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News: March 2009

Parents 'making positive changes to children's diet'

Gary Culliton | 31 March 2009 | Public Health

Parents are making positive changes to their children's diet and physical activity levels, research conducted by HSE and Safefood for the 'Little Steps' campaign suggests. 51% of parents stated they are replacing unhealthy food with healthier options and 61% of... Read more

International Hepatitis C Conference

Gary Culliton | 31 March 2009 | Research and Education

An international Hepatitis C Conference will be held from June 11 to 19 this year at Dublin Castle 'Hepatitis C - the Third Decade and Beyond' is a three day conference being hosted by the Consultative Council on Hepatitis C.... Read more

'Big Brew' for Alzheimer's

Gary Culliton | 31 March 2009 | Public Health

The Alzheimer Society has launched its Tea Day, a social occasion where thousands of people - friends,family,work colleagues, neighbours - come together to drink tea and raise money for The Alzheimer Society of Ireland. This year it has been dubbed... Read more

Mental health lessons can reduce prejudice

Dara Gantly | 31 March 2009 | Research and Education

Teaching school children about common mental health problems can reduce prejudice and negative attitudes towards mental illness. According to a new study published in the April issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry, teenagers who received just six lessons on... Read more

OTC set to tackle advertising

Greg Baxter | 31 March 2009 |

The five-year anniversary of the smoking ban passed last weekend, as compliance with the ban reached its highest level yet in 2008. Now the Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) will focus its efforts on preventing young people from taking up... Read more

Decision pending for Mount Carmel

Dara Gantly | 31 March 2009 | Planning and Development

An Bord Pleanála is due to decide on the planning appeal for a new 160-bed hospital on the Mount Carmel campus by July 7. The proposed development in Churchtown, Dublin, will comprise a new hospital, the demolition of all existing... Read more

Doctors wanted for TV programme

31 March 2009 | Research and Education

A TV production company is looking for Irish doctors with the ‘x-factor’ to audition for new health show. But fear not, you will not be expected to sing or dance. Waddell Media is based in Northern Ireland and made the... Read more

NBIP gets funding for biophotonic research

31 March 2009 | Research and Education

A RESEARCH programme for an emerging technique that uses light and other forms of radiant energy to understand more about the inner working of cells and tissues has been launched with an inaugural conference at the RCSI. The National Biophotonics... Read more

'Shameful' inaction on HIQA disability standards

Gary Culltion | 31 March 2009 | Regulation

Labour Equality Spokesperson Kathleen Lynch has slammed "the point-blank refusal of the Government to adopt HIQA recommendations for standards in dealing with people with special needs. This is as shameful as it is baffling." When addressing the annual conference of... Read more

DRUMM: major job cuts in community services

Gary Culliton | 30 March 2009 | Health Management

Major jobs cuts in the HSE’s community services will be unveiled within the next few days, Chief Executive Prof Brendan Drumm has revealed in an exclusive interview with Irish Medical Times’ website. Speaking last night, Prof Drumm admitted that the... Read more

HSE: "0ver 10,000 Over 70s Medical Cards returned'

Gary Culliton | 30 March 2009 | General Practice

To date, 10,182 persons have returned their over 70’s medical card to the HSE in compliance with the law ending the automatic entitlement to a medical card for people aged 70 and over, the HSE has said. A further 9,264... Read more

Research targets women with learning disabilities

Niamh Mullen | 30 March 2009 | Research and Education

Research into why many women with learning disabilities fail to attend breast cancer screening appointments will be carried out at the University of Ulster. A grant of £20,000 has been awarded by the UK charity Breast Cancer Campaign. One of... Read more

New Cavan unit: 'significant acute services deterioration'

Gary Culliton | 30 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The new six bay Medical Assessment Unit at Cavan General Hospital will begin to receive patients from today. "It is significant that local GPs have also pointed out to the HSE that attempting to replace 56 acute medical beds in... Read more

Dementia risk not as strong as feared

Greg Baxter | 30 March 2009 | Public Health

Mild cognitive impairment, or memory problems, may not be linked to dementia as closely as previously thought, new research from the University of Leicester reveals. Previously, many doctors told patients with such impairment that their risk of developing dementia was... Read more

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness month

Gary Culliton | 28 March 2009 | Public Health

The first national Bowel Cancer Awareness month will take place this April in a bid to raise awareness and understanding of the second most common cancer in Ireland, which is accountable for some 12-14% of all cancer deaths in Ireland.... Read more

Awards shortlist announced

Gary Culliton | 28 March 2009 | Research and Education

The shortlist for the 2009 Helix Health Irish Pharmacist Awards was announced today. The Pharmacist Awards are open to all those in the pharmacy profession in research, science and community or hospital based practice fields. The shortlist includes pharmacists throughout... Read more

Patient load varies hugely

Gary Culliton | 27 March 2009 | Health Management

Some HSE consultants treat up to eight times more patients than doctors working in the same specialties at other public hospitals. The discrepancies are exposed for the first time in new HSE HealthStat figures. Patient throughput varies hugely at consultant-led... Read more

IMO advises against ‘knee-jerk’ reactions

Dara Gantly | 27 March 2009 | Industrial Relations

It would be ‘inadvisable, unwise and ineffective’ for the Government and the HSE to employ ‘knee-jerk reactions’ in deciding on topline cuts in public health spending, the IMO has warned. IMO CEO George McNeice stated that the country had already... Read more

NI drug use is double south’s

Dara Gantly | 27 March 2009 | Public Health

Approximately one in ten adults have taken tranquillisers or have used antidepressants at some stage in their lives, according to a new report. The major new survey on drug prevalence also found that use of such medications in Northern Ireland... Read more

Rise in patients crossing border to see Northern GPs

Niamh Mullen | 27 March 2009 | General Practice

Calls to GP practices in Northern Ireland suggest an increased number of patients from the Republic are crossing the border to see doctors for half the price. A staff member at a surgery in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone, close to the... Read more

GPs consider 'work to rule' after IMO meeting

Gary Culliton | 27 March 2009 | Industrial Relations

A ‘work to rule’ is being considered by individual GPs around the country, following a meeting of 150 IMO members from around the country in Dublin’s Croke Park last Sunday. The GPs are threatening an end to pro bono work... Read more

