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News: August 2009

HPAT exam should be used for other courses

Terence Cosgrave | 31 August 2009 | Research and Education

The chief executive of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Tom Boland, has said that the recent controversy about the HPAT (Health Professions Admissions Test) exam showed ‘a surprising unwillingness to contemplate any other form of assessment of achievement other than... Read more

Health bodies not merged into HSE

Gary Culliton | 31 August 2009 | Health Management

The Government has failed to honour a pledge to merge a number of bodies into the HSE, Fine Gael has claimed. These include the National Cancer Screening Service, the National Cancer Registry Board, the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and the Drug... Read more

€20.7 million awarded in research funding

31 August 2009 | Research and Education

Research funding of €20.7 million has been awarded for 22 world-class research projects under the Science Foundation Ireland Principal Investigator Programme. Making the announcement, Minister Conor Lenihan said, “This investment will enable crucial research to be carried out in Ireland... Read more

St Vincent's to host international cancer conference

Mary Anne Kenny | 31 August 2009 | Research and Education

A major international conference to be held in St Vincent’s University Hospital next month will focus on colorectal cancer, the costs of associated treatments and maximising funding. The event is the 16th annual meeting to be hosted by the hospital’s... Read more

Study finds cure or improvement in diabetes cases

Niamh Mullen | 28 August 2009 | Research and Education

Diabetes was cured or significantly improved in more than 80 per cent of patients who underwent obesity surgery, an Irish/British study has found. Consultant laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon at the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork, Dr Colm O’Boyle, led the... Read more

Private Cork hospital plan appealed

Gary Culliton | 28 August 2009 | Private Healthcare

Appeals have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála against planning permission granted for Owen O’Callaghan’s proposed €80 million private hospital at Lancaster Quay in Cork. Graham O’Reilly, an employee and shop steward at Cork’s Mercy University Hospital (MUH), said the... Read more

No more children to receive psychiatric care in adult facilities

Greg Baxter | 27 August 2009 | Hospital Medicine

No child under the age of 18 will ever be admitted to an adult inpatient psychiatric care unit – outside of exceptional cases – after December 2011, the Mental Health Commission announced today (August 27). The Code of Practice under... Read more

Alternative healers should join flu fight

Greg Baxter | 27 August 2009 | Public Health

Alternative health practitioners should be enlisted in the fight to get children and healthcare workers vaccinated for swine flu, new research has argued. Parents and healthcare workers may refuse to get immunised or vaccinate their children against a pandemic virus... Read more

Legal eagles have landed

Dara Gantly and Terence Cosgrave | 27 August 2009 | Medico-Legal

Approximately 80 representatives from Irish and international legal firms met in Dublin on Friday, August 14 in preparation for a major Health Service Executive tender for legal services. The ‘market sounding exercise’ in the Board Room of Dr Steevens’ Hospital... Read more

16,000 on swine flu website alert

Greg Baxter | 27 August 2009 | Public Health

Up to 16,000 people every week have been logging on to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre’s (HPSC’s) website – www.hpsc.ie — since the WHO declared swine flu a pandemic. The site has seen a 300 per cent increase in the... Read more

Down's syndrome congress a success

Niamh Mullen | 27 August 2009 | Research and Education

Experts from around the globe gathered in Dublin last week for the 10th World Down’s Syndrome Congress. Consultant paediatrician and endocrinologist at the National Children’s Hospital Tallaght, Professor Hilary Hoey, said: “This is a huge achievement for Down Syndrome Ireland... Read more

Children of doctors, solicitors, engineers dominate entry to medical school

Niamh Mullen | 26 August 2009 | Research and Education

The children of higher professionals continue to dominate entry to medicine at Irish universities, figures from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) show. Of those starting medicine last year, 32 per cent were the children of higher professionals such as doctors,... Read more

Cancer treatment giant UPMC acquires majority stake in Beacon

Gary Culliton | 26 August 2009 | Private Healthcare

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre (UPMC) has acquired majority ownership of Dublin’s independent Beacon Hospital, which has been renamed UPMC Beacon Hospital, part of UPMC’s 20-hospital network. The UPMC Beacon Cancer Centre, one of more than 40 cancer centres... Read more

