Posts by Catherine Reilly

The IMO has made its position “very clear” to the Department of Health that all international doctors holding stamp 4 residency should be deemed equivalent to EU nationals when applying for training. Ahead of an IMO webinar on international doctors’ issues on Tuesday 3 August at 7pm, Industrial Relations Officer Mr Paul Maier said the…

The IMO has said it is “incredibly frustrated” by the late restoration of overtime payments to healthcare workers from July, which means they will now receive some payments in arrears. On 1 July 2021, overtime and rates impacted by the Haddington Road Agreement were due to revert to prior arrangements under the new public service…

The Medical Council has extended a public consultation as part of a review of the Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners for a further two weeks until 18 August 2021 “due to high interest”. The Guide provides guidance to doctors on matters related to professional conduct and ethics, including prescribing, responsibilities…

HIQA has published a health technology assessment (HTA) recommending the introduction of once-off testing for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) to people in Ireland born between 1965 and 1985. The Authority has advised the Minister for Health that implementation of a birth cohort testing programme would be cost-effective and help Ireland achieve its HCV elimination…

The IHCA has warned that the ongoing shortage of hospital consultants across a large number of specialties in the South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG) is restricting patients from accessing timely medical and surgical care and is contributing massively to growing waiting lists. Hospitals in the south of the country have seen their outpatient waiting lists…

In October 2020, a national study called the PRECISE study was launched to look at the prevalence of  Covid-19 antibodies in healthcare workers (HCWs) in two hospitals – University Hospital Galway (UHG) and St James’s Hospital (SJH) Dublin. All staff currently working in these two hospitals were invited to have a blood test to determine…

Families harmed by anti-epileptic drug sodium valproate (Epilim) – which can cause birth defects and developmental disorders in children when taken in pregnancy – say it is “extremely frustrating” Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has released no further information on an inquiry he announced in November 2020. In his announcement on 24 November, Minister Donnelly…

HIQA has today published a report on new standard levels of ionising radiation for x-ray procedures. The study found the typical level of ionising radiation received by patients in procedures such as x-rays has reduced in Ireland over the past 10 years. Following a survey of service providers, HIQA has updated national diagnostic reference levels…

Irish pharmacies have reached the milestone of administering 100,000 Covid-19 vaccines, the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) has confirmed. Pharmacies began administering vaccines in mid-June and have experienced huge demand from those aged 18-34, a process which commenced on 5 July. Welcoming the news IPU, Secretary General Mr Darragh O’Loughlin said: “Since the approval of the…

The IMO has said the “annual publication” of figures for payments made to GPs was a “misleading exercise” based on incomplete data and an “ignorance” of the substantial costs incurred by the relevant GPs in running their practices. Chair of the GP committee Dr Denis McCauley said that the figures provided by the HSE implied…