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News: February 2009

First public Fitness to Practice inquiry to be held in March

Dara Gantly | 27 February 2009 | Medico-Legal, Regulation

The first Fitness to Practise (FTP) inquiry to be held in public will take place next Wednesday, the Medical Council has revealed. In a short statement, the Council confirmed that the Fitness to Practise Committee of the Medical Council would... Read more

Harney signs Part 6 of Medical Practitioners Act into law

Dara Gantly | 27 February 2009 | Medico-Legal

Minister for Health Mary Harney has signed the Order commencing Part 6 of the Medical Practitioners Act, introducing a new system of registration for doctors. The Department of Health has confirmed to Irish Medical Times that the new registration system... Read more

HSE warns against Portiuncula strike

Gary Culliton | 27 February 2009 | Industrial Relations

The HSE has said it is important to distinguish between the industrial relations and the disciplinary processes in the ongoing dispute at Portiuncula Hospital, Co Galway. Two assistant directors of nursing were suspended on full pay for disobeying instructions from... Read more

Report: rise in number of cancer centres mooted

Gary Culliton | 27 February 2009 | Health Management

Up to four extra centres will be needed for rectal cancer surgery, in addition to the eight cancer centres designated by the Director of the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) Prof Tom Keane, a report by the Irish Society of... Read more

IMO may regain right to negotiate with Department of Health

Dara Gantly | 27 February 2009 | Industrial Relations

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has committed to amending the Competition Act, which should allow meaningful contract negotiations to take place with the IMO. Minister Mary Coughlan told the Dáil that she intended to bring forward legislation during... Read more

It's the eye of the Tiger

Niamh Mullen | 27 February 2009 | Public Health

More athletes are controversially opting for laser eye surgery to enhance their performance. Natural vision is 20/20 but laser eye surgery can improve some patients’ sight to 20/10, meaning they can clearly see objects further away better than a person... Read more

HSE defers NCHD cuts so labour relations talks can take place

Gary Culliton | 27 February 2009 | Industrial Relations

The Health Service Executive has deferred cuts which would have seen junior hospital doctors losing the equivalent of €10,000 each per year. This was to allow talks with the Irish Medical Organisation to commence at the Labour Relations Commission last... Read more

Irish doc guns for soccer success at Arsenal FC

Gary Culliton | 27 February 2009 | Foreign News

Former British and Irish Lions and Irish international rugby team medical chief Dr Gary O’Driscoll has joined former ‘top-four’ Premiership side Arsenal. Arsenal has announced that it has appointed Dr O’Driscoll as the new club doctor replacing Dr Ian Beasley,... Read more

99 per cent of junior hospital doctors vote for industrial action

Gary Culliton | 27 February 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Non Consultant Hospital Doctors (doctors in training), represented by the Irish Medical Organisation, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action should talks between the IMO and the HSE/Department of Health and Children under the auspices of the Labour Relations... Read more

Trampolines and bouncy castles cause 14 per cent of sport injuries

Gary Culliton | 26 February 2009 | Hospital Medicine

A total of 14% of orthopaedic admissions due to sports and recreation injuries were for trampoline/bouncy castle accidents, new research from the Department of Rheumatology, Sports & Exercise Medicine at Cork University Hospital shows. The paper published in the Irish... Read more

Six children under three ingested Ecstasy

Gary Culliton | 26 February 2009 | Public Health

In the period 2004-2007 the National Poisons Information centre (NPIC) received 286 enquiries regarding Ecstasy poisoning. Six of these enquiries concerned suspected Ecstasy ingestion in children aged three years or less. Fourteen of these children were asymptomatic on presentation to... Read more

Medical laboratory services modernised

Gary CUlliton | 26 February 2009 | Health Management

The HSE has announced that it is launching a programme to modernise its Medical Laboratory Services, as part of its ongoing transformation of services, The Medical Laboratory Service currently incorporates 46 laboratories with approximately 3,000 staff and operating costs of... Read more

Drogheda: Lourdes back 'on call'

Niamh Mullen | 25 February 2009 | Hospital Medicine

THE Emergency Department of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda is back “on call” after being on “protective call” for 24 hours. However, in a statement issued this afternoon (Wednesday, February 25) the HSE said the public were requested to... Read more

€450,000 repairs 'needed for visually impaired centre'

Gary Culliton | 25 February 2009 | Public Health

It would have cost €450, 000 to repair to repair Clonturk House, a home for visually impaired adult men in Drumcondra, which is to shut at the end of May. Staff and the HSE have determined that the facility cannot... Read more

Experts to address meeting on academic general practice

June Shannon | 25 February 2009 | General Practice

The 12th annual Scientific Meeting of the Association of University Departments of General Practice in Ireland (AUDGPI) will take place this Friday (February 27) at the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin. Hosted by Prof Tom Fahey, Professor and... Read more

Research could improve lab tests

Niamh Mullen | 25 February 2009 | Research and Education

Irish research showing that viruses can be detected in fluids could lead to better blood tests and more sensitive ways of measuring whether new drugs are binding to their targets. The discovery was made by Martin Hegner, a Professor of... Read more

