Lack of out of hours emergency care service responsible for Dunne deaths?

In the wake of the death of an entire family, the HSE has been forced to answer for itself. The question on everybodies mind is ‘Would it have happened if an out-of-hours emergency care service existed?’

Pubic opinion STILL supports nurses

A survey published today said that nearly two thirds of Irish people support the nurses demand for higher pay and shorter working hours.

Irish medical prices third most expensive in EU

Irish pharmaceutical prices are the third highest in the EU and are 19% above the average.

Catch-up: Harney to reform private Health market. VHI very angry.

Minister for Health, Mary Harney, has promised to lower risk equalisation paid to VHI by other insurance providers in a bid to ‘level the playing field’.

Lack of out-of-hours emergency care service responsible for Dunne deaths?

In the wake of the death of an entire family, the HSE has been forced to answer for itself. The question on everybodies mind is ‘Would it have happened if an out-of-hours emergency care service existed?’.

Brief synopsis of what happened: Ciara and Adrian Dunne visited a funeral parler last week to discuss what they wanted done with their bodies and those of their daughters ‘should they be killed in a car accident’. The woman they were dealing with was worried by their specification of what was to be done with the little girls’ bodies and alerted the authorities who called the HSE. Unfortunately it was out-of-hours and so, nothing was done. A few days later the family showed up dead in their home. It is suspected that one or both of the parents killed their children and then themselves.

The gardai say that they were left with very few options. The only power they have in these situations is to immediately take the children into care. After deliberating about it, they thought this too harsh an action and decided to wait for the emergency care services to get back to work.

Unfortunately the Dunne family did not wait this long.

The argument is that, were there an out-of-hours service, it would have been of little use because a care worker had visited the family a few days before for a routine check-up on the girls and had noticed nothing wrong.

The HSE say another visit would have had the same effect and that they would have been unlikely to take the children away without solid evidence of abuse.

The biggest hole I can see, and also what the deceaseds families keep pointing out is that there was no effort made to contact either family.

In an incident like this, I think that the best kind of intervention would be from loved ones and that, in this case, that this may have made a difference.

Although I do agree that it is essential that some kind of out-of-hours service is provided, I don’t think that it would have helped in this case.

Pubic opinion STILL supports nurses

A survey published today said that nearly two thirds of Irish people support the nurses demand for higher pay and shorter working hours.

The survey, which was published by The Irish Times and TNS mrbi found that 58% of those polled were also in favour of the nurses using industrial action to acheive an end to their dispute.

Of the 65% that support the dispute, most were in the 24-34 age group. Also, a higer percentage of men than women were understanding of the nurses’ hardships.

People of all political views are standing behind the nurses although the Political Democrats are the party whose following has the smallest percentage in favour of the dispute at 41% compared to 71% of Labour’s supporters.

These figures come in the wake of a statement made by the HSE that nurses’ action is putting patients in danger.

Irish medical prices third most expensive in EU

Irish pharmaceutical prices are the third highest in the EU and are 19% above the average.

Only Germany and Denmark rank above the Republic in terms of price.

However, outside of the EU, prices are a lot higher- the Swiss pay 87% more than the Irish for example.

A survey carried out across the EU took 181 drugs into account and totted up the price paid both by citizens and the government for pharmaceuticals. For this reason, the figure reflects how much is charged by pharmaceuticals rather than how much the average person pays for them.

Catch-up: Harney to reform private Health market. VHI very angry.

Minister for Health, Mary Harney has promised to lower risk equalisation paid to VHI by other insurance providers in a bid to ‘level the playing field’.

Risk equalisation is a sum of money paid to VHI as compensation for the fact that it has an older client base more likely to require medical attention.

The Barrington report which was published last week said that these payments are making it impossible for other companies to compete with the semi-state body.

As a result, the Minister has decided to lower the risk equalisation by twenty per cent.