ALS breakthrough for RCSI researchers

Gary Culliton | 27 March 2009 | Research and Education

Researchers from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland have advanced the potential for the treatment of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a fatal neurodegenerative condition. The findings, which were recently published in the Journal of Neuroscience (in its December 24,... Read more

Tropical Medical Bureau and Quinn offer vaccine

27 March 2009 |

INSURER Quinn Health-care has teamed up with the Tropical Medical Bureau to offer cut-price cervical cancer vaccines to its members. The reduced rate for Quinn Healthcare customers is €360 (reduced from €390) for Cevarix and €450 (reduced from €480) for... Read more

Ireland rates poorly in lung-cancer outcomes

Greg Baxter | 26 March 2009 | Public Health

Ireland has the highest percentage – among European countries – of people with lung cancer who do not receive anti-tumour treatment. Almost 55 per cent of all lung cancer patients in Ireland do not receive anti-tumour treatment for their condition,... Read more

'Slap in the face' for Carers' Association

Dara Gantly | 26 March 2009 | Public Health

Carers and the Opposition have lambasted the Government over its decision not to publish a National Carers’ Strategy. The Carers’ Association described the move as a ‘slap in the face’ for the 161,000 family carers across the country. “We’re devastated... Read more

IMO investments take a hit in 2008

Dara Gantly | 26 March 2009 | Industrial Relations

The economic downturn has caused a devaluation in the IMO’s property and share investments amounting to €2,178,625. Income from membership for the year ending December 31, 2008 stood at €4,371,473 – up €203,394 on 2007, and the union recorded a... Read more

Quarter of men are overweight

Gary Culliton | 26 March 2009 | Public Health

Nearly a quarter of Irish men (23.6 per cent) and 22.2 per cent of women are overweight, a new survey shows. A pilot diabetes screening project which is currently being undertaken by Vhi Healthcare shows that 8.1 per cent of... Read more

New planning application for €160m hospital

Gary Culliton | 26 March 2009 | Planning and Development

Beacon Medical Group has announced that it has submitted a fresh planning application for a state-of-the-art Women’s, Children’s and Maternity Hospital adjacent to Beacon Medical Campus in Sandyford. A new aspect of the application is the addition of a medical... Read more

First ablation a success for St James's

Dara Gantly | 26 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The first full endoscopic ablation of Barrett’s oesophagus in Ireland was undertaken at St James’s Hospital, Dublin earlier this month on March 10. Dr Dermot O’Toole, Mr Narayanasamy Ravi and the Oesophageal & Gastric Cancer Unit team carried out the... Read more

Nurses offered change

Niamh Mullen | 26 March 2009 | Health Management

THE HSE is urging general nurses who want a change of career direction to consider its new Public Health Nurse Sponsorship Initiative. The initiative offers nurses sponsorship and permanent employment on successful completion of the 12-month diploma in nursing/public health... Read more

IMO calls urgent meeting of NCHDs

Dara Gantly | 26 March 2009 | Industrial Relations

The IMO has arranged an urgent meeting of its NCHD members at the weekend to debate the series of unilaterally imposed HSE cuts facing the specialty group. The meeting will take place on Sunday March 29 at the Burlington Hotel,... Read more

Number of IMO members up in 2008

25 March 2009 | Industrial Relations

Membership of the IMO grew to 6,173 in 2008, bringing in subscriptions totalling €4,371,473. However, not every craft group witnessed a growth in figures. GP membership actually fell slightly, from 2,131 in 2007 to 2,124 last year, with the number... Read more

World TB Day 2009 focuses on Brazil

25 March 2009 | Foreign News

World TB Day took place this week with the main events held in Brazil, where the disease kills 20 people every day. The ‘2009 World Health Organization Global TB Control Report’ was released on the day. It was also officially... Read more

Researchers: salts 'can kill MRSA'

Gary Culliton | 25 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Experts from Queen’s University have discovered new agents that can kill colonies of MRSA and other antibiotic resistant hospital-acquired infections. Hospital cleaners may one day use ionic liquids to clean wards. Brendan Gilmore and co-workers at the Queen's University, Belfast,... Read more

Number of deceased donors falls by eight per cent

Gary Culliton | 25 March 2009 | Public Health

In Ireland last year, there were 136 deceased donor kidney transplants, 58 liver, 4 heart and 4 lung transplants. 12 pancreas were transplanted simultaneously with a kidney transplant. Ten extra kidney transplants were conducted via living donors making an overall... Read more

New site for Trinity School of Medicine

Dara Gantly | 25 March 2009 | Research and Education

The School of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin will launch a new website today (March 27) celebrating its past 300 years. Including historical snapshots of the most significant events at the School of Medicine since the first medical building was... Read more

More hepatitis B cases reported than ever before

Niamh Mullen | 25 March 2009 | Public Health

MORE hepatitis B cases were reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in 2008 than any other year since reporting began in 1988. A total of 954 cases of the disease were notified to the HPSC, an increase of... Read more

Harney: concerns in relation to 'itinerant locums'

25 March 2009 | Regulation

Health Minister Harney has conceded there are concerns in relation to 'itinerant locums', following a Fine Gael Parliamentary Question seeking details on three doctors struck off the medical register in the UK for serious medical or sexual misconduct, who may... Read more

Research targets women with learning disabilities

Niamh Mullen | 24 March 2009 | Research and Education

Research into why many women with learning disabilities fail to attend breast cancer screening appointments will be carried out at the University of Ulster. A grant of £20,000 has been awarded by the UK charity Breast Cancer Campaign. One of... Read more

Helix partnership to test NHS compliance

Dara Gantly | 24 March 2009 | Health Management

Helix Health has joined with UK company Quicksilva in a partnership that will allow the Irish firm to test its pharmacy management systems for NHS compliance. Once Helix Health is certified by the NHS Connecting for Health’s programme, its pharmacy... Read more

Health promotion specialist honoured

Gary Culliton | 24 March 2009 | Research and Education

An Honorary Fellowship by the Waterford Institute of Technology has been awarded to HSE Health Promotion specialist Beatrice Barry-Murphy from Wexford. Ms Barry-Murphy has been with the HSE and its predecessor the South Eastern Health Board since moving from her... Read more