Irish surgeon presents at international event

Dara Gantly | 25 February 2009 | Research and Education

Impressive results from an innovative treatment carried out by an Irish vascular surgeon have been presented at a major international meeting in the US. Mr Sherif Sultan of the Western Vascular Institute presented a paper on laser-assisted angioplasty versus tibial... Read more

Call for abstracts for ISQua conference

25 February 2009 | Health Management

The International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) has issued a call for abstracts for its 26th International Conference, which takes place in Dublin from October 11 to 14, 2009. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Designing for... Read more

Irish study to look at tax effects on smoking

Gary Culliton | 25 February 2009 | Public Health

The Research Institute for a Tobacco Free Society (RIFTFS) has just been awarded a €3m euro research contract on a project entitled, Pricing Policies and control of Tobacco in Europe.(PPACTE) The first meetings designed to shape the project will be... Read more

UCC split over embryonic stem cell research

25 February 2009 | Research and Education

A professor of mathematics at University College Cork (UCC) has slammed the university's recent decision to allow embryonic stem cell research. Professor Des McHale, also a well-known author, said that he was "deeply ashamed" that UCC's governing body had passed... Read more

Irish scientists reveal prostate cancer advance

Gary Culliton | 25 February 2009 | Public Health

Better potential "markers" for prostate cancer have been identified by Irish scientists, that will allow detection of the disease earlier and with more certainty than is currently possible, it was revealed today. The ‘building’ of a prostate cancer tissue bank... Read more

Smoking 'should be banned in cars containing under 16s'

Gary Culliton | 25 February 2009 | Public Health

ASH Ireland has held a briefing for all members of the Oireachtas in Dublin on the issue of having smoking banned in cars transporting children under 16 years. Dr Angie Brown, Chairperson ASH Ireland, speaking at the briefing prior to... Read more

IPU objects to Ministers’ new powers

25 February 2009 | Health Management

The Irish Pharmacy Union [IPU] has criticised the inclusion of a sweeping measure for the health services in the detail of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009. The Bill includes in Section 9 the provision to... Read more

DMD debate to be held in Dáil, says Tánaiste

25 February 2009 | Public Health

Fine Gael Deputies Joe McHugh TD and Andrew Doyle TD last week secured a Government commitment to hold a Dáil debate on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Tánaiste Mary Coughlan TD agreed to facilitate a debate on the topic, following speeches... Read more

Over half of Department PQs forwarded to HSE

Dara Gantly | 25 February 2009 | Health Management

The Minister for Health forwarded 58 per cent of parliamentary questions (PQs) directed to her Department last year to the HSE. A total of 6,139 PQs were directed to the Department of Health in 2008. Of these, some 3,544 were... Read more

Patients being let down by neurology services — Reilly

Niamh Mullen | 25 February 2009 | Public Health

Fine Gael spokesperson on health, Dr James Reilly TD has hit out at the lack of investment in neurosurgery. Speaking in the Dáil after the publication last week of The National Report on Traumatic Brain Injury, Deputy Reilly said Ireland... Read more

Obese teens run similar risks to smokers says Swedish study

Dara Gantly | 25 February 2009 | Public Health

Obese adolescents have the same risk of premature death in adulthood as people who smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day, new research has found. Those who are merely overweight have the same risk as less heavy smokers, according to... Read more

New group to tackle alcohol sponsorship

Dara Gantly | 24 February 2009 | Public Health

The composition of a new working group to examine sports sponsorship by alcohol companies is expected to be finalised in the forthcoming weeks. Letters of invitation to join the Consultative Panel on the Codes of Practice on Alcohol Marketing, Communications... Read more

'Catastrophe' looms for health service – INO

Gary Culliton | 24 February 2009 | Health Management

A one billion euro cutback in the health services would equate to the complete closure of four of the major Dublin Hospitals, according to Dave Hughes, Deputy General Secretary of the Irish Nurses Organisation. Those hospitals, he said, provide their... Read more

Positive mental health 'high'

Gary Culliton | 24 February 2009 | Public Health

Most Irish adults have a reasonably high level of positive mental health, according to the Mental Health and Social Well-being Report of the National Health and Lifestyle Survey (SLÁN 2007). Men report higher levels of positive mental health than women,... Read more

Women not aware of heart-attack risk

Niamh Mullen | 24 February 2009 | Public Health

Women underestimate their risk of having a heart attack and often do not present with typical symptoms, a report by the Irish Association of Emergency Medicine (IAEM) has found. Mr Fergal Hickey, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Sligo General Hospital... Read more

TCD course links with Europe

June Shannon | 24 February 2009 | Research and Education

The School of Medicine at TCD, in collaboration with its partners in the Eurolife Network of European Universities in Life Science, has launched a new European postgraduate programme in molecular medicine. Launched at Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands... Read more

FTP hearings due to be held in public

June Shannon | 24 February 2009 | Regulation

Next month marks a significant milestone in the regulation of the medical profession, with Fitness to Practice (FTP) hearings due to be held in public for the first time. The new FTP regulation, due to come into force in March,... Read more