Surprisingly enough, VHI were not too happy with her decision. They say that they will now have to raise their prices to cover the money they will lose. They also claim that this move will mean that other companies get higher profits without having to improve their service or increase their efficiency, a move which will have negative effects on the service they provide.

Nurses today entered into their third day of talks. Discussions will continue over the weekend in the hope that the issue of pay and work conditions can be resolved soon (Probably before the weekend).
Parmaceutical Gifts to be monitored.

The definition of incompetence

The Mater hospital gave new definition to the word incompetence on Easter Sunday. `The mortuary team realised when they came to collect a body that the man was not, in fact dead.

Parmaceutical Gifts to be monitored.

An Oireachtas report has recommended that there be a register of all gifts received by doctors from pharmaceutical companies. The report said that they exerted an “unhealthy influence” over the medical staff.

Parmaceutical Gifts to be monitored.

An Oireachtas report has recommended that there be a register of all gifts received by doctors from pharmaceutical companies. The report said that they exerted an “unhealthy influence” over the medical staff.

This list would log any time a doctor was given anything involving long-distance travel or an overnight stay.

While the report acknowledged the importance of pharmaceuticals, it said that these gifts are contributing to the unhealthy reliance of doctors on drug treatments.

I think this is a great idea. A friend of mine’s dad got a trip to Bali from a pharmaceutical company because he did not like their drug and always perscribed a different one. I dont know if he changed his tune after his stay but surely these kind of gestures have a huge effect on medical staff (they are only human) and so, on our health. I think that it should be against the law for them to accept anything at all from a pharmaceutical. When Bertie did something like this he got a slating, so why should the doctors (who are considerabley more important than Bertie, lets be honest) be allowed??

The definition of Incompetence

The Mater hospital gave new definition to the word incompetence on Easter Sunday. `The mortuary team realised when they came to collect a body that the man was not, in fact dead.

By then the medical team had pronouncecd him dead and called his family to alert them of his loss. They were grieving when they got the call to say that he had not in fact, passed away.

The man has since left the hospital and the hospital are launcing an inquiry into the events surrounding the situation.

In Brief:

- An investigation into the running of Leas Cross Nursing Home has been set up by Mary Harney following a report on 105 deaths that happened there from 2002 to 2005. Leas Cross in in Swords, Dublin.

- We are not paying enough for nursing homes- the real cost of running a nursing home is €1,100 per week, per resident- thats € 400 more than we pay. Result: we are getting nursing homes like Leas Cross that do not live up to good international practice.

- Despite an increase in the numbers training to be pharmacists, there is expected to be a shortage of candidates for these jobs over the next five years. This is due in part to the new legislation being passed that will allow Austrailian and New Zeland pharmaceuticals to operate here. It is also due to the rise in the amount of people working part-time rather than full-time.

Nurses in talks

Nurses today called off strike action planned in over fifty locations around the country. The industrial action, which was meant to happen from 11 until 12 today and tommorrow was cancelled when the nurses entered into talks with the government.

Consultants to strike?

The IHCA have announced plans to ballot on industrial action. The Association which represents consultants, says that shhould the ongoing dispute about contracts not be resolved, they may take industrial action beginning the 21st of May.

 Nurses in talks

Nurses today called off strike action planned in over fifty locations around the country. The industrial action, which was meant to happen from 11 until 12 today and tommorrow was cancelled when the nurses entered into talks with the government.

Following a meeting of the National Implementation Body (NIB), senior government officials called for talks about the proposed changes to the working hours and pay of nurses.

Members of the INO, PNA, SIPTU and HSE employer’s agency entered into talks today at 3pm to discuss conditions. Although the work-to-rule action will continue until an agreement is reached, all involved parties seem to be happy about the progress that is being made.

 - Who knew? Maybe the nurses WILL get their money. Watch this space….

Consultants to strike?

The IHCA have announced plans to ballot on industrial action. The Association which represents consultants, says that shhould the ongoing dispute about contracts not be resolved, they may take industrial action beginning the 21st of May.

