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Opinion: October 2009

Raise price, dump quango

Terence Cosgrave | 30 October 2009 | Editorial

Terence Cosgrave writes that given the increase in smokers the OTC is a waste of money and should be scrapped... Read more

ESRI report highlights (again) the shortage of GPs in Ireland

Niamh Mullen | 30 October 2009 | Guests

A report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has once again highlighted the serious manpower problem in general practice. Niamh Mullen reports on its findings... Read more

Cuts of the 1990s should be avoided in December

Gary Culliton | 30 October 2009 | Guests

Gary Culliton reports on the Irish Hospital Consultants Association's pre-Budget submission to the Minister for Health... Read more

GPs refer too many for breast lumps

Gary Culliton | 29 October 2009 | Guests

Prof Tom Keane says the symptomatic breast cancer service is getting too many unnecessary referrals. Gary Culliton reports... Read more

Retrovirus may shed light on mystery of chronic fatigue

Dr Garrett FitzGerald | 29 October 2009 | Garrett FitzGerald

Dr Garrett FitzGerald was once sent many patients who suffered from chronic fatigue. He listened with sympathy but believed the condition was psychological... Read more

State to overthrow Boolean logic with cart and horse

Dr Mick Molloy | 29 October 2009 | Mick Molloy

Dr Mick Molloy argues that a reduction in bed capacity should not come before an improved health service is in place. It's simple logic and a matter of putting the 'IF' before the 'THEN'... Read more

This is just like that episode of The Simpsons

G.B. | 29 October 2009 | The Inside Back

It was the 20th anniversary of The Simpsons last week. The 20th. This means that there are adults who have never lived in a world without it. It also means I have been, for most of my life, subjected to... Read more

Gunfight at Clongowes

29 October 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, The excellent article (9/10/09) by Dr Garret Fitzgerald revived a poignant nightmare for me, while we was attending the same centre of excellence. A river of Lourdes water ain’t going to wash away the experience. I was bivouacked... Read more

Fewer workers could actually lead to more efficiencies

28 October 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.” --Peter Drucker, American (Austrian-born) management writer (1909 - 2005). I am thinking of all the innocent men and women in the HSE... Read more

Women was humiliated by radiographer’s conduct

Ed Madden, BL | 28 October 2009 | Guests

Ed Madden, BL, looks at a recent case in which a radiographer appealed against a decision of the High Court after his regulatory body found that he was guilty of serious misconduct... Read more

The battle to get rid of Irish typhus

Dr Patrick Rowan | 28 October 2009 | Guests

Dr Patrick Rowan on the history of typhus infection, and how it affected Ireland and how it has now mostly become a scourge of the past... Read more

Consent issues in a surgical setting

Aishling Gannon | 28 October 2009 | Guests

Aishling Gannon of Beauchamps Solicitors outlines the key issues in terms of getting consent from a patient in advance of a surgical procedure... Read more

Music and medicine meet in melodies

Niamh Mullen | 28 October 2009 | Guests

The worlds of medicine and music will meet with a performance next month in the National Concert Hall. Niamh Mullen reports... Read more

Directive to be decided in High Court

Dara Gantly | 23 October 2009 | Guests

The HSE believes significant progress has been made in achieving EWTD-compliant rosters for NCHDs: the IMO disagrees. The High Court is poised to decide which is right, reports Dara Gantly... Read more

Chronic fatigue link to retrovirus

Gary Culliton | 23 October 2009 | Guests

Gary Culliton reports on a new US study which appears to show a link between Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and a retrovirus — XMRV... Read more

Injection of advice ahead of swine flu vaccinations

Gary Culliton | 23 October 2009 | Guests

Gary Culliton examines the latest advice from the HSE and Dept of Health on the H1N1 virus... Read more

Achieving the rank of corporal suffering

Dr Garrett Fitzgerald | 22 October 2009 | Garrett FitzGerald

When things really start to fall apart due to the passage of time, Dr Garrett FitzGerald believes a little expense account may be your only man... Read more

Finding the middle ground

Dr Simon Mills | 22 October 2009 | Guests

Dr Simon Mills explores whether mediation can play a more significant role in medical negligence cases and Medical Council hearings under the new Medical Practitioners Act... Read more

Thoughts on bus drivers and the fake politeness that starts there and rules our lives