Skeletons to aid bone disorder research

Mary Anne Kenny | 26 August 2009 | Research and Education

Ancient Irish skeletons could help medical researchers to learn more about the bone disorder called hereditary multiple osteochondromas (HMO). The two bodies – one around 800 years old and the other 1,100 years old – were one of over 1,000... Read more

Tobacco Atlas launched at cancer summit

Terence Cosgrave | 26 August 2009 | Research and Education

The American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation released the third edition of The Tobacco Atlas (www.tobaccoatlas.org), a reference book and online resource for journalists and policy-makers at the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit, which was held this week in Dublin.... Read more

HSE to broadcast swine flu information to public

Gary Culliton and Niamh Mullen | 26 August 2009 | Public Health

A five-week radio and TV public information campaign from the Health Service Executive costing E160,000 has hit the airwaves. The advertising campaign concerns the H1N1 virus, otherwise known as human swine flu, and is designed to let parents know what... Read more

Women urged to report remedies

Niamh Mullen | 26 August 2009 | Regulation

The use of herbal medications with the potential for serious adverse effects is high among women undergoing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, an Irish study has found. “People do not regard them as medicine and often do not report them to... Read more

ICGP recruiting Project Director for cancer

26 August 2009 | General Practice

The Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) is recruiting a Project Director for the ICGP/National Cancer Control Programme. Applicants should be a GP with MICGP or equivalent qualification and experience in primary care. Candidates should also be interested in teaching,... Read more

Cancer Control head Keane wants to stay in Ireland

Niamh Mullen | 25 August 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The expert in charge of Ireland’s Cancer Control Programme has said he would like to remain in the country and continue his work after his contract finishes at the end of the year. Professor Tom Keane said Ireland was still... Read more

More patients seen in shared-post clinics

Gary Culliton | 25 August 2009 | Health Management

Shared consultant posts led to an average of two additional patients seen per clinic and shorter lengths of hospital stay (the reduction was 2.5 days on average), a new study shows. The issue of shared consultant posts is addressed by... Read more

Group to review card criteria

Niamh Mullen | 25 August 2009 | General Practice

A steering group reviewing eligibility criteria for medical cards is expected to report to Health Minister Mary Harney in the ‘next couple of months’, according to a spokesperson for the Department. The Department of Health said the review was taking... Read more

Doctors still owe Council fees

Niamh Mullen | 25 August 2009 | Regulation

More than eight weeks have passed since the Medical Council’s deadline for payment of the annual retention fee, yet 2,373 doctors have still not coughed up what they owe. They now run the risk of being removed from the Register... Read more

Harney pledges to 'drive, support and not back off' cancer care reform

Niamh Mullen | 24 August 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Opposition from vested interests was the greatest challenge to implementing the Cancer Strategy, Health Minister Mary Harney told a major international cancer conference today (August 24). “Very often people see the losses for a particular institution and do not see... Read more

Watch for uterine cancer symptoms

Niamh Mullen | 24 August 2009 | Research and Education

Women are being urged to be aware of the symptoms of uterine cancer. Director of the Women’s Health Council (WHC), Ger-aldine Luddy, said: “Women must be aware of symptoms that might indicate uterine cancer. The most common symptom is abnormal... Read more

TCD autoimmune discovery

Gary Culliton | 24 August 2009 | Research and Education

New Trinity College Dublin research may lead to innovative treatments for people with multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. Professor of Experimental Immunology, Kingston Mills and his team at TCD have discovered new information on how autoimmune diseases develop.... Read more

Unions give swine flu free hand to HSE

Gary Culliton | 24 August 2009 | Industrial Relations

Unions have effectively given HSE management ‘carte blanche’ on staff redeployment during the swine flu pandemic. All scheduled HSE annual leave will be cancelled, staff will be required to accept reassignment and notice requirements normally associated with changes to shifts,... Read more

