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News: October 2009

Women who lie on backs after AI have higher chance of pregnancy - research

Dara Gantly | 30 October 2009 | Research and Education

Women who lie on their backs for 15 minutes after artificial insemination have a ‘significantly higher’ chance of getting pregnant than those who move around straight after treatment. Dutch researchers are now calling for all women undergoing intrauterine insemination to... Read more

Nursing home cost discrepancies spark NHI outrage

Gary Culliton | 30 October 2009 | Health Management

Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly, has said the 'massive increase' in the cost of public nursing home beds following an analysis by HSE officials should be analysed independently. “No adequate explanation has been given for the glaring difference... Read more

Midnight runs for dialysis

Gary Culliton | 30 October 2009 | Health Management

Severe capacity problems at kidney units around the country mean patients are now getting their kidney dialysis treatment in the middle of the night at four hospitals. There are currently four shifts being worked in Beaumont, Cork and Waterford. Three... Read more

Less than half of all questions are answered in Dáil

Dara Gantly | 30 October 2009 | Health Management

The Minister for Health has answered just 45 per cent of parliamentary questions (PQs) in full during Dáil question time so far this year. New figures reveal that out of the 4,296 PQs received by the Department of Health up... Read more

Scrum safe for players?

Niamh Mullen | 30 October 2009 | Research and Education

Collisions in the scrum do not appear to cause long-term damage to the cervical spine of rugby players, an Irish study has found. Compared to the general population X-rays of 14 rugby players showed they had significant cervical spine degenerative... Read more

Doctor falsified experience on CV — Medical Council

29 October 2009 | Regulation

The Medical Council has found a doctor guilty of professional misconduct for falsifying his surgical experience gained in Nigeria before taking up a post in Ireland. At a hearing in Dublin yesterday (October 28), the Council’s Fitness to Practise Committee... Read more

Irish health giant quiet on future of facilities

29 October 2009 | Planning and Development

Uncertainty still exists over the future direction of a number of healthcare facilities that fall under the umbrella of the high-profile Harlequin Healthcare/Mount Carmel Health Group. The group owns Mount Carmel Maternity Hospital in Rathfarnham in Dublin, which it acquired... Read more

€11 million paid to sick leave employees of HSE

Gary Culliton | 29 October 2009 | Health Management

Figures released to the Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly TD, show there are 147 health service employees on paid leave for more than six months, 127 of whom are on long term sick leave. Over €11 million has... Read more

HSE initiates tender for diagnostics services

Dara Gantly | 29 October 2009 | Health Management

The HSE has taken the first official step in contracting out diagnostic imaging services such as MRI, CT and PET CT scans to the private sector. The Executive has initiated a competition to establish a framework-type agreement for the provision... Read more

Cork hospital has most MRSA cases

Niamh Mullen | 29 October 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Cork University Hospital (CUH) has reported the highest number of MRSA cases in the first quarter of 2009 at an acute public hospital. In total 100 cases of the superbug were recorded in the first three months of this year.... Read more

Office supplies and admin cost HSE E500m in 2008

Niamh Mullen | 29 October 2009 | Health Management

Name badges, briefcases, batteries, other items of stationery as well as administration costs incurred by the Health Service Executive (HSE) amounted to almost E2 billion between 2005 and 2008. Last year, E509 million was spent. In 2007 the figure was... Read more

EU to tackle inequalities

Dara Gantly | 29 October 2009 | News

The European Commission has announced a series of actions to help countries tackle the gaps in health that exist between and within countries in the EU. Despite increased prosperity and overall improvements in health, inequalities between and within countries persist... Read more

No winning Lotto numbers for Health

Dara Gantly | 28 October 2009 | Health Management

The percentage spend of National Lottery funding apportioned to the health budget has fallen dramatically over the past decade, dropping to just 3 per cent last year. New figures released in the Dáil reveal that in 1999, Health was allocated... Read more

Irish consultant elected to lead paediatric group

Niamh Mullen | 28 October 2009 | News

For the first time an Irish consultant paediatric endocrinologist will become president of the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE). Prof Hilary Hoey of the National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght, and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, was elected at the Society’s... Read more

