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News: News

All entries for News

Dr Pat Harold wins Aindreas McEntee Memorial Prize

01 March 2010

Nenagh-based general practitioner Dr Pat Harold has won the 2010 Aindreas McEntee Memorial Prize for Creative Writing for his short story, ‘Breaking Bad News’. The prize, which was awarded by the Society of Irish Medical Writers (SIMW) at its annual... Read more

Further waves of vCJD predicted

Dara Gantly | 22 February 2010

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) remains a ‘very real and continuing threat’ to public health and recent developments strongly support predictions of second and third waves of long incubation vCJD, an international expert has warned. Dr Robert Rohwer, Associate Professor of... Read more

Infusion Nurses Society launched in Ireland

Mary Anne Kenny | 18 February 2010

An organisation launched this week aims to offer support and accreditation to registered nurses and is dedicated to the specialty practice of infusion therapy – administering medication by IV or subcutaneous injection. The Irish and UK International Affiliate of the... Read more

No Haitian adoption agreement planned

Dara Gantly | 08 February 2010

The Department of Health and Children has ‘no plans’ to negotiate a bilateral adoption agreement with the Haitian government following the devastating earthquake last month. Minister of State Barry Andrews said last week (January 26) that Haiti was currently not... Read more

Personal music player use may cause premature hearing loss for many

Staff reporter | 01 February 2010

According to a the findings of a survey released today, 51 per cent of MP3 users are listening to their players at dangerously high volume levels (above 89 decibels) for up to two hours a day. A recent European Commission... Read more

Zygomatic implants introduced to Ireland

Gary Culliton | 25 January 2010

A surgical team at Blackrock Clinic has provided Ireland’s first course on Zygomatic dental implants in maxillary reconstruction using computer-guided planning software. The course was a collaborative undertaking with surgeons from Blackrock Clinic, St James’s Hospital, the Dublin Dental School... Read more

Winter vomiting bug suspected in Portloaise hospital and Athlone care centre

Niamh Mullen | 15 January 2010

People are being asked not to visit the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise or St Vincent’s Care Centre in Athlone following an outbreak of winter vomiting bug. The HSE said there were a number of suspected cases of norovirus at... Read more

CUMH and Great Ormond Street to share care of newborn conjoined twins

Gary Culliton | 15 January 2010

Conjoined twins, whose care is shared between Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust (GOSH) in London, were born six weeks ago today (January 15) at University College Hospital (UCH) in London. A... Read more

MSF rushing staff and facilities to devastated Haiti

Staff reporter | 13 January 2010

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is sending a 100-bed hospital, with an inflatable surgical unit, consisting of two operating theaters and seven hospitalisation tents, to Haiti following the devastating earthquake there. MSF is already treating hundreds of people injured... Read more

Win Caribbean cruise with IMT

14 December 2009

Irish doctors will now be able to combine relaxation with education by taking an eight-day cruise through the Caribbean and their CME points — courtesy of Irish Medical Times. The Tropical Medical Bureau has joined with TravelEd, a newly formed... Read more

300pc jump in calls to HSE's abuse help-line

Gary Culliton | 09 December 2009

The HSE’s National Counselling Service (NCS) saw a 300 per cent increase in calls from survivors of abuse following publication of the Dublin Diocesan Report. Following the publication of the Report, the NCS put in place a ‘coordinated response so... Read more

UCC honours GP and gastroenterologist

Brian Herron | 09 December 2009

University College Cork is honouring two medical professionals at this year’s Alumni Achievement Awards Ceremony for their outstanding work in two very different fields. Prof Eamonn Quigley was honoured for his internationally recognised work in the field of gastroenterology. Prof... Read more

'Outstanding' and 'original'

Staff reporter | 09 December 2009

Renowned Irish surgeon and researcher, Professor Gerald O’Sullivan, was this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Irish Journal of Medical Science Awards last month. The immediate past president of the Royal College of Surgeons, Cork-born Professor O’Sullivan... Read more

Health literacy schemes highlighted by awards

Terence Cosgrave | 02 December 2009

New research shows that only 31 per cent of GPs are aware that half of the Irish population has low literacy skills, and consequently may not be successfully communicating key messages to their patients. In order to combat this, the... Read more

Order of Malta ambulances rush aid to flood victims

Gary Culliton | 02 December 2009

A fleet of at least 13 ambulances from Dublin Region, Order of Malta Ambulance Corps, brought relief to flood victims in the Athlone area last Sunday. They carried relief aid to the people of Athlone and Ballinasloe in response to... Read more

