Irish Medical Times

Opinion: June 2007

Peace at last?

29 June 2007 | Editorial

Irish Medical Times Editor Colin Kerr says the first weeks of Mary Harney’s second term of office as Minister for Health indicates that she may adopt a more conciliatory approach The Minister for Health Mary Harney has wasted no time... Read more

The war is certainly not over, not by any means

Dr Mark Hannon | 29 June 2007 | Mark Hannon

The dust has finally settled on another exciting election campaign, and with Mary Harney once again donning the mantle of Minister of Health, we can now recommit ourselves to the issues that were occupying our minds before the election. Industrial... Read more

Primary care strategy part II will need more consideration

Dr Garrett Igoe | 29 June 2007 | Guests

Primary care employment is made up of two teams; GP-employed and Health Service Executive-employed workers. It simply makes sense that both sets of workers are looking after the SAME population. GPs are subject to difficulties working with public health nurses... Read more

Health plans are only green around the edges

Kealan Flynn | 29 June 2007 | Kealan Flynn

The appointment of Green Party ministers to deal primarily with energy, the environment and local government is a clear signal that the Greens’ strategy is to try to make a difference in a few key areas that are close to... Read more

Patients suffer as HSE fail to spend- Hayes

Brian Hayes TD, Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Leinster House, Dublin 2 | 29 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, The €100 million capital underspending by the Health Service Executive (HSE) is completely unacceptable– especially in light of vital capacity needs it displayed an organisational inability to channel funding to badly needed developments. The disastrous PPARS project demonstrated... Read more

Will the MP Bill lead to a shortage of locums?

Dr Jacqui Glisson, Castletownbere, Co Cork | 29 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, As did most of my GP colleagues I recently received an e-mail from the ICGP advising me to apply for specialist registration in order to comply with the new Medical Practitioners Bill. Can anyone clarify what the situation... Read more

Investment in the MRSA laboratory is urgently needed

Mr Ciaran Lynch TD, Labour Party, Cork South Central and Outgoing Chairperson, Southern Regional Health Forum | 29 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, Comments from the Chief Medical Scientist at the National Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Reference Laboratory that the facility is “in dire straits”, are of very serious concern. The calls by Dr Angela Rossney for additional investment should be... Read more

Pulse dye laser has little effect

Dr Michelle Murphy, Dr John F Bourke & Dr J Fergus Lyons, Department of Dermatology, South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork | 29 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, With reference to the recent article on laser treatment in the Irish Medical Times (25 May 2007) we would like to highlight the lack of evidence for the effective treatment of active acne with pulse dye laser including... Read more

Unassigned money can fund some badly needed services

Dr Mick Molloy | 29 June 2007 | Mick Molloy

We are told that more money is being spent on the health services than ever before yet we are handing money back to the Government because it cannot be spent. That is the message I got when I read that... Read more

Deliver on your promise

22 June 2007 | Editorial

Irish Medical Times Editor Colin Kerr says the new Government must deliver on promises and resolve burning issues in health care before we have a system worthy of being called 'world class' We finally have a new government. It might... Read more

FAI cardiac questionnaire for soccer players aged 14 up

Dr Alan M Byrne, Medical Director, FAI Medical Committee, Football Association of Ireland | 22 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, I would like to make my colleagues aware, particularly those in general practice, that the Football Association of Ireland, with the assistance and advice of the FAI Medical Committee, has posted our ‘grassroots’ cardiac screening questionnaire on our... Read more

Warfarin testing in GPs’ practices

Dr Jacqui Glisson, Castletownbere, Co Cork | 22 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, It is with great interest that I read about the GPs in Cavan who have begun a pilot project to provide warfarin testing in their practices. I have been doing this in my own practice for some time... Read more

Who will police the monitors?

Dr Monica DeWeeney, Rathgeenan, Barnhill Road, Dalkey, Co Dublin | 22 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Sir, Having spent a recent weekend listening to how doctors are going to be monitored in order to establish whether they are value for money I wonder who is going to monitor these administrators? ie HSE and hospital administrators... Read more

Pension demand for 'marriage ban' women

Willie Penrose TD, Labour Party Spokesperson on Social and Family Affairs, Leinster House, Dublin 2 | 22 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, The next Social Affairs Minister, will have to take a close look at the situation relating to thousands of women who were forced to leave the civil service as a result of the pre-1974 ban on married women... Read more

Be prepared! A centuries-old scourge is due a comeback

Dr Mick Molloy | 22 June 2007 | Mick Molloy

Pandemic flu is something many of us may never experience in our lifetimes. As a global society we are however overdue a pandemic influenza strike. The effects of previous pandemics were limited at the time through much reduced population migration... Read more

A mashed up mismatch

15 June 2007 | Editorial

Irish Medical Times Editor Colin Kerr says the bartering between the major political parties for support to form a new Government may not be in the best interests of doctors or their patients In Irish politics, nothing is straightforward. We... Read more

Lazarus-like recovery for Hanly after election

Kealan Flynn | 15 June 2007 | Kealan Flynn

Election 2007 was notable for the extent to which independent candidates, especially those who stood previously on a health/hospital services ticket, haemorrhaged support to the two main political parties. If there is any conclusion to be drawn from the results,... Read more