Counselling line extends hours

28 October 2009 | News

The telephone counselling service, Connect, is extending opening hours in preparation for the publication of the Dublin Diocesan Report into clerical sexual abuse. So far this year, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of calls relating to... Read more

Doctors moving to new register

28 October 2009 | Regulation

Almost all of the applications to the Medical Council for the transfer of medical practitioners from the General Division to the Trainee Specialist Division have now been processed, following delays. The Medical Council and the Health Service Executive have implemented... Read more

HSE to review cleaning, catering and security

Dara Gantly | 28 October 2009 | Health Management

The HSE intends over the coming months to hire experts to carry out a major review of security, catering, cleaning and portering services, Irish Medical Times has learned. The Executive plans to hire a facilities management firm to conduct the... Read more

Massive pharma alliance to speed discovery in Europe

Dara Gantly | 28 October 2009 | Research and Education

More than €150 million in joint EU/pharmaceutical industry funding promises to accelerate the discovery and development of new medicines in the field of cancer, inflammatory and infectious disease. The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), the public-private partnership between the European Commission... Read more

Resource allocation group to report in April

Niamh Mullen | 28 October 2009 | Health Management

The Department of Health has received 60 submissions on resource allocation and financing in the health sector following a public consultation earlier this year. Among those who made submissions were the Competition Authority, ICGP, IMO, Irish Association of Emergency Medicine,... Read more

Vast disparity in hospital cleaning bills

Niamh Mullen | 28 October 2009 | Health Management

Cleaning our hospitals cost the Health Service Executive (HSE) €158 million last year alone. More than €110 million was spent on in-house cleaning, while just over €47 million was spent on contract cleaners. The information was released to Fine Gael... Read more

Influenza-like illness continues to climb

Gary Culliton | 27 October 2009 | Public Health

Last week there was an Influenza Like Illness (ILI) rate being reported through the sentinel system of general practitioners of 97.1 per hundred thousand of population, it has emerged. The figures include seasonal and H1N1 flu and represents an increase... Read more

New BMA Northern Ireland Chair is graduate of UCD, 1978-1984

Dara Gantly | 27 October 2009 | News

A graduate of University College Dublin (UCD) has been elected as chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA) in Northern Ireland. Magherafelt doctor Dr Paul Darragh trained in UCD from 1978-1984, and became interested in medico-politics when he saw that... Read more

Council seeks new assessors

Gary Culliton | 27 October 2009 | Regulation

The Medical Council is keen to recruit suitable individuals to assist in ensuring the quality of medical education and training. The Council wants to assemble teams from a variety of backgrounds to help evaluate medical schools, clinical training sites and... Read more

GMC to conclude NI paediatrician’s hearing

27 October 2009 | Regulation

The General Medical Council (GMC) in the UK intends to conclude its Fitness to Practise hearing into the conduct of a consultant paediatrician at Erne Hospital, Enniskillen this Friday (October 23). The GMC panel is inquiring into the allegation that... Read more

New Chair of IHF Council on Stroke named

27 October 2009 | News

The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) Council on Stroke has appointed Dr Frances Horgan as its chairperson. Dr Horgan is a senior lecturer in the School of Physiotherapy at the RCSI and has been a member of the Council on Stroke... Read more

Men outnumber female volunteers for CA pilot

Gary Culliton | 26 October 2009 | Regulation

Four times as many men as women have signed up to participate in the Medical Council’s latest professional competence pilot project, Irish Medical Times has learned. Out of a total of 118 consultants, 87 men but only 31 women have... Read more

New consultant committee holds its first meeting

Dara Gantly | 26 October 2009 | Health Management

The new Consultant Applications Advisory Committee (CAAC) — effectively a replacement for Comhairle na nOspidéal — finally held its first briefing meeting last week (October 14). The preliminary meeting, organised to agree a schedule for further sittings, came as the... Read more

Safety warning from IMB over Relenza

Dara Gantly | 26 October 2009 | News

The Irish Medicines Board has issued an important safety warning over the improper use of Relenza inhalation powder, which must not be nebulised or administered by mechanical ventilation. The warning follows the report of a death of a patient with... Read more

