Journalists

Children's hospital unit has to phase in services due to doctor shortage 

The first satellite centre linked to the new National Children's Hospital will have to deliver services on a phased basis initially due to a shortage of doctors.

Ireland and the rest of Europe at low risk of Ebola virus 

The risk to Ireland and the rest of Europe from Ebola virus remains low and no travel or trade restrictions have been recommended.

Irish Parkinson's disease researchers get €267,523 funding from actor Michael J Fox's foundation 

A foundation set up by Hollywood actor Michael J Fox has given €267,523 ($300,000) to Irish researchers looking at a novel therapy for Parkinson’s disease.

CervicalCheck gave 'computer glitch' lab all-clear as 800 women waited for results 

CervicalCheck gave the all-clear in April to the US laboratory at the centre of the computer glitch - at a time when hundreds of women were left in the dark about their test results, it was confirmed yesterday.

Eilish O'Regan: 'Key questions unanswered as new plan to decentralise HSE unveiled' 

Key decisions about the future of surplus health staff, including highly paid managers, in the new-look HSE were dodged yesterday, despite claims that it will be slimmed down and streamlined.

17,600 patients removed from waiting lists without being treated amid clean-up audit 

More than 17,600 patients who were in a queue for a public outpatient appointment had their names struck off the list since the beginning of the year without being treated.

Tax change could mean €6 rise in cost of food supplements 

The price of some popular food supplements could rise by over €6 if the Government decides to subject them to the standard VAT rate in the upcoming Budget.

Vietnam is top country for foreign adoptions 

Vietnam is the top country for people from Ireland who are adopting a child from abroad.

Cervical test backlog 'cleared by September' 

The backlog of CervicalCheck screening tests that built up over the last year has reduced to 40,265 - but some women are still waiting up to 20 weeks for their results.

Actor Michael J Fox's foundation gives €267,500 to Irish Parkinson's research 

A foundation set up by Hollywood actor Michael J Fox has given €267,523 to Irish researchers looking at a novel therapy for Parkinson's disease.

HSE to be divided into six new regional health areas in new Sláintecare plan 

The HSE is to be divided into six new regional health areas with fewer managers and more power given to local decision-makers, Health Minister Simon Harris announced today.

HSE outsources 'over half of homecare services' despite private providers being 'twice the price' 

The HSE is increasingly outsourcing homecare services to private providers despite it being twice as expensive as using directly employed staff, it has emerged.

Proposed new health boards will have own budgets 

The proposed shake-up of the HSE, which will see it split into six regional healthcare organisations, includes plans to give each a separate budget.

At least 26 women in 'IT glitch' screening crisis to undergo further tests 

At least 26 of the women at the centre of the latest CervicalCheck "computer glitch" crisis have had to be sent for further investigation after testing positive for the HPV virus, it emerged yesterday.

Homecare limits add to numbers now stuck in hospital 

The number of patients occupying hospital beds despite being fit for discharge has escalated to 630 as the HSE puts the squeeze on nursing home places and homecare supports.

CPE superbug replaces MRSA as danger to hospital patients 

A lethal superbug that poses a particular risk to people with weakened immune systems is replacing MRSA as an infection scourge in hospitals.

New high for hospital waiting lists 

Hospital waiting lists have reached new records with 560,251 patients now in the queue to see a specialist.

Number waiting on smear test result is now higher than 800, HSE admits 

The number of women affected by a "computer glitch" who have not received letters telling them their CervicalCheck screening test result is higher than 800, it emerged yesterday.

Eilish O'Regan: 'Time to come clean over back-door rigid funding and its effects' 

Rationing is a fact of life in the health service, although it's usually clouded in spin.

HSE staff told to impose strict weekly ration on places in nursing homes 

HSE staff are being told to impose a strict weekly ration on allocating nursing home places for patients who are fit to be discharged from hospital.

HSE orders a 'countrywide' rationing of Fair Deal places 

The HSE has ordered staff to impose a strict weekly ration on allocating nursing home places for patients who are fit to be discharged from hospital.