Anyone can now complain about their doctor

Dr T G Stewart, Health Centre, Mosney, Co Meath | 15 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, It was reported in the Irish Medical Times by Dr Brian Meade on behalf of the newly emerging watchdog, the HIQA, that anyone can now make anonymous complaints about a physician. What safeguards are in place for vexatious... Read more

The time has come to take obesity seriously

Dr Mark Hannon | 15 June 2007 | Mark Hannon

Much has been written recently about the growing number of skeletal celebrities now inhabiting our television screens and fashion magazines. Although anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders are increasing in incidence, have a huge morbidity and are occasionally fatal, I... Read more

Commitment on health

Stephen McMahon, Chairman, Irish Patients’ Association, Church Road, Ballybrack, Co Dublin | 15 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, The Irish Patients’ Association wrote to all political parties during the election seeking a political commitment to provide the necessary means to enable all stakeholders to examine and enter into conversations as to whether a right of access... Read more

Charitable donations must continue to be preserved

Dr Mick Molloy | 15 June 2007 | Mick Molloy

Ireland is a country that has survived on charitable donations. Some came from other countries during the famine. Other donations or remittances came from emigrants who supported whole families from abroad; while they themselves lived in squalor hoping that the... Read more

Concerns raised over quality of breakfast cereals

Maureen Mulvihill, Health Promotion Manager, Irish Heart Foundation | 15 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, The Irish Heart Foundation is greatly concerned about the quality of breakfast cereals targeted at children. A survey, published by the Consumers Association of Ireland found that 100 per cent of the cereals specifically targeted at children did... Read more

A warning on health in a changing climate

Dr Margaret Chan, Director General, World Health Organization | 15 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, The focus of World Environment Day this year is on the impact of climate change on the polar regions, their ecosystems and communities, and the consequences that will have for the world. There is a close and complex... Read more

A new strategy?

Colin Kerr | 08 June 2007 | Editorial

The soon to be formed Fianna Fáil Government will have to take some tough decisions when it announces its health budget for 2008. Doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals will be looking for pay increases and hospital and health service managers... Read more

Minister Mary Harney may still leave her mark on healthcare

Kealan Flynn | 08 June 2007 | Kealan Flynn

In the end, the calculation was simple enough. Voters were terrified to trade what they had for seemingly vague promises that so much more might be achieved. They may have thought health, but they voted wealth. But at least the... Read more

Action needs to be taken on trans fats

Senator Jim Higgins, Fine Gael MEP, North West | 08 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, I am calling on the Irish food industry to stop using dangerous trans fats following the launch of the European Commission White Paper on Nutrition. I have long been arguing for better labelling of trans fats on food... Read more

Help needed for support of elderly

Dermot Kirwan, Development Officer, Friends of the Elderly, 25 Bolton Street, Dublin 1 | 08 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, I would like to draw the attention of GPs and other healthcare professionals to the Circle of Friends service operated by Friends of the Elderly. We are a voluntary organisation whose objective is to alleviate loneliness and isolation... Read more

ASH welcomes ban on 10-pack cigarettes sale

Prof Luke Clancy, Chairman, ASH Ireland | 08 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, ASH Ireland welcomes the banning of the sale of 10-packs of cigarettes with effect from 31 May 2007. This is an important development in the overall fight against tobacco related disease– and it should impact on sales of... Read more

Who manages the rollercoaster of indefinite duration contracts?

Dr Mick Molloy | 08 June 2007 | Mick Molloy

There we have it; 1,200 doctors are now apparently entitled to contracts of indefinite duration as non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs). Junior doctors, trainees, surgeons-in-training, junior physicians; call them what you want but I don’t believe they were ever meant to... Read more

Government should provide leadership and not 'spin'

01 June 2007 | Mick Molloy

Regardless of who is leading the new Government, Dr Mick Molloy believes that more governance, legislation and leadership is required in the country’s health service By the time you read this the result of the General Election will have been... Read more

Lessons learned?

Colin Kerr | 01 June 2007 | Editorial

Colin Kerr says that while Fianna Fáil may be preparing for an historic third term in government, voters are unhappy with a lot of the party's health policies The election is over and now the hard work of forming a... Read more

Suicide prevention

Dr John Connolly, Congress Chairman, 16 New Antrim Street, Castlebar, Co Mayo | 01 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, The Irish Association for Suiciology (IAS) is pleased to announce the XXIV Biennial Congress of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) entitled: Preventing Suicide Across the Lifespan: Dreams and Realities, which will take place in Killarney, Co... Read more

Come into my parlour said the spider to the fly

Dr Jim Stacey, Monang, Dungarvan, Co Waterford | 01 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, I wonder has the story of "The Spider And The Fly" by Mary Howitt (1821) relevance to those who volunteer for competence assurance? I enclose an abridged version as follows:... Read more

HSE mismanaged the Miss D case

Dr D Mac Namara, Lower Salthill, Galway | 01 June 2007 | Letters

Dear Editor, In recent weeks, we have been reminded, if indeed any of us need reminding, of what the Health Service Executive (HSE) has become. I refer to its management of the unfortunate Miss D case. The HSE first tried... Read more

In search of the good life, away from the rat race

Dr Mark Hannon | 01 June 2007 | Mark Hannon

The pace of life in the country and in smaller regional hospitals can mean happier and healthier patients — and doctors — than in the large metropolitan tertiary facilities As it was recently election season, numerous issues that usually lie... Read more

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