EU body sticks with two-dose H1N1 policy

Dara Gantly | 23 October 2009 | Public Health

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has reiterated that its recommendations adopted in September - that the three licensed H1N1 vaccines be preferably used as two doses, at least three weeks apart - be maintained. The announcement today (October 23) comes... Read more

CMH wins the top award

Niamh Mullen | 23 October 2009 | News

The Central Mental Hospital (CMH) in Dundrum was the big winner at this year’s Irish Healthcare Awards 2009, taking home the award for Best Hospital Project and the overall ‘An Duais Mhór’ trophy. The CMH won for its ‘Prison Inreach... Read more

NCHDs seek up to 40% increase in their base salary

Dara Gantly | 23 October 2009 | Industrial Relations

The IMO wants the HSE to pay NCHDs an increase in base salary of between 25 and 40 per cent to compensate them for lost earnings as a result of the implementation of the European Working Time Directive. As talks... Read more

GPs need clarification on swine flu

Gary Culliton | 23 October 2009 | General Practice

The IMO has written to the HSE and the three main medical indemnity/insurance bodies seeking clarification in relation to twelve questions on H1N1 flu vaccination. Concerns have arisen argely in relation to indemnity issues. The IMO told the Medical Defence... Read more

Blanchardstown and Beaumont are to merge

Gary Culliton | 22 October 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Agreement in principle has been reached on a merger between Beaumont and Blanchardstown Hospitals, with the RCSI providing the academic lead in the new body, Irish Medical Times has learned. A partnership agreement has been signed by the two hospitals... Read more

Philanthropy funds sought for new NCH

Gary Culliton | 22 October 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The Health Service Executive (HSE) expects that the combined €12 million annual fundraising revenue generated by Dublin’s three existing children’s hospitals will significantly increase over the coming years, thus contributing to the overall finance of the new national children’s hospital.... Read more

GPs should get tax incentive to join PCTs

Niamh Mullen | 22 October 2009 | General Practice

GPs need a tax incentive to move from their established surgeries into the new primary care centres being built around the country, Irish Medical Times has been told. Rhonellen Developments is the preferred developer to build four primary care centres.... Read more

EU junior doctors group to meet in Killarney

Dara Gantly | 22 October 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The Permanent Working Group (PWG) of European Junior Doctors is gathering next week in Killarney for their pan-European autumn meeting. IMO President Dr John Morris, who is also PWG EUEEA SC Chairperson, will be among those hosting the event, which... Read more

FG bill requires docs to be insured

Niamh Mullen | 22 October 2009 | Regulation

It will be illegal for doctors to practise medicine in Ireland without insurance if a Bill proposed by Fine Gael health spokesperson Dr James Reilly and backed by Health Minister Mary Harney becomes law. Dr Reilly’s proposal means medical insurance... Read more

24-hour suicide prevention helpline launched

Brian Herron | 21 October 2009 | News

Padraig Harrington was in Dublin today (October 21) to launch 1Life, a new 24-hour suicide prevention helpline. 1Life is jointly operated by two previously existing charities, The 3Ts (Turn the Tide of Suicide) and Console. Both professional counsellers and trained... Read more

Ireland's healthcare system is unsustainable - ESRI

Niamh Mullen | 21 October 2009 | Health Management

Current healthcare practices will become increasingly unsustainable by 2021 because of Ireland’s growing and aging population, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has said. In the report, Projecting the Impact of Demographic Change on the Demand for and Delivery... Read more

Two-thirds screened by Vhi at risk of diabetes

Niamh Mullen | 21 October 2009 | Public Health

Almost two-thirds of people screened by Vhi Healthcare were at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the company has revealed. A pilot screening programme for type 2 diabetes has now been extended and will invite up to 30,000 people.... Read more

Minister must reduce drink-driving limit - IMO

Dara Gantly | 21 October 2009 | Public Health

The IMO is calling on the Minister for Transport Mr Noel Dempsey to introduce and publish the proposed legislation to reduce the legal limit for drink driving without further delay. The union believes the evidence from other countries is very... Read more