GP Survey: GPs opposed to GMS tendering

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009 | General Practice

‘Ludicrous’, ‘dreadful’, ‘a disgrace’ and ‘not workable’ were some of the words used by 70 per cent of GPs who said they would be opposed to competing in an open tender process to secure GMS contracts. The recommendation by An... Read more

GP Survey: 40% supportive of legal diamorphine

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009 | General Practice

More than 40 per cent of GPs said they might support with conditions the legal availability of diamorphine to heroine addicts but most would not favour the legalisation of cannabis or the sale of statins over-the-counter in pharmacies. Some 41... Read more

GP Survey: Most GPs provide free services

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009 | General Practice

Pro-bono services outside the GMS contract are being provided by more than three-quarters of GPs. Blood testing, warfarin monitoring and the management of chronic diseases is being carried out for free for medical card holders by 76 per cent of... Read more

GP Survey: Obesity is Ireland's greatest health threat

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009 | General Practice

Obesity is the greatest health threat facing the Irish population in the long term, according to GPs. Some 60 per cent cited ‘obesity’ as the greatest threat in the latest survey of GPs by Irish Medical Times. This was followed... Read more

GP Survey: GPs strongly oppose cuts in the one health service area that works

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009 | General Practice

An Bord Snip Nua’s recommendation for cuts in the health service of E1.2 billion is accepted by more than half of GPs but they are opposed to cuts of E577 million in general practice. Asked by Irish Medical Times if... Read more

GP Survey: Harney's rating keeps dropping and dropping

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009 | General Practice

If you thought Health Minister Mary Harney’s approval rating in the eyes of GPs could not get any worse, think again. The latest survey of GPs by Irish Medical Times shows 90 per cent rate her performance as ‘very poor’... Read more

GP Survey: GPs’ opinion of Prof Drumm falls again

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009 | General Practice

GPs’ opinions of the performance of HSE Chief Executive Professor Brendan Drumm have worsened significantly since the beginning of this year. A total of 70 per cent of GPs rated his performance as ‘very poor’ or ‘poor’. That is an... Read more

GP Survey: Keane scores highly despite Sligo closure

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009 | General Practice

Cancer expert Professor Tom Keane’s approval rating has reached a high as he nears the finish of his contract as Interim Director of the National Cancer Control Programme. Some 86 per cent of GPs said he was ‘satisfactory’, ‘above average’... Read more

GP Survey: Opinions vary on length of government

Niamh Mullen | 22 August 2009 | General Practice

Almost two-thirds of GPs think the Government will fall within a year. More than a third (34 per cent) said they thought it would remain in office for one more ‘full year’. However, 28 per cent reckoned they would be... Read more

Docs blamed for Caesarean rate

Greg Baxter | 21 August 2009 | Health Management

Physician behaviour in Ireland has been highlighted as a potential cause of the large increase in the number of Caesarean sections carried out here, according to a new paper published by the Economic and Social Research Institute, Recent Trends in... Read more

New GMS panels to be advertised

Dara Gantly | 21 August 2009 | General Practice

The first of a possible 11 new GMS panels is due to be advertised this weekend, Irish Medical Times has learned. The notice for the new GMS post for Citywest in Dublin is due to appear on August 23, the... Read more

DoH rejects call for vCJD group

Dara Gantly | 21 August 2009 | Public Health

The Department of Health (DoH) has rejected a call from the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) to urgently re-establish an independent expert advisory group on variant Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (vCJD). The request comes as the IBTS believes ‘robust decision making... Read more

Routine imaging found unjustifiable

Gary Culliton | 20 August 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The routine use of certain imaging procedures to detect cancer (metastases) in asymptomatic, unselected patients with early breast cancer is not justifiable, a new study has found. The economic cost in Ireland of detecting a single unsuspected metastasis is estimated... Read more

EU agreement signed on needle-stick injuries

Dara Gantly | 20 August 2009 | Regulation

A new European framework agreement on the prevention of needle-stick injuries was signed by union and employer representatives in Brussels. Aimed at protecting healthcare workers from blood-borne infections due to sharp injuries, the agreement was signed on July 17 by... Read more