Outpatient waiting lists hit new record of 560,251 

Hospital waiting lists have reached new records with 560,251 patients now in the queue to see a specialist.

CervicalCheck crisis deepens: Officials knew as far back as February of lab 'glitch' 

THE latest CervicalCheck crisis deepened today after it emerged that health officials were aware of a computer glitch as far back as February which led to hundreds of women not receiving letters informing them of their cervical screening result.

'Glitch' in US lab means 800 women here got no results of cervical scan 

Around 800 women who underwent cervical screening with CervicalCheck were not issued with letters containing their result due to problems with the computer system in a US laboratory, the HSE has confirmed.

Frail, elderly patients are caught up in trolley crisis 

The equivalent of three wards of patients were on trolleys in the most overcrowded hospital in the country yesterday as 81 mostly elderly people waited for a bed.

Nurses' overtime ban disrupts mental health clinics 

A number of community mental health clinics were cancelled and in-patient services in the Central Mental Hospital and other facilities disrupted yesterday as thousands of psychiatric nurses imposed an overtime ban.

Couple in abortion tragedy ask for meeting with Minister Simon Harris 

The couple at the centre of the tragic abortion case at the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street want to meet Health Minister Simon Harris, it has emerged.

800 women not issued with CervicalCheck results due to technical glitch 

Around 800 women who underwent cervical screening with CervicalCheck were not issued with letters containing their result due to problems with the computer system in an US laboratory, the HSE has confirmed.

Community mental health clinics cancelled today as psychiatric nurses begin overtime ban 

A number of community mental health clinics had to be cancelled today as psychiatric nurses began an overtime ban.

Call for help: 'Budget needs to ease patients' burden' 

The upcoming Budget must contain reliefs for cancer patients who can find themselves under siege financially with extra costs of €1,200 a month, the Irish Cancer Society warned yesterday.

Eilish O'Regan: 'Rammed A&Es in winter mode - and with no flu to blame' 

It's the height of summer but our overcrowded hospital A&Es still appear to be locked in a permanent state of winter.

'Significant' disruption to mental health services today 

Mental health services face "significant" disruption today when nurses refuse to work overtime, the HSE has warned.

Irish team's breakthrough in fight to beat deadly cancer 

Patients with a form of cancer which has a poor outlook have been given new hope of a potential treatment breakthrough thanks to Irish researchers.

Uneven funding by HSE 'needs addressing' 

HSE funding for voluntary organisations providing support to people with some illnesses is lower in the west of Ireland compared to other regions, the Oireachtas Health Committee was told yesterday.

Mental health services face 'significant' disruption as nurses refuse to work overtime 

MENTAL health services face “significant” disruption tomorrow when nurses refuse to work overtime, the HSE has warned.

Charity used funds for alcohol at party 

An organisation providing support for people with disabilities has been criticised by HSE auditors for using funds to buy alcohol for Christmas parties.

Fraudster working at Catholic counselling service stole €28,000 

Over €28,000 was misappropriated by a member of staff at Accord, the Catholic marriage and relationship counselling service, while another employee was given a personal loan of €5,000 with no evidence it was approved by the board.

'No proof of visits' in many homecare invoices 

A number of private providers of homecare for the HSE in the south of the country submitted invoices without supporting documentation showing proof of their attendance and the time spent with the client.

Care group criticised over credit cards and paperwork 

An organisation that works with children in care, and had an income of €3.2m between 2014 and 2016, operated 15 credit cards, a HSE audit has revealed.

'Grossly insensitive' anti-abortion protest at maternity hospital with three small baby-sized coffins condemned by Harris 

A PROTEST by an anti-abortion group in which three small baby-sized coffins were placed on the ground outside the National Maternity Hospital in Holles St has been condemned as “grossly insensitive” by Health Minister Simon Harris.

Public invited to give their views on how best to increase access to contraception 

Members of the public and interested stakeholders are invited from today to give their views on how best to increase access to contraception.

