February 10, 2012

ISA structures to ‘separate’

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By Gary Culliton. There is to be a “diminution” of the current Integrated Service Areas (ISAs) which were designed to integrate primary and hospital care, a spokesperson for the Minister for Health has confirmed to Irish Medical Times.

Lobby TDs on cards, says IMO

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By Gary Culliton. The IMO is calling on patients to lobby their TDs to address the continuing problems with the medical card system, Irish Medical Times has been told.

EU turns to Ireland on ‘sugar tax’

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By Lloyd Mudiwa. The High Level Group on Nutrition and Physical Activity of the European Health Commission has invited Ireland to share its experience when it carries out a health impact assessment on introducing a ‘fat tax’ or ‘sugar tax’.

Still room for extra VFM in primary care setting

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By Lloyd Mudiwa. The State and consumers can still get more value for money (VFM) from primary care services, the Competition Authority has said.

Lower rate to apply for some pensions

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By Lloyd Mudiwa. The Department of Health has pointed out that pensionable remuneration under the early retirement scheme must be calculated in line with the Consolidated Health Sector Salary Scales.

Consultants ‘must have advocacy role’

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By Gary Culliton. The IHCA Secretary General has backed the need for consultants to advocate for appropriate healthcare resources and facilities for their patients based on Medical Council guidelines.

Access to CMH teams needs improvement

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By Gary Culliton. Between 27.2 per cent and 30 per cent of service users have rated access to psychological therapies, community mental health (CMH) teams and social workers as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’, with one-third of respondents in a new national survey indicating that they did not have a care plan.

Ireland biggest recruiter of foreign doctors in OECD

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By Lloyd Mudiwa. Ireland is the biggest recruiter of foreign-trained nurses and doctors in the OECD, figures would suggest.

Risks in general practice ‘can never be totally eliminated’

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By Lloyd Mudiwa. ‘General Practice — a Risky Business’ is one of the topics to be discussed at the ICGP 2012 National Trainers Conference, which takes place this Thursday and Friday (9-10 February) at the Lyrath Estate Hotel, Kilkenny.

Dire warning over waiting list

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By Pat Kelly. Inadequate funding and a slow-moving waiting list are contributing to huge delays for patients awaiting gastric band surgery, and a leading endocrinologist has warned that patients may die while waiting for the procedure.

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