HSE could save €300m – Reilly

Gary Culliton | 23 February 2009 | Health Management

Redundancies in HSE back office staff and switching from brand name to generic drugs would save over €300 million, Fine Gael Health spokesperson Dr James Reilly has said. "The HSE has shown ample evidence of being unable to manage its... Read more

Global cancer summit here in August

Gary Culliton | 23 February 2009 | Public Health

The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) announced today that the premiere LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit will take place Aug. 24-26, 2009 in Dublin, immediately following LAF founder and chairman, cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong's participation in the Tour of... Read more

Harney's performance rating drops further

Terence Cosgrave | 23 February 2009 | General Practice

It was an ambitious target — like many set in the health service — but Minister Mary Harney has managed to sink even lower in her performance rating by Irish GPs — despite her previous poor showings. The results of... Read more

HSE CEO beginning to Drumm up GP support

Terence Cosgrave | 23 February 2009 | General Practice

The Chief Executive Officer of the HSE, Prof Brendan Drumm, is beginning to turn around opinion of his performance among the medical profession, as GPs for the first time give him a marginal positive rating. Prof Drumm will still have... Read more

GPs 'Keane' on Cancer Strategy performance

Terence Cosgrave | 23 February 2009 | General Practice

Prof Tom Keane has performed well as the Head of Ireland’s Cancer Strategy — at least, according to GPs across the country. Anyone who had witnessed the reception afforded to Prof Keane at last May’s AGM of the Irish College... Read more

Most GPs have poor opinion of Cowen

Terence Cosgrave | 23 February 2009 | General Practice

It will not come as much of a surprise to anyone that doctors share the general opinion of the rest of the country’s citizens in their poor view of Taoiseach Brian Cowen. Two-thirds of all respondents rated the Taoiseach’s performance... Read more

Almost half of GPs say that Lenihan is 'poor'

Terence Cosgrave | 23 February 2009 | General Practice

Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan seems to have generally avoided GPs’ odium through the introduction of the 1 per cent income levy, but since the survey was conducted before it was revealed that he had not read the report on... Read more

Guide for smeartakers launched

Gary Culliton | 20 February 2009 | Public Health

CervicalCheck – The National Cervical Screening Programme has announced the publication of a ‘Guide for smeartakers’. Developed as a resource manual for GPs, practice nurses and medical practitioners that take smear tests as part of the CervicalCheck programme, the ‘Guide... Read more

If you have the look of the Irish...

Mary Anne Kenny | 20 February 2009 | Public Health

People with stereo-typical Irish looks have double the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study published in the Annals of Neurology. Researchers at the Harvard University School of Public Health found that the risk of Parkinson’s disease... Read more

Four patients cost HSE €3m in travel

June Shannon | 20 February 2009 | Health Management

The lack of a forensic learning disability service in Ireland has meant that the HSE spent over €3 million (€3,076,915) at UK facilities between 2005 and 2007 for the treatment of just four Irish people with learning disabilities who offend,... Read more

Labour market survey due this week — FÁS

Dara Gantly | 20 February 2009 | Industrial Relations

Research analysing the labour market for 12 healthcare professions — including GPs, consultants and specialists in public health medicine — is due to be completed later this week. A draft of the new FÁS study, being carried out on behalf... Read more

Health Minister 'unable to say when first co-located bed will open' – Reilly

Gary Culliton | 20 February 2009 | News

Following Dáil questions yesterday, Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly TD, said that Health Minister Mary Harney was unable to name a date when the first co-located hospital bed would actually open. “The Health Minister continued true to form... Read more

Work to begin in July on new city morgue

Dara Gantly | 20 February 2009 | Public Health

Work on a new city morgue and office for the State Pathologist is expected to commence in July, Irish Medical Times has learned The project – a unique joint initiative between the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and... Read more

Publication of new Bill this week sees GPs' fees cut by 8 per cent

June Shannon | 20 February 2009 | Industrial Relations

The Government was due to outline details of how it aims to cut fees paid to a number of healthcare professionals by approximately 8 per cent — including general practitioners — with the publication of a new Bill on Thursday... Read more

Sick-day rates due to lack of army docs

Niamh Mullen | 20 February 2009 | Industrial Relations

Fine Gael Spokesperson on Defence, Jimmy Deenihan TD, has blamed the shortage of military doctors for the high number of sick days taken by soldiers. Only 24 of the recommended 47 posts for military doctors are filled, and last year... Read more

Northside hospital waiting times up 9%, Southside hospital times down 25%- Bruton

Gary CUlliton | 19 February 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The total number of people waiting at Northside Hospitals for operations increased by 345 (up 9%) while on the Southside the number waiting dramatically improved, down 1522 (or 25%). These figures were released by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).... Read more

€65m drugs bill savings 'achievable' – report

Gary Culliton | 19 February 2009 | Health Management

Total savings of €65 million in savings from the State's drugs schemes are achievable, a new report from the group headed by Dr Michael Barry has found. Significant savings may be achieved by ongoing monitoring of the current IPHA/HSE pricing... Read more