St James's gets go-ahead for admin block

Dara Gantly | 19 August 2009 | Planning and Development

Dublin City Council (DCC) has granted planning permission to the Board of St James’s Hospital to build a new three-storey administration block at the Dublin hospital. Permission was obtained last week (August 10) for the 2,233 sqm development on a... Read more

Ireland takes over HTAI event

Gary Culliton | 19 August 2009 | Information Technology

Ireland has officially taken over the Health Technolgy Assessment International seventh annual meeting for 2010 – a major international conference coming to Ireland next year. The handover took place at this year’s conference in Singapore. It is expected that over... Read more

New Human Tissue Bill to be ready in autumn

Dara Gantly | 19 August 2009 | Regulation

The Department of Health is sifting through submissions received from the consultation process on proposals for a Human Tissue Bill, and expects to present the final General Scheme to Government for its approval later in the autumn. Irish Medical Times... Read more

Health insurance loss hits hospitals

Dara Gantly | 19 August 2009 | Planning and Development

The HSE estimates that the loss of private health-insurance income to six hospitals involved in the co-location projects will amount to €100 million, or an average of €16 million per hospital. Minister for Health Mary Harney has stressed that this... Read more

19 HSE abuse allegations upheld in last two years

Niamh Mullen | 19 August 2009 | Medico-Legal

Physical, verbal and elder abuse were among the allegations upheld against Health Service Executive (HSE) staff in the last two years. Since 2007, 19 abuse complaints were upheld. A further 19 investigations are ongoing.... Read more

HPAT balances gender

Terence Cosgrave | 18 August 2009 | Research and Education

For the first time in several years, there has been a more even gender balance in offers of medical-school places to Leaving Certificate students. This is the first time in years that almost as many boys received offers to study... Read more

Oz expert to speak in UCD

Dara Gantly | 18 August 2009 | Research and Education

The Clinical Director of Australia’s innovative national youth mental health initiative ‘Headspace’ will be the keynote speaker at a symposium in UCD early next month. Melbourne University’s Prof Pat McGorry, Executive Director at the renowned Orygen Youth Health Research Centre,... Read more

Second person in Ireland dies after contracting swine flu

Niamh Mullen | 18 August 2009 | Public Health

A second Irish person has died after contracting swine flu. The victim was said to be a man from the east of the country who had no underlying health condition and caught the virus from another person in Ireland.... Read more

HSE to spend €22 million on taxis and transport this year

Niamh Mullen | 17 August 2009 | Health Management

The HSE estimates it will spend €22 million on taxis and transport this year. If that much is spent, it will be a reduction of €8,623,328 on the amount spent in 2008, when €28,623,328 was forked out for cabs for... Read more

Woman wins Cup — High Court alerted!

Dara Gantly | 17 August 2009 | News

One hears a lot about the feminisation of the medical profession in the surgery and on hospital wards, but less so on the golf course. A consultant anaesthetist at Dublin’s Temple Street Children’s Hospital has changed all that by claiming... Read more

Public views sought on restoration

Dara Gantly | 17 August 2009 | Regulation

The Medical Council wants to hear from the public on a set of draft rules setting out the criteria to restore doctors to the Register of Medical Practitioners. The rules will define the manner in which applications from practitioners to... Read more

No 1st class for HSE staff

Dara Gantly | 14 August 2009 | Health Management

Managers in the HSE have been told that they must ensure the foreign travel bills of their staff are kept to a minimum. Writing recently (July 30) to the entire management team of the HSE and to every local health... Read more

GPs fear rejecting at- risk women

Niamh Mullen | 14 August 2009 | General Practice

GPs fear they will have to turn away vulnerable, high-risk women who do not have an invitation when Cervical Check moves to a call/re-call system next month. A female GP told Irish Medical Times vulnerable women would suffer because they... Read more

