Women to face curbs on private maternity care access from next week
Insurers told there no further extension of transitional period for consultants who signed Sláintecare contract
Department of Health
News, analysis, and features about the Department of Health
‘Acute shortage’ of care workers amid ageing demographics, official analysis finds
Even replacing existing workers a challenge with a quarter of workforce over 55 years of age
Flu: More than 1,000 people expected in hospital with peak projected for Christmas week
‘Unprecedented’ demand on emergency departments this season with 17 influenza deaths reported to date
The Irish Times view on blister packs: careful prescription required
A balance between patient care and the management of public funds is required
More hospital beds to be provided in midwest to tackle overcrowding, says Minister
Acute bed capacity at University Hospital Limerick‘s Dooradoyle site to be expanded and second site to be developed nearby
‘I was finally given a diagnosis at 42 for decades of mysterious and relentless pain I had’
Endometriosis is one of the most painful diseases going, and the hurt it can cause is unimaginable
New rules around medication dispensing delayed after political backlash
Some patients were facing charges of €20-€50 in the new year for getting ‘blister packs’ from their pharmacies, Dáil told
Age classifications on websites and apps could be introduced under online safety reform plans
Online safety taskforce was set up in recognition of social media’s harm to children’s physical and mental health
Couple who had termination after wrongful advice highlight ‘years of extraordinary pain’
Rebecca Price and Pat Kiely were advised to terminate their healthy baby after receiving a misdiagnosis
Thalidomide: A shock finding in the Irish State archives
Department of Health papers refer to concentration camp scientist who helped develop German drug linked to birth defects worldwide
Level Health’s Jim Dowdall: ‘There is unfinished business in the health insurance market’
The company’s chief executive talks about having another shot at stirring competition in the area
Government announces scoping inquiry into abuse by former surgeon Michael Shine
Victims of convicted sex offender hopeful excercise will lead to more formal inquiry
Health sectors seek work-permit changes to allow more non-European staff
Department of Enterprise looking at rule governing work permits following concerns raised by nursing home sector
Second hospital chief executive salary breaches public pay scale
The Department of Public Expenditure asked the HSE to examine salaries of voluntary hospitals after issue emerged in Limerick
Ministers seek more than €2bn to cover costs in excess of this year’s budget
Gardaí require extra €20m for public order overtime, immigration activity and deportations
Our psychology services are overwhelmed. It doesn’t have to be like this
Primary care psychology is a reservoir of human suffering and missed opportunities
Laughing gas worth €8.6m seized by Revenue since 2020 as recreational use rises
Youth workers told Department of Health that children as young as 10 are experimenting with nitrous oxide
Hospitals’ wait-time performance ‘a concern’ says Minister as flu pressure mounts
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill urges public to get vaccinated amid rise in influenza cases
Harvey Morrison Sherratt’s mother says report alleging mistaken palliative label is ‘huge shock’
Harvey Morrison Sheratt (9), who died in July, waited years for spinal surgery
Ban on nicotine pouches under consideration amid use by youngsters
Schools and teachers note use of products among children
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has taken on the hospital boards. There can only be one winner
Attempts of Minister for Health to impose some sort of discipline on State’s voluntary hospitals is a battle about who should be in control
Almost €150m spent on preparations for new National Maternity Hospital
Design team fees for the project now exceed €36m, Dáil Public Accounts Committee told
HSE to be required to take on clinical placement students in plans to combat under-resourced areas
‘We may have a fight on our hands,’ HSE boss Bernard Gloster says as number of speciality staff increases ‘exponentially’
Concerns raised about ability to reduce spinal waiting lists due to increasing demand
Recent taskforce meeting spoke about ‘no improvement from the start of the year’
‘We expect nothing other than full compliance’: Inside the row over a hospital boss’s pay
Accusations of ‘unreasonable and unwarranted conduct’ – and risk to patients – amid pay scale dispute
Pharmacies must display clear information about cost of services from December
New guidance comes following lengthy negotiations between department and sector earlier this year over HRT provision
Tackle nitrous oxide use among children and young people, report recommends
Legally available drug can cause neurological damage and frostbite burns
Stephen Donnelly swoops to the rescue of UK healthcare citing his triumphs in Ireland
Plus: man with great flat aghast at 'Lilliputian' flats and a failed tax rebellion to keep an eye on
At least 1,000 new GPs required to maintain patient ratios, says representative group
Care of ageing population the greatest challenge facing the health service in next five years, says ICGP
Health Minister not ruling out extra hospital to solve HSE Mid West overcrowding
State’s health watchdog recommends three options for improving patient safety in the region
Why are women still treated as a statistical anomaly in health research?