G.B. | 22 October 2009 | The Inside Back

I am completely unaware of why I continue to say please and thanks to Dublin city bus drivers. I live near the very first stop on a route that goes from Clongriffin (a new estate on the northside that is... Read more

Drumm is not to blame

Terence Cosgrave | 22 October 2009 | Editorial

Terence Cosgrave believes the finger of blame over the bonus to Brendan Drumm should point to the Government... Read more

Swine flu solution

22 October 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, Last night I attended a meeting of 112 GPs organised by the ICGP, on the subject of swine flu. As part of an extensive presentation on the diagnosis, treatment and general management of swine flu, we were given... Read more

NAIGP funds had been left to rest in its bank account

22 October 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, I would appreciate using this platform to contact past members of a group formed back in the early 1990s known as the NAIGP. This group has long been defunct, but sorting through papers recently I found the money!... Read more

Sober thoughts on patient care

22 October 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, Last week, a patient came to show me a medal he earned from AA for being sober for 10 years. I was busy preparing a repeat script for him and he showed it to me. I simply said,... Read more

CervicalCheck has proved to be a success

Tony O’Brien | 22 October 2009 | Letters

Tony O’Brien, CEO, National Cancer Screening Service responds to a recent letter in Irish Medical Times on the subject of smear tests... Read more

Labour Court orders reinstatement of hospital

Ed Madden, BL | 22 October 2009 | Guests

Ed Madden, BL, looks at a Labour Court case in which the IMO argued that a doctor who was dismissed at the conclusion of his fifth consecutive fixed-term contract should be reinstated... Read more

CMH takes overall award

Niamh Mullen | 22 October 2009 | Guests

Projects in 14 categories were recognised with an Irish Healthcare Award at the annual ceremony last week. Niamh Mullen reports... Read more

The famine papers: a doctor's chronicle

Prof Tim O’Brien | 22 October 2009 |

Professor Tim O’Brien's short story about a young doctor who discovers a journal chronicling the Great Irish Famine was shortlisted in the Aindreas McEntee Short Story competition... Read more

What would an alien think of NAMA?

Dr Paul Stewart | 22 October 2009 | Guests

Dr Paul Stewart takes an alien from outer space for a drive around Ireland, tells him that hospitals were invented as places to employ people, then tries to explain NAMA... Read more

Med students - beware of blogging

22 October 2009 | Guests

Medical schools are struggling to develop policies around students posting information about patients on blogs and Facebook pages... Read more

Experts dismiss some spurious health claims

Dara Gantly | 16 October 2009 | Guests

The European Food Safety Authority has issued the first in a series of opinions debunking many of the claims of so-called ‘health foods’, reports Dara Gantly... Read more

EWTD opt-out remains best option

Dara Gantly | 16 October 2009 | Guests

Irish NCHDs should be allowed the choice of opting out of the European Working Time Directive, leading UK expert Prof Roy Pounder tells Dara Gantly... Read more

US model has lessons for Irish healthcare

Dr Mick Molloy | 15 October 2009 | Mick Molloy

Dr Mick Molloy writes from the US that their debate on universal healthcare has implications and lessons for the Irish system and we must avoid their mistakes at all costs... Read more

Am I suffering from swine flu envy?

G.B. | 15 October 2009 | The Inside Back

I was under the weather for a few days recently. I went to bed on a Sunday night feeling awful, and woke up on Monday morning unable to see the point of going on living. This was more than man... Read more

Tablets of truth or superstition

Dr Garrett FitzGerald | 14 October 2009 |

Dr Garrett FitzGerald ponders on the leprechaun — the internationally-recognised symbol of the master race — and the eerie loss of two Bulls on the same day... Read more

Labour court refuses to extend HSE benefits

Ed Madden, BL | 14 October 2009 | Guests

Ed Madden, BL, looks at a recent Labour Court case in which two health sector unions sought to have the terms and conditions of staff in the HSE applied to their members in voluntary hospitals and the intellectual disability voluntary... Read more

Rewarding Irish health excellence

Niamh Mullen | 14 October 2009 | Guests

Reporter Niamh Mullen speaks to Quintiles MD in Ireland — John Kiernan — about the company's on-going support and enthusiasm for the Irish Healthcare Awards... Read more

Dealing with mental health in the primary care sector

June Shannon | 14 October 2009 | Guests

June Shannon reports on Mental Health Day and the continuing efforts of various stakeholders to get more resources and help for primary care to deal with mental health problems... Read more

My story: the long- awaited autobiography

Prof Cuimín T. Doyle | 14 October 2009 | Guests

Prof Cuimín T. Doyle's story about a 'pal' — reproduced here — was a finalist in the Aindreas McEntee short story competition for 2009... Read more

Body modification - making your mark or mutilation?