Research set to ease the pain of bedsores

Dara Gantly | 24 March 2009 | Public Health

New award-winning research being carried out at the University of Ulster could help ease the pain of thousands of bedridden patients. The university’s Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Research Institute, based at the Jordanstown campus, is investigating how pressure ulcers, or... Read more

ICGP seeks Director of Women’s Health

24 March 2009 | General Practice

THE ICGP is looking for a GP to become the College’s new Director of Women’s Health. The candidate will replace former Director Dr Ailís Ní Riain, who has taken up a new position in the College as Director of Advocacy... Read more

Labour looks to outlaw ‘barbaric’ FGM

24 March 2009 | Foreign News

THE LABOUR Party plans to publish a Private Members’ Bill within the next 10 days seeking to outlaw female genital mutilation (FGM). Health spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan said it was time for Ireland to join other European and some African countries... Read more

IPU: medical card scheme 'could collapse'

Gary Culliton | 24 March 2009 | Public Health

Pharmacists have warned that the Medical Card Scheme could collapse, 5,000 jobs could be at risk and up to 300 pharmacies could close, if cuts to the payments schemes of the magnitude that the HSE proposed last year were re-introduced.... Read more

HSE publishes new performance indicators

Gary Culliton | 23 March 2009 | Health Management

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has published for the first time comprehensive performance information showing how 29 teaching, regional and general hospitals are performing against national and international targets in delivering services to patients. The information includes measures such as... Read more

Raynaud's Society’s Annual Awareness Conference

Gary Culliton | 23 March 2009 | Research and Education

The Irish Raynaud’s and Scleroderma Society, which aims to improve the quality of life of people with these conditions, will hold its annual patient conference next month. 
 The featured speakers are leading consultants Dame Carol Black, Professor Douglas Veale,... Read more

HSE South makes pledge

Dara Gantly | 20 March 2009 | Health Management

The HSE South has pledged to make ‘every effort’ to ensure that one of the new consultant orthopaedic posts to be recruited in the region will have a special interest in paediatric orthopaedic surgery. The commitment came as figures showed... Read more

South lags behind on orthopaediac care

Niamh Mullen | 20 March 2009 | Health Management

Poverty is strongly associated with poor health and shortened life expectancy but with more community involvement in healthcare the delivery of services can be improved. That was the message from Combat Poverty at the launch of its report on the... Read more

New book details patient experience

By Dara Gantly | 20 March 2009 | Public Health

EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has unveiled a new book detailing the experience of those throughout Europe who have been diagnosed with a rare disease. The Voice of 12,000 Patients, co-funded by the European Commission, was presented to mark Rare... Read more

HIQA completes screening HTA

Dara Gantly | 20 March 2009 | Public Health

The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the cost-effectiveness and resource implications of introducing a national screening programme for bowel cancer has been completed, IMT has learned. A spokesperson for the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) confirmed that the team... Read more

Consultants face shortfalls

Gary Culliton | 20 March 2009 | Industrial Relations

Specialists who signed the new consultant contract last year now face pay shortfalls of €34,000 each. Health Minister Mary Harney has decided that funding will be allocated to support the payment of the new contract with retrospect to January 1,... Read more

HSE to cease NCHD contracts past July

Dara Gantly | 20 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The HSE has informed all employers to cease offering contracts of employment to NCHDs for periods beyond July 1. In an internal memo from National Director of Human Resources Seán McGrath, which has been seen by IMT, the HSE also... Read more

Hospitals to meet HSE on waiting lists

Dara Gantly | 20 March 2009 | Information Technology

The HSE is to meet shortly with the three Dublin paediatric hospitals in an attempt to reduce the waiting list for paediatric orthopaedic surgery, IMT has learned. The move comes as it emerged that a 16-year-old girl who is suffering... Read more

Medical Council seeks volunteers for CA pilot

Dara Gantly | 20 March 2009 | Regulation

The Medical Council will be seeking 300 consultants to volunteer for a new competence assurance (CA) pilot in the coming months. The pilot will employ multi-source feedback questionnaires in a so-called 360-degree review, and follows a similar study of GPs... Read more

Music therapy helps with language ability

Niamh Mullen | 20 March 2009 | Research and Education

PLAYING Mozart to children with developmental disorders can dramatically improve their language ability, according to a leading speech and language therapist. Karen O’Connor, who trained in the LiFT music therapy programme in Canada and runs clinics in Dublin and Galway,... Read more

Maggots shown to benefit leg ulcers

Dara Gantly | 20 March 2009 | Research and Education

Maggots have similar health benefits and costs compared with a standard treatment for leg ulcers, according to two new studies. A team of UK researchers has carried out the first randomised controlled trial to investigate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of... Read more

Ireland needs more lactation consultants

Niamh Mullen | 19 March 2009 | Public Health

HOW to instil confidence in pregnant women about their ability to breastfeed will be the focus of the spring meeting of the Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland (ALCI). The title of the study day is ‘Breastfeeding, Weaning and Contemporary... Read more

49 people on trolleys in Tallaght today

Gary Culliton | 19 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

There were 49 people on trolleys in the emergency department of Tallaght Hospital this morning. There were 44 people on trolleys awaiting admission to Beaumont, accordng to the INO's Trolleywatch. The figures were as follows:... Read more

Irish cancer research awarded €500,000

Niamh Mullen | 19 March 2009 | Research and Education

FUNDING of half a million euro has been awarded to three Irish breast-cancer research projects. The charity Breast Cancer Campaign awarded €3 million to 29 research projects in the UK and Ireland. It is the first time the charity has... Read more

Overcrowding causing 'major problems' in EDs

Gary Culliton | 19 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Fine Gael Senate Health Spokesperson, Frances Fitzgerald, has said the number of patients enduring hospital treatment on a trolley continues to be alarmingly high. “ED overcrowding continues to be a major problem. There are signs that the closure of beds... Read more

WHO to tackle diarrhoea deaths

Dara Gantly | 19 March 2009 | Research and Education

The World Health Organization (WHO) is convening a meeting of major supporters of child health research at the end of the month to tackle the nearly two million children who die from diarrhoea each year. The Organization has identified a... Read more

No new children's hospital until 2014

Gary Culliton | 18 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Dublin's new National Children's Hospital will not be completed until 2014, Health Minister Harney has said. The development of the National Paediatric Hospital is a priority project for the Government. The project is proceeding as planned and is being overseen... Read more