Action taken would include consultants not making themselves available for meetings with senior members of the HSE and not taking part in national or hospital committees.

They have however, agreed to the same clause as the IMO. They say that, should the HSE promise to hire new consultants on existing or agreed contracts, they too would asist in the interview process for the 68 new consultants to be hired.

However, Mary Harney is not willing to provide a gaurantee of this. She says that, although she now thinks that it will be possible t0 agree new contracts for consultants, this new decision by the IHCA is “counter-productive”.

 Whats the story- Harney must be going soft, shes so much mnore welcoming to negotiations than she was a few days ago- perhaps she remembered that there is an election going on. However, one weakness of the consultants is that. between the IHCA and the IMO, doctors cannot come up with one agreed position. They seem to be battling against each other as much as the HSE. How are we supposed to take them seriously? While the IMO seem to be losing steam (perhaps they have realised that their battle for a more ridiculous wage is a bit of a lost cause and have decided to settle for less), the IHCA seem to only be picking it up. I cant decide which i think is better- the IMO are silly to soften their poosition before even entering into talks, it give the HSE the upper hand immediately but the IHCA seem only to be angering the Minister…. Any comments from anyone??

Headlines

Nurses plan work stoppages in 50 facilities

According to The Irish Times, the INO and Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) have decided to step up their work-to-rule action by planning work stoppages in facitlities around the country that have not yet been hit.

“Parents who listen, Protect”

The HSE faced opposition this week for their new campaign “Parents who listen, Protect”.

Staffing to be a problem for new private hospitals

Finding staff for the new private hospitals to be built across the state will prove “almost impossible” a new chairman of a private Dublin hospital has warned.

Immunisation database would benefit the Irish hugely

An Irish GP said this week that an immunisation database is the next big step for the health sectin Ireland.

Nurses plan work stoppages in 50 facilities

According to The Irish Times, the INO and Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) have decided to step up their work-to-rule action by planning work stoppages in facitlities around the country that have not yet been hit.

The stoppages will probably take place next Wednesday and Friday and wil, again, last one hour. They are expected to hit the following institutions among others: – Dublin: the Mater and Tallaght hospitals – Letterkenny General Hospital – Galway University College hospital – Mayo General Hospital – Limerick Regional Hospital – Cork University Hospital – Waterford Regional Hospital – Wexford General Hospital – Tullamore General Hospital – St. Lukes, Kilkenny – Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda – Cavan General Hospital

Full details of the plan are expected to be announced at the PNA’s annual conference in Ballybofey, Co. Donegal this weekend.

Also occuring this weekend and of huge significance to the Irish health sector is the IMO’s Extrordinary General Meeting where a solid decision is expected to be made on what to do about new contracts.

Mary Harney intends on advertising the 50 new positions to consultants all over the world this week. Information of interviews and positions will be made available to Irish doctors who have travelled abroad to work. She sees this new move as a way of enticing professionals who were trained here, home. The doctors however, do not agree. (see more information on this)

“Parents who listen, Protect”

The HSE faced opposition this week for their new campaign “Parents who listen, Protect”.

The camapign, which features radio and television ads informing parents that the best way to protect your child is to listen to what they have to say, was met by The Mothers at Home group with anger.

They felt that the campaign was patonising and told parents how to raise their children.The HSE said that this was not their intention, that it was meant as a gentle reminder to parents about what was really important.

Over the next week households will receive a guide book with the same title.

For full details of this campaign, check out the HSE website

Staffing to be a problem for new private hospitals

Finding staff for the new private hospitals to be built across the state will prove “almost impossible” a new chairman of a private Dublin hospital has warned.

Niall O’Carrol, chairman of the Hermitage medical centre in Lucan says that they had huge problems recruiting for their new facility. He says that, consigdering the huge amount of staff to be hired, most of the doctors that do come forward will be subpar.

The government look set to sign a legally binding document with contractors soon despite calls from all opposition parties no tto. The opposition say that, were they to be elected, they would scrap the plans immediately.

