Dear Editor, I note that the Irish Medical Times is organising a seminar on managing a successful practice. Many years ago Dr John Heskin stated that the three things necessary for a successful practice were, in order of their importance, availability, affability and ability. Tempora mutantur.
Dear Editor, It is inconceivable to think that as winter approaches and the anticipated increased volumes of people present themselves to their local A&E departments for medical assistance they will be confronted with longer waiting times and bed shortages due to ward closures. This recruitment and overtime ban is already having a detrimental effect in [...]
Dear Editor, In little more than 100 days since the Fianna Fáil-PD-Green government took power the health service has been beset on all sides by cutbacks, the exposure of empty pre-election promises and outright lies. For cancer patients and their families the most devastating of these was confirmation that the radiotherapy plan announced by Minister [...]
Dear Editor, I was amazed at Fine Gael spokesperson Alan Shatter’s badly informed assertion that there has been “too much talk and too little action” regarding the referendum on children. As I have stated publicly on a number of occasions one of my first tasks on appointment last June was to instruct my officials to [...]
I am currently preparing for the clinical part of the United States Medical Licensing Examination, or USMLE for short. For many Irish doctors, the seemingly insurmountable hurdle of the American examinations has proved to be a significant barrier to career progress. Many complain bitterly that it is a complete travesty that our degree and university [...]
Watching the consultant contract talks from a distance of relative insecurity, I am conscious that the Department of Health feels that junior doctors will apply for any consultant post that come up regardless of the conditions offered. Among the burning issues for these young doctors will be the fact that they have lived much of [...]
News Editor Glenn Taylor finds commendable Dr James Reilly’s desire to help improve the health service and wishes him luck in the ‘bull-pit’ that is Dáil Éireann The bull-pit of Dáil Éireann is not for the faint hearted. Many a verbal pugilist has met their match and hit the canvas in this most testing of [...]
Irish Medical Times Senior Reporter Ian McGuinness looks at the operation of the mental health tribunals and answers some of the questions that have been raised on the issue Irish Medical Times recently revealed (31 August) that between the start of November 2006 and the end of July this year 1,116 patients had their status [...]
Dear Editor, Although world opinion is presently split on the efficacy of Botox treatment and Migraine there is no variance of advice between myself and Dr Eddie O’Sullivan regarding the recommendation for its use. Our retrospective study showed 13 patients benefited out of 23 injected for cosmetic use. Of these, three had almost complete resolution. [...]
Dear Editor, Aer Lingus’ announcement to introduce defibrillators on short trips is very welcome. I now call on all other airlines to follow this example and introduce defibrillators on their short haul aircraft. These machines are relatively inexpensive, costing up to €2,500, but could be acquired much cheaper if bought in bulk by the public [...]
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