It’s much cheaper to give people, especially those with chronic illnesses, free access to their GPs. Even the Government understands this very well. Just last November, in its health strategy document, it stated: “the removal of fees for GP care…
Novus Medica
Medical news service from Penhire
Blog Archives
Austerity is devastating health, say researchers
Detailing a decade of research, Oxford University political economist David Stuckler and Sanjay Basu, an assistant professor of medicine and an epidemiologist at Stanford University, said their findings show austerity is seriously bad for health. In a book to be…
Letters to Times re caring for hospital patients
“While the commitment, professionalism and compassion of many hospital staff requires acknowledgment, it is imperative that every individual working within a hospital, irrespective of their role and qualification, realises their obligation to remain vigilant on behalf of the patients entrusted…
Shane Considine on hospital care
Doctors, nurses and allied health professionals in this country display dedication and commitment to the care of their patients at all times. If, on occasion, they cannot spend as long as they would like with each patient, it is because…
‘Forcing junior doctors to work 100 hours a week jeopardises patient care’
Officials from the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) repeated the long- held concern yesterday to politicians at an Oireachtas health committee meeting. Despite representatives from the HSE insisting the two-decade-old issue was being addressed, IMO non- consultant hospital doctor committee chair…
Tagged with: Irish Medical Organisation, Quality
Posted in HSE, Mark Murphy, Patients, Shirley Coulter
Posted in HSE, Mark Murphy, Patients, Shirley Coulter
Survey finds majority of mental health service users were happy with service
A study based on more than 1,500 people’s experiences with the services last year found some 76 per cent were happy overall. This compares with 57 per cent in 2010 and 52 per cent in 2009. The study by the…
Hospital care at weekends a concern
The level of care available to patients admitted to hospitals at weekends is among a number of concerns raised by a mother whose son died in hospital on a Sunday without being seen by a consultant. Speaking at a patient…
Copy of leaked draft report of Beaumont Hospital Diagnostic
The Examiner has reproduced a copy of the report here >>>
INMO Research Confirms Low Staffing Levels in Irish Health Service When Compared to UK
Staffing Levels (Ireland v UK) Evidence shows patient care must be compromised Irish nurses at risk of burnout The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), arising from growing concerns about safe practice, has examined comparative staffing figures, in the UK…
Hospital cutbacks ‘force mothers to give birth in dangerous conditions’
Dr Sam Coulter Smith, master of the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, has warned that several emergency patients are having to be dealt with at the one time, creating “significant clinical risk”. Writing in the hospital’s annual report, he said a record 9,319…
Psychiatric patients not as closely monitored as before, says top nurse
Modern psychiatric care methods have resulted in patients not being as closely observed as they were in the past, it has emerged. “If we want to endorse a policy which says that we nurse patients in the least restrictive and…
Paediatric trainees agree with emergency medicine trainees re doctors’ deal
Dr MICHAEL BARRETT, Dr NUALA QUINN (PT), Dr CILIAN O MAOLDOMHNAIGH, Dr SINEAD O’DONNELL, Dr LISA MCCARTHY, Dr EMILY KIERAN, Dr MICHAEL BOYLE, Dr CONOR HENSEY, Dr UNA MURTAGH, Dr EMILY STENKE, Dr KATEY ARMSTRONG, Dr LOUISA GLACKIN, Dr JEAN…
Turlough O’Donnell on doctors’ deal and patient care
[Letter to Times >] Sir, – Minister for Health James Reilly’s assertion that the deal he has struck with hospital consultants will result in savings of €200 million would make the likes of Lewis Carroll blush. The notion that by…
“inconsistent with safe surgical practice”
ONE BED in six remained closed at the Children’s University Hospital in Temple Street over the summer because of a cost-containment programme. The hospital has a total of 145 beds. The cutbacks prompted surgeons at the hospital to warn earlier…
HSE ban on agency staff in northeast ‘putting lives at risk’
Mr Fitzpatrick said the cutbacks would result in the loss of the equivalent of 75 full-time nursing staff across the hospitals in Louth and Meath. The bulk of them, 52, will be at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.…
Health cuts will kill babies, Labour chief tells ministers
Concern will be heightened this weekend by the intervention of Dr Gerry Burke, a consultant obstetrician, who has said that proposed a new hospital management system in the mid-west region “amounts to rampant managerialism”. The region already has the highest…
Prejudices in healthcare can put gay patients at risk, group warns
GAY, LESBIAN and bisexual people are at risk of receiving inadequate healthcare because of assumptions and prejudices among some healthcare workers, a leading advocate for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community has warned. Paul D’Alton, head of the…
Staff levels harming patient care, nurses warn
STAFFING SHORTAGES in the health services have unacceptable consequences for patients and those working in the system, the annual conference of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has heard. There was long applause after one representative described working both a…
Hiqa feared for emergency care after downgrades
THE CHIEF executive of the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) has expressed her concern to the HSE over the mix of medical care provided at the downgraded emergency units at Ennis and Nenagh hospitals. In a letter to the…
Letter to Examiner: Hospitals should have better aftercare plans
[Letter to Examiner >] I have all the symptoms of bowel cancer and discussed this with my GP about ten years ago who recommended a colonoscopy. I rang the Colorectal Assessment Clinic at Cork University Hospital to make an appointment.…
Examining the doctors
Following on from making fitness-to-practice hearings public events, the Medical Council is about to introduce on-site practice assessments of doctors’ performance for the first time. It means a small number of doctors can expect their standard of patient care to…
Health retirements ‘won’t hurt patients’
Health Minister James Reilly says patients should not suffer as a result of staff exiting the health service. He accepted, however, there could be problems if too many people left the service and if the situation was not properly dealt…
A&E services more accessible in the North
HEALTHCARE blackspots have been identified on maps which show gaps in access to services across Ireland. The most startling finding showed access to 24-hour hospital A&E takes on average 21 minutes in the Republic but just 16 minutes in the North. People who…
Examiner editorial: HSE staffing shortages – Cutbacks are a recipe for disaster
It MIGHT be flippant to suggest that conditions at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) are ‘crazy’, but before long we could be wondering if some of those responsible for those conditions are not in need of treatment themselves. Professor Harry…
Expert: Central hospital facing legal challenges
THE Central Mental Hospital is facing a raft of legal challenges because offenders are not being rehabilitated adequately due to chronic staff shortages, the head of the country’s most high- profile unit has warned. Documents obtained by the Irish Examiner…
Staff are so busy lives are at risk, Rotunda boss admits
Dr Sam Coulter-Smith, master of Dublin’s Rotunda Hospital, has warned the hospital — which is currently operating at about 50pc above capacity — is at risk of “a bad outcome”. He said a lack of one-to-one care can have a “profoundly…
Nurses to begin work stoppage at ‘extremely unsafe’ Limerick hospital
Mary Fogarty from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says it is clear that overcrowding is having an impact at the hospital. “Our members feel that the hospital now has become unsafe,” she said. (Examiner) >>>
Doctor still working at hospital after fatal mistake
A DOCTOR is still working at a hospital where he misdiagnosed a mother of three who later died from complications following emergency brain surgery. The revelation came as the Irish Independent also learned that Cork University Hospital (CUH) has not…
GPs warn of threat to patient safety over cuts
FAMILY DOCTORS have warned Minister for Health James Reilly of a threat to patient safety and a reduction in the standard of care available to patients if he continues to erode the income of GPs. In a strongly-worded letter, Kieran…
Hospital services cuts ‘will lead to further misery for patients’
GOVERNMENT policy of reducing services in some hospitals and centralising them in major centres will result in further misery for patients, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has warned. (Examiner) >>>