The intention of the HSE is to free up 1,000 beds in the public sector that are being used by private patients. They have also promised to move patients to private facilities should they have to wait too long in the A&E. That said, they did not define how long “too long” was.

Immunisation database would benefit the Irish hugely

An Irish GP said this week that an immunisation database is the next big step for the health sectin Ireland.

She said that the main reason for bringing in this measure would be so that, when a family moved from one country or region to another, they would bring with them a full medical history.

As it stands, families that move often miss out on one or more vaccinations because their new GP is not aware which shots the child has, or has not had.

Although this measure would be hugely beneficial to immigrants who could bring their immunisation history with them., she said that it would be equally important to Irish people who merely moved area and so, GP.

For the full Irish Times story

Headlines

Doctors call €205,000 ‘Mickey Mouse’ money

Doctors have upped their opposition to the filling of 50 new positions before issues with their contracts are resolved.

Nurses Strike causes disruption to hospitals.

The nurses strike showed no signs of stopping or slowing down as one hour work stoppages continues today.

Fianna Fail TDs march against party and for nurses.

Two fianna fail TDs today marched with the nurses in Sligo yesterday.
Finbar Fitzpatrick is called to resign over Neary case

Doctors call €205,000 ‘Mickey Mouse’ money

Doctors have upped their opposition to the filling of 50 new positions before issues with their contracts are resolved.

Despite beliefs that the IMO were going to take a step back, both they and the IHCA have decided that the only way to better their contracts is to refuse to assist in the hiring of new doctors.

The IHCA will hold an Extrordinary General Meeting this Sunday and will urge their member to withdraw from any planning groups or committees they are on until the issue is resolved.

The IMO said that they would be willing to participate in interviews if they got a guarantee that contracts would be finalised before the new doctors began to work. Minister Harney rejected their conditions.

Dr. Joseph Keavney of Beaumont hospital was interviewed by the Irish Independent this morning. He said that the contracts would only attract sub-par doctors because more was being offered to shining stars by hospitals in the UK and Australia.

Other doctors claimed that they were not disputing the amount of money being offered but rather the ‘gagging clause’ that does not allow them to advocate on the behalf of their patients. The Health Service Employers Agency (HSEA) said that this clause was a myth.

Morning Ireland this morning explains….

The Irish Independent is pretty clear on where it stands on the doctors dispute. They did a comparison of salaries including the owner of Irish Ferries (€1 million), Dermot Griffin, Director of the National Lottery (€155,000) and Mary Harney who is earning €1,000 less. ‘Mickey Mouse’ money?! Have they no idea how little some people earn? One of the quotes in the Independent was ‘What kind of a house would €205,000 buy?’. My question would be what kind of a person expects one years salary to pay for a family home?! Thats what mortgages are for!!

Nurses Strike causes disruption to hospitals.

The nurses strike showed no signs of stopping or slowing down as one hour work stoppages continues today.

The difference this time however, was that hospitals are starting to show the strain now.

The following hospitals were shown to be struggling with the work-to-rule action: – Portlaoise General Hospital: four patients have had their surgery canceled for up to two weeks. – Ennis General Hospital: one patient had their surgery put back. – Waterford Regional hospital: contingency plan is underway. – St. Luke’s, Kilkenny – Wexford General Hospital – Sligo General Hospital

The INO says that a huge driving factor in the industrial action is the child-care anomoly. Last year, child-care workers had their pay increased by 20-27 per cent. This left them with a higher income than the staff nurses that oversaw them.

Mary Durkin, nursing president for SIPTU, said that she is confident that the industrial action will change all that. She believes that there will be a cut in the working week for nurses by one hour and an increase in pay by the end of the year. She hopes to build on this in coming years.

Mary Harney confessed last night however, that she saw no end to the dispute

I wouldn’t be so confident. I really doubt that the nurses will get any kind of a pay increase although they may possibly get a reduction in working hours. The government seem fairly set on this and Mary Harney is maintaining her nerves of steel. Pity.