Dáil debate on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Gary Culliton | 19 February 2009 | Health Management

This morning Fine Gael Deputies Joe McHugh TD and Andrew Doyle TD secured a Government commitment to hold a Dáil debate on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) - the incurable muscular disease that results in an average life expectancy of late... Read more

INO: 50 people on trolleys in Beaumont

Gary Culliton | 19 February 2009 | Hospital Medicine

A total of 52 patients were on Trolleys yesterday in the Emergency Department of Dublin's Beaumont Hospital, according to the Irish Nurses Organisation's (INO) Trolleywatch. The hospital disagreed, saying that at 8am yesterday, there were 44 people awaiting admission (either... Read more

HSE defers junior doctor cuts pending LRC talks

Gary Culliton | 19 February 2009 | Industrial Relations

The HSE has deferred cuts due yesterday, which would have seen junior hospital doctors losing the equivalent of €10,000 each per year. This is to allow talks with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to commence at the Labour Relations Commission... Read more

Fees cut Bill's 'extraordinary powers' slammed

Gary Culliton | 19 February 2009 | Health Management

The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) has criticised the inclusion of a "sweeping measure" for the Health Services in the detail of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009. The Bill, includes in section 9 the provision to... Read more

Aptitude test launched for would-be doctors

Gary Culliton | 19 February 2009 | Research and Education

More than 3,000 would-be doctors took a new aptitude assessment test at centres around the country this week. It is the first year that students hoping to attend an undergraduate medicine course must take the Health Professions Admission Test (HPAT).... Read more

Remove barriers to improve research

Dara Gantly | 19 February 2009 | Research and Education

A national strategy is required to remove the barriers to promoting greater clinical research in this country, a new report has urged. The shortage of research nurses and a freeze on recruiting clinical staff are two key elements to address,... Read more

Medical-card holders up 6 per cent in a year

19 February 2009 | Health Management

The number of medical-card holders has risen by 6 per cent over the past year, the Minister for Health has confirmed. As of January 1, 2009, some 1,352,120 people held medical cards — up from 1,276,178 on the same date... Read more

BreastCheck CEO slams bogus fundraising

19 February 2009 | Public Health

BreastCheck has warned people not to support bogus fundraisers being carried out on its behalf. The National Cancer Screening Service has received reports that members of the public were contacted by telephone and asked to buy tickets to raise money... Read more

Study shows prison suicide risk

June Shannon | 19 February 2009 | Public Health

Suicide is 20 times more common in female prisoners than in the general female population, a new study has revealed. But Irish prisoners may be at less risk of suicide than their counterparts in the UK because of different procedures... Read more

Helix Health merges with Health Ireland Partners

Dara Gantly | 19 February 2009 | Health Management

GP members of the Health Ireland User Group voted in favour of merging with Helix Health at an EGM last Saturday. The decision by the users of the HEALTHone software package to merge with their rival will see almost 80... Read more

More beds needed – report

Gary Culliton | 19 February 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The unpublished Prospectus report on adult critical care services calls for up to 100 new intensive care beds across the country – an increase of almost one third – as well as for critical care units at tertiary hospitals to... Read more

St Vincent's and Beaumont: '35 on trolleys'

Gary Culliton | 18 February 2009 | Hospital Medicine

There were 35 patients on trolleys in both Beaumont and St Vincent’s hospitals in Dublin yesterday, according to the Irish Nurses Organisation’s Trolleywatch. There were 34 patients on trolleys in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. Based on the... Read more

'Jobs at risk' if industrial action goes ahead at Portiuncula Hospital

Gary Culliton | 18 February 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Staff at Portiuncula Hospital in County Galway have been warned by the HSE that services will be curtailed and jobs put at risk if industrial action threatened by the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) in support of five senior nurse managers... Read more

Irish team leads the way in HIV research

Gary Culliton | 18 February 2009 | Research and Education

New research presented by an Irish team at an international medical conference in Montreal last week helps explain why some HIV patients treated with antiretroviral medications experience increased incidence of heart attacks. Researchers from UCD School of Medicine, the Mater... Read more

Call for entries for Aviva Health's Quality Improvement Awards

June Shannon | 18 February 2009 | General Practice

The ICGP, in association with Hibernian Aviva Health, is inviting entries for the fifth annual Quality Improvement Awards. Entries for the 2009 Awards are invited from projects that detail improvements or innovations implemented in a general practice setting in Ireland,... Read more

Three and a half hour ambulance wait

Gary Culliton | 18 February 2009 | Hospital Medicine

A patient in North Tipperary had to wait over three hours for an ambulance to arrive last week according to local Labour Senator Alan Kelly. The incident was caused by overtime cuts in the ambulance service which leave the service... Read more

Abstracts wanted for Wonca conference

June Shannon | 18 February 2009 | Research and Education

The Scientific Committee of Wonca (World Organization of Family Doctors) Europe 2009 has issued a call for abstracts from doctors worldwide who are involved in the provision of primary care to patients. The 15th Wonca Europe Conference takes place this... Read more

