afternoon agenda highlights systemic policy gaps and patient expectations. UCAN Ireland patient advocate Martin Sweeney, TCD professor of health policy Steve Thomas, HSE national chief nursing and midwifery information officer Loretto Grogan, and chief medical officer Prof Mary Horgan all take part in a panel dedicated to reform.

Additional workshops examine biopsychosocial approaches to wellness, featuring contributions from Marie Keating Foundation CEO Liz Yeates, ARC Cancer Support Centres CEO Amy Nolan, Irish Cancer Society head of education and engagement Aoife McNamara, and Féach CEO Eithne Walsh. The conference is hosted by Irish Medical Times in collaboration with MIMS Ireland, with sponsorship support from industry partners including GSK and Johnson and Johnson.