Paracetemol: pharmacist 'must interview customers seeking more than one pack'

Gary Culliton | 18 March 2009 | Regulation

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), has issued a reminder notice to pharmacies regarding new regulations governing the supply of medicines, especially those containing paracetamol, through pharmacies in Ireland. The notice reminds pharmacists that the supply of medicines containing paracetamol,... Read more

Asthma research gets EC funding

Mary Anne Kenny | 18 March 2009 | Research and Education

Irish research into curing asthma got a major boost last week with the awarding of an initial grant of €600,000 to Dr Conor Burke, Consultant at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Connolly Hospital. The funding came follow-ing an EU competition... Read more

Healthcare moving towards 'nurse-led or delivered care'

Niamh Mullen | 18 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

GIVING nurses prescribing rights is the biggest change in the profession in recent times, said Chairperson of the Irish Nurses Cardiovascular Association (INCA), Mary O’Connor. She said around 140 nurses were qualified to prescribe and there were no problems with... Read more

Call for submissions on tackling health staff shortages

By Dara Gantly | 18 March 2009 | Industrial Relations

The Department of Health will be accepting submissions until this Friday, March 20 on a new EU Green Paper to tackle health staff shortages across Europe. Hawkins House is inviting the views and input of interested parties in order to... Read more

Tributes paid to Cavan General doctor

18 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The death has occurred of Dr Amir Kamal Hassan Musa, who was a registrar in the Anaesthetics Department of Cavan General Hospital. He had worked at the hospital for more than 10 years. “In that time he displayed professionalism and... Read more

Funding cuts come at worst possible time

18 March 2009 | Public Health

A 12.5 per cent reduction in funding for suicide prevention has been described as a decision to save money at the expense of lives. Fine Gael spokesperson on Mental Health, Dan Neville TD, said the reduction by the National Office... Read more

HSE meeting unions 'to establish contingency measures'

Gary Culliton | 18 March 2009 | Industrial Relations

The HSE is seeking to hold an early meeting with all the health service trade unions to establish the nature of any industrial action they may take on 30th March next and the contingency measures that will be put in... Read more

Legislation to ban genital mutilation

Niamh Mullen | 18 March 2009 | Public Health

Health Minister Mary Harney is examining the possibility of introducing specific legislation to ban female genital mutilation (FGM). The Department of Health confirmed it was considering it in the context of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the... Read more

5% of payments are still outstanding

Dara Gantly | 18 March 2009 | Health Management

In the region of 1,600 claims made under the nursing home repayment scheme have yet to be concluded, the Health Minister has confirmed. This figure is approximately 5 per cent of the 35,000 applications received by the Scheme Administrator KPMG/McCann... Read more

Belfast expert to speak on diabetes and pregnancy

Niamh Mullen | 18 March 2009 | Public Health

A Belfast-based expert on diabetes will discuss at an international symposium later this month the first successful case of a pregnant diabetic being treated with insulin. Prof David R. Hadden, an honorary staff member at the Royal Victoria Hospital, will... Read more

Helmets 'ineffective' against HGV crushes

Niamh Mullen | 16 March 2009 | Public Health

Cycling to work could reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and obesity but do not bother wearing a helmet because it will not protect you from injury. Cyclist.ie, Ireland’s national cycling lobby group, has said helmets are ‘ineffective against... Read more

IBTS looks at vCJD screening tests

June Shannon | 16 March 2009 | Public Health

THE IBTS is carrying out qualitative research among donor groups to guage their reaction to the possible introduction of a potential screening test for vCJD, currently being tested in France and the UK. Although there is no confirmatory test available... Read more

Phones of hospital staff contaminated with germs

Gary Culliton | 16 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Mobile phones used by hospital healthcare workers are often contaminated with germs, including those that can cause illness in hospitalised patients. The Turkish research team of Dr Fatma Ulger and others at Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, swabbed the dominant hand... Read more

HSE to decide on three key posts

Gary Culliton | 16 March 2009 | Health Management

Decisions have been made on three senior HSE appointments and these will be brought for approval by the Executive’s Board at a meeting on March 12. The key posts involved are the Head of Clinical Care and Quality, and the... Read more

Recession is not yet affecting claims

Dara Gantly | 16 March 2009 | Public Health

There is no evidence of an increase in personal injury claims due to the recession, according to the chief executive of the Injuries Board. While some insurers have commented recently on a surge of personal injury claims due to the... Read more

Coombe study reveals low breastfeeding rates

Niamh Mullen | 16 March 2009 | Public Health

A STUDY of the feeding practices of 450 women who gave birth at the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital (CWIUH) found only one woman exclusively breastfed her baby for six months — as advised by the World Health Organization.... Read more

IT helps GPs with diabetes care

Dara Gantly | 16 March 2009 | Information Technology

Dara Gantly writes that a new automated electronic audit introduced into general practice is helping to improve the care of patients with diabetes. GP members of the Health Ireland Users Group (HIUG) are spearheading a new automated electronic audit of... Read more

Redevelopment of Rehabilitation Hospital on hold

Dara Gantly | 13 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The redevelopment of the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dún Laoghaire is on hold until a working group on rehab services concludes its work later this year. Minister of State at the Department of Finance Martin Mansergh told the Seanad... Read more

Revenue to increase GP tax focus

Dara Gantly | 13 March 2009 | General Practice

Doctors will be under increased scrutiny from the Revenue Commissioners now that the construction industry has ground to a halt, a financial expert has warned. David McCaffrey, one of the country’s leading specialist medical accountants, told IMT that the number... Read more

GPs fear the ideas of March

Gary Culliton | 13 March 2009 | Industrial Relations

A national meeting to which all 2,100 IMO GP members have been invited is to be held in Dublin, most likely on March 22, to consider mooted cuts of up to 16 per cent in practice income. The IMO fears... Read more

HIQA begins major recruitment drive

Dara Gantly | 13 March 2009 | Regulation

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is seeking to appoint a number of key personnel to its Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and Healthcare Quality and Safety Directorates, at a potential cost of more than €730,000. The two most senior... Read more

Call for colon screening

June Shannon | 13 March 2009 | Public Health

The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) has called for the roll out of a free national bowel cancer-screening programme for everyone over the age of 50, which it believes would ‘save lives immediately’ and pay for itself in five years. The... Read more

