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News: March 2008

Mentally ill face 'discrimination' in accessing nursing homes

Ian McGuinness | 29 March 2008 | Industrial Relations

Elderly and mentally-ill patients are suffering 'petty discrimination' in getting access to nursing homes, a prominent psychiatrist has told the Irish Medical Organisation's Annual General Meeting. Dr Siobhan Barry said that while other inpatients in general hospitals can avail of... Read more

'Buy out' of training will be resisted

Ian McGuinness | 29 March 2008 | Research and Education

Any attempt by employers to ‘buy out’ junior doctors’ training will be resisted, the Irish Medical Organisation has said. The Chairman of the union’s Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Committee, Dr John Morris, said the IMO ‘won’t tolerate’ any attempts at offering... Read more

Irish team present innovative paper

Gary Culliton | 29 March 2008 | Research and Education

A pioneering paper was presented at last week’s meeting, in Washington, DC of the Society of Interventional Radiology by Dr John Moriarty, Specialist Registrar in Dublin’s Mater Hospital. His colleague Dr Leo Lawler was the lead author of the paper.... Read more

Doctor acquitted of charges due to procedural grounds

Ed Madden | 29 March 2008 | Medico-Legal

On 9 August 2006, a medical practitioner was committed for trial on an indictment which contained four counts that he indecently assaulted three women contrary to section 13(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 1956. The offences were alleged to have... Read more

Fine Gael sets up a new policy commission

Sandra Ryan | 28 March 2008 | Health Management

Fine Gael has set up a new policy commission called ‘Transforming Irish Public Services’, party leader Enda Kenny has announced. He said the priority for the group will be to look at ways of introducing a universal healthcare system for... Read more

Gardaí criticised for failing to protect medics from assaults

Ian McGuinness | 28 March 2008 | Industrial Relations

The Garda Síochána has been criticised for its failure to enforce legislation that protects doctors from assaults. Consultant psychiatrist, Dr Siobhán Barry, told the Irish Medical Organisation’s Annual General Meeting in Killarney that Section 185 of the Criminal Justice Act... Read more

Injured doctors to get compensation?

Ian McGuinness | 28 March 2008 | Industrial Relations

The compensation scheme available to nurses who are injured due to violence in the workplace could be rolled out to other professionals in the health service, the Health Service Executive Employers Agency has said. Mr Brendan Mulligan, Assistant Chief Executive... Read more

Reilly ends 'conflict of interest'

Gary Culliton | 28 March 2008 | General Practice

Fine Gael Health spokes-man Dr James Reilly intends to end his involvement in a proposed primary care centre in Swords, if and when planning permission comes through, because he ‘does not wish to be seen to have a conflict of... Read more

Epilepsy services fail patients

Sandra Ryan | 28 March 2008 | Features

Sandra Ryan reports on the lack of epilepsy services in Ireland and gets the expert view on what is needed to improve the situation. Epilepsy services in Ireland, and neurology services in the country generally, are among the worst in... Read more

E-health: Health Service 'goes mobile' in UK

28 March 2008 | Information Technology

Community nurses in Lincolnshire are set to have access to laptops which will allow them access patients' records during their visits The nurses are set to get rugged wireless laptops in one of the largest deployments yet of mobile technology... Read more

Not known yet if GPs can negotiate collectively

Ian McGuinness | 28 March 2008 | Industrial Relations

The Department of Health is still in consultation with the Attorney General over whether or not it can negotiate with the IMO on a collective basis about payments made to GPs under the Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme. Irish Medical Times... Read more

Beacon Group to pay €20m for sewer

Gary Culliton | 28 March 2008 | Private Healthcare

Beacon Medical Group has indicated it is prepared to make ‘planning contributions’ to fund the €20m cost of constructing a new Sandyford sewer in south Dublin, which would allow its proposed €160m new children’s and maternity hospital to proceed. Beacon... Read more

Kids' 'Fat Camps' to open in 2008

Mary Anne Kenny | 28 March 2008 | Public Health

The problem of adolescent overweight and obesity is so bad in Ireland that for the first time in history, this generation of children will have a shorter lifespan than their parents, according to obesity expert and founder of Motivation Weight... Read more

Emigrant doctors should ask for break

Ian McGuinness | 28 March 2008 | Industrial Relations

Doctors who are planning to leave Ireland this summer for career purposes have been encouraged to apply to the HSE for a career break, in order to protect their pension rights. The Irish Medical Organisation said that any doctor who... Read more

More GPs are needed

Ian McGuinness | 28 March 2008 | General Practice

The President Elect of the Irish Medical Organisation has warned that there are still significant difficulties in recruiting appropriately qualified doctors from abroad to work in general practice in the Republic. Referring to the failure by the Health Service Executive... Read more

IPU welcomes High Court decision over HSE drug payment

Sandra Ryan | 28 March 2008 | Industrial Relations

The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) has welcomed the decision of the High Court to grant an injunction preventing the Health Service Executive (HSE) from reducing drug payments to Limerick pharmacist Niall O’Sullivan. Mr O’Sullivan took the action as he believes... Read more

Drumm should get four salaries to save the HSE

Gary Culliton | 28 March 2008 | Industrial Relations

A corporate troubleshooter has launched a scathing attack on the way the Health Service Executive is run, saying the HSE needs to quadruple the salary of its Chief Executive if the problems of the Irish health system are to be... Read more

