By Gary Culliton.

By Lloyd Mudiwa.

By Gary Culliton.

Gary Culliton brings you a round-up of the healthcare-related news making the headlines around the world.

Dr Paul Dhillon was the winner of the 2011 Irish Medical Writers Aindreas McEntee Prize for his short story, St Timothy’s.

In the second of his articles on running ahead of the inaugural National Medical Half Marathon in Mayo next May, Ballina GP Dr Scott Walkin focuses on the beginner runner who may be trying to stick to a New Year’s resolution.

Dara Gantly looks at the prospect of resolving the competition issue so as to allow full negotiations to take place on a new GP contract and the transformation agenda.

In his latest Clinical Update, Gary Culliton looks at recent developments in the treatment of the hepatitis C virus and advances made possible by new protease inhibitor therapies.

Dr Ruairi Hanley got the ‘Fore’ star treatment during a recent drive through the Midlands, discovering our wonderful monastic heritage and reaffirming our unique public house traditions.

Gary Culliton reports on a sustainability project at the Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street, which achieved significant savings in both gas and electricity consumption.