Training allowance for students with a disability to be axed 

Hundreds of young school leavers with a disability who take up training programmes this autumn are to have a special allowance axed, it has been confirmed.

17,000 psychiatric patients admitted to facilities last year, says health report 

The number of patients who had a stay in psychiatric hospitals or units rose to 17,000 last year - bucking the trend of falling admissions over the past decade.

Taxpayers to fund private units in €1.7bn National Children's Hospital 

The construction of taxpayer- funded private facilities in the new €1.7bn National Children's Hospital will go ahead, HSE director-general Paul Reid has confirmed.

Heart attack death risk ‘much higher’ in some hospitals 

A patient's chance of dying after a heart attack or stroke can vary significantly depending on their hospital, a report has revealed.

Eilish O'Regan: 'Mortality rates are not the full story, but they can't be ignored' 

Hospitals baulk at the term "league table" when it comes to revealing their statistics on patient death rates from major illnesses. It is seen as too crude a report card to explain the differences in outcomes for heart attack and stroke patients.

Breast cancer survival rate significantly lower in the west than in the south 

The survival rate from breast cancer is lowest in the west of Ireland at 80pc and highest the south at 86.6pc, according to a new report.

'Sugar tax' on fizzy drinks raises €32m, but none of it goes on tackling obesity 

The nation's craving for sweet, fizzy drinks generated €31.72m in the first year of the sugar tax - but not a cent has been directly spent on tackling the obesity crisis.

Patient care being hit by drug shortages, pharmacist warns 

Drug shortages are affecting patients' ability to manage their illness and leaving pharmacists scrambling for essential supplies, it emerged yesterday.

HSE spends €650,000 in bid to change workforce culture 

The cash-strapped HSE has paid almost €650,000 to a UK consultancy firm over the past two years as part of its drive to bring about "culture change" in its workforce.

Six babies were among the deaths of 13 children known by State to be vulnerable 

Six of the 13 children either in State care or known to social services who died last year were babies.

Young women in Ireland have the highest levels of depression in Europe 

Young Irish women are suffering the highest levels of moderate to severe symptoms of depression among their generation in the EU, a new report reveals.

Eilish O'Regan: 'Poor state of our mental health service is failing sufferers as need grows' 

The understaffing of child mental health services and the long delays to see a psychiatrist in Ireland have meant much of the debate around psychological support for young people is focused on the consulting room.

Cost of extending free GP care next year still unknown 

The Government plan to extend free GP care to children aged seven to eight from next year still has to be costed.

Seven unapproved labs screening smear tests were not visited in probe 

Up to seven of the unapproved laboratories in the US that screened smear tests from Ireland unknown to CervicalCheck have not been visited as part of a probe into their standards.

Thirteen children who were known to social services or in state care died last year 

Thirteen children who were either in State care or known to social services died last year, including three from suicide.

Hundreds of women 'excluded' from cancer tribunal 

Hundreds of women who developed cervical cancer after going through Cervical-Check screening may be excluded from making a legal claim in the proposed tribunal which is to be established to hear cases for alleged negligence, the Oireachtas Health Committee has heard.

Patients are at risk from 'bullied and exhausted' doctors 

Patients are being put at risk as the toxic culture of bullying trainee doctors in Irish hospitals is worsening, a new report has warned.

New HSE chair in favour of removing private practice from public hospitals 

Plans to remove private practice by consultants from public hospitals were supported yesterday by the new HSE chairman, Ciarán Devane.

500 HSE ambulance staff to strike again over union recognition 

More than 500 HSE ambulance staff are to stage a further 24-hour work stoppage in the middle of this month.

Health chief is eager to stem €7m overspend every week 

The HSE must become financially stable as it bids to tackle a €7m weekly overspend, the Oireachtas health committee will be told today.

Too much grey matter in teenage years may be at the root of drink problem in early adulthood 

Adolescents who have large amounts of grey matter in their brains around the age of 14 are likely to drink more in the next five years of their lives.

Irish women with breast cancer invited to take part in new clinical trial at DCU 

Irish women with HER2-positive breast cancer are to be offered to take part in a clinical trial involving a new drug combination.