No more jobs in Hawkins House

Dara Gantly | 14 August 2009 | Health Management

Not one of the 100-plus applications to the Department of Finance to sanction civil service full-time appointments during the current ban on recruitment have come from Hawkins House, Irish Medical Times has learned. As of the end of June, Finance... Read more

No pre-emptive mass school closures over swine flu

Dara Gantly | 13 August 2009 | Public Health

The EU does not presently see the need to enact pre-emptive mass school closures as a public health measures to control the spread of influenza A (H1N1). However, the approach to locally close schools reactively upon infection being found among... Read more

Attack risk doubles in men

Dara Gantly | 13 August 2009 | Research and Education

Men with angina are twice as likely to have a heart attack and almost three times as likely to suffer a heart disease-related death than women with the same condition, according to Irish-led research published on bmj.com. The study (http://www.bmj.com/cgi/doi/10.1136/bmj.b3058)... Read more

Submissions sought for strategies for older people

Dara Gantly | 13 August 2009 | Public Health

The Department of Health is seeking submissions on the strategic direction for all future policies, programmes and services for older people in Ireland. Launching the consultation phase of the National Positive Ageing Strategy last week (June 17), Minister for Older... Read more

Clinical directors to get pension pay

Dara Gantly | 12 August 2009 | Industrial Relations

The IHCA has welcomed the move by the HSE and Department of Health to reverse its previous held position on the pensionable rights associated with allowances paid to clinical directors. The decision — which IHCA Assistant Secretary General Martin Varley... Read more

IHCA nominates two to hiring committee

Dara Gantly | 12 August 2009 | Industrial Relations

The IHCA has submitted its nominations to the HSE for the new Consultant Applications Advisory Committee (CAAC). Prof Mary Leader, Pro-fessor of Pathology at the RCSI and consultant histopathologist at Beaumont Hospital, and Dr P J Breen, consultant anaesthetist at... Read more

Call for vaccine for CF sufferers

Terence Cosgrave | 12 August 2009 | Public Health

The Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland have called on the HSE to make the H1N1 vaccine available to people with CF at the same time as front line health workers, and has stated that Irish people with CF have contracted... Read more

GPs concerned about swine flu threat - survey

Niamh Mullen | 11 August 2009 | General Practice

Most GPs are very concerned about their practices’ ability to cope if the predicted increase in the number of swine flu patients materialises in the coming months. Irish Medical Times latest survey of GPs found 45 per cent were ‘very... Read more

UCD grad gets top Brisbane job

Terence Cosgrave | 11 August 2009 | Hospital Medicine

A former graduate of University College Dublin’s medical school has been appointed head of the largest Emergency Department in Australia. Associate Professor Alan O’Connor has been appointed to the post of Director of Emergency Medicine in The Royal Brisbane and... Read more

Amalgamation will save €20 million

Gary Culliton | 11 August 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Estimates that amalgamation of the three Dublin paediatric hospitls will save €20 million, are ‘conservative’, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has said, adding that ‘it would not be unreasonable to assume that efficiency savings in the order of 10–15 per... Read more

Printing cost down in Department of Health

11 August 2009 | News

The Department of Health has slashed its printing costs by nearly a half by publishing more of its reports online. From highs of E880,579.60 in 2006 and E901,950.60 in 2007, the Department’s printing costs last year amounted to just E555,370.... Read more

Prof Puri elected President of EPSA

11 August 2009 | News

Padediatric surgeon, Professor Prem Puri, has been elected President of the European Paediatric Surgical Association (EUPSA). Recognised internationally for his innovative treatments of birth defects and his research into their underlying causative mechanisms, Professor Puri is an award-winning researcher whose... Read more

New regional CEOs to be in place by next month

Dara Gantly | 11 August 2009 | Health Management

The HSE CEO hopes to fill the four new Regional Operations Director posts and the Assistant National Directors for Children/ Families Care Group within weeks and have selected candid-ates in position by September. “The timeframes are very tight, but it... Read more

Fear, embarrassment and shame still linked to mental illness

10 August 2009 | News

Many people live with the distressing symptoms of mental ill-health for long periods without accessing mental health advice or treatment, according to the finding of a 2008 survey of patients who attended St Patrick’s Hospital. The survey showed that 62... Read more