Fianna Fail TDs march against party and for nurses.

Two fianna fail TDs today marched with the nurses in Sligo yesterday.

TD Jimmy Devins and Senator Eamon Scanlon defied F.F. yesterday when they marched with the nurses for a pay increase and reduction in working hours.

Take what you want from this, but these two TDs were in the region that the INO had targeted were they to decide to run in the upcoming elections.

Finbar Fitzpatrick is called to resign over Neary case

Prime Time did a report on the review of Michael Neary’s case in which he was cleared of charges against him for removing the wombs of women over twenty years without cause.

The show featured Mary Harney who condemned the incident and Sheila O’Connor of Patient Focus who called for Fitzpatrick’s resignation.

It was reported that when Neary was suspended, his IHCA representative pressured three men into clearing his name hastily and frivilously. Both men have since been suspended over the incident.

Watch the show…

Nurses dispute heightens further

Nurses have threatened more work stoppages tommorrow and on wednesday should their demands not be met.

Doctors to reconsider their position

It is thought that the IMO will reconsider their stance on the hiring of new cunsultatns today.

Nurses dispute heightens further

Nurses have threatened more work stoppages tommorrow and on wednesday should their demands not be met.

The hospitals most effected by this will be in dublin, Roscommon, Sligo and Leitrim.

The dispute is now on its 15th day and shows no signs of progress. The government have taken a firm stance in saying that the strikers are ‘damaging the reputation of their profession’.

Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen says that the dispute is unmeerited and unwelcome and that the government have no intention of meeting their demands.

According to Professor Brendan Drumm, chair of the HSE, in order to give the nurses a 35-hour working week, 4,000 new nurses would have to be hired at a cost of €200 million.

Instead, Prof. Drumms says that the HSE would be willing to negotiate shorter hours over a longer period and in a cost-neutral way.

Lim Doran of the INO said that this was not acceptable and that the nurses will continue to strike until their demands are met.

For RTEs Audio and Video Footage to date…

I hate when this kind of thing happens- stubbournness comes into play and soon no-one will be willing to talk to the other side and there will be complete mayhem in the health services. Nurses are far too important to be messed about like this and I really believe that their demands should be met. Instead of building more private facilities onto existing hospitals, the nurses should be paid. As it stands all the Irish nurses we train up to the highest standard are leaving for the US and Australia where they can get a decent wage- why spend so much money training them just to drive them out?!

Doctors to reconsider their position

It is thought that the IMO will reconsider their stance on the hiring of new cunsultatns today.

Until now the IMO have instructed all members not to co-operate witht he hiring of 50 new doctors until their contracts were agreed upon. It seems now however, that this position may soften after talks today.

Although the medics will still be in protest over the act by Minister Harney, they say that they are reluctant not to participate in the choosing of new staff as it is important that candidates be of the highest calibre.

Fintan Hourihan of the IMO said that they were still of the opinion that doctors should not assist in the interviews in any way.

The IHCA, however, seem less likely to change their minds. Speaking on Radio 1 Donal Duffy said “There’s not a hope of us signing up to a contract by Tuesday”.

Liam Doran (INO- not a happy camper!

Headlines

Work-to-Rule Dispute continues.

Nurses today stopped working from 11 am until 12 am. In Beaumount hospital alone, 26 outpatients scheduled for treatment were told to stay at home.

Doctors Dispute

The dispute between doctors and the HSE this week continued as Mary Harney announced that she would advertise new positions while the consultants were still negotiating their terms.

Hiccup in private hospital plans.

There has been a delay in the Health Service Executive’s plan to sign contracts with developers for the construction of private hospital facilities on eight existing public hospital sites.

Irish Nursing Homes still not up to scratch.

The new president of the Irish Medical Organisation, Dr. Paula Givarry has criticised the government for failing to establish more nursing home inspection teams.

Harney to consider helping people reproduce.