I remember a doctor discussing the “challenging” recovery that follows a Caesarean, as though launching a human skull through the birth canal was mere lady stuff
Health service to get record €27.4bn for extra beds and 3,300 more staff
Chambers says there will be 220 additional acute beds but greater focus on productivity in health sector next year
Budget 2026: Tax cuts for developers of cost-rental apartments considered
Budget 2026: Measures geared towards boosting construction, but talks on childcare package go down to wire
Basic income support scheme for artists to be made permanent and opened to new entrants in budget
Negotiations down to the wire, with five big-spending departments yet to agree their budget allocations
Third-level student fees ‘to be cut by €500 permanently in Budget’
Another €12 weekly rise in core welfare payments in doubt as talks go down to wire
‘My children would be alive if I knew about my wife’s illness’
Bereaved call for changes to mental health patient confidentiality following killings
Almost 75% of Ireland’s radiation machines need to be replaced, group finds
Concerns about ‘substandard care’ as breakdown of older equipment interrupts treatment
The drivers of obesity that also come with climate impacts
Thinking in a Climate Emergency: ultraprocessed foods are a leading cause of rising rates of obesity
Children’s Health Ireland to be folded into HSE
Move follows months of controversy, notably relating to orthopaedic and spinal services
Jordan chosen as route to evacuate sick Gaza children to Ireland in ‘imminent’ operation
It is understood around 11 children have been identified for an upcoming third evacuation mission
Income thresholds for student grants could rise to €150,000 per household
Government considering proposal to reduce VAT rate on new apartments
How a car crash in Dublin 4 drove public-sector CEO salaries higher
Resignation of EirGrid chief has had downstream consequences for Government over top-level pay
Minister for Health briefed on Drogheda hospital concern weeks before patients
Patients advised of file reviews 11 weeks after HSE raised it with department, Labour’s Ged Nash says
State paid over €400m to private emergency accommodation providers in three months
McEnaney Group was paid €19 million for providing accommodation to refugees and homeless
New financial safeguards planned for national maternity hospital project
Government seeks to implement lessons learned from national children’s hospital construction
Minister for Health will not attend hospital consultants’ annual conference
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill’s meeting in March with the senior clinicians’ association was described as ‘tense’
Dr Pat O’Mahony obituary: Vet who played key role in rebuilding Ireland’s reputation as a safe food producer
Colleagues described him as an inspirational and visionary leader with a strong intellect
Pharmacy sector to receive additional €75m under new agreement with State
Pharmacists will be able to prescribe medication for a number of common conditions under agreement
Why is there an inquiry into the use of epilepsy drug sodium valproate?
Inquiry relates to historical licensing and use of drug for women of childbearing age
Doubts grow that planned State elective hospitals will be built before 2030s
Minister did not secure sufficient funding to pay for all key health projects, says Sinn Féin
Medicine pricing agreement coming to end with no talks yet sanctioned on successor deal
Pharmaceutical companies say they have little interest in any new agreement unless it can guarantee faster access for new drugs
Tributes paid as chairman of Hiqa board dies
Prof Pat O’Mahony had served on a number of public and private sector boards
More than 1,000 patient cases examined as part of review at Drogheda hospital
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital is taking a look back at all histopathology slides seen by one consultant
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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