Drimnagh primary centre trimmed

Dara Gantly | 10 August 2009 | General Practice

Developers behind a proposed new primary care centre in Dublin 12 have reduced the height of the development by two storeys in order to satisfy the planning authorities. Dublin City Council (DCC) has received a fresh application to develop a... Read more

Department to clarify cut factors

Dara Gantly | 10 August 2009 | General Practice

The Department of Health is to write to GP representatives setting out the factors that were taken into account in deciding to reduce by eight per cent most fees and allowances paid to GPs. Following a long-awaited meeting with Minister... Read more

Sperm creation by scientists questioned

Gary Culliton | 10 August 2009 | Research and Education

Recent reports suggesting that British scientists have made medical history by creating human sperm in a laboratory setting have been questioned by a stem-cell researcher from Trinity College Dublin, Dr Stephen Sullivan. Newcastle researchers said they had produced fully mature,... Read more

Legal eagles to tender for HSE

Dara Gantly | 07 August 2009 | Medico-Legal

Irish and international law firms have been invited by the HSE to attend a special meeting next week in Dublin in preparation for a major tender for legal services. In advance of the procurement, the Executive has decided to undertake... Read more

HSE owns or rents 3,359 properties

Niamh Mullen | 07 August 2009 | News

Rent paid out to landlords for buildings used by the Health Service Executive (HSE) cost more than E30 million last year. A total of E31.132 million was spent on leasehold agreements for around 1, 116 buildings. That amounts to an... Read more

Finance allows only five new jobs in health service

Dara Gantly | 07 August 2009 | News

Just five posts in the HSE have been sanctioned by the Department of Finance since the recruitment embargo came into force, Irish Medical Times has learned. These comprise four critical front-line posts in the National Cancer Control Programme, including a... Read more

Permission granted for CUH co-located hospital

Dara Gantly | 07 August 2009 | Planning and Development

An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission to Beacon Medical Group (BMG) to construct a co-located hospital at Cork University Hospital (CUH) . The 32,893 sqm state-of-the-art hospital will comprise 175 single rooms with eight CCU beds, six operating theatres,... Read more

Gender gap revealed in patients with angina

Dara Gantly | 07 August 2009 | Research and Education

Men with angina are twice as likely to have a heart attack and almost three times as likely to suffer a heart disease-related death than women with the same condition, according to Irish-led research published on bmj.com today. The study... Read more

Greater integration will result from new HSE/Department strategy

Dara Gantly | 06 August 2009 | Health Management

An Integrated Workforce Planning Strategy for the health service has been completed and is due to be published within a month. Developed by the Department of Health and the HSE, the joint strategy is expected to recommend greater coordination of... Read more

Public to be asked about GP competition

Niamh Mullen | 06 August 2009 | General Practice

A public consultation on competitiveness in general practice is due to commence in the coming weeks. The consultation, organised by the Competition Authority, ‘will pose questions about potential changes to regulations and practices to enhance competition for the benefit of... Read more

New Tsar for family and child services

Gary Culliton | 06 August 2009 | Public Health

The Health service executive (HSE) has recently advertised for the post of Assistant National Director Children and Family Social Services. A senior manager will, for the first time, have sole responsibility for child and family services. A review of existing... Read more

Complaints are averaging 11 per month in Drogheda

Niamh Mullen | 06 August 2009 | Hospital Medicine

In the first six months of the year, 66 complaints were received about services at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. All the complaints related to treatment or service delivery (41), the attitude or manner of staff (12) and... Read more

HSE establishes outpatient project to reduce waiting times

Dara Gantly | 06 August 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The HSE has established a new national Outpatient Project aimed at reducing patient waiting times and waiting lists – one of its ‘key corporate goals’ in 2009. An Outpatient Project group, under the directorship of Corporate Planning and Control Processes... Read more