New meningitis vaccine for children starting secondary school in September 

Children starting secondary school in September are to be offered a new meningitis vaccine.

Residents deprived of privacy and dignity in cramped HSE facilities 

Conditions in a HSE-run nursing home are so cramped that elderly residents have no room to put a chair near their bed, according to an inspection report.

Eilish O'Regan: 'Hospitals will stay clogged up unless waiting lists are tackled' 

The life expectancy timebomb - which is putting more pressure on pensions, health and social services - is heaping more strain on the Fair Deal nursing home support scheme.

'Urgent need to address deficits' as children's mental health service has just half the necessary staff levels 

Some parts of the country have less than half the recommended number of staff needed for child and adolescent mental health services.

Nearly half of ambulance staff report being bullied and harassed by manager or colleague 

Nearly half of the HSE's ambulance staff say they have been bullied or harassed by a manager, team leader or colleague.

Eilish O'Regan: 'Coming in 'on budget' must not compromise any patient's safety' 

The briefing dossier given by experienced senior HSE managers to their new boss Paul Reid has several alarm bells that should worry us all.

Up to 30,000 women 'facing a distressing wait for treatment' 

Doctor Rhona Mahony has warned that the waiting list of 30,000 women to see a gynaecologist is having a huge and "distressing" impact on their quality of life.

Relief for patients as threat of 'catastrophic' 72-hour strike is lifted 

Patients have narrowly avoided three days of back-to-back hospital strikes that would have plunged the health service into chaos from next Tuesday.

Hold to account: HSE's €80,000-a-year chair to 'scrutinise' finances 

The HSE's new €80,000-a-year chairman warned yesterday a revamped board will be holding senior staff accountable for their performance in managing its finances and quality of care.

CervicalCheck campaigner Stephen Teap sues US lab over wife's death 

CervicalCheck campaigner Stephen Teap, whose wife Irene died of cervical cancer last year, is taking legal action against the United States laboratory where her smear tests were read.

Record 32 abortions last year before repeal changed law 

A record number of pregnancies were terminated in Irish hospitals last year, including one abortion on the grounds of risk of suicide.

Threatened three-day strike by 10,000 hospital support staff deferred 

The threatened three-day strike next week by 10,000 health workers has been deferred.

Patients to face three strike days in a row as talks stall 

Three back-to-back strikes by hospital support staff are still set to go ahead next week as "no meaningful progress" was made at talks.

6,000 face cancellations as three-day strike looms 

More than 6,000 hospital patients are at risk of having their treatments and procedures cancelled as striking health staff vow to ramp up their pay row with a three-day walkout next week.

Access to medical cannabis products eased 

Patients deemed suitable for medical cannabis treatment will have easier access by the autumn, the Health Minister has said.

HSE deficit for this year 'already tops €82m' 

The health service is already facing a deficit for the year of more than €82m, the Dáil's public spending watchdog will be told today.

Eilish O'Regan: 'The real harm patients suffer from strikes can be hidden' 

Hospital strikes harm patients - and much of the impact isn't immediately obvious.

Patients hit as 10,000 hospital support staff mount pickets 

Thousands of waiting list patients in need of surgery and other procedures have had their treatments cancelled as up to 10,000 hospital support staff walk off the job today.

More potent cannabis products sparking EU health concerns 

Cannabis products have become increasingly diverse in Europe and close monitoring of their potency and potential health effects is essential, a new report warned yesterday.

Patients told 'bring a sandwich' as catering facilities shut down 

Some hospital patients caught up in today's strike have been told to "bring your own sandwich" while hundreds of others who are bed-bound in wards will be left without a cooked dinner.

Health staff walkout: Patients told 'bring your own sandwiches for strike', surgeon reveals 

THOUSANDS of hospital patients must survive on cold food today and others have been asked to "bring your own sandwich" as 10,000 health staff walk off the job.

Minister criticised for big gaps in abortion services 

Major gaps in hospital-based abortion services have been highlighted in several parts of the country, six months after the law on terminations was liberalised.

