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The Irish Medical Times Blog: May 2007

It's raining pandas...

I think of all the blogs Irish Medical Times journalists have written since the launch of Viscera, this would be the one most tenuously linked to health. However, I firmly believe that this blog could be construed as some sort... Read more

Are public health doctors too private?

What do public health doctors actually do? You frequently hear this question as there is a lot of ignorance out there about what their role is in the health service. Indeed, there is probably a juicy contract to be had... Read more

Let's put the band back together

There's good news for all you Police fans - or anyone who loves really bad music sung by really old men. They're back together, and they're coming to the Point in October. I can already see all the Mercs and... Read more

Lost in translation

Cynicism and journalism go hand in hand unfortunately... kind of like altruism and the priesthood. Although you don't actually have to be cynical to want to be a journalist, it's more that you turn cynical over time, so maybe that's... Read more

Breakfast Roll Man

Breakfast roll man leaves his house in Portarlington or Cellbridge at 6.30 am every morning, grabs a bacon buttie roll in the 24 hour garage on the way to work and eats his lunch at his desk. Read more

Election Schadenfreude

So, at least one bloodsport can be good for your health! Forget which party has won, or done well, in the Irish Republic's general election. Look at the individual candidates' performances. It's great fun and is good for your... Read more

The Irish for punishment

I was in the middle of writing my blog entry today about why I hope things are about to change in this country when I stumbled upon this blog entry, which probably says it better than I was going... Read more

They think they have to control us... It's actually quite scary,

In an exclusive interview in this week's Irish Medical Times Dr Christine O'Malley says that trolley counts in large hospitals' accident and emergency departments are being artificially reduced by refusing to admit seriously ill patients from other hospitals. Dr... Read more

Left On The Shelf

The next time you are asked to put up shelves for a friend or relative, explain to them that it is not quite as simple as that. First of all you have to get clearance and funding for the shelves.... Read more

Jumping the shark

I happened upon a little gem of a Dublin publication today at a local cafe - The Jupiter: "A monthly newsletter of ephemera published in Dublin using all the latest printing and typesetting technology." In fact, this is low-fi,... Read more

Happy Harney

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Mary Harney in Dublin Castle as she launched the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). After the launch she spoke to journalists for about 15 minutes, answering questions about the nursing strike and... Read more

The last remaining generalists take the stage

GPs have been somewhat neglected lately, what with all the debate and controversy over consultants, and the media spotlight firmly focused on the nurses's dispute and the general election. When it does turn to doctors it's generally concentrated on the... Read more

I'm starting to feel like Harrison Ford

Ruyan, the Chinese maker of the E-Cigarette, is expanding its market into the US and Europe, and its sales are expected to double in 2007. The devices are battery-powered, cigarette-shaped devices that deliver doses of nicotine when inhaled. They... Read more

Minister Jack Hackett

Fr Jack Hackett will be the inspiration for the next Minister for Health, no matter who he or she is. You'll see why in a minute. First of all, read the health sections of the election manifestos of the... Read more

Did you know?

Did you know that an estimated 7,000 Americans a year die as a result of doctors' bad handwriting? (Harper's, April 2007). Or that the happiness boost that men gain from a firstborn son is 75 per cent larger than from... Read more

It's cool to vote, kids

Rock the Vote? Perhaps the campaign should be called Mock the Vote, since I can't imagine that anyone finds credibility, or an incentive to vote, in watching the humiliating and hilarious attempts of our general election candidates to get... Read more

Is there a doctor In the House?

What I predict or think will happen in this election doesn't really matter. But who cares? Speculating about the success or failure of Dáil Éireann wannabes is fun - especially when they're docs! And there's 10 of them running... Read more

"Chemo fog" and no more "there, there"...

Recent international attention on the effects of chemotherapy on memory loss, lack of concentration, language deficits and the inability to do more than one task at a time has focused on hundreds of posts (self-effacing and hilarious at times) by... Read more

Here we go again...

I don't know about you but I am finding it incredibly difficult to get worked up over the upcoming general election in Ireland. There is a certain amount of "ho-hum, seen it all before" about it. Well, when I... Read more