Darwin 'had Asperger's Syndrome' – TCD Professor

Dara Gantly | 18 February 2009 | Research and Education

The father of the theory of evolution through natural selection, Charles Darwin, most likely had Asperger’s syndrome, a TCD professor has claimed. Psychiatrist Prof Michael Fitzgerald believes the mild form of autism gave Darwin the ability to “hyperfocus, the extra... Read more

Experts meet to enhance social care

Gary Culliton | 17 February 2009 | Research and Education

Key European experts met in Dublin recently to discuss enhancing social care services across Europe. Hosted by the Health Information and Quality Authority, together with the Council of Europe, the conference (which was held in Farmleigh, Dublin) was aimed at... Read more

Mad cow risk for haemophilia patients 'low'

Gary Culliton | 17 February 2009 | Public Health

There is concern for haemophilia patients in Britain who received clotting factors from the same infected human donor as a haemophiliac in his 70s, who recently died and was found to be infected with variant Creutzfeldt-Jackob Disease (vCJD) – although... Read more

No ambulances yet for the mid-west

Gary Culliton | 17 February 2009 | Hospital Medicine

None of the ambulances needed to service north Tipperary and the Clare/Ennis region are in place, Fine Gael Health spokesperson Deputy James Reilly told the Dáil last week. “Furthermore, these ambulances are to be supplemented by emergency medical technicians or... Read more

Drug strategy plans due by end of March

Dara Gantly | 17 February 2009 | Public Health

Proposals for a new National Drugs Strategy, covering the period 2009-2016, are expected to be finalised by the end of March. The end of deliberations of the Steering Group chaired by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is... Read more

Gynaecology society born

Dara Gantly | 17 February 2009 | Research and Education

A new society is being established to promote the increased use of the endoscopic approach to gynaecological surgery. The Irish Gynaecological Endoscopy Society — an organisation for consultants and trainees — wants to bring the use of such methods in... Read more

HSE publishes manuals to help with running a busy general practice

June Shannon | 17 February 2009 | General Practice

The HSE Dublin Mid–Leinster region has launched two new publications for GPs, practice nurses, practice managers and administrative staff, aimed at helping them with the running of a busy practice. The publications Practice Manager Manual and Practice Nurse Information Booklet... Read more

Man infected with vCJD dies in UK

June Shannon | 16 February 2009 | Public Health

The National Hamophilia Council of Ireland has written to all those with haemophilia and related bleeding disorders in Ireland to inform that a man in his 70’s with haemophilia who died in the UK had evidence of vCJD infection in... Read more

GPs vote in favour of merger with Helix Health

Dara Gantly | 16 February 2009 | Information Technology

GP members of the Health Ireland User Group voted in favour of merging with Helix Health at an EGM last Saturday. The decision by the users of the HEALTHone software package to merge with their rival will see almost 80... Read more

New medical aptitude test

Gary Culliton | 16 February 2009 | Research and Education

More than 3,000 would-be doctors took a new aptitude assessment test at centres around the country today. It is the first year that students hoping to attend an undergraduate medicine course at colleges in Ireland must take the Health Professions... Read more

IMO may ballot on industrial action

Gary Culliton | 16 February 2009 | Industrial Relations

More than 3,000 junior hospital doctors may be balloted on industrial action if plans to cut overtime and allowances go ahead. The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has slammed proposed cuts, which include unpaid meal breaks, removal of training grants and... Read more

Shops should pay for denying toilet access

Mary Anne Kenny | 16 February 2009 | Public Health

Ireland should consider fining retailers who do not allow people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to use employee restrooms, according to Betty Lattimore of the Irish Society for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease. Such a move is currently being considered by... Read more

Students change minds on donations

Gary Culliton | 16 February 2009 | Research and Education

The physical reality of dissection significantly altered the willingness of first-year medical students to become whole-body donors themselves, a UCD School of Medicine study published in the journal Anatomical Sciences Education shows. The more time students spent with a cadaver,... Read more

Irish Life says 20% of deaths linked to alcohol

Dara Gantly | 16 February 2009 | Public Health

One in five accidental or sudden deaths claims paid by Irish Life last year involved alcohol in some shape or form, the finance and insurance company has revealed. Overall, Irish Life paid out €16 million in respect of 167 accidental... Read more

Reduction in flu numbers at last

June Shannon | 16 February 2009 | Public Health

GPs are seeing a reduction in the numbers of influenza-like illnesses (ILI), as consultation rates for ILIs decreased from 42.9 per 100,000 to 34.6 for the five days to February 1, according to the latest report from the Health Protection... Read more

Appeals of 67 consultants turned down

Gary Culliton | 16 February 2009 | Industrial Relations

Sixty-seven public hospital consultants who sought changes to their State contracts have had their appeals refused. The changes would have enabled them to do work off-campus in private hospitals. A total of 108 consultants had appealed to independent adjudicator, Mr... Read more

Gangs target doctors' homes

Dara Gantly | 13 February 2009 | General Practice

A gang of criminals are suspected of targeting the homes of doctors in a series of sophisticated raids across the country. Gardaí are investigating a burglary in the Claremorris area of Mayo on the evening of December 16 and a... Read more