HIQA sets out standards of care for older people

Gary Culliton | 13 March 2009 | Regulation

New HIQA standards mean that people in residential homes for older people must now receive a contract setting out what they can expect regarding accommodation, food, care and services. “The emphasis will be on evidence that residents are being looked... Read more

Prison referrals rise to Mater ED

Dara Gantly | 13 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

More than 380 prisoners were referred to the emergency department (ED) of Dublin’s Mater Hospital last year. The figure of 381 referrals until December 18 was an increase of nearly 25 per cent on the previous year, when just 307... Read more

Formation of Professional Competence Steering Committee

Gary Culliton | 13 March 2009 | Research and Education

A Professional Competence Steering Committee has been established by the Medical Council and the Forum of Postgraduate Training Bodies to facilitate the development and implementation of comprehensive and effective Professional Competence Schemes for medical practitioners. The Committee represents a partnership... Read more

Still no new HSE Operations Director

Gary Culliton | 13 March 2009 | Health Management

The HSE Board yesterday received a report and update on the appointment of the three new National Directors of Planning and Performance, Quality and Clinical Care, and Operations, at its monthly meeting. It was agreed that these appointments would be... Read more

Rights of patients must be clarified when it comes to cross-border healthcare

Niamh Mullen | 13 March 2009 | Health Management

Health minister mary Harney has said the draft EU Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross-Border Healthcare has brought the opportunity to consider a draft legal framework to clarify the rights and obligations of patients and member states. She was speaking... Read more

College of Psychiatry hosts first conference

June Shannon | 13 March 2009 | Research and Education

The recently formed College of Psychiatry of Ireland is to hold its inaugural conference later this month during which the new entity will be officially launched. According to the President of the College Dr Justin Brophy, the Spring Conference will... Read more

Up to 60,000 youths committing self-injury

Dara Gantly | 13 March 2009 | Public Health

One in 15 young people in Ireland are potentially at risk of self-injury, experts at a seminar at TCD revealed last week on March 2. There were approximately 11,000 presentations to emergency departments in Ireland with self-inflicted injuries in 2007.... Read more

Deadline extended for consultation

Dara Gantly | 13 March 2009 | Medico-Legal

The public consultation on systems of consent for the donation of organs after death for transplantation has been extended to March 14. Minister for Health Mary Harney explained she was extending the deadline by two weeks following a ‘high level... Read more

IMO brands HSE 'bullying and draconian'

Gary Culliton | 12 March 2009 | Industrial Relations

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) called today for the immediate reversal of the decision by the HSE to introduce "selective and draconian cuts" which it has unilaterally imposed on Non Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs). The IMO also called for a... Read more

TCD showcases bioscience

Gary Culliton | 12 March 2009 | Research and Education

Trinity Research and Innovation will be showcasing a selection of the latest bioscience technologies developed by TCD researchers at an event in the Science Gallery this evening (March 12th) between 6.30pm and 9.30pm. The Science Gallery, TCD (enter via Pearse... Read more

1,231 children/adults to be called back to audiology clinics

Gary Culliton | 12 March 2009 | Health Management

The HSE has said it has written to a number of clients of the audiology services in Cork, Tralee and Limerick city advising them that the work of an audiological scientist who provided community based audiology services at these clinics... Read more

UCC public lecture to cover coeliac disease

12 March 2009 |

Coeliac disease, which affects up to one in 20 people in Ireland, is to be the topic of the next session of the Annual College of Science, Engineering and Food Science (SEFS) Public Lecture Series at UCC. Prof Elke Arendt,... Read more

NTPF set to establish disaster back-up plan

Dara Gantly | 12 March 2009 | Information Technology

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is to set up an IT disaster-recovery service to safeguard against the loss of sensitive waiting-list information. The plan will ensure the ‘business continuity’ of the organisation at an alternative site in the event... Read more

HSE to commission artwork for Tallaght Primary Care Centre

June Shannon | 12 March 2009 | General Practice

The HSE is seeking to commission new artwork to the value of €29,200 for its new Primary Care Centre in Tallaght, Irish Medical Times has learned. Under the provisions of the ‘Per Cent for Art Scheme’ — which states that... Read more

Today is World Kidney Day

Gary Culliton | 12 March 2009 | Public Health

Today is World Kidney Day 2009. The event aims to highlight the global pandemic of kidney disease and its inextricable link as a catalyst for other significant and potentially fatal diseases which are common, harmful, but treatable. This campaign in... Read more

Home and family carers should unite and force change through elections: conference

Greg Baxter | 11 March 2009 | News

Family carers should unite to force the State to recognise the financial benefit of the work they do, and to end the financial penalty for women who work as fulltime carers at home, a conference heard today. At the conference,... Read more

'Unreasonable' to refer doctors' dispute to Labour Court

Gary Culliton | 11 March 2009 | Industrial Relations

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO)today said it is participating in discussions with the HSE under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) on proposals concerning the terms and conditions of junior hospital doctors members throughout the country. The HSE... Read more

'Cut price of nicotine replacement products' – ASH

Gary Culliton | 11 March 2009 | Public Health

ASH Ireland has contacted all the main pharmaceutical companies, who manufacture and supply nicotine replacement products asking that they reduce the price of these products to the consumer by 10%. Nicotine replacement products are much more expensive in the Republic... Read more

‘Spike Milligan’ public speaking competition

Gary Culliton | 11 March 2009 | Public Health

The 2009 ‘Spike Milligan’ public speaking competition, involving all medical universities on the island, will be held at 6pm on Wednesday 25th March at the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin. The theme for this year’s debate is - “Mental Health –... Read more

85-year-old turned away from hospitals

Dara Gantly | 11 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The Government has been heavily criticised for not funding additional step-down beds, after an 85-year-old acutely ill nursing home resident was forced to travel to four Dublin hospitals before being admitted. The elderly patient spent two hours travelling in an... Read more

GMC renovates and transforms offices

Dara Gantly | 11 March 2009 | Regulation

The old offices of the General Medical Council (GMC) in London have been restored and transformed into The Hallam, a dedicated conference centre. No 44 Hallam Street was used by the GMC to hold hearings, in addition to those held... Read more