Taoiseach slammed for handling of obesity problem

Ian McGuinness | 27 March 2008 | Public Health

The Taoiseach has been criticised for failing to show leadership in dealing with the problem of obesity. Speaking at the Irish Medical Organisation's Annual General Meeting in Killarney, Dr Fenton Howell referred to the 2005 Report of the National Taskforce... Read more

HSE fails to deliver primary care team jobs for graduates

Ian McGuinness | 27 March 2008 | General Practice

Health professionals who should have been working as part of primary care teams may emigrate and be lost by the State, the Irish Medical Organisation has warned. Dr Martin Daly, Chairman of the union’s GP Committee, said: “There is a... Read more

MRSA test not available in Ireland

Mary Anne Kenny | 27 March 2008 | Hospital Medicine

The first rapid blood-test for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but, as yet, it cannot be confirmed when the test will be available in Ireland. Traditional microbiology-based cultures require 24-72 hours... Read more

Docs should prepare women for labour

Sandra Ryan | 27 March 2008 | Hospital Medicine

New research has found that health professionals working in antenatal care should better prepare women for labour and that antenatal programmes must ‘get real’, since most women are ill-prepared for the experience. A Newcastle University team studied all published literature... Read more

Targets still not reached for doctor-only cards

Ian McGuinness | 26 March 2008 | General Practice

Thirteen additional full medical cards were issued last month for every extra doctor-only card that was granted, it has emerged. There were 8,111 new full cards issued between 1 February and 1 March this year, in comparison to 616 additional... Read more

Women have to wait one year for CUMH procedures

Ian McGuinness | 26 March 2008 | Hospital Medicine

The Health Service Executive has confirmed that waiting times for routine procedures at the Cork University Maternity Hospital are up to a year, while women who need urgent operations have to wait a month and a half. Mr Gerry O’Dwyer,... Read more

Planning granted for Mullingar health centre

Gary Culliton | 26 March 2008 | Planning and Development

Planning permission was last week granted for a medical centre of approx 460sq m in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. The medical centre is located at first-floor level in Bennett Developments’ extensive new mixed-use urban and retail quarter. ‘The Well’ is the... Read more

Cardiothoracic unit still waiting on nursing staff

Greg Baxter | 26 March 2008 | Hospital Medicine

A new cardiothoracic surgery unit at University College Hospital Galway is still waiting for more than half the number of nurses it requires, after assurances by the HSE two months ago that the unit would be commissioned, the Director of... Read more

Permission for Thomastown health centre is appealed

Ian McGuinness | 26 March 2008 | Foreign News

A decision by Kilkenny County Council to grant planning permission to a Dr Eugene O’Kelly for a primary healthcare building in Thomastown has been appealed. Dr O’Kelly applied to the local authority late last year for permission to demolish a... Read more

Turner to speak at IMO meeting

Sandra Ryan | 26 March 2008 |

The co-author of a controversial study on the effect of patients’ travel distances to hospital on their outcomes will speak at this weekend’s IMO AGM, at the scientific session entitled ‘Death by stealth — the quiet demise of secondary care... Read more

Research day looks at food/health link

26 March 2008 | Foreign News

‘Infection & Immunity’ and ‘Food & Health’ will be the focus for discussion at this year’s 2nd College of Medicine & Health Joint UCC/Cork University Teaching Hospitals Health Research Day, which takes place on Friday, 6 June 2008 in Brookfield... Read more

Alzheimer's to hit 'baby boomers'

26 March 2008 | Foreign News

A report by the Alzheimer’s Association suggests that 10 million ‘baby boomers’ in the United States will develop Alzheimer’s disease in their lifetime and that as many as 5.2 million people are living with Alzheimer’s in the United States, including... Read more

Govt to miss cancer deadline

26 March 2008 | Foreign News

A Danish government plan to address long delays in cancer treatment will not meet its 1 April deadline due to lack of personnel, according to a report in the Copenhagen Post. The paper reported that the 850 million kroner cancer... Read more

India is now the world's TB capital

26 March 2008 | Foreign News

India is the world’s TB capital, recording an estimated 1.9 million new cases every year, a report in The Times of India stated. However, only 70 per cent of these are actually detected, while active TB patients left undetected go... Read more

Government programme improves child health

26 March 2008 | Foreign News

A Mexican government programme to pump cash into child health, welfare and education has shown positive results, according to an article published in The Lancet. It said that globally, over 200 million children under five are not fulfilling their potential... Read more

GP contract — IMO fights for its rights

ian McGuinness | 26 March 2008 | Interviews

Ian McGuinness spoke to incoming IMO President Dr Martin Daly about his dissatisfaction with the ongoing problems regarding the GP contract. The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) will use legal means, if necessary, to assert its right to represent general practitioners,... Read more

Public health advocacy — the role of doctors

Prof Joe Barry | 26 March 2008 | Features

In advance of the IMO's AGM Prof Joe Barry, says that doctors must also be advocates for patients and better health services. It is a well-established principle of medical practice that doctors advocate for their patients and for better health... Read more

Bedsheet watches over heart problems

23 March 2008 | Features

A new pilot project tests bedsheets able to monitor CVD patients and send any warning information directly to the clinicians involved in their care In an effort to improve care for patients with diagnosed heart conditions, bedsheets with built-in sensors... Read more

Payment in advance - an ever-increasing option?