The Minister for Health, Mary Harney has said that she will look into providing some form of state funding for couples using IVF to conceive.

Professional misconduct among nurses.

Reports say that An Bord Altranais had to rule on 18 fitness-to-practice cases last year alone.

Work-to-Rule Dispute continues.

Nurses today stopped working from 11 am until 12 am. In Beaumount hospital alone, 26 outpatients scheduled for treatment were told to stay at home.

The step-up in industrial action comes on the twelfth day of the dispute and is due in part, to threats that the nurses will have their pay docked for the time they participated in work-to-rule actions.

Hospitals are starting to feel the strain of the dispute although most report to be functioning relatively well considering the circumstances.

However there are a few that have encountered difficulty. Waterford Regional Hospital is cancelling non-elective surgery every day and Beaumount Hospital will have to cancel several operations in the coming days.

Although it was reported during the week that both sides were willing to talk, there has been little evidence of any compromise reached

Views on the debate are shifting and it remains to be seen whether the nurses will carryout their threat to use their votes to hit back at the government in the upcoming elections.

Doctors Dispute

The dispute between doctors and the HSE this week continued as Mary Harney announced that she would advertise new positions while the consultants were still negotiating their terms.

The IMO Director of Industrial Relations, Fintan Hourihan condemned the move as “highly provocative” and instructed consultants not to take up the positions. He said that to do so, would be largely to the detriment of the negotiations and also their working conditions.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association had a similar response, saying that they would advise members to boycott the negotiation process if the Minister went ahead with her plan.

Mr. Hourihan expressed concerns Harney was using the situation for her own political gain and did not have the best interests of the consultants or the patients in mind.

Hiccup in private hospital plans.

There has been a delay in the Health Service Executive’s plan to sign contracts with developers for the construction of private hospital facilities on eight existing public hospital sites.

According to the HSE however, this is not really a problem and only occurred because the process by which they chose developers for the job is new and has encountered some minor hiccups.

They say that the extensions, which will provide the health service with an extra 1,000 beds will still go ahead.

The opposition however, are opposed to the idea of the government footing the bill for private hospitals and say that if in power in the next few weeks, they will put an end to the venture

Personal note- Why is the government paying for private hospitals?? Why not foot the bill for some public facilities instead? Clearly they’re more badly needed and would benefit a lot more people. Sometimes I think that they forget whose money they’re spending. The taxes of those reliant on the PUBLIC health system are going to help those in the PRIVATE health system?! What’ s that about

Irish Nursing Homes still not up to scratch.

The new president of the Irish Medical Organisation, Dr. Paula Givarry has criticised the government for failing to establish more nursing home inspection teams.

The HSE report last year placed huge stress on the importance of putting in place the proper measures to ensure that our elderly are better looked after.

However, it seems that nothing has been done in the last year and there is still only one full time inspection team in operation.

In response to the complaints, the HSE said that they were setting up dedicated groups to tackle the issue but that people had to be removed from their present jobs to do so. This, they claim, is slowing the process down.

Personal Note- It’s funny how we Irish get so hot-headed and driven when some kind of scandal is revealed. Like after that documentary was made about the state of nursing homes, it was in the news all the time and there was outrage but sure, this must have been an issue before and no-one said anything and it’s long since been forgotten. Publicly we want to improve our health system but laziness seems to be slowing us down a lot.

Harney to consider helping people reproduce.

The Minister for Health, Mary Harney has said that she will look into providing some form of state funding for couples using IVF to conceive.

The treatment costs about €4,000 and so, is beyond the reach of so many people.

However she was quite vague and made no promises merely stating that her department were going to investigate the costs and feasibility of the idea.

- <!–[endif]–>funny how issues that are ignored for so long manage to get aired around this time in the political calendar isn’t it?

Professional misconduct among nurses.

Reports say that An Bord Altranais had to rule on 18 fitness-to-practice cases last year alone.

The board suspended six nurses and struck them off the nurses register on the grounds that they had breached conduct. This is the highest figure they have dealt with yet.