Mike Power | 14 October 2009 | Guests

Clinical psychologist Mike Power writes on the increasing phenomenon of people piercing, tattooing and ornamenting their bodies... Read more

Directive has implications for management and record-keeping

Dermot Casserly | 14 October 2009 | Guests

Dermot Casserly of Beauchamps Solicitors outlines the key points of the Working Time Directive and what is required in terms of limiting the hours that doctors work... Read more

Berlin not Boston for the HSE

Dara Gantly | 09 October 2009 | Guests

The HSE CEO has turned to Berlin not Boston for inspiration on how to transform health service funding in Ireland, reports Dara Gantly... Read more

Paediatric respiratory illness may be for life

Niamh Mullen | 09 October 2009 | Guests

Global experts met in Dublin for the first time to discuss the latest developments in the management of respiratory infections. Niamh Mullen reports... Read more

Seeing results from research

Derbhile Dromey | 09 October 2009 | Guests

A conference last week heard that gene therapy/stem cell transplantation will play a major role in finding cure for retinal disease. Derbhile Dromey reports... Read more

Ireland gains in health index race

Terence Cosgrave | 09 October 2009 | Editorial

Terence Cosgrave says that while many problems remain, it is positive news that Ireland has climbed the European Health Consumer Index. But do we have the solidarity in society to improve even more in recessionary times?... Read more

Lourdes water is the only cure

Dr Garrett FitzGerald | 08 October 2009 | Garrett FitzGerald

Dr Garrett FitzGearld recalls again his formative years when he was educated by the Jesuits. It's been 50 years but he is now showing signs of recovery... Read more

Doctors will continue to demand access & equity

Dr Illona Duffy | 08 October 2009 | Ilona Duffy

Dr Illona Duffy responds to a recent letter in Irish Medical Times and says that she and other doctors will continue to 'ruffle a few feathers'... Read more

Managing EDs in a time of influenza

Dr Mick Molloy | 08 October 2009 | Mick Molloy

Dr Mick Molloy reports that with Ireland having a high consultation rates for Influenza Like Illness, hospital forward planning is essential to ensure the system isn't overwhelmed... Read more

Fenton Howell: the early advocacy years

Dr Paul Stewart | 08 October 2009 | Guests

Dr Paul Stewart recalls an unusual approach to patients who refuse to quit smoking. And an encounter with one of Ireland's leading advocates for smoking cessation...... Read more

Chekhov — is he as big as Barbara Streisand?

G.B. | 08 October 2009 | The Inside Back

I'm afraid there's no time to write anything good or coherent ever again. Applications for new Inside Back columnist are being accepted starting this week. I won’t tell anyone it’s not me, but I will give guest contributors a cut.... Read more

A human solution to the problem of smears

08 October 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, Congratulations to John O’Keeffe on his excellent letter in last week’s IMT, with which I concur wholeheartedly.We used to have a within-Ireland cervical smear system, which, aside from being under-resourced, worked well. That system, which was not broken,... Read more

Doomsday psoriasis scenario rarely occurs

08 October 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, Dr Pixie McKenna’s doomsday scenario (IMT 25.9.09) about Psoriasis ruining lives, linen and clothes rarely occurs in my practice or those of referring family physicians. The social stigmata to which she refers have been greatly reduced by the... Read more

Does 'professional' imply 'clinical' or 'medical'?

07 October 2009 | Guests

Ed Madden, BL, looks at a recent English High Court case in which a company made a complaint to the General Medical Council against two senior administrators involved in the project who were also doctors... Read more

Lithium discovery has changed bipolar care

Dr Robert O'Sullivan | 07 October 2009 | Guests

Dr Robert O'Sullivan writes on the origins and use of lithium in medicine and the orginal scepticism that greeted its introduction... Read more

Diana and Shirley: Queens of the desert

Diana Hogan-Murphy | 07 October 2009 | Guests

Diana Hogan-Murphy — a clinical pharmacist in Cavan decided to go for a short run in Asia with her friend Shiley Potter, a specialist registrar in Galway... Read more

What does karma have to do with it?

