Gary Culliton looks at the results of a new opinion poll published by HIQA, on the issue of sharing health information across the medical system. The results of a new opinion poll published by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) show that people believe that health information is shared across the system, with three-quarters [...]
Dr Paul Heslin takes a few minutes to wonder whether shaving, flossing or brushing his teeth should be his priority in the morning — and wastes more of his precious time in the process. The time management guru said that should I write down the most important and the most urgent things on my daily [...]
Dr John Ryan writes that the biggest mistake in medicine is to ignore the potential for error — and the capacity to learn and initiate change after things go wrong. One of the responsibilities of being a Chief Resident is to make sure the standard of care provided by the house staff is as high [...]
Dear Editor, I was amused at the article in Irish Medical Times on 7 November by Derbhile Dromey (www.imt.ie/news/2008/11/waterford_city_gets_screening.html). The headline was ‘Waterford city gets screening services’. This was referring to cardiac screening in two private clinics in Waterford city. It is interesting that the article discusses that these clinics provide a 12-lead ECG, blood-pressure [...]
Dear Editor, In keeping with the pharmacists’ desire to enhance patient service and convenience and to encourage efficiency, would it not be more effective for GPs to dispense on the spot in the surgery after a consultation by either direct issue or by a GP in-house pharmacy? Dr Oliver Whyte, Westport, Co. Mayo.
Dear Editor, With the ongoing shortage of GPs and the increasing number of medical cards being issued, radical action needs to be taken: 1. Reduce trainees’ training time from four to three years; 2. Encourage young doctors to work in disadvantaged areas by giving them a medical card earlier than the stipulated five years (five [...]
Greg Baxter speaks to Dr Mel Bates about the success of D-Doc, with doctors and the HSE working together to provide the service. The two-year anniversary of the start of operations for D-Doc, the north Dublin GP co-op, is 28 November, and so far it has been a model of how well doctors and the [...]
Dermot Casserly writes that in the event of redundancy, it is vitally important to implement procedures that minimise the risk of future difficulties and avoid potential claims. Redundancy, especially in the current economic upheaval, is an unwelcome but often unavoidable necessity. Nevertheless, employers should continue to regard it as an option of last resort. Other [...]
An initiative that is currently being field-tested in the UK aims to ensure best practice in operating theatres and to improve the patient’s experience. A programme targeted at surgeons and anaesthetists in the UK aims to ensure consistently excellent practice in operating theatres and improved care for patients. The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement [...]
Terence Cosgrave reviews a new book by Irish Medical Times writer Rory Hafford, which examines the case for a national prostate screening programme for Ireland — would it save lives? This book is a compelling addition to medical debate in Ireland and hopefully, it will have the desired effect of opening a discussion on the [...]
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