Reasons for complaints included mistreatment of patients to inappropriate use of the internet to theft of drugs and forging prescriptions.

Nurses Strike

The Irish Independent today carried the story that the nurses are to hit the government where it hurts in the upcoming general elections.

Correction

Somebody PLEASE think of the children

The Irish Independent today carried the story that the nurses are to hit the government where it hurts in the upcoming general elections.

Tired of how little progress is being made on their work to rule, the INO is now calling on all nurses and their families (expected to be upwards of 100,000 voters) to vote against the current government.

The organisation plans on using the governments current instability over the state of the health services to effect a few key seats. Those being targeted include seats currently held by Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats.

These few votes could be crucial in what is becoming a closer race every day for Fianna Fail and Fianna Gael. Perhaps now the government may consider compromising with the nurses.

Correction

I said in yesterdays post that there was little chance of the consultants striking along with nurses. This however, seems to be the opposite of the truth. Papers today reported that, come Tuesday, should the government decide to fill vacancies without agreement on a new contract, that they too will take industrial action.

It really is going to be a tough ride. I sincerely hope that Bertie and his crew come to some kind of arrangement with the healthcare staff as, especially with this outbreak of the winter vomiting bug, we really cannot afford to lose them…. The government is FAR easier to replace!

Somebody PLEASE think of the children!

Update on baby John Joe

I was unable to find photographs of the baby who has become the nation’s symbol for our failing health system. Baby John Joe, who is playing host to a variety of viruses is now battling for his life in Crumlin Children’s Hospital, Dublin. His situation is worsening and the nine week-old is now being fed intravenously. Fingers crossed for both him and his family…

Update on the INO

The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) have promised that, should private hospitals fail to comply with their demands, they too will face work-to-rule conditions by nurses in the coming days.

Baby John Joe Update

Baby John Joe, the baby that has been in serious trouble due, according to his mother, to the failure of nurses to tell her about the results of his initial tests, has been moved to a specialist hospital due to his deterioration.

The Doctors want more too!

Hospital Consultants seem set to reject proposals set by the by the government for new working hours and salaries.

New Vaccine for Kids

A new booster shot is to offered to be children along with the two already in existence. This shot will protect against pneumococcal disease- a bacteria that causes meningitis and pneumonia and also against hepatitis B. This shot will be given at two months and a booster at twelve months. The shot will cost €70 per person and will be paid for by the HSE.

Update on the INO

The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) have promised that, should private hospitals fail to comply with their demands, they too will face work-to-rule conditions by nurses in the coming days.

Private hospitals have, until now, been exempt from the strike but were served with the same conditions as public hospitals and the INO is now waiting for their reply.

Many bodies are now stating that patient services are beginning to suffer as a result of the strike. John McCormack of the Irish Cancer Society said that patients were having trouble accessing their test results as the nurses were refusing to answer the phones. He claimed that “this incredibly vulnerable group of patients cannot wait for the results of tests and for information of their treatment plan”.

Although the nurses have, at the moment, huge support from the public, one would have to wonder how long this will continue for if patient services begin to suffer. How many people will support them when they personally begin to feel the effects of the work-to-rule?

Sheila O’Connor of Patient Focus is one person that is no longer emphasising with the nurses. “We also want to say to nurses that their main duty of care is to the patient rather than to unions and just because there is a dispute on, it does not alter the duty of care of an individual patient, nor does it alter the ethical standards under which they work”

One woman with diabetes called Liveline on Thursday 5th April to say that she did not receive her weekly blood test as the nurse would not print the label for the sample.

However, the Irish Times reported today that, according to the HSE, the winter vomiting bug is causing more disruption to hospitals than the work-to-rule. They say that, although some hospitals are under strain, none have had to cancel surgery.

It is likely that there is a hidden agenda here though as, with the upcoming election, it is quite possible that Minister Harney is doing some damage control in terms of her public image. Could this crisis ruin Fianna Fáil if it escalates?