Barry O'Brien | 22 March 2008 | Features

This week, Barry O'Brien discusses the issue of payment in advance for GPs - how to introduce it, and how it can reduce bad debts to zero Most GPs, practice managers and even patients’ eyes go wide when I mention... Read more

Tougher restrictions on cosmetic surgery?

Sandra Ryan | 21 March 2008 | Public Health

The Irish Association of Plastic Surgeons (IAPS) has expressed their growing concern over the practices of private cosmetic surgery clinics in Ireland in a document that recommends, among other things, severe restrictions on how cosmetic surgery procedures are advertised. It... Read more

3,000 lives could be saved by MAU's

Greg Baxter | 21 March 2008 | Hospital Medicine

Greg Baxter reports on the success of the acute medical admissions unit at St James's Hospital, which has had a major impact in reducing mortality rates. The message, when you boil down all the facts and figures, is that 3,000... Read more

Orphans not working

Greg Baxter | 20 March 2008 | Public Health

Irish patients with rare diseases have limited access to life-saving new treatments that have come onto the market since introduction of the EU’s Orphan Drug Regulation 2000, according to the Irish Platform for Patients’ Organisations, Science & Industry (IPPOSI). Fewer... Read more

Crown and Hardiman campaign for 'decent health service'

By Ian McGuinness | 19 March 2008 | Industrial Relations

Dr Orla Hardiman and Prof John Crown are among nine people due to speak at a march and rally in Dublin, which is taking place as part of the ‘Campaign for a Decent Public Health Service’. The event, which is... Read more

Doctors object to Beaumont co-location

Ian McGuinness | 19 March 2008 | Hospital Medicine

A number of doctors have lodged objections against the Beacon Medical Group’s planning application for a co-located hospital at Beaumont. Consultant neurosurgeon, Mr Chris Pidgeon, objected to certain aspects of the planning application and he told Dublin City Council by... Read more

HSE gets 150 applications for primary care provision

Ian McGuinness | 19 March 2008 | General Practice

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has received 150 expressions of interest from companies and individuals who are interested in providing infrastructure for primary care teams. The HSE issued a tender last December inviting interested parties, who were developing health infrastructure,... Read more

GP trainers may withdraw service

Sandra Ryan | 19 March 2008 | General Practice

GP Trainers are once again considering withdrawing their services from the various GP training schemes, because of the continued delay in negotiating a new contract. Last year, the trainers warned they would withdraw from training schemes unless the Health Service... Read more

IMO AGM to advocate for patients

Ian McGuinness | 19 March 2008 | Industrial Relations

Ian McGuinness reports on the upcoming IMO AGM and the call of Mr Sean Tierney to the HSE to 'treat patients, treat patients, treat patients'. The vast majority of motions to be debated before this year’s Irish Medical Organisation Annual... Read more

Viruses set to 'kill' cancer

Gary Culliton | 19 March 2008 | Interviews

Gary Culliton talks to the Irishman now charged with running cancer-care services in the US state of Texas Galway-born Dr Frank Giles is responsible for cancer care in a much larger population than the entire island of Ireland. He heads... Read more

HSE to be regionalised

Gary Culliton | 18 March 2008 | Health Management

A more regional structure for the Health Service Executive (HSE) with greater autonomy and devolved budgets for four regional divisions is the likely outcome of a review of the HSE by management consultants, McKinsey. Inability to develop autonomy at regional... Read more

Vitamin E supplements link to lung-cancer risk

Greg Baxter | 18 March 2008 | Public Health

Vitamin E supplements have been linked to increased risk of lung cancer, a new study has revealed. The Vitamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) study, which was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, covered the supplement-taking habits... Read more

Cork GP publishes Irish medical novel

Mary Anne Kenny | 18 March 2008 | Features

Family secrets, small-town intrigue, hidden love and hospital drama, all played out in the shadow of Big Pharma… Dr Bridget Maher’s first novel has enough action crammed in to keep the reader turning its pages. Fallen Angels is the story... Read more

Dr Clare remembered with donation to Plan

Mary Anne Kenny | 18 March 2008 | Hospital Medicine

Eminent psychiatrist Dr Anthony Clare was remembered by his former colleagues recently when Dr Maeve Daly, Consultant at St Edmunsbury Hospital, Lucan, presented David Dalton, CEO of Plan Ireland, with a donation on behalf of hospital staff in memory of... Read more

Health managers welcome protocols

Greg Baxter | 18 March 2008 | Health Management

The country’s healthcare managers have welcomed the introduction of protocols to guide and inform the conduct of investigations and reviews, following the reports on cancer services at the Midland Regional Hospital at Portlaoise. A spokeswoman for the Health Management Institute... Read more

Vaccine returns service resumes

Ian McGuinness | 18 March 2008 | Public Health

The Health Service Executive’s vaccine returns service has recommenced operation after it was suspended when one of its drivers suffered a needle stick injury. The driver received the injury from an exposed needle that was put in with some vaccines,... Read more

Elderly care standards to drive up costs?