Irish doc celebrated

Niamh Mullen | 11 March 2009 | Research and Education

An eminent Irish-born doctor who made major advances in the understanding of epilepsy has been honoured with a memorial lecture to mark 200 years since his birth. Prof Robert Bentley Todd was instrumental in the setting up of King’s College... Read more

Helmets an unproven distraction say cyclists

Gary Culliton | 11 March 2009 | Public Health

As National Brain Week approaches, Cyclist.ie, the Irish national cycling lobby group have released a briefing paper setting head injuries to cyclists in their proper context. Cyclist.ie favours a focus on preventing accidents in the first place rather than reducing... Read more

Emergency medicine group calls for 24-7 emergency social worker service

Greg Baxter | 11 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Vulnerable members of society – including at-risk children, abused women, and the homeless – are not being effectively treated because of a lack of out-of-hours social worker services, according to the country’s largest group of emergency doctors. There is an... Read more

320 on trolleys a 25% increase on daily average last March – Fitzgerald

Gary Culliton | 10 March 2009 | Health Management

Fine Gael Senate Health Spokesperson, Senator Frances Fitzgerald, today said the number of patients enduring hospital treatment on a trolley continues to be alarmingly high with the average daily number in March so far over 25% higher than the same... Read more

Vaccines urged as HPSC warns of mumps outbreak

Gary Culliton | 10 March 2009 | Public Health

The HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre today warned all young people, particularly second and third level students, to make sure that they are protected against mumps following a huge rise in cases since the start of 2009. Already 848 cases... Read more

HSE highlights National Brain Awareness Week

Gary Culliton | 10 March 2009 | Public Health

The Health Service Executive is highlighting “National Brain Awareness Week” by drawing attention to its services in the South East for those with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), including Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). An Acquired Brain Injury is as a result... Read more

Pharmacy Regulator Hosts European Patient Safety Meeting

Gary Culliton | 10 March 2009 | Regulation

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), the pharmacy regulator, today hosted the Spring 2009 meeting of the Healthcare Professionals Crossing Borders (HPCB) initiative which discussed patients’ rights and effective healthcare regulation in Europe. The meeting was addressed by Minister for... Read more

NCBI's UV sunglasses campaign

Gary Culliton | 10 March 2009 | Public Health

The “Be Sunwise with SunEyes” campaign will see the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) receive a donation of €1 for every pair of UV sunglasses from the SunEyes, Ted Baker, Pepe Jeans, Bloc and Ripcurl range that... Read more

Kidney Day Conference to focus on blood pressure

Gary Culliton | 10 March 2009 | Public Health

A World Kidney Day Conference will be held in Croke Park on March 12, titled “Put ‘em Under Pressure, Keep the Pressure Down”. During the day Secondary schools are invited to an educational and a general public awareness campaign event... Read more

Benzos payment 'to end after one month'

Gary Culliton | 10 March 2009 | Health Management

New ‘quality prescribing indicators’ will radically alter the way the State pays for drugs, with moves now likely to include an ending of payments for prescribed benzodiazpines after four weeks. This will involve major changes for GPs and the IMO... Read more

Merck buys Schering-Plough in $41.1 billion deal

Gary Culliton | 09 March 2009 | Private Healthcare

Merck & Co. is buying Schering-Plough Corp. for $41.1 billion. The deal will unite the maker of asthma drug Singulair with the maker of allergy medicine Nasonex and form the world's second-largest prescription drugmaker. Acquiring Schering-Plough will add strength in... Read more

New HIQA standards 'will cost €3.6 million per year'

Gary Culliton | 09 March 2009 | Health Management

The proposed fee for new HIQA residential care standards will take over €3.6 million a year out of a sector that is already under severe pressure, due to reductions in the payment of subventions to patients and the continued delay... Read more

Whistleblowers to be protected under Act

Dara Gantly | 09 March 2009 | Health Management

New statutory ‘whistleblower’ protection for health service employees includes legal protection for those blowing the whistle on misuse or waste of public funds. The key measure of the Health Act 2007, which came into effect on March 1, provides statutory... Read more

Nursing home patients can't access services

June Shannon | 09 March 2009 | Public Health

More than half of stroke patients who reside in nursing homes do not have access to appropriate levels of physiotherapy and occupational therapy services — despite very high levels of dependency and disability — a new study has revealed. The... Read more

Clonturk House to close its doors

09 March 2009 | Health Management

The 14 residents of Clonturk House, a residential care facility for visually impaired men, are to be moved to other residential facilities shortly following the news that the home is to close in May due to the poor physical state... Read more

UCD MedSoc raises €200,000 for charity

09 March 2009 | Research and Education

UCD Medical Society presented €43,000 to Irish charities this week, bringing the total it has raised over the last three years to €200,000. Beneficiaries included the Irish Cancer Society, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, Barretstown, Cardiac Risk in the Young, Dundrum Arch... Read more

Pharma CEOs are still confident of success

Dara Gantly | 09 March 2009 | Research and Education

A third of pharmaceutical industry CEOs are very confident that they can increase their companies’ revenues over the next 12 months. According to the Pricewater-houseCoopers (PwC) 12th annual CEO survey, the credit crunch may actually provide opportunities for many large... Read more

Health risk from mobiles probed

Dara Gantly | 09 March 2009 | Public Health

Radio frequency fields used in wireless communication technologies are unlikely to lead to an increase in cancer in the human population at large, EU experts have stated. However, further studies are needed to clarify if long-term exposure to mobile phones... Read more

Drug and alcohol treatment centre opened in Cork

Gary Culliton | 06 March 2009 | Public Health

A HSE drug and alcohol treatment centre was officially opened in Cork today. Arbour House Treatment Centre, is being opened following the demolition and complete redevelopment of its former premises at St Finbarr’s Hospital, Douglas Road, Cork City. Rebuilt at... Read more

Four hospitals to be closed to save €1.2 billion

Dan Danaher | 06 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

At least four acute hospitals are facing the possibility of closure following claims about their inclusion in a so-called national Health Service Executive (HSE) hospital closure list. Irish Medical Times has learned the shutdown of Ennis, Bantry, Mallow and Monaghan... Read more

