Dr Ruairi Hanley believes the decision by the ICGP to bring in new membership fees for recently qualified GPs is the wrong one, as is the explanation given for its introduction.

Dara Gantly on a Hobbit-like adventure in search of a new 10-year Health Strategy.

Dr Muiris Houston looks at some worrying evidence from a recent report on the pressures of general practice in the UK, which showed striking similarities to the problems experienced by doctors in Ireland — issues around workload, communication and funding to name a few

Tighter curbs on car exhaust and industrial waste may be required after research has found ‘suggestive evidence’ for a link between air pollution and a heightened risk of stillbirth.

While excessive salt, sugar and alcohol are well known to contribute to high blood pressure, new research has added the humble spud — if consumed in high rates — to this list of foodstuffs associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension.

Dr Deirdre Lundy, Coordinator Sexual and Reproductive Health Courses at the ICGP, details the various LARC options available to women.

Clinical engagement with activity-based funding (ABF) and quality data can enhance patient care, and if levels of hospital activity and costs can be measured in real time, integrated care pathways and a platform for value-based healthcare can become possible, according to the Director of Finance at St James’s Hospital in Dublin.

The Medical Council has requested that all 13 post-graduate training bodies provide in-depth specialty specific elaboration on the back of the recently updated Ethical Guide.

The Medical Director of SouthDoc has expressed his shock at a 55 per cent increase in the number of under-sixes referred by the service to hospitals, with “GP burnout” the main culprit.

The HSE has received nearly 400 claims from solicitors representing consultants pursuing “payment of wages” in the space of six months, which could result in High Court proceedings to force the Executive to release salary increases due, it has emerged.