Mary Anne Kenny | 18 March 2008 | Public Health

Concerns over costs and future staffing levels in nursing homes have been raised after the publication of the final draft of the National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People by the Health Information and Quality Authority last... Read more

Dail motion supports HSE

18 March 2008 | Public Health

A Government motion supporting the Health Service Executive (HSE) and welcoming the recent controversial reports into events at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise, where a review into breast cancer services took place last year, was passed in the Dail... Read more

Referral pattern queried

18 March 2008 | Public Health

An argument broke out between the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, and Fine Gael Health spokesperson Deputy James Reilly, over Prof. Tom Keane’s plans with the Irish College of General Practitioners to change GP referral patterns for cancer patients. Deputy... Read more

Closure of cancer care at Sligo Hospital criticised

18 March 2008 | Public Health

The outcomes for cancer patients in Sligo General Hospital are “identical or superior to” those found in the US, Deputy John Perry (FG- Sligo-North Leitrim) told the Dail. He said he has received the results of a cancer care survery... Read more

Minister claims no record of warning letter

18 March 2008 | Public Health

The Minister for Health, Mary Harney, has again said that no record of a warning letter sent in 2002 by Portlaoise consultant surgeon Mr Peter Naughton to the Deparment of Health has been found. During a debate on the reports... Read more

Waiting lists for mammograms

18 March 2008 | Public Health

Deputy Pat Breen (FG-Clare) asked the Minister for Health, Deputy Mary Harney, about the number of women on the waiting list for mammograms at Limerick Regional Hospital, the number of mammograms carried out at Ennis General Hospital for the years... Read more

Ahern asked to confirm confidence

Sandra Ryan | 18 March 2008 | Public Health

Fine Gael leader Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern if, following revelations in the recent reports into the breast cancer controversy in Portlaoise, he remains confident in the Health Service Executive (HSE), which Deputy Kenny described as “bloated,... Read more

Public warned on DIY health tests

18 March 2008 | Foreign News

British people are being warned by leading health experts about the boom in DIY tests and scans for the so-called ‘worried well’. According to BBC News, the DIY testing industry is estimated to be worth some STG£99 million annually, but... Read more

Hospital denies reducing blood tests

18 March 2008 | Foreign News

An NHS hospital trust has denied ordering a cut in blood tests as a way to reduce its reported MRSA rates. The comments, from London’s Kingston Hospital, come after a senior member of staff leaked an email which was circulated... Read more

Patients want a thorough physical

18 March 2008 | Foreign News

A new British survey reported in the Annals of Family Medicine has found that what patients want most from their primary care doctor is a thorough physical exam. Patients surveyed rated this above friendliness and good communication skills, researchers found.... Read more

Afghan shops join in doctors' strike

18 March 2008 | Foreign News

Shops and factories in the Afghan province of Herat have joined a strike by hundreds of doctors to demand better security, BBC News reported. The strike was begun by medical staff protesting against a rise in attacks on staff and... Read more

600 healthcare workers target Iraq

18 March 2008 | Foreign News

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that hundreds of health workers are in Iraq’s Anbar province to vaccinate 200,000 children against measles, in an effort to contain an outbreak which has already struck 100 children. “Nearly 600 vaccinators are... Read more

Humanitarian crisis in Palestine

18 March 2008 | Foreign News

The international medical charity, Medecins Sans Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders, has warned that it expects to have to treat more patients in Gaza Strip following recent incursions by the Israeli military and fighting between Palestinians and Israelis. “At the... Read more

Cosmetic surgery to carry health warnings?

Sandra Ryan | 18 March 2008 | Features

Sandra Ryan reports on the Irish Association of Plastic Surgeons' call for changes to advertising laws and more regulation of cosmetic surgery clinics Strong new proposals from the Irish Association of Plastic Surgeons (IAPS), including the recommendation that advertisements for... Read more

Doctor struck off due to fraudulent conduct

Ed Madden | 18 March 2008 | Medico-Legal

Ed Madden BL, looks at an English High Court case in which the Court considered an appeal by a GP regarding a General Medical Council decision to erase his name from the Medical Register On 30 March 2006, a Fitness... Read more

Unit cut deaths in half

Greg Baxter | 14 March 2008 | Hospital Medicine

The introduction of an acute medical admissions unit (AMAU) at St James’s Hospital has resulted in a massive decrease in mortality over a five-year period – but it has also been revealed that patients admitted out-of-hours are more likely to... Read more

Irish suicide rates growing since '50s

Sandra Ryan | 14 March 2008 | Public Health

A new report has revealed that suicide rates in Ireland are currently three times higher than what they were in the 1950s and 1960s. The report, called Suicide, attempted suicide and prevention in Ireland and elsewhere, published by the Health... Read more

E-health: Check your email...and your health

14 March 2008 | Information Technology

With the imminent launch of GoogleHealth, patients will be able to store all their health records online. Can privacy be guaranteed? It’s official: the corporate behemoth wants your blood. Blood-test results, that is, and all other kind of test results,... Read more

Most attacks not treated in time

Greg Baxter | 14 March 2008 | Hospital Medicine

Only about 10 per cent of cardiac arrest victims are being treated in time, a cardiologist at the Mater Hospital has told Irish Medical Times. Dr Joe Galvin said the Irish public would be surprised to know how poor ambulance... Read more

