“There have been gigantic steps forward in terms of treatment of stroke over the past four or five years,” says consultant physician in geriatric and stroke medicine, Dr Rónán Collins, who directs stroke services at Adelaide and Meath Hospital in…
Novus Medica
Medical news service from Penhire
Monthly Archives: March 2011
Scare tactics do nothing to change behaviour
Dr Jacky Jones: “AN AWARENESS of health risks must mean that people will change their behaviour and take up healthier habits, right. Wrong. Recent research on alcohol use in the UK has shown no relationship between awareness of health risks…
Posted in Conditions / Campaigns, Public health
Stopping medication abruptly raises heart risk
Researcher Dermot Kenny, professor of cardiovascular biology at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, explained that when a stent is inserted into an artery to help keep blood flowing through it, the patient is at higher risk of forming…
The cure for costly GP bills may be in your pharmacy
The pharmacist might refer you to a doctor, but equally you may have a condition that can be treated by over-the-counter medicine and that way you can avoid paying the doctor’s hefty fee. (Indo) >>>
Posted in Pharmaceutical
Prescription charges
[Letter to Times] Madam, – In your Editorial (March 29th) you rightly concluded that the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly is correct to abolish the prescription charge, but that he must prioritise other means of tackling waste of unused…
Amgen lung cancer drug disappoints
Amgen and Takeda Pharmaceutical said their experimental drug, motesanib, had failed to improve overall survival in a late-stage study of patients with advanced lung cancer. The Phase 3 trial of 1,090 patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer did…
Mother tells court Carmody said he would cure her late son
At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, Christina O’Sullivan said her son Conor was given six months to live by consultant oncologist Dr Finn Breathnach on June 27th, 2002, days before Conor’s consultation with Dr Paschal Carmody. “Dr Carmody said that photodynamic…
Posted in Doctors, Medicolegal
Patients moved from unit of St Ita’s hospital in Portrane
[From Times] Patients were finally moved out of a unit at St Ita’s hospital in Co Dublin this week. Last year, the Mental Health Commission ordered the unit to cease admitting new patients due to “inhumane” conditions. The old red…
Posted in Hospitals/Clinics
Hospital seeks to ban smoking outside building
THE head of one of Cork’s biggest hospitals wants new bylaws to ban smoking in the public areas outside the facility. Pat Madden, chief executive of the Mercy University Hospital in Cork, has written to city manager Tim Lucey asking…
Posted in Hospitals/Clinics
Prof Aiden McCormick on How to boost organ donation
[From Times] Madam, – There is a lot of debate about “opt-out” or “opt-in” systems for organ donation. The HSE audit showed that donor preferences were very important. If an individual had previously expressed a wish to donate, organ donation…
INMO claims 487 patients on trolleys
[From Times] There were 487 patients on trolleys waiting for beds in emergency departments across the State, figures released yesterday by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) have indicated. Minister for Health James Reilly said he would be meeting…
Concern over fall in organ donations
ALMOST A third of the liver transplants carried out in the State each year are on patients with a history of alcohol abuse, the director of the national liver transplant programme has said. Dr Oscar Traynor stressed very strict criteria…
Second chairman resigns from board of children’s hospital
THE BOARD set up to oversee the development of the State’s new national children’s hospital suffered a major setback yesterday when it lost its second chairman in less than six months. John Gallagher tendered his resignation yesterday saying he “no…
Thousands of children on ADHD drugs
According to consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr Keith Holmes, more than half of young people diagnosed with the condition will be prescribed medication. Dr Holmes said drugs are necessary to treat ADHD as major symptoms don’t go away on…
Mother calls for warning on medicines
Ms Fennell said although it would be extremely difficult, she not ruled out taking a case against the pharmaceutical company which makes the drug which belongs to a group of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). She has written…
Concern at ADHD medication rates
THOUSANDS of children are on medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) which is causing “great concern” for parents who feel there are no alternatives. Nationwide, there are 37 clinics dedicated to young people with the disorder, and it is…
Times editorial: Prescription charge
ONE OF the first commitments made by Minister for Health James Reilly on assuming office was to abolish prescription charges. The 50 cent per item monthly charge for medicines dispensed under the medical card scheme was introduced in the 2010…
September opening for €60m hospital and hospice in Cork
[From Times: ] A €60 million hospital providing palliative care and services for older people will open in Cork this September, reports Olivia Kelleher. Marymount/St Patrick’s Hospital is leaving its historic city home at Wellington Road, St Luke’s Cross, where it…
Survey shows low morale among hospital consultants
LESS THAN half of hospital consultants feel they have sufficient medical equipment to do their jobs properly, according to the findings of a new survey. The research, commissioned by the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and presented at a meeting of…
‘I actually like doing dissections’
DR MICHAEL Curtis, who has held the position of Deputy State Pathologist since 2004, has a very varied working week: “I get a lot of satisfaction out of a good postmortem examination, which is done with the respect and dignity…
Health staff involved in up to 8,000 drug errors a year
Fresh data compiled by the State Claims Agency shows there have been some 35,310 incidents involving medication between between 2004 and 2010. However, just under 100 of these incidents resulted in a claim for compensation. (Times) >>>
Children must get free dental care up to 18
[Letter to Indo] As a parent of four children in primary and secondary school, I would like to appeal to the new Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald to change the situation whereby children who enter secondary school have to pay for…
Rise in sleep illness cases linked to swine-flu jab
EIGHT Irish people who received the swine-flu vaccine have developed narcolepsy — the potentially devastating ailment that causes sudden daytime sleep attacks, the Sunday Independent has learnt. The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) said: “The IMB has received a large number…
Beaumont hospital paid €100,000 for nurses to work in New York
BEAUMONT HOSPITAL in Dublin paid Siptu €100,000 to arrange a two-week secondment for nurses in New York. The union’s trustees’ report on the controversial bank account operated by Matt Merrigan and Jack Kelly shows that it received a lodgement of…
Posted in Nursing
Doctor’s prescriptions could have put patients at risk, medical inquiry told
A DOCTOR who continued seeing and prescribing for some medical card patients attached to a Co Kerry general practice after she left her job there in fractious circumstances could have put patients at risk as a result of “double prescribing”,…
More GPs refusing to perform free blood tests
GROWING numbers of GPs are refusing to perform free blood tests and other minor procedures on hard-pressed medical card holders over claims the actions are not covered by HSE contracts. IMO vice-president Dr Ronan Boland said that after seeking legal…
Irish Examiner shortlisted for health award
The Irish Examiner has been shortlisted in the Best Health Communication Through Journalism category for its 20-page investigation supplement on suicide and its Let’s Talk Suicide booklet, both of which were distributed with the newspaper. (Examiner) >>>