Approval sought for nursing home changes

21 October 2009 | Planning and Development

Orwell Contracting Ltd is seeking planning permission from Dublin City Council to reconfigure the previously permitted scheme at the Orwell Nursing Home in Rathgar. The developer wants to makes changes to the facade and footprint of the building, which is... Read more

Health warnings urged for alcohol products

21 October 2009 | Regulation

The Government has been urged to implement legislation to put health warnings on all packaged alcohol by the charity Alcohol Action Ireland. Acting director Cliona Murphy said: “Consumers have the right to be made aware of the relationship between alcohol... Read more

Consultants pursue pay breach in LRC

Gary Culliton | 20 October 2009 | Industrial Relations

Two consultants have commenced Labour Relations Commission procedings to get unpaid pay rises due for the period from June to December 2008. The IHCA said it was seeking to have the matter resolved in advance of any LRC hearing. “We... Read more

Crumlin promised 17 new beds by early 2011

Gary Culliton | 20 October 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The HSE plans to deliver the 17 new critical care beds Crumlin Hospital considers it requires within 18 months. “We will supply 17 new beds in the new development. We will close the old development but use it as a... Read more

Inactivity linked to breast cancer - EDI

Niamh Mullen | 20 October 2009 | Research and Education

Europa Donna Ireland (EDI) is encouraging women to get active, because up to 16 per cent of breast cancers are related to inactivity. Chair of EDI Christine Murphy Whyte said: “Six women a day are diagnosed with breast cancer in... Read more

EWTD limit may be revised upwards - EU

Dara Gantly | 19 October 2009 | Industrial Relations

The President of the European Commission José Barroso has confirmed his intention to revise the controversial European Working Time Directive (EWTD). Speaking at the recent (September 28) Spring Alliance Conference in Brussels, Barroso said the European Commission would carry out... Read more

Call for palliative services

Dara Gantly | 19 October 2009 | News

The Irish Hospice Founda-tion (IHF) has urged the Government to use the health service reconfiguration process as an opportunity to develop palliative care services without adding to the total number of state-funded beds. In a statement released to mark World... Read more

HSE South to 'eliminate' addiction waiting lists

Gary Culliton | 19 October 2009 | Public Health

A major investment in addictions services involving additional methadone clinics in Cork City, Tralee, Waterford, Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny was announced this week by Pat Healy, the Regional Director of Operations, HSE South. The new clinics will ‘eliminate waiting lists... Read more

To hell or 160 km away — HSE

Dara Gantly | 16 October 2009 | Industrial Relations

The Health Service Executive (HSE) wants to ‘dismantle’ the long-standing agreement with the IMPACT trade union, so that it can introduce voluntary redundancies for managers and relocate employees as far away as a 160km round trip distance from their current... Read more

IMO seek damages from HSE on 48- hour working week

Dara Gantly | 16 October 2009 | Industrial Relations

The IMO is seeking aggravated damages from the HSE for breaching a settlement agreement relating to achieving compliance with the 48-hour week for NCHDs. In an Amended Statement of Claim issued on the eve of the latest in a series... Read more

1/3 believe mental health is linked to intelligence

Gary Culliton | 16 October 2009 | Research and Education

Over one third of people believe that those suffering from mental health problems are of below-average intelligence, a national survey released to coincide with World Mental Health Day revealed. The survey, commissioned by St Patrick’s University Hospital, examined attitudes and... Read more

Greens have given health to Harney

Niamh Mullen | 16 October 2009 | News

The Green Party has totally surrendered control of health policy to Health Minister Mary Harney in the revised Programme for Government. That is the claim of Labour Party health spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan. “We do not know if Minister Harney was... Read more

Army personnel unable to access emergency tablets

Dara Gantly | 15 October 2009 | News

The Medical Corps will not reimburse the cost of medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) obtained out-of-hours by military personnel, under a new contract with pharmacies. The Defence Forces arelooking to set up contracts with local pharmacies across... Read more

Negotiations ended for four primary care centres

Gary Culliton | 15 October 2009 | General Practice

The HSE has concluded negotiations for four major primary care developments in Dublin and they have now achieved banking support, the Executive’s Director of Estates Mr Brian Gilroy told the Oireachtas Health Committee last week. “There was a slowdown in... Read more

Quest for Dublin office and ten-day turnaround

Terence Cosgrave | 15 October 2009 | News

The US company who won the contract to provide cytology laboratory services to CervicalCheck has opened an Irish office. Quest Diagnostics will employ ‘more than’ 20 people at the new Irish HQ at Hibernian House, Haddington Rd, Dublin 4. The... Read more

No smoke - no ire!