New cancer referral guide

Sandra Ryan | 13 March 2008 | Public Health

The new head of the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) cancer control programme, Prof. Tom Keane, is working with the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) to develop a new method of referring patients for specialist cancer treatment, which will more... Read more

IBTS invest €8 million

Ian McGuinness | 13 March 2008 | Public Health

Quicker detection of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV will result from an €8 million investment by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service on an upgrading of its blood testing capabilities. The contract, which involves the Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAT)... Read more

Pharmacists ‘likely’ to pull out of scheme

Sandra Ryan | 13 March 2008 | Public Health

Widespread withdrawal by pharmacists from the community drugs schemes is now “likely”, according to the Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU). At an emergency meeting last week, which was attended by over 1,000 pharmacists, the members discussed the HSE’s plans to save... Read more

Non-Irish nationals more like to suffer eye injuries

Ian McGuinness | 13 March 2008 | Industrial Relations

Workers from the 10 European Union Accession States were five times more likely than Irish-born people to suffer an eye injury, according to a study carried out at Waterford Regional Hospital. The research, carried out by ophthalmology registrar, Dr Ayman... Read more

Martin received warning on hospital cancer services

Sandra Ryan | 13 March 2008 | Health Management

Former Minister for Health Mr Micheál Martin, TD has confirmed that his Department received correspondence in 2002 from a consultant surgeon in the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise over concerns about the provision of breast cancer services in the midlands.... Read more

Portlaoise reports cause controversy

Sandra Ryan | 13 March 2008 | Public Health

Sandra Ryan reports on the controversy emerging from the three investigations into the cancer misdiagnoses at Midland Regional Hospital. The revelations contained in last week’s reports explaining exactly what happened in the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise in the second half... Read more

Audit needed on cardiology services

Greg Baxter | 12 March 2008 | Public Health

Greg Baxter writes that although there have been major advances in cardiac care, we have very little data on how many patients are benefiting. Major advances over the last ten years in heart failure therapy have taken place but no... Read more

Docs: 'don't interfere'

Ian McGuinness | 12 March 2008 | Public Health

Doctors in the midlands were reminded last week that some of them campaigned for cancer services to be split between three hospitals in the region instead of being concentrated in a specialist centre in Tullamore Hospital. The Chairman of the... Read more

New HSE demand was not negotiated

Ian McGuinness | 12 March 2008 | Industrial Relations

The HSE wants to prevent consultants from doing private practice work when they are rostered to be on call for a public hospital, according to the Irish Medical Organisation. Mr Fintan Hourihan, Director of Industrial Relations with the IMO, said... Read more

TCD research into mothers with disabilities

12 March 2008 | Research and Education

New research has begun at the Trinity College School of Nursing and Midwifery, to explore the strengths and weaknesses of publicly-funded Irish health services for women with disabilities in relation to pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood. The researchers are looking... Read more

Submissions accepted for Tom Power Medal

12 March 2008 | Research and Education

The Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) is accepting submissions for the 2nd Annual Tom Power Medal, which is awarded to a person or group who has demonstrated commitment, leadership and vision to defeat the tobacco epidemic in Ireland. The award... Read more

Cork maternity hospital involved in international study on pre-eclampsia

Sandra Ryan | 12 March 2008 | Research and Education

Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) has joined a large international study on pre-eclampsia and will screen 3,000 Munster women for the condition over the next three years. The Study Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints (SCOPE) is an international research programme involving... Read more

GP language service 'poor'

Ian McGuinness | 12 March 2008 | General Practice

Language services provided to general practitioners by the State have been attacked by the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO). Speaking in the aftermath of the launch of the Health Service Executive’s National Intercultural Health Strategy, Dr Martin Daly said: “The picture... Read more

Mental health unit is delayed

Ian McGuinness | 12 March 2008 | Health Management

A row over a sewer has delayed the building of a new mental health unit at Letterkenny General Hospital. The Health Service Exec-utive (North West) applied to Letterkenny Town Council last August for permission to build the single-storey unit at... Read more

Green light for psychiatric day-care centre

12 March 2008 | Health Management

A temporary psychiatric day-care centre is to be built at Clonskeagh Hospital. Planning permission was given by Dublin City Council for the development at the Dublin 6 facility recently. The single-storey temporary building will be on the south east of... Read more

It's a G'day down under for doctors

Dr Ernan Hession | 11 March 2008 | Features

The new Australian correspondent for the Irish Medical Times, Dr Ernan Hession introduces himself with a brief description of his life as a doctor in Australia and the challenges facing rural doctors there. It’s nearly 20 years now since I... Read more

Doctors to report colleagues

Emer Mullins | 11 March 2008 | Foreign News

The Health Minister for New South Wales in Australia, Reba Meagher, has announced plans to introduce the mandatory reporting by medical practitioners of their colleagues in instances of gross misconduct. Ms Meagher said the legislation would target cases of sexual... Read more

Obesity a 'public catastrophe’, say researchers

11 March 2008 | Foreign News

New research from the University of Western Australia has predicted that children who are fat can expect to die up to four years earlier than their thinner peers. In fact, the research has even suggested that so many deaths will... Read more

Genes ‘play key happiness role’