OK for plan on Radiation Oncology

Dara Gantly | 06 March 2009 | Public Health

The National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) and the HSE have completed the appointment of three major professional advisors for the long-awaited National Plan for Radiation Oncology (NPRO). Last week, A&L Goodbody and KPMG were confirmed as winning the contracts to... Read more

Harney signs order for new registration

Dara Gantly | 06 March 2009 | Regulation

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

Dublin hospital budgets to be slashed in 2009

Gary Culliton | 06 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

This year’s cash allocations for five Dublin hospitals are significantly lower than has been reported, with Tallaght and St James’s, for example, due to receive €12 million less than in 2008. HSE budget cuts will see Beaumont receiving €11 million... Read more

Retailers must refuse underage smokers

Niamh Mullen | 06 March 2009 | Public Health

Refusal rates of 90 per cent are needed among retailers to significantly reduce the number of underage smokers, the latest report from the Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) has found. That level of compliance is needed because it means that... Read more

€3m awarded to research tobacco control

Gary Culliton | 06 March 2009 | Public Health

The Research Institute for a Tobacco Free Society has just been awarded a €3 million research contract on a project entitled, ‘Pricing Policies and Control of Tobacco in Europe’ (PPACTE). The first meetings designed to shape the project were held... Read more

WHC focuses on ovarian cancer

Niamh Mullen | 06 March 2009 | Public Health

To mark the beginning of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the Women’s Health Council (WHC) has warned of the importance of recognising symptoms and early detection. Ovarian cancer is the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancer in women in Ireland, according to... Read more

New facility planned for north Dublin

Dara Gantly | 06 March 2009 | Private Healthcare

An application to develop a 90-bed nursing home/110-bed mental health facility on the Swords Road in Whitehall, Dublin has been registered with Dublin City Council. The 13,051sqm building works also includes a change of use to the existing three-storey Highfield... Read more

One in three people in Ireland cannot name a warning sign of bowel cancer

Gary Culliton | 05 March 2009 | Public Health

The Irish Cancer Society is launching a major campaign to increase awareness of bowel cancer signs and symptoms and the importance of early detection, at an event in their Dublin headquarters today. This follows the publication of a national bowel... Read more

New Complex Discharge Unit at St. Mary's Hospital

Gary Culliton | 05 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Mary Harney, T.D, Minister for Health and Children today officially opened the new Complex Discharge Unit at St. Mary's Hospital, Phoenix Park. The Complex Discharge Unit provides care for persons over 65 years whose acute care has been completed in... Read more

GP cleared of professional misconduct

Gary Culliton | 05 March 2009 | Regulation

A Dublin GP who used inappropriate and insensitive terminology when trying to ascertain if a young woman patient was pregnant or might have a sexually transmitted infection was yesterday found not guilty of professional misconduct. The first Medical Council fitness-to-practise... Read more

IMB warns against 'tanning drug'

June Shannon | 05 March 2009 | Public Health

The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) has issued a precautionary safety alert in relation to the unauthorised ‘tanning drug’ Melanotan (I and II), which is illegal on the Irish market. Melanotan (I and II) is not available in pharmacies or authorised... Read more

IVF surrogacy is not under RCPI's remit

June Shannon | 04 March 2009 | Public Health

Following a number of recent media reports on IVF surrogacy, the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists at the RCPI has issued a statement clarifying its role in the approval of the practice, which it said did not fall under its... Read more

CervicalCheck forms now available electronically to smeartakers

Gary Culliton | 04 March 2009 | Public Health

Data quality is a key consideration of CervicalCheck – The National Cervical Screening Programme to ensure every smear test result is accurately matched to the woman. To assist smeartakers, a number of providers of General Practice management software products have... Read more

Over 70s 'face one month's delay'

Gary Culliton | 04 March 2009 | Health Management

Over 70's who hand back their medical cards may be left covering the full cost of medication for March. "A letter sent to over 70s relating to medical cards, lacks not just a sense of humanity, but also practical information... Read more

Hanafin: no National Carers' Strategy

Gary Culliton | 04 March 2009 | Public Health

The Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin T.D., and Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with responsibility for Older People Maire Hoctor T.D., has met with representatives from the Carers Association and Care Alliance... Read more

First public Fitness to Practise Inquiry to be held today

Gary Culliton | 04 March 2009 | Regulation

The Medical Council is to hold its first public inquiry today into a doctor's fitness to practise. In the matter of Part 8 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, a Fitness to Practise Inquiry concerning a Registered Medical Practitioner will... Read more

Expenses revealed for Department of Health

Dara Gantly | 04 March 2009 | Health Management

Expenses totalling €324,811 were paid by the Department of Health to Minister Mary Harney and her various Ministers of State since the formation of the Government in 2007. The figures were released as the Houses of Oireachtas Commission revealed plans... Read more

UCC expands its pilot AED programme

Niamh Mullen | 04 March 2009 | Research and Education

AN initiative aimed at preventing sudden cardiac death has been expanded at University College Cork (UCC) following a successful pilot scheme. The First Responder Auto-matic External Defibrillation (AED) Programme began in 2007 with 10 defibrillators and 40 volunteers at four... Read more

Hurl appointed as HSE’s head of ICT

June Shannon | 04 March 2009 | Information Technology

The Chair of the Healthcare Informatics Society of Ireland (HISI), Gerard Hurl has been appointed as National Director of ICT in the HSE, Irish Medical Times has learned. With a wealth of experience in healthcare-based ICT, Hurl was most recently... Read more

Recession stress makes employees sick

04 March 2009 | Public Health

STRESS in the workplace caused by the recession can manifest in employees with increases in high blood pressure, panic attacks and other physical illnesses, a work-life balance workshop has heard. Psychologist Karen Belshaw said absenteeism, sick leave due to stress,... Read more

Greater role for pharmacists in medicine monitoring urged

Gary Culliton | 03 March 2009 | Public Health

A greater role for pharmacists in the management and monitoring of medicine use, including the medicine use reviews endorsed in the Barry report, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), Dr Bernard Leddy has said. Speaking at a... Read more

HSE saves 40 per cent on its air-travel expenses

June Shannon | 03 March 2009 | Health Management

The Business Travel Unit of the HSE has managed to reduce the Executive’s expenditure on air travel by 40 per cent, or €378,000, it has emerged. In his address to the January 15 meeting of the HSE Board, CEO Prof... Read more