Irish children gain 24 extra kilos since 1948

Dara Gantly | 13 February 2009 | Public Health

Irish children now weigh 24 kilos more than they did in 1948, new research has revealed. Published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, the findings are based on three large-scale national surveys of heights and weights of children... Read more

New site explains testing to patients

Mary Anne Kenny | 13 February 2009 | Research and Education

Doctors can now refer patients to a website that can help them learn more about any laboratory tests they need and how the results of these tests are used. Labtestsonline.ie was launched recently in St Vincent’s Hospital by Mike Hallworth,... Read more

UK company hired for hygiene audit

Dara Gantly | 13 February 2009 | Health Management

A UK company has been chosen by the HSE to carry out the first hygiene audits of 24-hour residential healthcare facilities. Based in north London, Infection Control Solutions Ltd is to carry out between 75 and 100 separate audits of... Read more

Junior doctors to face cuts of at least €10,000 per year

Gary Culliton | 13 February 2009 | Industrial Relations

Junior doctors face cuts worth around €10,000 each per year – and that is before recently announced overtime reductions. The cuts involve the €3,000 Living Out Allowance, the €1,200–€3,000 Diploma Degree Allowance, the €450 Post Graduate Medical and Dental Board... Read more

New fellowship will help rheumatology patients

Mary Anne Kenny | 12 February 2009 | Research and Education

A new €100,000 fellowship that medical professionals hope will drive levels of patient care in the field of rheumatology has been announced by the RCPI. The Professors Bresnihan and Molloy International Education Fellowship will be awarded each year to one... Read more

Primary-care plan on target

Gary Culliton | 12 February 2009 | General Practice

The HSE is planning to have a Primary Care Team for every 8,000 people in all parts of the country, the Oireachtas Select Committee on Health heard recently. A programme to procure Primary Care Centres to accommodate the emerging teams... Read more

Licensing of healthcare providers from 2011/2012

Gary Culliton | 12 February 2009 | Regulation

The Government has decided that a licensing regime for public and private healthcare providers will be in place from 2011/2012. Legislation is to prepared for this, it was announced today. From July 1 this year, a mandatory inspection regime will... Read more

Director recruitment is outsourced by HSE

June Shannon | 12 February 2009 | Health Management

Despite seeking to make a number of efficiency cutbacks across the health services, the HSE has engaged professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers in the recruitment of one of its three new National Directors, IMT has learned. According to the report by... Read more

HSE to invest €20m in south Tipp services

June Shannon | 12 February 2009 | Health Management

The HSE is to implement a comprehensive €20 million programme to develop community-based mental health services in south Tipperary. According to the Executive, ‘the type of transformation underway in south Tipperary is part of the HSE’s plan to invest an... Read more

Waiting times for severely disabled varies

Dara Gantly | 11 February 2009 | Public Health

A UK company has been chosen by the HSE to carry out the first hygiene audits of 24-hour residential healthcare facilities. Based in north London, Infection Control Solutions Ltd is to carry out between 75 and 100 separate audits of... Read more

Keane: Ireland's cancer survival rates well below Scandanavia

Gary Culliton | 11 February 2009 | Public Health

Ireland ranked 18th out of 23 comparable countries for five year cancer survival rates, cancer Tsar Prof Tom Keane revealed at the launch of the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day. Prof Keane said that in five to ten years Ireland... Read more

IMO considers strike action over cutbacks

Gary Culliton | 11 February 2009 | Industrial Relations

The IMO has said it will consider industrial action over proposed Health Service Executive cutbacks, which would be in addition to the Government’s pension levy. A set of new measures is due to be implemented with effect from February 18.... Read more

More cost-containment measures to hit NCHDs

Gary Culliton | 11 February 2009 | Industrial Relations

The HSE has sent a letter to the IMO on how cost-containment measures are due to affect NCHDs. The letter outlined the measures the Executive intends to take to reduce costs by E96 million as part of an overall reduction... Read more

Report reveals hours put in by women carers

11 February 2009 | Public Health

Half of all women carers over 65 devote more than 43 hours per week to caring, according to a new report from the Older Women’s Network (OWN). Other issues highlighted in the report include the fact that cardiovascular disease is... Read more

Call for nominations to ICGP Council

11 February 2009 | General Practice

The ICGP is calling for nominations for election to its Council from all GP members, following the creation of three member-representative positions. All ICGP members in good standing as at December 31, 2008 are eligible to apply for the positions... Read more

Mr Michael Shine is removed from register

Gary Culliton | 10 February 2009 | Regulation

The Medical Council has revealed that the inquiry into allegations of professional misconduct on the part of Drogheda surgeon Mr Michael Shine took place before the Medical Council’s Fitness to Practise Committee from January 17 to July 21, 2008. The... Read more

Drugs found to block HIV in Monkeys

editor@imt.ie | 10 February 2009 | Foreign News, Public Health, Research and Education