11 March 2008 | Foreign News

Our level of happiness throughout life is strongly influenced by the genes with which we were born, say experts. An Edinburgh University study of identical and non-identical twins suggests that genes may control half the personality traits keeping us happy.... Read more

New plans for out-of-hours care in Wales

11 March 2008 | Foreign News

Wales has launched new plans to improve emergency and out-of-hours care, developed in partnership with UNISON. It was reported that a deal had been negotiated between the union and the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing and the... Read more

Delays of 18 months for tests

Sandra Ryan | 11 March 2008 | Hospital Medicine

Prof. Tom Keane’s plan for cancer services will dramatically reduce the waiting time for a colonoscopy, according to the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. During a debate in Leaders Questions, Fine Gael leader Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach what is being... Read more

Harney quizzed over problems found during Portlaoise investigation

11 March 2008 | Hospital Medicine

Labour spokesperson on health, Deputy Jan O’Sullivan, asked the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, what is being done about the problems that the HSE identified in two reports published into breast cancer services at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.... Read more

Expansion of national ambulance service

11 March 2008 | Hospital Medicine

Deputy James Reilly (FG-Dublin North) asked the Minister for Health if, with regard to the recent decision by ambulance staff to vote for industrial action, she is truly committed to the development and expansion of a national ambulance service. The Minister... Read more

Allocation of funding for mental health

11 March 2008 | Health Management

Deputy Dan Neville (FG-Limerick West) asked the Minister for Health how she will ensure that the allocation of €25 million in 2006 and €25 million in 2007 for the introduction of the recommendations contained in ‘A Vision for Change’ is... Read more

Cork — new clinical research facility

Greg Baxter | 11 March 2008 | Research and Education

A new, €11 million clinical research facility (CRF) in Cork was announced last week, jointly funded by the Health Research Board (HRB) and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HRB/HSE Clinical Research Facility, which will be located at Cork University... Read more

Funds from land sales

Ian McGuinness | 11 March 2008 | Health Management

The Department of Health and the Department of Finance have failed to state how much, if anything, has been raised from the sale of psychiatric lands and buildings since A Vision For Change was published in January 2006. Irish Medical... Read more

Top award for University of Ulster research

11 March 2008 | Research and Education

Two researchers from the University of Ulster have won a top healthcare award for their work in improving the quality of life of people with lung disease in Northern Ireland. Both from the University’s Health and Rehabilitation Science Research Institute,... Read more

Obesity expert to give talk in Dublin

11 March 2008 | Public Health

World-renowned expert on obesity and founder of Motivation Weight Management Clinics, Dr Maurice Larocque is coming to Ireland to share his expertise on weight management and obesity-related illnesses. Dr Larocque’s medical seminar on ‘Strategies for Long-Term Weight Management’ will take... Read more

'Referendum may be needed': bomb hoax clinic

Gary Culliton | 10 March 2008 | Private Healthcare, Regulation

The Chairman of one of the Fertility Clinics at the centre of a hoax bomb alert, has said a referendum may be needed to get clarity on the status of frozen embryos, which he said were currently in a legal... Read more

Martin confirms Naughton letter

By Sandra Ryan | 10 March 2008 | Hospital Medicine

Former Minister for Health Mr Micheal Martin, TD has confirmed that his department received correspondance in 2002 from a consultant surgeon in the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise over concerns about the provision of breast cancer services in the Midlands.... Read more

Are we all stuck on board a sinking ship?

Dr Nuala O'Farrell | 09 March 2008 | Features

Dr Nuala O'Farrell writes that the HSE is like the Titanic - swallowing up all available funds, cut off from those it's meant to care for and ignoring major problems Good doctors, the author Gregory David Roberts says in his... Read more

10 years to clear infection

Gary Culliton | 07 March 2008 | Public Health

A radical shakeup of building standards in Irish hospitals is called for in a new report, following damning evidence on the prevalence of deadly healthcare-associated infections (HCAI). And even if that reform is forthcoming, it will be a decade before... Read more

1,000 die each year because they do not receive treatment

Greg Baxter | 07 March 2008 | Public Health

More than a thousand people die or acquire significant disability every year as a result of stroke, because they do not get access to advanced clotbusting therapy that should be delivered far more often, a neurologist at the Mater Hospital... Read more

Award-winning Norwegian medical student credits RCSI for success

Natalya Anderson | 07 March 2008 | Features

Natalya Anderson speaks to Dag Netteland, the Norwegian student whose project on the effects of silencing angiogenin on motoneuron survival earned him and honourable mention at last year's Irish Healthcare Awards Earning an honourable mention at last year’s Irish Healthcare... Read more

GPs should shun screening

Dr Garrett Hayes | 07 March 2008 | Features

The following is derived from a letter written by Dr Garrett Hayes, a GP in Lucan, to Dr Alan Smith, a consultant with the Irish Cancer Screening Programme. He recommends that all GPs shun the programme as it exists now,... Read more

A new genre of drug treatment?