15 October 2009 | Regulation

The vast majority of Irish shops are complying with Tobacco Legislation by hiding cigarettes from view. New figures, published by the Office of Tobacco Control (OTC), show that as many as 97 per cent of stores are now compliant with... Read more

West to name regional boss

Dara Gantly | 14 October 2009 | Health Management

The last remaining Regional Director post is expected to be filled imminently by the HSE West, following the closure of the competition for the E120,000-a-year job on Thursday (October 15). The Executive has already appointed three Regional Directors of Operations:... Read more

20,000 have left VHI for competitors - Harney

Gary Culliton | 14 October 2009 | Private Healthcare

A total of 20,000 people have switched from VHI to its competitors, Health Minister Mary Harney told the Oireachtas Health Committee last week. Quinn Healthcare’s share of the market has increased to 22 per cent while that of Hibernian has... Read more

Work on inflammatory disease wins Boyle Medal

Dara Gantly | 14 October 2009 | Research and Education

TCD Professor of Biochemistry Prof Luke O’Neill has won the prestigious RDS Irish Times Boyle Medal for Scientific Excellence for his pioneering work on the molecular understanding of innate immunity and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. His distinguished work... Read more

Survey: 3 of 4 adults will opt for H1N1 vaccine

Gary Culliton | 14 October 2009 | Public Health

The H1N1 vaccination campaign is likely to take between 6 to 12 months to complete, but the estimated date of delivery of the vaccines has yet to be confirmed, the HSE has said. There has never been a mass vaccination... Read more

Community support for children gets boost

Niamh Mullen | 14 October 2009 | News

A community initiative to enhance supports for young people’s mental health in Kerry will receive €800,000 in funding from Headstrong. Launched last week, Jigsaw Kerry will work with 23 organisations across the county to make services more accessible for young... Read more

Board approves €70,000 bonus for Drumm

Dara Gantly | 14 October 2009 | Health Management

The Board of the HSE has approved payment of a performance award to Chief Executive Professor Brendan Drumm based on his performance in 2007, the HSE has confirmed. Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly said “the €70,000 bonus for... Read more

Cervical screening 'ground to a halt'

Niamh Mullen | 14 October 2009 | Public Health

Cervical screening has ‘ground to a halt’ and the free national programme is ‘being rapidly dismantled’, IMO GP leader Dr Ronan Boland has said. Dr Boland described as ‘regrettable’ a letter sent to GPs on October 2 by the National... Read more

South East plan for reconfiguration due

Dara Gantly | 13 October 2009 | Hospital Medicine

The project manager for the reconfiguration of acute hospital services in the South East is due to make a presentation on the progress on the scheme to politicians later this month. Breda Kavanagh will address members of the Regional Health... Read more

Farms issued new guidelines on E. Coli

Niamh Mullen | 13 October 2009 | News

Irish open farms have been issued new guidelines to avoid an outbreak of the strain of E.Coli that shut down farms in the UK. Around 80 children contract-ed verocytogenic E. coli 0157 after visiting a petting farm in London. Animals... Read more

New services launched for arthritic children

Gary Culliton | 13 October 2009 | News

Arthritis Ireland has launched a new range of services for children and parents living with Juvenile Arthritis. The enhanced range of support services include:... Read more

Gantly wins medical writing award again

12 October 2009 | News

Irish Medical Times Special Correspondent Dara Gantly won this year’s professional medical journalist of the year award at a ceremony recently (September 30). He was among 12 health and medical journalists recognised for their excellence at the 2009 GlaxoSmithKline Irish... Read more