The Washington Post is reporting that AIDS researchers gathered in Montreal yesterday heard encouraging results from studies of three strategies for preventing HIV infection using pharmaceuticals, particularly in women. Two experiments in monkeys showed that antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, given by... Read more

Call for medics to volunteer in Haiti

Niamh Mullen | 10 February 2009 | Foreign News

Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are being urged to volunteer for a life-changing trip to the poorest country in the western world. Haven, a new NGO set up by entrepreneur Leslie Buckley, aims to build houses and start community... Read more

Funds needed for air ambulance service

10 February 2009 | Hospital Medicine

A charity air ambulance service, which will attend the scenes of accidents in remote areas or where rapid transfer to hospital is needed, is appealing for volunteers to help fundraise to get the service up and running. The air ambulance... Read more

'Close pubs' that break MEAS rules

Niamh Mullen | 10 February 2009 | Public Health

A public health specialist has said there are no sanctions for licensed premises found in breach of MEAS (Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society) guidelines, and naming them in its latest report just amounted to a public slap on the... Read more

61 years adds 24 kilos to Irish kids

Dara Gantly | 10 February 2009 | Public Health

Irish kids now weigh 24 kilos more than they did in 1948, new research has revealed. A rapid increase in prosperity has gone hand in hand with the surge in obesity in Ireland, the authors of the report from UCC... Read more

Five less sickies a year in HSE

Gary Culliton and Terence Cosgrave | 09 February 2009 | Health Management

HSE employees will have to take five less ‘sickies’ each on average this year, as the Executive attempts to slash its chronic rates of absenteeism by 40 per cent in 2009. The target is to achieve overall absenteeism rates of... Read more

St James’s seeks beds

Dara Gantly | 09 February 2009 | Hospital Medicine

St James’s Hospital is looking to purchase 100 beds from nursing homes in the surrounding area in a drive to facilitate the early discharge of patients back into the community. The Dublin hospital has issued a tender to establish baseline... Read more

TDs petition Justice Minister on female genital mutilation

Dara Gantly | 09 February 2009 | Foreign News

The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform should strongly consider introducing specific legislation that would outlaw female genital mutilation (FGM) in Ireland. The Joint Oireachtas Com-mittee on Health and Children also wants to prohibit parents of Irish-born children from... Read more

Teens use smoking to cope with stress

June Shannon | 09 February 2009 | Public Health

Irish teenagers are using cigarettes as a coping mechanism to manage everyday stress, with the move from primary to secondary school being a trigger point for many to start smoking, according to a new report. The research found that the... Read more

ICGP calls for services before reconfiguration

June Shannon | 09 February 2009 | General Practice

The ICGP has called for a significant investment in Primary and Community Care to be put in place before the Health Service Executive carries out its planned reconfiguration of secondary care around the country. It also wants savings accrued in... Read more

Only five primary care teams share the same building

Gary Culliton | 09 February 2009 | General Practice

Only five primary care teams are co-located in the same building, eight years after the Government’s primary care plan was announced, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children heard last week. By the end of January, around 113 of... Read more

MRSA rate falls by 25% — survey

Gary Culliton | 09 February 2009 | Public Health

The rate of MRSA in hospitals nationwide has fallen according to a Heath Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) report. Key findings in the study indicate that MRSA rates have fallen by 25 per cent from 2006 to the latter half of... Read more

ICGP calls for services before reconfiguration

June Shannon | 06 February 2009 | General Practice

The ICGP has called for a significant investment in Primary and Community Care to be put in place before the Health Service Executive carries out its planned reconfiguration of secondary care around the country. It also wants savings accrued in... Read more

HSE to fastrack UK GPs into Irish system

Gary Culliton | 06 February 2009 | General Practice

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is working with the ICGP to fast track doctors through a programme where they would be available for general practice. A GP recruitment campaign has also commenced in the UK, where the HSE is advertising... Read more

Ireland should market its healthcare

Dara Gantly | 06 February 2009 | Health Management

Ireland should market itself as the next hot spot destination for European patients seeking treatment abroad, an Irish MEP has suggested. Mr Colm Burke, Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South, told IMT that during these ‘troubling economic times’, the private... Read more

Measles outbreak shows need for vaccinations

Dara Gantly | 06 February 2009 | Public Health

A recent measles outbreak in Germany has highlighted the need for vaccination reminders and better information for parents, according to the WHO. Research published this week in the international public health journal, the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, found... Read more

Health screening must be evidence based says ICGP

Gary Culliton | 06 February 2009 | Health Management

The Irish College of General Practitioners has urged that all health screening — whether it is done by GPs, Government initiatives, or private clinics — ‘must be evidence based and targeted at those groups who are most at risk’. The... Read more

Non-consultant doctors considering industrial action

Gary Culliton | 06 February 2009 | Industrial Relations

The HSE has said it is disappointed that the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) should feel it necessary to consider embarking upon industrial action. The IMO has said it will consider industrial action over proposed HSE cutbacks, which would be on... Read more

System of universal patient registration would enhance care

Gary Culliton | 05 February 2009 | Health Management

A system of universal patient registration in Ireland would enhance patient care within the community, according to the body charged with ensuring quality in the healthcare system. The Chief Executive of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Dr Tracey... Read more