Over 2,500 women in Ireland have undergone female genital mutilation

Niamh Mullen | 25 November 2009

A year after its publication, The National Action Plan on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has still not been adopted by any Government agency, and legislation outlawing it has not been implemented. Director of Akidwa, the national network for African and... Read more

Workplace injury claims are down

Niamh Mullen | 25 November 2009

The economic downturn has resulted in a reduced number of workplace accident claims made to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board in 2009. Chief executive Patricia Byron said the Board had seen a 3 per cent decrease so far this year... Read more

Dr Boland is honoured at ICGP gala night

Terence Cosgrave | 17 November 2009

The Irish College of General Practitioners celebrated their 25th anniversary with a gala dinner at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham on November 7. The gathering was addressed by the president of WONCA, Professor Chris van Weel who spoke on the... Read more

DMD register to be officially recognised

16 November 2009

Irish sufferers of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) received some welcome news this week with the announcement by the Government that they will officially recognise the informal Irish-British register. Junior Health Minister John Moloney said that he intends to intensify efforts... Read more

North/South prices vary by 160 per cent

11 November 2009

Price differences of more than 160 per cent on the cost of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines have been identified by the National Consumer Agency (NCA). The NCA surveyed 117 products sold across eight pharmacy chains, four independent pharmacies and four supermarkets.... Read more

4,402 personal injury claims made in first six months

Niamh Mullen | 05 November 2009

Rewards of €105 million were made for 4,402 personal injury claims during the first six months of this year. Car accidents accounted for 73 per cent of awards, public liability cases 16 per cent, while accidents in the workplace generated... Read more

EU to tackle inequalities

Dara Gantly | 29 October 2009

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

Irish consultant elected to lead paediatric group

Niamh Mullen | 28 October 2009

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

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

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

Dara Gantly | 27 October 2009

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

New Chair of IHF Council on Stroke named

27 October 2009

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

Safety warning from IMB over Relenza

Dara Gantly | 26 October 2009

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

CMH wins the top award

Niamh Mullen | 23 October 2009

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

24-hour suicide prevention helpline launched

Brian Herron | 21 October 2009

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

Call for palliative services

Dara Gantly | 19 October 2009

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

Greens have given health to Harney

Niamh Mullen | 16 October 2009

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

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

Quest for Dublin office and ten-day turnaround

Terence Cosgrave | 15 October 2009

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

Community support for children gets boost

Niamh Mullen | 14 October 2009

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

Farms issued new guidelines on E. Coli

Niamh Mullen | 13 October 2009

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

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

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

Inequalities for poor are present north and south

Dara Gantly | 08 October 2009

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

South to get six medical assessment units

Dara Gantly | 05 October 2009

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

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

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

Poor Irish rating on new cancer drugs

Gary Culliton | 01 October 2009

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

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

FTP inquiry into Cork GP’s prescribing is adjourned until November

Dara Gantly | 30 September 2009

The Medical Council’s Fitness to Practise (FTP) hearing into a GP from Cork facing charges of professional misconduct has been adjourned until November. The hearing against Polish-born Dr Iwona Kulczyk-Repec, for allegedly prescribing large doses of opiate-based drugs to patients... Read more

Medical Council on message

Dara Gantly | 29 September 2009

The Medical Council is looking to recruit a public affairs consultant to advise on all media reports and public campaigns and to minimize any negative coverage of the organisation in the press. Kingram House wants to hire either an individual... Read more

Campaign to change habits

Niamh Mullen | 29 September 2009

A European Union (EU) initiative to change children’s eating habits for the better was launched this week. The campaign called ‘Eat it, Drink it, Move it: the EU’s Tasty Bunch’ is financed by the EU agriculture budget. Over eight weeks,... Read more

Office endoscopy clinic to open in Cork in October

Niamh Mullen | 28 September 2009

An ‘office endoscopy’ clinic, said to be the first of its kind in the country, is due to open in Cork next month. The clinic is the brainchild of consultant gynaecologist Dr Cyril Thornton and will offer endoscopy, hysteroscopes, cystoscopy,... Read more

Unlucky 13 for donations

Gary Culliton | 25 September 2009

Ireland sank to thirteenth place in Europe last year for deceased organ donation, compared to its seventh place ranking in 2007. An unpublished report on organ transplants – which has been seen by Irish Medical Times – targets system shortcomings... Read more

Doctors have duty to be vaccinated against swine flu

Dara Gantly | 24 September 2009

The Medical Council has taken the unusual step of recommending that all medical practitioners receive the swine flu vaccine when it becomes available. Immunisation to prevent contraction of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus is to “protect themselves, patients and colleagues... Read more

