Women who lie on their backs for 15 minutes after artificial insemination have a ‘significantly higher’ chance of getting pregnant than those who move around straight after treatment.

Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr James Reilly, has said the ‘massive increase’ in the cost of public nursing home beds following an analysis by HSE officials should be analysed independently.

Terence Cosgrave writes that given the increase in smokers the OTC is a waste of money and should be scrapped {openx:269} According to a survey released last week of over 4,000 Irish people, the rate of smokers in Ireland is now at its highest in 11 years at 33 per cent of the population.

Severe capacity problems at kidney units around the country mean patients are now getting their kidney dialysis treatment in the middle of the night at four hospitals.

HYPERTENSION: The main message in relation to hypertension according to cardiologist Dr Michael Conway is ‘find it, confirm it, treat it, monitor therapeutic effectiveness and add therapies if resistant’.

HYPERTENSION: Even in early hypertension, diastolic dysfunction in the left ventricle is very difficult to reverse.

A report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has once again highlighted the serious manpower problem in general practice.

The Minister for Health has answered just 45 per cent of parliamentary questions (PQs) in full during Dáil question time so far this year.

Berna Cox nearly beat the lump in her throat at Dublin Airport, but the Irish mammy losing a child to emigration was defeated {openx:269} At the best of times, airports do it to me.

HYPERTENSION: Blood pressure is a particular problem in people with predominant deposits of fat around the waist (visceral obesity).