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Opinion: May 2007
Decisive action needed now on healthcare
Kealan Flynn | 25 May 2007 | Kealan Flynn
In the wake of an opinion poll prior to the election, one shrewd political analyst observed candidly that the factor which seemed to be motivating voters in the run-in to the election was not whether any one party could run... Read more
Avoiding slings and arrows of closing our hospital services
Dr Mick Molloy | 25 May 2007 | Mick Molloy
Leaks regarding a proposed implementation plan by the Teamwork Group for Acute Hospital Services in the North East have surfaced again. This is essentially looking at the Hanly report’s recommendations from many years ago. Teamwork appears to be basing its... Read more
IPNA is opposed to co-location policy
Emer O’Byrne, Public Relations Officer, Irish Practice Nurses Association, 42 Fr Griffin Road, Galway | 25 May 2007 | Letters
Dear Editor, The Irish Practice Nurses Association is dismayed at the present Government’s plans to have private hospitals co-located on the grounds of existing public hospitals. Everyone is entitled to good quality healthcare, regardless of whether one is rich or... Read more
It will be our loss
25 May 2007 | Editorial
Growing frustration and feelings of futility could cost the Irish public healthcare system many of its most talented clinicians if things do not improve, according to Irish Medical Times Editor, Colin Kerr The Irish health system may be about to... Read more
A wake-up call on global warming
Dr Philip Michael, MICGP, Chairman, Irish Doctors Environmental Association (IDEA), Bandon, Co Cork | 25 May 2007 | Letters
An ppen letter to the Minister for Education and Science Dear Minister, Global warming as detailed by the recent reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has potentially serious consequences and poses a very real challenge to each... Read more
Stroke care in Ireland has huge shortcomings
Prof Des O’Neil, Chairman of the Irish Heart Foundation Council on Stroke | 18 May 2007 | Letters
Dear Editor, The first parts of the National Stroke Audit, commissioned by the Irish Heart Foundation, reveal huge shortcomings in stroke care in Ireland. Over last decade, more than 3,000 excess lives have been lost in the absence of implementation... Read more
Why doctors get sick from writing sick notes
Dr Mick Molloy | 18 May 2007 | Mick Molloy
In our various roles there is a lot of paperwork. Some necessary for our own remuneration, some generated by the incessant drive for statistics and some for “insurance purposes”. How I hate that particular phrase. It would seem that... Read more
Natural remedies cannot replace pharmaceuticals
Dr Mark Hannon | 18 May 2007 | Mark Hannon
There is a lot of discussion in the media and among the general public on the cost of prescription drugs to the taxpayer. Each debate usually reaches the same conclusion. It is argued that prescription medications cost too much. It... Read more
Time for a change
18 May 2007 | Editorial
Irish Medical Times Editor Colin Kerr says the time has come to elect a new Government that will benefit doctors, health professionals and the patients they serve After 10 years in power, the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrat coalition is looking for... Read more
NDDGA annual golf outing
Dr Oliver McHugh and Dr Tony O’Connor, College Gate Clinic, Dublin | 18 May 2007 | Letters
Dear Editor, The North Dublin Doctors Golf Association annual golf outing is on Thursday 14 June. The new Royal Dublin course re-opened recently and the new clubhouse this week. We look forward to another great event for 2007. Invitations to... Read more
An open letter to all nurses and midwives
Prof Brendan Drumm, CEO, Health Service Executive | 18 May 2007 | Letters
Dear Colleague, Firstly, I want to acknowledge that this is a difficult time for all of us; nurses and midwives, healthcare professionals, administrators, managers and all other staff. Secondly, I want to assure you that we are very willing to... Read more
Advocacy role under attack
Dr Illona Duffy | 11 May 2007 | Guests
Advocacy has been an interesting topic in the past year and even within the past few weeks has generated a lot of debate. It has been one of the sticks the consultants’ groups have used to beat the HSE and... Read more
Hospital beds to be huge election issue
Dr Mick Molloy | 11 May 2007 | Mick Molloy
The country will go to the polls on 24 May 2007. The Taoiseach did say a number of years ago that he planned to stay for the full constitutional term, I didn’t think that he meant down to the last... Read more
Doctor in the House?