Retinopathy screening to start later in 2010

Niamh Mullen | 12 October 2009 |

Retinopathy screening should begin in the HSE West region by the end of 2010 – a year later than promised. Earlier this year, the former Minister of State at the Department of Health, Mary Wallace TD, said it would commence... Read more

Smoking combined with other factors shortens male lives by ten years

Niamh Mullen | 12 October 2009 | Research and Education

Smoking combined with high cholesterol and high blood pressure can shorten male lives by 10 years. The research led by Irishman Dr Robert Clarke of the University of Oxford followed-up on what happened to almost 20,000 British civil servants aged... Read more

Drug spend lowest in EU

Niamh Mullen | 12 October 2009 | Health Management

Ireland has one of the lowest per capita spends on medicine in Europe and the benefits of medicines substantially outweigh the cost, according to the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA). A new bulletin from the IPHA said they offered cost... Read more

X-ray waste all too visible

Gary Culliton | 09 October 2009 | Hospital Medicine

Massive waste caused by duplication of x-rays and other imaging tests at hospitals across the country has been revealed in new figures obtained by Irish Medical Times. Radiologists at certain hospitals are taking five times as many x-rays as those... Read more

EU advises not to cut health spend

Dara Gantly | 09 October 2009 | Health Management

The EU Health Commissioner has warned member states of the health implications of slashing heath budgets to control public spending. Androulla Vassiliou directed her warning to her fellow policy makers in a greeting to the participants of the 12th European... Read more

GP letter a 'matter of regret'

Niamh Mullen | 09 October 2009 | General Practice

The ICGP has said it is a matter of regret that the Department of Health wrote to GPs offering E10 for every swine flu vaccine they administer without any engagement with the IMO. In a statement, the College said it... Read more

IBTS issues tender for new security contract

Dara Gantly | 09 October 2009 | Public Health

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has issued a renewal tender for a dedicated security service for it headquarters in Dublin. The full-time manned guarding service at the National Blood Centre at St James’s Hospital will be tasked with maintaining... Read more

Vhi capital issue must be tackled

Gary Culliton | 09 October 2009 | Private Healthcare

Former VIVAS and VHI boss Oliver Tattan – who is reported to be seeking to buy State-owned Vhi Healthcare in conjunction with German giant Munich Re – has called on the Government to start a process which would address the... Read more

EU to push for 100% screening

Dara Gantly | 08 October 2009 | Public Health

A new European cancer initiative wants to achieve 100 per cent population coverage for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening throughout the continent, dramatically cutting deaths from the disease. The European Partnership for Action against Cancer, launched in Brussels last... Read more

Inequalities for poor are present north and south

Dara Gantly | 08 October 2009 | News

Almost twice as many women in Northern Ireland were tested for cervical cancer in the proceeding 12 months compared to those in the Republic. The North/South health status report also discovered that women in higher social classes in the Republic... Read more

GPs face changes to entry provisions to GMS scheme

Niamh Mullen | 08 October 2009 | General Practice

Changes to the entry system for the GMS Scheme, which aim to improve access for young GPs and give patients more choice, have been announced by Health Minister Mary Harney. Changes to retirement rules also mean that as of October... Read more

Oral assessment for pre-schoolers needed

Niamh Mullen | 08 October 2009 | Public Health

An oral assessment should be part of every developmental visit from the age of eight months, guidelines from University College Cork (UCC) to reduce tooth decay in children recommend. The Health Research Board (HRB) funded initiative recommends increased emphasis on... Read more

Swine Flu training DVD launched

Gary Culliton | 08 October 2009 | Health Management

The Health Management Institute of Ireland (HMI) has launched Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 DVD for businesses, to help train staff in practices that will help to control the spread of the H1N1 virus in the workplace.... Read more

118 consultants signed up for competence pilot

Dara Gantly | 07 October 2009 | Regulation

Some 118 consultants have already signed up to participate in the Medical Council’s latest professional competence (PC) pilot project, Irish Medical Times has learned. In total, the Council is looking for 300 consultants to volunteer for the new competence assurance... Read more

