Interview

Consultant Haematologist Prof James O’Donnell speaks with Pat Kelly about new breakthrough research, which could identify those patients at highest risk of severe complications from Covid-19 and open the door for personalised treatment New research led by the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Science, in collaboration with a number of other centres, has the…

Dr Padraig McGarry’s time as IMO President has been unusually long and has taken place during extraordinary times. He talks with David Lynch about the challenges posed by Covid-19 and the pressing issues facing the medical profession Longford GP Dr Padraig McGarry is not meant to still be the President of the IMO. One of…

Public health doctors have borne tremendous strain during the current pandemic. The breakdown in talks over promised reforms and the Government’s failure to grant consultant status have resulted in planned strike action for January. Niamh Cahill speaks to Chair of the IMO’s public health committee Dr Ina Kelly about the issues involved On 31 December,…

Dr Sarah O’Beirne, Consultant Respiratory Physician at St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, speaks to Niamh Cahill about how the sudden shifts in respiratory services caused by Covid-19 could have a lasting impact One of the most significant outcomes of the pandemic to date has been immense change in our healthcare services. As the virus spread…

Ahead of World Thrombosis Day, Consultant Haematologist Dr Barry Kevane spoke with Pat Kelly about the need to identify patients at risk of thrombosis and how those with Covid-19 are at increased risk of the condition Thrombosis is the third-largest cause of mortality worldwide and experts in the field have long been calling for increased…

Mr Kevin O’Boyle, Senior Medical Scientist and Chairperson of the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association (MLSA), speaks to Niamh Cahill about the many challenges facing the profession Hospitals and their patients rely on hospital laboratory staff to provide clinical results round the clock. Lives depend on it. The existence of a significant recruitment and retention issue…

Irish emergency departments are facing into a particularly demanding winter due to Covid-19. David Lynch speaks to Consultant in Emergency Medicine Dr Fergal Hickey about the lack of capacity within the acute sector and the difficulties that lie ahead Emergency departments (EDs) have been “hammered during previous winters and we are going to be hammered…

HIQA recently published an overview report on its monitoring of activity in public acute hospitals in Ireland between 2015 and 2019. The Authority’s Head of Healthcare Mr Sean Egan spoke with Pat Kelly about the positive and negative aspects of the report’s findings Overview Report of Five Years of HIQA Monitoring in Irish Public Acute…

There is a concern that patients with diabetes are presenting to hospital later because of the current pandemic. Paul Mulholland speaks to Clinical Lead, National Clinical Programme for Diabetes, Prof Sean Dinneen about the challenges of providing care during the current crisis The Covid-19 pandemic has had significant ramifications for patients with chronic conditions, such…

Prevalence of lung disease in Ireland was already high prior to Covid-19. David Lynch speaks to the Irish Thoracic Society President Dr Aidan O’Brien about the major impact the pandemic is having on respiratory care The impact of Covid-19 on people with lung disease is “the perfect storm, really”, according to Dr Aidan O’Brien, Consultant…