11 May 2007 | Editorial
Irish Medical Times News Editor, Glenn Taylor says the upcoming election sees an unprecedented number of doctors hoping to gain a seat in the Dáil, but only one of them is certain of making it through In this issue of... Read more
EU rules on medicines
Avril Doyle MEP, European Parliament, Brussels | 11 May 2007 | Letters
Dear Editor, I welcome the outcome of the vote in the European Parliament on the marketing of advanced therapy medicinal products. This regulation aims to establish specific procedures and requirements for the authorisation, supervision and monitoring of advanced therapy medicinal... Read more
Children bear the brunt of poisonings
Darragh O’Loughlin, Pharmacist and Chairman of the IPU’s Community Pharmacy Committee, Galway | 11 May 2007 | Letters
Dear Editor, The recent AGM of the Irish Pharmaceutical Union heard that 4,000 children in Ireland are accidentally poisoned each year. The figures emerged from the Poisons Information Centre in Beaumont Hospital. The AGM also heard that 70 per cent... Read more
Warning on the risk of skin cancer
Dr Nora Hart (nee Hogan), Dalkey, Co Dublin | 11 May 2007 | Letters
Dear Editor, With the increase in hill walkers in the Irish population, when hikers’ exposed skin may not have UVA/UVB protection and they spend maybe six hours hill walking in late spring, summer and early autumn, the use of the... Read more
NHS contract was accepted
Dr Timothy Cotter, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK | 11 May 2007 | Letters
Dear Editor, I take exception to the description by Dr Turlough O’Donnell (IMT 27.04.07) about the state of the NHS. He is obviously confusing the issue of training with the consultant contract of 2003. There are issues about the training... Read more
The joys of travel can be marred on Irish trains
Dr Mick Molloy | 04 May 2007 | Mick Molloy
Travelling can be a pleasure in Ireland, particularly if one is not constrained by timetables. Options for travelling have increased dramatically with new motorways, enhanced rail services and more accessible internal flights. But, as a regular traveller, I have some... Read more
Administrative failures block contribution of our doctors
Dr Mark Hannon | 04 May 2007 | Mark Hannon
I hinted in a recent column at the unpalatable fact that it is impossible to provide a specialist health service on every street corner, and that unfortunately the health service as whole is likely to become more, rather than less,... Read more
It’s wake up time for the Government on funding cancer fight
Jane Bailey, Rathmoylan, Dunmore East, Co Waterford | 04 May 2007 | Letters
Dear Editor, If the media is to be believed, stamp duty reform is the key issue that all political parties must address if they want to win the next election. While we have already witnessed the launch of numerous policy... Read more
Condolence: 4 May 2007
04 May 2007 | Letters
Eileen McCaffery, ex-pharmacist of St Brendan’s Hospital and wife of Dr Brian McCaffery, ex-clinical director of St Brendan’s Hospital and St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin, died peacefully at home last month. Her funeral was held at Listowel. May God bestow blessings... Read more
Convenient whipping boy
04 May 2007 | Editorial
Glenn Taylor says that while consultants have been taking a hit in the PR battle with the Government, they and not their political protagonists may be the ultimate winners after the general election The gloves are now officially off in... Read more
Investigation into Leas Cross will fall short for elderly
Fergus O' Dowd, TD, Fine Gael Louth, Leinster House, Dublin 2 | 04 May 2007 | Letters
Dear Editor, I welcome the establishment of the Commission of Investigation into the treatment of elderly patients at the Leas Cross nursing home, but it was long overdue given that the disturbing conditions at the home emerged almost two years... Read more
Quality of our nursing home care insufficient
Eamon Timmins, Age Action Ireland Ltd | 04 May 2007 | Letters
Dear Editor, The quality of care being provided in private nursing homes in Ireland is less than what good international practice would dictate, according to a report published by Age Action. The report was written by Brian McEnery of the... Read more