Berlin not Boston is model for Irish health

Dara Gantly | 07 October 2009 | Health Management

Nine years after Mary Harney said Ireland was spiritually closer to Boston than Berlin, the Health Service Executive has gone to Germany for inspiration on how best to transform health service funding. A high-level Irish delegation, led by HSE chief... Read more

Doctors up for human rights 'Sakharov' prize

Dara Gantly | 07 October 2009 | Foreign News

Two doctors are among the nominees for this year’s Sakharov Prize, the European Parliament’s award for defenders of human rights and democracy across the globe. A Palestinian obstetrician in Gaza and a doctor from the Democratic Republic of Congo are... Read more

TCD celebrates 10 years of success

Gary Culliton | 07 October 2009 | Research and Education

Trinity College’s School of Medicine, in collaboration with its partners in Eurolife Network of European Universities in Life Sciences celebrated its ten year anniversary at a special symposium launched by the Vice Rector of the Universitat de Barcelona, Dr Alex... Read more

Consultants take LRC case on unpaid pay raises

Gary Culliton | 06 October 2009 | Industrial Relations

Two consultants have commenced Labour Relations Commission procedings to get unpaid pay raises due for the period from June to December 2008. The IHCA said it was seeking to have the matter resolved in advance of any LRC hearing. “We... Read more

South to get six medical assessment units

Dara Gantly | 05 October 2009 | News

The HSE plans to introduce Medical Assessment Units (MAUs) and Admissions Units in six of its hospitals in the south of Ireland, as part of its major reconfiguration programme. Units will be established at Bantry, CUH, Kerry General, Mallow General,... Read more

Ombudsman finds in favour of patient who wanted care abroad

Niamh Mullen | 05 October 2009 | News

Ensuring a cancer patient treated abroad had her medical bills paid by the HSE and getting the Executive to reverse a decision to refuse an Exception Needs Payment were among the cases recently settled by the Ombudsman. In the first... Read more

Cure for temporary tinnitus found in Sligo

05 October 2009 | News

Two 18-year-old physics students from Sligo, and their former physics teacher, have come up with a cure for temporary tinnitus - continued perception of noise that isn’t there – after a loud event. Eimear O’Carroll and Rhona Togher, both 18,... Read more

HSE to collect debts

Dara Gantly | 02 October 2009 | Health Management

The HSE expects to save a minimum of E3.5 million a year when the new National Credit Management Unit (NCMS) is fully operational, Irish Medical Times has learned. The new debt collection system will be responsible for the recovery of... Read more

Health service has a ‘marketing problem’

Dara Gantly | 02 October 2009 | Health Management

The Irish health service suffers from a ‘marketing’ problem at home, which places it lower down the EU healthcare league table than would be expected, an EU expert has claimed. Despite performing slightly better than last year — by climbing... Read more

GPs to get €10 per swine flu vaccination

Gary Culliton | 01 October 2009 | Public Health

A letter has been sent by the Department of Health to GPs asking them to identify people at risk of swine flu and to vaccinate them. The GPs will be paid a fee of €10 per vaccination to do so.... Read more

HSE: 9,000 cancelled procedures so far this year

Gary Culliton | 01 October 2009 | Hospital Medicine

A total of 8,935 cancelled procedures have occurred so far this year, the HSE has said. This is 1.4 per cent of overall activity. Between January and June 2009 the acute hospitals admitted over 329,757 day case patients and over... Read more

Poor Irish rating on new cancer drugs

Gary Culliton | 01 October 2009 | News

Ireland’s rating for new cancer drug deployment has been ranked as poor – just 44 per cent of the European average – in a report by an EU watchdog. The Euro Health Consumer Index 2009 Report found that Ireland’s use... Read more

First Aid should be free and compulsory — report

Niamh Mullen | 01 October 2009 | News

First aid training should be compulsory and free across Europe, according to a report which shows Irish people have very poor knowledge of the skills. A report by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), published... Read more

HSE and IMO to clash on 13-hour shifts for NCHDs

Dara Gantly | 01 October 2009 | Industrial Relations, Industrial Relations

The HSE and the IMO are set to clash over plans to make NCHDs work in excess of 13 hours a day, as part of a new 24-hour shift system in hospitals. Despite the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) stipulating... Read more