Job loss fears may boost the risk of developing asthma for the first time, indicates research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

Not a single cent has been invested into the transfer of tasks from secondary to primary care in 13 years and general practice is at “tipping point” on foot of 40 per cent in continuous cuts, the NAGP has claimed.

The income of Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has fallen by €52 million in the space of only four years, which has partly led to the long-running dispute between it and the Department of Health (DoH) over the failure to remit staff pension-related deductions under the FEMPI Act, now estimated at more than €9 million.

The HSE has defended its budget management and blasted unfair media comment, stating that over the past few years its supplementary votes have compared favourably to those of five other Government departments/agencies.

More than 360,000 people are currently waiting for an outpatient appointment, with more than 10 per cent of these on the list for over a year, latest HSE figures reveal.

The 2014 projected deficit for the health service is currently estimated at €510 million, based on costs to the end of July.

The HSE’s National Primary Care Division has conducted a detailed due diligence exercise regarding risks in primary care, IMT reports.

Minister of State Kathleen Lynch has welcomed the lodging of a Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) planning application to An Bord Pleanála, which marks the first major step in replacing the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) in Dundrum with a modern facility in Portrane, North Dublin.

Most of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service’s cryogenic, liquid nitrogen storage vats used to stock products from its Tissue Bank have exceeded their lifespan by three years making them costly to run, IMT reports.

The HSE has published its policy and procedure on annual certification of registration of radiographers and radiation therapists with the Radiographers Registration Board at CORU, which it says is meant to protect patients, service users and HSE employees and to provide evidence in support of good governance.