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Opinion: January 2007

Join IT campaign

26 January 2007 | Editorial

Colin Kerr says it is now time for all Irish doctors to put pressure on managers and decision makers to invest in IT systems that will help to bring the Irish health service into the 21st Century For many doctors,... Read more

Truth about GP Clinical

Andrew Macfarlane, CEO, Quantum Healthcare Informatics | 26 January 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, A recent article entitled ‘Electronic prescribing to become reality’ (Irish Medical Times, 12 January 2007) discussed our company, Quantum Healthcare Informatics. This contained factual errors in relation to both our company and the sale of our GP Clinical... Read more

Elective surgeries hit by A&E crisis

Dr Liam Twomey, Fine Gael Health Spokesman, Leinster House, Dublin 2 | 26 January 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, The cancellation of operations is a symptom of the serious problems in the health sector which are preventing the delivery of a decent service to patients. The bed shortage, a major factor in the A&E crisis, is leading... Read more

Health service should embrace technology

Dr Mark Hannon | 26 January 2007 | Mark Hannon

I was lucky enough to be off for a few days over the Christmas period, giving me a chance to meet up with some of my non-medical friends. This is always a refreshing experience because when the conversation turns to... Read more

Soundbites and blame games unfair to doctors

Dr Mick Molloy | 26 January 2007 | Mick Molloy

Apart from all the other wrongs that consultants have apparently committed in recent years, they are now responsible for “blocking the recruitment of more staff in protest at plans to make them work evenings and weekends, as if nobody could... Read more

More flexibility for rural transport

Eamon Timmins, Age Action, 30-31 Camden Street, Dublin 2 | 26 January 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, Age Action welcomes proposals by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to increase funding for rural transport services. If more funding is available for night time services to support local pubs, we believe more thought should... Read more

Clarification: 26 January 2007

26 January 2007 | Editorial

Our article “Nurse Practitioners: ANP led services can make major contribution” (Irish Medical Times, 24 November 2006) stated that 1,577 patients who attended the emergency department with minor injury/illness between July 2005 and February 2006 were suitable for treatment by... Read more

Downgrading now looks inevitable

Dr Charles Byrne, Consultant Psychiatrist, Roscommon County Hospital | 19 January 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, The Taoiseach, on a recent visit to Roscommon, was reported to have said that any talk of downgrading Roscommon Hospital was “way off the mark” and that the future of the hospital is secure. I do not feel... Read more

Desperate plea

Deputy Seymour Crawford, Fine Gael-Cavan/Monaghan, Leinster House, Dublin 2 | 19 January 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, I have written directly to the Taoiseach to express my distress at Government policies with regard to services at Monaghan General Hospital. This is an edited copy of the letter. Dear Taoiseach, I write to you in desperation... Read more

Not all child's play

19 January 2007 | Editorial

Colin Kerr says the controversy over siting a new national children’s hospital could spark an embarrassing u-turn by the Government on the Mater choice Just when Minister for Health Mary Harney thought that 2007 might bring better news than the... Read more

Ireland must urgently control mercury use

Dr Elizabeth Cullen, Irish Doctors Environmental Association, Raheny, Dublin 5 | 19 January 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, The results of a small-scale study in 21 European countries, of which Ireland is included, has shown that 95 per cent of women of child bearing age have detectable levels of mercury in their bodies, which was traced... Read more

Childrens' television can aid healthy habits

Dr Mick Molloy | 19 January 2007 | Mick Molloy

It’s 2007 and for many our plans of going to the gym, losing weight, stopping smoking are either succeeding or have fallen by the wayside for another year. New Year’s resolutions are very common but how many of us carry... Read more

Don't undermine the Irish smoking ban

Prof Luke Clancy, Chairman, Ash Ireland, 43/45 Northumberland Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 | 12 January 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, ASH Ireland welcomes the 50 cent increase on tobacco in the Budget, but it believes that a much more significant increase will be required in 2007 if we are to reduce smoking prevalence. The Government has set a... Read more

HSE revokes its pledge

Deputy Paudge Connolly, Independent TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Leinster House, Dublin 2 | 12 January 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, The decision by HSE General Manager of the five North East hospitals not to renew the contract of an A&E consultant at Monaghan General Hospital is at variance with a commitment given by HSE Chief Executive Prof Drumm... Read more

Pressure before politics

12 January 2007 | Editorial

Colin Kerr says that while the IMO and ICGP must retain their political independence they have the ability to put pressure on all the political parties before this year’s election The majority of Irish GPs will have welcomed in the... Read more

Government must lift VAT burden on the charity sector

Colin Power, Chief Executive Officer, Irish Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, Old Nangor Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 | 12 January 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, The Irish Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (IASBAH) has urged the Government to lift the VAT burden on charity expenditure, therefore allowing donations to be stretched further. Charities such as IASBAH are now facing into another year... Read more

Patients, doctors must share responsibility

Dr Mark Hannon | 12 January 2007 | Mark Hannon

Last year has vanished into the ether, and another year is upon us. Around this time of year, some commentators tend to regale us with tales of the year gone by and the extraordinary events that distinguished it from other,... Read more

Support our front line services now

Dr Mick Molloy | 12 January 2007 | Mick Molloy

Christmas is finally over after a season that appears to have lasted since last year’s January sales. The financial pundits tell us it is a time of year when rational thought is not an option and the culture is to... Read more

Unions must show leadership in the tobacco battle

Dr Fenton Howell, Faculty of Public Health Medicine, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Dublin | 05 January 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, Whilst the 50 cent price increase on a packet of 20 cigarettes and related products was disappointingly low, the Minister for Finance, Mr Brian Cowen TD, did recognise that price is a valuable tool in dealing with the... Read more

Happy birthday, IMT

05 January 2007 | Editorial

Colin Kerr repeats the pledge made by Irish Medical Times 40 years ago to inform, advise, educate and entertain Irish doctors, and looks at exciting times ahead for the publicaton Irish Medical Times celebrates its 40th birthday this year. Our... Read more

INHO welcomes Health Bill publication and the establishment of HIQA

Tadhg Daly, INHO Chief Executive, Centre Point Business Park, Oak Road, Dublin 12 | 05 January 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, The Irish Nursing Homes Organisation (INHO) has welcomed the publication of the Health Bill which provides for the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority and the Social Services Inspectorate. Currently the public sector, which accounts for... Read more

An open letter to the Minister for Health

Dr Pascal O’Dea, NATIGP Representative, South East Trainers Group Medical Centre, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow | 05 January 2007 | Letters

Dear Ms Harney, I am writing to inform you of an impending crisis in the HSE South, South Eastern GP training scheme. This situation will come about from 1 July 2007, following the recent decision of the South Eastern trainers... Read more

Time for a radical approach

Kealan Flynn | 05 January 2007 | Kealan Flynn

I remember having a conversation with an official at the Department of Finance a few years ago about health service spending. It was early in 2003, when the cuts that were brought about by the earlier pre-election spending spree were... Read more

Proposed Nursing Home Bill is unfair and ageist

Dr Mick Molloy | 05 January 2007 | Mick Molloy

The recent Budget has highlighted the extent to which headlines, rather than public need, can direct public and legislative policy. For years, service development in healthcare has focused on which lobby group had the loudest voice. This has also resulted... Read more

GPs need a strong public face to make their case

Dr Illona Duffy | 05 January 2007 | Guests

One of the joys of motherhood is the early-morning start to my day, though this can be a bit earlier than actually necessary which means that I get to watch quite a bit of breakfast TV. This week the topic... Read more