GP shortage poses threat to communities

Gary Culliton | 05 February 2009 | General Practice

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has said the current shortage of GPs poses a threat to the ability of primary care to meet the increasing needs of their communities. Therefore, there is a need for a Workforce Education,... Read more

General Practice is ideal setting for research

June Shannon | 05 February 2009 | General Practice

Service GPs should be supported and encouraged to carry out research in general practice, according to Limerick GP and GP Trainer with the Mid West Training Programme, Dr Kieran Murphy. Speaking at the recent University of Limerick’s Graduate Medical School’s... Read more

Tallaght: 31 on trolleys

Gary Culliton | 05 February 2009 | Hospital Medicine

There were 31 patients on trolleys at Tallaght hospital today, according to the Irish Nurses Organisation's Trolleywatch. There were 23 patients on trolleys in Cork and Mayo. The following at the totals reported this morning.... Read more

New Drogheda oncology unit

Gary Culliton | 04 February 2009 | Hospital Medicine

A new Oncology Day Services Unit was officially opened today at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. The €1.3 million purpose built Unit was officially opened by the Mayor of Drogheda, Frank Maher. This new Unit was developed in response... Read more

Dentists want collective bargaining

Gary Culliton | 04 February 2009 | Industrial Relations

The Government recently decided to amend the Competition Act to enable the Irish Medical Organisation to represent general practitioners in negotiations with the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health and Children. The same principle of partnership should be... Read more

INO says pensions levy 'unacceptable'

Gary Culliton | 04 February 2009 | Industrial Relations

The Irish Nurses Organisation’s Executive Council has sought legal advice on the Government’s new pensions levy. The INO has not ruled out a legal challenge to any unilateral move by the Government to impose pay cuts if its legal advice... Read more

Fees to GPs cut by eight per cent

Gary Culliton | 04 February 2009 | Health Management

Former GP Dr Leo Varadkar, who is Fine Gael's Enterprise spokesperson, has said that professional medical fees "need to come down." Last night the government announced that fees to a range of healthcare professionals including GPs, pharmacists, dentists, opticians and... Read more

Cutbacks will affect muscular dystrophy

04 February 2009 | Public Health

HSE cutbacks will result in persons worst affected by muscular dystrophy being denied more than 100,000 personal assistance (PA) hours in 2009, according to the group representing those with the condition. Muscular Dystrophy Ireland CEO Mr Joe Mooney said that... Read more

Leadership lacking in discharge delays

Gary Culliton | 04 February 2009 | Hospital Medicine

A patient in the North East who was medically discharged last April is still in hospital, Fine Gael Health spokesperson Dr James Reilly has said. This was because there is no home care package for the person.... Read more

45 hospital jobs and 20 beds go in Mid West

By June Shannon | 04 February 2009 | Health Management

Seasonal ward closures, staff reductions and the removal of 20 inpatient beds are among a number of ‘service efficiencies’ to be implemented across the acute hospital network in the Mid West (MWHG) in an effort to make savings of €10... Read more

Kids' TV time affects their diet in later life

Dara Gantly | 03 February 2009 | Public Health

New research from the US has established that TV viewing during adolescence predicts poorer dietary intake patterns five years later. Published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, the study followed almost 2,000 high- and middle-school children... Read more

Rise in rate of antibiotic prescribing

Gary Culliton | 03 February 2009 | Public Health

Ireland is one of three European countries where the rate of anti-biotic prescribing is increasing, a consultant microbiologist has said. Between 20 per cent and 30 per cent of the drug budgets at acute hospitals, are accounted for by antibiotics.... Read more

Patients being held to prevent disease outbreak

Gary Culliton | 03 February 2009 | Public Health

Two people are currently being detained under Section 38 of the Health Act 1947, which applies to the detention and isolation of a person who is a probable source of infection. And now a woman who has been detained in... Read more

Social acceptance 'more important than health' to teen smokers

Gary Culliton | 03 February 2009 | Public Health

Teenagers think smoking plays an important role in being accepted by their peers and that being socially accepted is more important than their health, according to a new report. ‘The Voice of Young People - A Report on Teenagers’ Attitudes... Read more

Overwhelmed GPs receiving more cards

Gary Culliton | 03 February 2009 | General Practice

Dr Martin Daly of the Irish Medical Organisation last week told the Oireachtas Select Committee on Health that the HSE is trying to save money by giving lists of medical card patients to GPs who already have large numbers on... Read more

Nurse writes prescriptions in Castletownbere

03 February 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Castletownbere Community Hospital has become the first community hospital in Ireland in which a registered nurse prescriber (RNP) has issued a prescription for patients. Cathy Sheehan, who received her RNP qualifications from University College Cork earlier this month, can now... Read more

Pharmacists' profit margin 'is six per cent'

Gry Culliton | 02 February 2009 | Public Health

The average net profit margin of a community pharmacy is 6%, a new survey shows. This includes profits arising from non-medicine retail activities such as the sale of cosmetics. The savings associated with pharmacy services to the community which are... Read more