Concerns over value in ambulance service

Gary Culliton | 22 September 2009

The HSE has accepted that there are value-for-money concerns about how the ambulance service is provided in the Dublin city and county area, a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General has stated. It adds that ‘a new approach to... Read more

Living will should be required to refuse treatment for future illness

Niamh Mullen | 17 September 2009

Legislation is required to allow people make written or verbal statements about lifesaving medical treatments they do not want in the event of future illness. That’s according to the Law Reform Commission’s Report - Bioethics: Advance Care Directives - published... Read more

Nursing-home system delayed

Dara Gantly | 16 September 2009

The system to administer the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), due to become operational from the end of September, is unlikely to go live for several months, IMT understands. The HSE has informed companies interested in pitching for the contract... Read more

Memories of medical missions published

Niamh Mullen | 15 September 2009

A medical missionary who has spent 30 years working in northern Kenya has published a book of his experiences. Fr Robert MacCabe is a medical Carmelite missionary. Since 1973, he has also been a visiting lecturer in tropical medicine at... Read more

HSE cannot explain where the money goes in mental health

Terence Cosgrave | 11 September 2009

The Health Service Executive (HSE) cannot explain how its mental health budget is being spent because of major gaps in its financial accounting processes, a new report into mental health finances has found. The report — which was commissioned by... Read more

Record numbers enter Irish Healthcare Awards

11 September 2009

A record number of entries was received for this year’s Irish Healthcare Awards. More than 100 projects were entered – up from 90 in 2008. Each year, the awards have attracted an increasing number of entries from members of the... Read more

College students with asthma urged to heed swine flu guidelines

Gary Culliton | 10 September 2009

Students with asthma returning to college have been urged to pay close attention to the recommendations issued by the HSE and the Asthma Society of Ireland in relation to swine flu and to be vigilant for updates regarding possible vaccination... Read more

Prof Anthony Clare commemorated

Niamh Mullen | 09 September 2009

A garden of commemoration will be officially opened this month for an Irish psychiatrist who is remembered as a man of ‘immense abilities and intelligence’. President Mary McAleese will open the garden in St Edmundsbury Hospital in memory of Prof... Read more

Irish team returns home from Games

Terence Cosgrave | 07 September 2009

The Irish team were due home this week from the 17th World Transplant Games in Gold Coast, Australia having won 22 medals. The athletes were hailed by Team Manager Colin White as ‘exceptional ambassadors for organ donation and also for... Read more

Migraine Week pushes podcasts

07 September 2009

Migraine Action Week runs from September 2 to 9 and this year’s theme is ‘Heading for a Solution’. As part of the week, podcasts were launched which are designed to help migraine sufferers better manage their condition. The podcasts cover... Read more

Number of suicides in Ireland is declining

Niamh Mullen | 02 September 2009

The number of suicides occurring in Ireland each year continues to decline, hinting at the possibility that actions taken to prevent it are beginning to have an impact. That’s according to the National Office for Suicide Prevention’s (NOSP) annual report... Read more

Woman wins Cup — High Court alerted!

Dara Gantly | 17 August 2009

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

Printing cost down in Department of Health

11 August 2009

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

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

Fear, embarrassment and shame still linked to mental illness

10 August 2009

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

HSE owns or rents 3,359 properties

Niamh Mullen | 07 August 2009

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

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

HSE has 10 'whistleblowers'

Dara Gantly | 05 August 2009

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

Authorised medicines up 17% in one year

Dara Gantly | 28 July 2009

The number of new medicines authorised by the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) increased by 17 per cent in 2008, from 1,082 in 2007 to 1,268. Suspected adverse reactions were also at record levels, with the Human Medicines Department evaluating 2,742... Read more

Bord Snip proposals will 'increase blindness and visual impairment'

27 July 2009

Abolition of the Optical Benefit Scheme, as proposed in the Bord Snip report, would lead to an increase in blindness and visual impairment, according to the Association of Optometrists Ireland. The Association also warned that it would cause an increase... Read more

Past president of RCSI elected President of the European Surgical Association

Greg Baxter | 21 April 2009

Professor Gerald O’Sullivan, Director of Cork Cancer Research Centre, was elected President of the European Surgical Association at its recent annual meeting in Vienna. Prof O’Sullivan, who is immediate past president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI),... Read more

Activist for the homeless wins health literacy awards

Niamh Mullen | 20 April 2009

A campaigner who empowers those sleeping on the streets of Dublin is the winner of the 2009 Crystal Clear MSD Health Literacy Awards. Director of TRUST, Alice Leahy, won the overall award for her life’s work providing a social and... Read more