More than 32,000 people to lose their medical card as unemployment falls 

More than 32,000 people will lose their medical card this year as more fall outside the income threshold.

Health service faces chaos on Wednesday as pay talks break down 

The health service is facing chaos on Wednesday as talks aimed at averting a strike by 10,000 health staff broke down this afternoon.

'Women will be forced to travel for abortion' after doctors' decision 

A decision by the four obstetricians in one of the main hospitals in the south-east not to offer an abortion service will force women to travel even though it may be difficult and expensive for them to do so, it was claimed yesterday.

Introduction of exclusion zones to be delayed 

The introduction of exclusion zones around GP surgeries and hospitals looks set to be delayed until the end of the year or early 2020.

State will cover private clinic in legal claim over tragic abortion 

The State Claims Agency has confirmed it will provide legal cover for a private clinic which will be included in a legal claim brought by the couple at the centre of the tragic abortion case in the National Maternity Hospital.

More staff needed to roll out HPV vaccine for boys - unions 

Unions representing doctors, nurses and other workers vital for the planned roll-out of the HPV vaccine for boys in September warned yesterday more staff are needed.

Ten more women to lose out on review of CervicalCheck slides 

Another 10 women who developed cervical cancer after going through the CervicalCheck screening programme will lose out on having their slides reviewed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, it emerged yesterday.

Only third of women seen in two-week screening deadline 

Hundreds of women and men who need investigations for suspected cancer symptoms are not being diagnosed within recommended time limits, a new HSE performance report has revealed.

Roll-out of HPV vaccine for boys threatened by latest union row 

A fresh industrial relations row in the HSE is threatening the roll-out of the life-saving HPV vaccine to schoolboys in September, it has emerged.

Tusla issues advice to parents after Ana Kriegel case 

Parents have been advised that for some children and young people the trial of murder victim Ana Kriegel may lead to a range of feelings such as shock, anger, upset, feeling unsafe, or difficulty in trusting others.

Quarter of Irish people don't trust vaccines as debate rages over jabs 

Irish people have a lower than average belief that vaccines are safe, according to a new global survey.

Health staff strike is deferred too late to avoid many patients missing out on their treatment 

Many waiting list patients will lose out on much-needed surgery or diagnostic procedures today as the last-minute deferral yesterday of the planned strike by 10,000 hospital support workers came too late.

Vital role: 'We are moving with times but our pay has stayed stagnant' 

Colm French's job is key to keeping hospital equipment and medical instruments free of infection before use on patients.

Health staff strike set to bring chaos to hospitals called off to allow for talks 

The threatened strike by 10,000 health workers which was set to bring chaos to hospitals tomorrow has been deferred.

Confirmed: Full list of hospitals hit by support staff strike tomorrow 

THE scale of patient chaos and hardship in hospitals – including disruption to meals - has been confirmed as 10,000 support staff prepare to go on strike on Thursday.

Harris vows Morrissey will be paid full €2.1m 

Terminally ill Limerick woman Ruth Morrissey has received written assurance her award of €2.1m will be paid regardless of the outcome of a Supreme Court appeal to aspects of the judge's ruling in her High Court case.

Eilish O'Regan: 'Disability providers for 20,000 people are on a financial cliff edge' 

Organisations funded by the HSE that provide care to 20,000 vulnerable people with disabilities are on a financial "cliff edge", the Oireachtas health committee will be told today.

Couple in abortion tragedy lose plea on review 

The couple at the centre of the tragic abortion case at the National Maternity Hospital were not consulted on the membership of the external panel who will examine their case, it emerged yesterday.

Hospital support staff strike: Thousands of operations to be cancelled tomorrow 

Thousands of patients face the cancellation of surgery and other procedures tomorrow as up to 10,000 hospital support staff go on strike over pay.

CervicalCheck scandal women and next of kin to receive ex-gratia payment of €20k 

Women and next of kin who were caught up in the CervicalCheck scandal are to receive an ex-gratia payment of €20,000 each.