Thecla Scully | 06 March 2008 | Features

Thecla Scully reports on a radical new method of drug delivery that is capable of transporting drugs to specific sites in the body Researchers have been promising a revolution in drug treatment for a long time. It is many years... Read more

Oesophageal cancer increase due to obesity

Gary Culliton | 06 March 2008 | Public Health

There has been a marked increase in new cases of oesophageal cancer diagnosed in Ireland due in particular to obesity, according to a leading Glasgow-based consultant, Mr Robert Stuart. Just under half of the population of Ireland are either overweight... Read more

No HSE talk for Newstalk 106

Mary Anne Kenny | 06 March 2008 | Public Health

The HSE and senior Government Ministers have announced that from now on, they will refuse to deal with Newstalk 106-108fm. The move follows controversial comments on the ‘Your Call’ programme, hosted by Brenda Power, last Thursday week. Health Economist and... Read more

North-east doctors have serious concerns on plan

Sandra Ryan | 06 March 2008 | Hospital Medicine

The Health Service Executive’s (HSE) new plan to manage surgical patients in the northeast has been criticised by doctors in the region, who have “serious concerns” about the proposal, as they say it will threaten patient care. The HSE has... Read more

Lack of services leads to lack of independence

Sandra Ryan | 06 March 2008 | Public Health

Lack of key services and supports in the Marino and Fairview areas of Dublin are creating barriers to older people maintaining their independence and continuing to live in the community, according to a report launched this week by Health Minister... Read more

Drugs should only be used for severely depressed

Sandra Ryan | 06 March 2008 | Public Health

New generation anti-depressants, such as Prozac and Seroxat, should only be used for severely depressed people, a new study has indicated. A group from the University of Hull in the UK analysed data on all the clinical trials that have... Read more

Labour Court suggests plan to end IBTS row

Ian McGuinness | 06 March 2008 | Health Management

Seven recommendations have been issued by the Labour Court in order to try and resolve a row between the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) and the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association. The row was related to restructuring in the IBTS, which... Read more

GPs would recommend seminar to colleagues

Terence Cosgrave | 06 March 2008 | General Practice

More than 97 per cent of GPs who attended a seminar in Cork last week would recommend it to a GP colleague, according to a survey conducted at the event in Jury’s Hotel, Cork. 80 GPs attended the seminar organised... Read more

HSE criticised in reports published by Minister for Health

Sandra Ryan | 05 March 2008 | Hospital Medicine

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has received strong criticism for their lack of “overall management and governance” after two reports were finally published today by the Minister for Health and Children, Ms Mary Harney, on the controversial August 2007 decision... Read more

HSE should 'come clean' on emergency report

Greg Baxter | 05 March 2008 | Public Health

The HSE should come clean and tell the Irish public that it has no intention of implementing the recommendations made in the Emergency Department Task Force Report, the Irish Association of Emergency Medicine (IAEM) has stated.This February was the first... Read more

Hospital holds firm on decision to close clinic

Terence Cosgrave | 05 March 2008 | Industrial Relations

The Irish Medical Organisation has had discussions with the Board of Management of the Orthopaedic Hospital of Ireland in Clontarf about its decision to close down the world-famous venus compression therapy based there, but so far the Board has refused... Read more

GPs to get extra €23 million in fees

Ian McGuinness | 05 March 2008 | General Practice

GPs are expected to get an extra €23 million in fees under the medical card scheme this year. The Revised Estimates for Public Services 2008 show that €439 million is expected to be spent in 2008 on such fees. This... Read more

GPs warned on HSE hasty decisions

Ian McGuinness | 05 March 2008 | General Practice

GPs have been warned against making quick decisions about signing up to participate in new primary care centres. Dr Martin Daly, Chairman of the Irish Medical Organisation’s GP Committee, said the Health Service Executive (HSE) wrote to companies, and groups... Read more

Studies show elderly still receiving wrong drugs

Gary Culliton | 05 March 2008 | Health Management

Age Action has called for a review of the on-going pharmacological training received by doctors dealing with older patients, in the wake of the two separate studies which found that older patients were receiving inappropriate medications. The older people’s charity... Read more

C Diff listed as notifiable disease

05 March 2008 | Public Health

The Minister for Health, Ms Mary Harney TD, has confirmed that clostridium difficile has been listed as a notifiable disease under the category ‘acute infectious gastroenteritis’, after lobbying by the group Patient Focus. According to the Chair of Patient Focus,... Read more

Drug-resistant TB on the rise, says WHO

Mary Anne Kenny | 05 March 2008 | Public Health

The rates of multi drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) are the highest ever, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report. The new WHO survey – the largest to date on the scale of drug resistance in TB – also found that... Read more

NUIG award for Irish cancer specialist

Gary Culliton | 05 March 2008 | Research and Education

Dr Frank Giles was presented with the Medtronic Award for Healthcare and Medical Science at the ninth annual NUI Galway Gala Banquet in Galway on 1 March. The Galway-born doctor is Chief of the Division of Haematology and Medical Oncology... Read more

Ten academic posts approved

Sandra Ryan | 05 March 2008 | Research and Education

The Government has approved ten Academic Clinician posts, as recommended in the Fottrell and Buttimer reports, according to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Each of the country’s medical schools must compete for the posts, which will be... Read more

Pharmacists commit to keep dispensing

Sandra Ryan | 05 March 2008 | Industrial Relations

Pharmacists have been asked by their union to keep on dispensing medicines to their patients this week, following their planned protest over the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) plans to decrease payments to the group, which were implemented on 1 March.... Read more