Most adults believe underage drinking cannot be stopped

Niamh Mullen | 20 April 2009

Most adults are aware underage binge drinking is a problem that poses a health risk but feel there is nothing they can do to stop it. Findings from an HSE survey were released today to coincide with a campaign aimed... Read more

Co-location must end now – IMO CEO

Dara Gantly from the IMO agm | 17 April 2009

The Government must call a halt to the ‘ill-conceived’ co-location project and instigate an honest debate on the privatisation of the health service, the IMO has urged. Chief Executive George McNeice told delegates at the IMO AGM that now was... Read more

Still more to do in tackling obesity

Niamh Mullen | 17 April 2009

Progress has been made implementing most of the recommendations of the National Taskforce on Obesity, according to a report from the Department of Health. An inter-sectoral group was set up by Minister of State Mary Wallace in late 2008 to... Read more

Net effect of mental health strategies is that they reduce spending on mental health

Terence Cosgrave at the IMO agm | 17 April 2009

Doctors at the IMO conference heard a harrowing account of life inside one of Ireland’s mental institutions from a former patient at the first scientific session of the conference that focused on mental health. The session heard from ‘Aine’ –... Read more

IMO has no confidence in Government's health strategy

By Terence Cosgrave at the IMO agm | 16 April 2009

The Irish Medical Organisation today passed a motion of no confidence in the Government's current health policy. The motion was carried unanimously at the IMO’s agm in Killarney.... Read more

Hynes Report blames system failure in eight-year delay of child abuse inquiry

Dara Gantly | 14 April 2009

A formal investigation into allegations of child abuse in Galway took more than eight-and-a-half years to complete because of a litany of system flaws rather than personal failings, a new report has found. Carried out by former Secretary General of... Read more

IMO calls HSE's handling of medical card review 'chaotic'

Niamh Mullen | 08 April 2009

The IMO has described the HSE’s handling of the review of medical card entitlements for the over-70s as ‘shambolic’. IMO President Dr Martin Daly, speaking at the Organisation’s pre-AGM media conference in Dublin today, said the HSE wrote to GPs... Read more

Kenny pledges reform

Dara Gantly | 08 April 2009

Fine Gael (FG) has promised to develop an agreed plan to introduce the Dutch system of universal health insurance within its first 100 days in government. Speaking at the FG Ard Fheis last weekend, party leader Enda Kenny said the... Read more

Harney responds to Supplementary Budget

Greg Baxter | 07 April 2009

The Minister of Health said measures associated with today’s Budget will make a significant contribution to addressing financial pressures related to shortfalls in the health service. However a reduction in €20 million to the 2009 health capital provision will be... Read more

Female abuse linked to severe mental illness

Dara Gantly | 03 April 2009

Women with severe mental illness are more likely to have been abused in childhood than the general population, new research suggests. But the same association has not been found in men. Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London,... Read more

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

Greg Baxter | 11 March 2009

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

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

Gary Culliton | 20 February 2009

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

Winter vomiting bug in Galway

Gary Culliton | 06 January 2009

University Hospital Galway has a suspected out break of Norovirus Infection (Winter Vomiting) in St Anthony’s Ward. This ward is now closed to new admissions, and the situation is being monitored on a daily basis. An Outbreak Control Committee has... Read more

Head of HIQA to appear at Oireachtas Health Committee

editor@imt.ie | 01 December 2008

The CEO of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), Dr Tracey Cooper will appear before tomorrow’s meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children. The meeting will be addressing the issue of Standards in Residential Services for People... Read more

Just the one 'impairs driving'

Gary Culliton | 26 November 2008

Last year, 38 people lost their lives on Irish roads during the month of December, with 18 people killed or seriously injured over the Christmas period alone. This tragic toll was highlighted at the launch yesterday in Cork University Hospital,... Read more

System 'not conducive to patient safety'

Mary Anne Kenny | 25 November 2008

The medical negligence system in Ireland is ‘not conducive to patient safety’, according to Dr Deirdre Madden, the Chairperson of the Commission on Patient Safety and a specialist in medical law and ethics. Speaking to IMT at the ICGP Annual... Read more

'Substantial minority' of addicts take BZP

Alan Deeley | 13 November 2008

Garda raids sought to find licensing lapses in so-called head shops (which sell products billed as natural highs) last week, but it is another, entirely permissible substance that increasingly plays a part in the lives of heroin addicts coming into... Read more

New service is Ireland's first abortion consultation and counselling service

Ian McGuinness | 16 October 2008

Marie Stopes International (MSI) has said it is now providing what it claimed is Ireland’s first abortion consultation and counselling telephone service. The organisation said this allows women an alternative to ‘face to face’ appointments. It said the phone service:... Read more