Lena Drahotsky | 07 October 2009 | Guests

Philosopher and self-help guru Lena Drahotsky offers some advice on getting through the day... Read more

What should you say to the children about the recession?

Dr Paul Heslin | 07 October 2009 | Guests

Dr Paul Heslin offers some advice on how to talk to children about the recession and how to allay their fears about the future... Read more

The Last Day...

Prof Peter Gillen | 07 October 2009 | Guests

Prof Peter Gillen was one of the finalists in the Aindreas McEntee story competition for 2009 with 'The Last Day'... Read more

e-prescribing enjoys growth across EU

07 October 2009 | Guests

Study shows that the market for e-prescription systems will expand from $85 million to almost $450 million in the next six years across Europe... Read more

Health Award supports IT excellence

07 October 2009 | Guests

Helix Health — the largest indigenous IT provider in Ireland — sponsors the IT award in the Irish Healthcare awards taking place this month... Read more

Striking — a balance

Terence Cosgrave | 02 October 2009 | Editorial

Terence Cosgrave says that despite the mess we're in, we need all sectors and groups to act and think rationally... Read more

Ireland shown the benefits of going 'Dutch' on health

Gary Culliton | 02 October 2009 | Guests

Gary Culliton heard about the Dutch health system at a recent seminar on health spending in Dublin — the model favoured by Fine Gael... Read more

Ireland sticks to formula

Niamh Mullen | 02 October 2009 | Guests

Ireland contines to have the worst breastfeeding rates in the world, a national survey published this week shows. Niamh Mullen reports... Read more

Breastfeeding lacks medical support

Dr Siun Murphy and Dr Aoife Mullally | 02 October 2009 | Guests

Dr Siun Murphy and Dr Aoife Mullally write that something must be done to turn around the extremely poor figures in the latest report on Irish breastfeeding... Read more

TMWS — not NAMA — is the dangerous acronym

Dr Garrett FitzGerald | 01 October 2009 | Garrett FitzGerald

Dr Garrett FitzGerald looks at an ever more prevalent syndrome affecting Irish people, and the tried and trusted methods curing it... Read more

Ireland can learn from others

Dr Mick Molloy | 01 October 2009 | Mick Molloy

Are emergency departments really that expensive when you consider the service they provide? Dr Mick Molloy reports from the US on some of the myths surrounding EDs and how emergency doctors there feel about healthcare reform... Read more

Argument for retaining arts funding is found in plays, books & galleries

01 October 2009 | The Inside Back

A new organisation – the National Campaign for the Arts (www.ncfa.ie) has been created to argue the importance of the arts to economic recovery. The group will argue for the retention of Culture Ireland, the retention of the Irish Film... Read more

HPAT accepted over time

01 October 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, Re: Niamh Mullen’s article “Can ‘grind’ schools help with HPAT preparation?” The current brouhaha regarding the ‘grinds schools’ for HPAT is similar to what happened when a similar test was introduced in Australia 15 years ago. Now preparation... Read more

Ode error, oh dear

01 October 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, Might I point out to Dr O Domhnaill (Letters 25/9/09) that Gerard Manley Hopkins wasn’t even born when Keats penned the poem “To Autumn” which contained the lines referred to…..’season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’. Oooops! Prof Arthur... Read more

Should doctors always recommend clinics?

01 October 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, I have witnessed the following scenario often enough to raise concerns with me and to make me wonder if these concerns are shared by my colleagues. A patient with metastatic cancer died about a month ago, and I... Read more

Cervical check is dog's dinner

01 October 2009 |

Dear Editor, Not content with resting on their laurels after refusing to offer the HPV vaccination to our children – uniquely in the developed world – the government set up Cervical Check. This monstrosity of a dinner that any respectable... Read more

Tattoos could express a wish to donate organs after death

01 October 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, I made the following suggestion to the Liveline programme on RTE after I heard a lady describe her sad feelings on finding a donor card in her daughter’s belongings some days after her accidental death. Is it not... Read more

Obese patients suffer from prejudice in Ireland

Niamh Mullen | 01 October 2009 | Guests

Even doctors can be prejudiced against obese patients, causing them even greater problems. Niamh Mullen investigates... Read more