New centres by 2011

June Shannon | 03 March 2009 | General Practice

The HSE has concluded preliminary negotiations with parties interested in supplying accommodation for an additional 44 primary care centres around the country, the full complement of which is due to be rolled out by 2011. According to the minutes from... Read more

Patients wait a year to see neuropsychologist

Niamh Mullen | 03 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

GETTING access to treatment from a multidisciplinary team is the main problem with neurological services in Ireland. Dr Niall Pender, who is a Principal Neuropsychologist at Beaumont Hospital, said that there were only 15 people working in his speciality in... Read more

On course for angioplasty

Niamh Mullen | 03 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Live angioplasty demonstrations will form part of an international cardiology course taking place at St James’s Hospital on Friday, March 6. Specific areas due to be covered include current uses and limitations of drug-eluting stents focusing on complex lesion subsets... Read more

Irish study backs vitamin B12 use in pregnancy

Gary Culliton | 02 March 2009 | Public Health

Irish women with the lowest vitamin B12 levels were five times more likely to have a baby with a neural tube defect than those with the highest levels, researchers wrote in the journal Pediatrics. Before becoming pregnant, women need to... Read more

Cutbacks are already affecting GP services

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009 | General Practice

Cutbacks by the Health Service Executive are already beginning to affect services provided by GPs in primary care. With 68 per cent of GPs stating that they are already experiencing difficulties providing certain services — such as the Heartwatch programme... Read more

Job losses from GP practices expected

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009 | General Practice

There have been limited job losses in the primary care sector so far, but GPs do not expect this to be the case for much longer. In the survey conducted by IMT, only 2 per cent of GPs said in... Read more

Medical card issue found contentious

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009 | General Practice

Whatever support there may have been from GPs for the Government’s removal of the automatic entitlement of the over-70s to the medical card, it was lost over the manner of its introduction. In any case, the majority of GPs did... Read more

Private patients risking health due to delayed surgery visits

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009 | General Practice

‘Private patients don’t get sick anymore’ was how one doctor described the reaction of patients to the economic recession. In response to the question: ‘Do you feel patients are delaying a visit to your practice due to financial issues?’, the... Read more

Downturn is affecting health

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009 | General Practice

The economic recession is already having a huge impact on people’s health, with more than three-quarters of all GPs reporting that they have had patients presenting with illnesses related to the recession. ‘Definitely, definitely, definitely,’ replied one GP when asked... Read more

South Infirmary issue hits a nerve in Cork

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009 | General Practice

Despite activism by GPs in their local areas around the country, it would seem that the majority are in favour of the National Cancer Control Programme, which seeks to create regional centres of excellence for various forms of cancer and... Read more

GPs will not lower fees

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009 | General Practice

GPs are not keen to ‘share the pain’ of the economic recession, with 58 per cent saying they would be unwilling to re-negotiate the GMS contract or reduce their fees to private patients. Only 10 per cent said they would... Read more

Responsibility main issue in prescribing

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009 | General Practice

GP are generally not in favour of allowing nurses and pharmacists greater prescribing powers in order to free up their own time. The major issue in this regard for GPs was the issue of responsibility, with many questioning where the... Read more

North Tipp patient waits three hours for an ambulance

Gary Culliton | 02 March 2009 | Hospital Medicine

A patient in North Tipperary had to wait more than three hours for an ambulance to arrive last week, according to local Labour Senator, Alan Kelly. “For Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, there is only one ambulance on duty and if... Read more

Whistleblowers' protection 'now in force'

Gary Culliton | 02 March 2009 | Health Management

A key measure of the Health Act 2007 which provides statutory protection against penalisation and civil liability for health service employees who disclose matters of concern to them to an authorised person, came into force yesterday. The new legal protection... Read more

Smoking may be banned in cars carrying children

Dara Gantly | 02 March 2009 | Public Health

The issue of introducing a ban on smoking in cars carrying children under 16 years of age is being kept under review by the Department of Health. Minister of State Mary Wallace told the Dáil that the harmful effects of... Read more

Irish dancers suffer from overuse injuries

June Shannon | 02 March 2009 | Research and Education

Professional Irish dancers suffer from a range of over-use ankle injuries including Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, bone oedema and calcaneocuboid joint degeneration, according to the first ever study on ankle injuries in this professional group. The research from Cappagh National... Read more

Building health IT platform from the ground up

Helix Health | 02 March 2009 | Information Technology

The history behind the Health Ireland User Group shows that doctors are best placed to help realise the full potential of the electronic patient record, Irish Medical Times reports. The HEALTHone practice management software package was originally developed by a... Read more

Report urges re-examination of medical card Viagra

Gary Culliton | 02 March 2009 | Health Management

Dr Michael Barry’s report on drug funding identifies €65 million in savings from the State’s spending on drugs. Among the highlights are €5.63 million for glucosamine (for arthritis), which ‘does not have a proven benefit’, the report claimed. A portion... Read more

Targeted iPill trusts gut feeling to deliver

Helix Health | 02 March 2009 | Information Technology

An 'intelligent pill' has been developed that can utilise existing camera-pill technology and pH sensitivity to deliver drugs to parts of the GI tract affected by conditions such as Crohn's disease or colitis. An ‘intelligent pill’ that can pinpoint where... Read more

NCHDs' allowances 'archaic' — Harney

Dara Gantly | 02 March 2009 | Industrial Relations

The Minister for Health Mary Harney has described allowances worth €45 million paid to NCHDs for training, meals and living out as ‘archaic’. Her comments came as she confirmed that the Department of Health has requested that the HSE develop... Read more

Oesophageal cancer outcomes improve

Terence Cosgrave | 02 March 2009 | Public Health

Survival rates and outcomes for oesophageal cancer have improved significantly over the last five years, according to leading Irish consultants. If oesophageal cancer is diagnosed early enough, approximately half of patients can receive curative therapy. However, the number of new... Read more

HSE defers NCHD cuts so labour relations talks can take place

Gary Culliton | 02 March 2009 | Public Health

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

Competence assurance contract not renewed

Dara Gantly | 02 March 2009 | Regulation

The Medical Council is to recruit a new individual to spearhead its professional competence schemes after deciding not to renew the contract of its Director of Competence Assurance. The Council has confirmed to Irish Medical Times that Dr Lynda Sisson... Read more