Fergal Bowers

Health Correspondent

Mary Lou McDonald said the Government has not given information or assurance to parents, and she accused them of ducking and diving (File image)

McDonald says 'hip surgery scandal' goes back 15 years

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said there is now confirmation for the first time that the children's "hip surgery scandal" at two Children's Health Ireland (CHI) hospitals goes back 15 years and not just the two-year period currently under review.

Health • 13 May

The conference heard that having electronic health records would give patients the power to better manage their own health

Ireland 'lags behind' on electronic health records

Ireland is at least a decade away from having electronic health records for patients if the country waits for the current health service plan to be implemented, an international conference in Maynooth University has heard.

Health • 12 May

The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association said one in four new cancer treatments licensed since 2020 is currently available here in the public system

What is causing delayed access to new cancer medicines?

Few areas of healthcare are as sensitive as cancer treatment. Each year, around 44,000 cancer tumours are diagnosed here.

Analysis and Comment • 10 May

Nurses said that the issue of assaults is under reported (file pic)

Up to 12 nurses assaulted every day, says INMO President

Up to 12 nurses or midwives are being assaulted in the health system each day, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation's annual conference has heard.

Health • 08 May

Miriam Staunton was a cancer patient in the Irish public system

Patients will die waiting for cancer treatment - advocate

An advocate for cancer patients has said that patients will "die waiting" for cancer treatments in Ireland after a study showed Ireland has the lowest availability for new cancer medicines in Western Europe.

Ireland • 07 May

Bernard Gloster said the HSE is not waiting for the audit to make improvements across CHI sites (stock photo)

Two reports into children's surgeries expected soon

Two independent reports into children's surgeries are expected to be completed soon, it has been confirmed

Health • 27 Apr

The annual general meeting of the Irish Medical Organisation is being held in Killarney, Co Kerry

Health system not set up for weekend rostering - IMO told

Doctors are attending the annual general meeting of the Irish Medical Organisation in Killarney, Co Kerry, to discuss staffing, bed capacity and health funding.

Health • 26 Apr

The HSE said that the percentage of serious incidents with an outcome of death reported represents 0.6% of incidents and 'is not outside the international norm'

Over 109,000 adverse incidents reported in HSE last year

There were over 109,300 adverse incidents reported in the HSE last year with 497 listed as extreme, and 158 as major, according to new figures.

Health • 16 Apr

The Scoliosis Advocacy Network and Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group held a joint-press conference

Call for inquiry into spina bifida, scoliosis care at CHI

Campaign groups representing families of children who have undergone surgery and those on waiting lists have called for a full public inquiry into spina bifida and scoliosis care in Children's Health Ireland.

Health • 15 Apr

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is expected to discuss the Board's implementation of the HIQA report's recommendations

Minister meets CHI Board over surgeries controversy

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has said that at her meeting with the Board of Children's Health Ireland, she made clear that what HIQA's independent review highlighted was wrong and should not have been allowed to happen.

Health • 14 Apr