Older patients also use web

Greg Baxter | 05 March 2008 | Public Health

Almost 40 per cent of all visits to health and medical websites are made by people over 45. WebWatch 2008, an analysis of web activity in the health and medical sector, found that 37 per cent of all visits in... Read more

Shrinking frog may help diabetes

Greg Baxter | 05 March 2008 | Research and Education

A synthetic version of the skin secretions from South America’s Paradoxical frog could be used to treat Type 2 diabetes. Scientists from the University of Ulster have found that a peptide found on the skin of the Pseudis paradoxa frog,... Read more

Study examines medication errors

Sandra Ryan | 05 March 2008 | Public Health

A new study examining the extent of medication errors when patients are discharged from hospital has found that the majority of non medical card holders had still not visited their GP two weeks after leaving hospital. The study, published in... Read more

Fine Gael criticises HSE midwest plan

Sandra Ryan | 05 March 2008 | Planning and Development

The HSE’s new plan to send all major trauma cases in the mid-west to Limerick Regional Hospital, and bypass Ennis General Hospital, was defended in the Dail after being criticised by Deputy Joe Carey (FG-Clare). “This proposed change, which is... Read more

AHR not on medical card

Sandra Ryan | 05 March 2008 | Public Health

The Department of Health is examining whether or not to include assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatment on the medical card scheme, according to Minister for Health, Mary Harney. Deputy Deirdre Clune (FG-Cork South-Central) asked the Minister the reason why AHR... Read more

Query over BCG vaccine supply

Sandra Ryan | 05 March 2008 | Public Health

Deputy Joan Burton (Lab-Dublin West) asked the Minister for Health, Mary Harney why the BCG vaccine is still not available in Ireland, despite promises from the HSE that new stock would arrive mid-February. “The BCG vaccine was last available in... Read more

Call for resources for St Luke’s stroke unit

05 March 2008 | Public Health

Deputy Phil Hogan (FG- Carlow-KIlkenny) asked the Minister for Health and Children when the Stroke unit at St Luke’s General Hospital, Kilkenny, ‘will be properly resourced and staffed in order that it can carry out its functions on behalf of... Read more

Health Research Board funding questioned

05 March 2008 | Research and Education

Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health and Children the level of funding her Department provides to the Health Research Board; and if this funding is always taken up. Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, said the... Read more

Jobs freeze slows spread of PCTs

Ian McGuinness | 05 March 2008 | General Practice, Planning and Development

Ian McGuinness says that over seven years ago, the Primary Care Strategy promised a network of primary care teams accross the country. But many have yet to materialise Where are the primary care centres that were promised under the Primary... Read more

CMA begin campaign for 26,000 more family doctors

05 March 2008 | Foreign News

Emer Mullins reports on the shortage of family doctors in Candad and how the situation is getting worse The Canadian Medical Association, which represents 67,500 doctors, has pledged to put the growing shortage of doctors on the federal political agenda.... Read more

New laws may improve med-aid negotiations

05 March 2008 | Foreign News

The South African Health Department is considering legislation to provide a fair basis for negotiation between medical schemes and providers, according to a report in The BuaNews.“One of the reasons for the high costs from providers relates to the inability... Read more

Minority patients in US have less access to kidney treatment

05 March 2008 | Foreign News

Universal access to healthcare might help to overcome racial and ethnic barriers to treatment for kidney disease, two new studies suggest. Published in the March 2008 issue of Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, the results suggest that... Read more

France leads list of healthcare providers

05 March 2008 | Foreign News

France leads list of healthcare providers France is top of the list and the United States last in providing timely and effective healthcare to its citizens, according to a survey of preventable deaths in 19 industrialised countries by the Commonwealth... Read more

Drugs dispute goes on

Sandra Ryan | 05 March 2008 | Health Management

Sandra Ryan reports on the newly introduced changes to the pharmacy contract, which are disputed by the IPU and by the opposition parties. This week, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has introduced changes to pharmacists’ contracts that have dominated the... Read more

Court is highly critical of Medical Council procedures

Ed Madden BL | 05 March 2008 | Medico-Legal

Ed Madden BL looks at the High Court decision in judicial review proceedings taken by Dr John Francis Murphy and Professor Walter Prendiville against the Medical Council In March 2006, following the publication of Judge Harding Clark’s inquiry report into... Read more

Practice Management: Interviews - time to get personal?

Barry O'Brien | 05 March 2008 | Features

Barry O'Brien recounts the memory of a particularly uncomfortable interview – even though he was on the interview board! Imagine the scene: I’m on an interview board (in a consultancy capacity). Two GP partners and myself are listening attentively to... Read more

Pharmacies closed today?

Sandra Ryan | 04 March 2008 | Health Management, Industrial Relations, Public Health

The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) has warned that pharmacy services may be disrupted today (Wednesday March 5), while a Special General Meeting of the union is held in Dublin to discuss the ‘implications of the HSE’s failure to negotiate contractual... Read more

70 GPs attend Practice Management Seminar in Cork

Terence Cosgrave | 03 March 2008 | General Practice

Eighty GPs attended a seminar in Cork last weekend organised by the Irish Medical Times to help GPs manage their practices more successfully. The seminar 'Managing a successful Practice' was sponsored by AstraZeneca and held in Jury's Hotel on the... Read more