Baby John Joe Update

Baby John Joe, the baby that has been in serious trouble due, according to his mother, to the failure of nurses to tell her about the results of his initial tests, has been moved to a specialist hospital due to his deterioration. While the Independent say that it is the case that the blame does in fact fall on the nurses, a letter in the Times from a nurse claims that it is never the duty of a nurse to interpret or deliver test results, that this duty in fact, falls on the doctor.

The Doctors want more too!

Hospital Consultants seem set to reject proposals set by the by the government for new working hours and salaries.

The proposals would raise the consultants working weeks from 33 hours to 39 hours a week and salaries from the €143,000 – €186,000 that it is now to €180,000 – €205,000 a year with a possible performance-related bonus of up to 20 per cent.

Wages would depend on many factors such as contract type, speciality and geographical location. Also whether the doctor works in a public or private hospital. Doctors with limited private practice rights in public and co-located private hospitals would be looking at wages ranging from €160,000 to €185,000 per annum.

Despite the rise in salary, medical bodies say that for many doctors, the changes would actually result in doctors being paid less per hour due to the increase in work load.

And so, it looks likely that the government will fail to reach the deadline of Tuesday week set by the government for the completion of the consultant contract talks. Despite this, Mary Harney is confident that an agreement will be reached and actions similar to that of the nurses do not seem to be on the cards.

My guess is that the government will bend over backwards to the consultants to see that there is not more aggravation called in this time when they are so vulnerable.

New Vaccine for Kids

A new booster shot is to be offered to children along with the two already in existence. This shot will protect against pneumococcal disease- a bacteria that causes meningitis and pneumonia and also against hepatitis B. This shot will be given at two months and a booster at twelve months. The shot will cost €70 per person and will be paid for by the HSE.

Minister for Health Mary Harney, says that the HSE will follow the recommendations of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).

Irish Times article

Nurses

The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) are now on their 4th day of striking. The work to rule action so far consists of refusal to answer non-essential telephone calls, carry out clerical, administrative or IT duties or to open or close local health centres. The nurses are demanding a 10.6 per cent increase in pay and a 35 hour working week and they say, should the government not respond within 7 days, they will be forced to take further industrial action

Other News

The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) are now on their 4th day of striking. The work to rule action so far consists of refusal to answer non-essential telephone calls, carry out clerical, administrative or IT duties or to open or close local health centres. The nurses are demanding a 10.6 per cent increase in pay and a 35 hour working week and they say, should the government not respond within 7 days, they will be forced to take further industrial action.

The public mind on this seems to be in favour of the nurses. Newspapers and radios have been flooded with letters and calls of support for the nurses. Even many within the inner echelons of our political circles are calling for the government to at least meet the nurses half way. John Gormely of the Green Party has appealled to the government to grant the nurses their 35 hour week before a full strike occurs.

There have been many concerns voiced over the posibility that the nurses may leave their workplaces and strike. Although Liam Doran, General Secretary of the INO says that “essential and emergency care will be provided” in the case of a strike, there are many that are not so sure.

The Government have hugely criticised the nurses for acting “irresponsibly” by giving htem only 49 hours to construct an emergency plan to replace what is one of the countries most important services. They are reluctant to fully meet the demands of the nurses as they feel that other areas of the health services will suffer if money is diverted from them into nurses’ salaries.

However, with only eight weeks to go until the general elections where the health service is one of the key issues, it is most likely that they will be keen to end any disruption on an issue that has so captured the attention of the Irish electorate.

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In other news

The Minister for Health Mary Harney has proposed that tracts of land should be specifically zoned by local authorities for healthcare-related facilities, particularly the provision of residential care centres. She says that this is to encourage health care facilities to be built in inner city areas and also in residential areas. As it stands, proper health care facilities, especially residential ones, are being built on the outskirts of the city due to cheaper land prices there and so, are not accessible for most of the citizens of Dublin.