New manager for Galway unit

Dara Gantly | 06 August 2009 | Health Management

Interviews have been held for the post of Manager of the new Galway Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU), with the selection process at an advanced stage, the HSE has stated. In an update presented at the recent Annual Meeting of... Read more

Beds to close for summer in Midlands

Gary Culliton | 06 August 2009 | Hospital Medicine

A net total of 16 beds have been closed for the summer at the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar. Temporary contracts for 12 staff at Mullingar, six at Tullamore and 10 at Portlaoise are coming to an end. The HSE has... Read more

HSE speaks in foreign tongue

Gary Culliton | 06 August 2009 | Hospital Medicine

HSE staff have to commun-icate with people every day who don’t speak any English. It obviously leads to a lot of problems, but now the HSE has developed an Emergency Multilingual Aid (EMA) box which will assist frontline staff in... Read more

Complaints are averaging 11 per month in Drogheda

Niamh Mullen | 06 August 2009 | Hospital Medicine

In the first six months of the year, 66 complaints were received about services at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. All the complaints related to treatment or service delivery (41), the attitude or manner of staff (12) and... Read more

HSE has 10 'whistleblowers'

Dara Gantly | 05 August 2009 | News

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is investigating ten cases of potential workplace concerns notified by employees under new ‘whistleblower’ legislation. The key measure of the Health Act 2007, which came into force on March 1, provides statutory protection against penalisation... Read more

Legal fees up 30% for HSE in west of Ireland

Dara Gantly | 05 August 2009 | Medico-Legal

The HSE West paid out a total of €1,945,807 in legal fees in 2008, an increase of 30 per cent on the previous year’s figure. Revealing the expenditure at the recent (July 14) meeting of the Regional Health Forum West... Read more

Cork hospital gets €85m

Terence Cosgrave | 05 August 2009 | Planning and Development

Following a spate of investment in the hospital sector in Cork in recent weeks, Bon Secours became the latest group to announce details of a large investment (€85 million) in its hospital in Cork. Pat Lyons, Group Chief Executive, Bon... Read more

Agreed rosters for NCHDs due this week

Dara Gantly | 05 August 2009 | Industrial Relations

Agreed rostering guidelines to ensure all NCHDs work a 48-hour week are expected to be completed this week. The document — due to be finalised at a further meeting between the HSE and the IMO on Thursday (July 6) —... Read more

Health licensing Bill to be published in 2011

Dara Gantly | 05 August 2009 | Regulation

The Bill to bring in a mandatory licensing system to cover both public and private healthcare providers is unlikely to be published until 2011, the Minister for Health has revealed. The Government has accept-ed the findings of the 2008 report... Read more

Guidelines for reporting suicide due later this year

Gary Culliton | 05 August 2009 | Public Health

Research indicates that copycat suicides account for approximately six per cent of all suicides and this imitative behaviour can follow certain types of news reports and other portrayals of suicide. The HSE recently hosted a forum for the media on... Read more

Letterkenny General faces 'significant impact on service delivery'

Dara Gantly | 03 August 2009 | Health Management

The HSE West has acknowledged that the decision taken by the HSE’s National Director of Human Resources not to renew temporary contracts at Letterkenny General Hospital (LGH) will have a ‘significant impact on service delivery’ if implemented. There are more... Read more

HSE and IMO for High Court

Dara Gantly | 02 August 2009 | Industrial Relations

The HSE and the IMO are due back in the High Court in early October over the implementation of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) for NCHDs. In a brief hearing before Ms Justice Laffoy on July 24, Counsel for... Read more

Drogheda CF service continues

Gary Culliton | 01 August 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Measures have been put in place to ensure the continuing provision of the paediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) service in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, while its resident CF consultant is on sick leave. Details of this arrangement have been... Read more

Doctor found guilty of professional misconduct

Dara Gantly | 01 August 2009 | Medico-Legal

The Medical Council will take into account the finding of professional misconduct against a Nigerian doctor if the individual ever reapplies for temporary registration in Ireland. Following an inquiry on April 29, the Council’s Fitness to Practise (FTP) Committee found... Read more