The Minister for Health & Children, Mary Harney, and the CEO of the HSE, Professor Brendan Drumm, have launched the National Strategy for Service User Involvement in the Irish Health Service. Consisting of seven goals, the Strategy will build on current good practice in involving service users (i.e. patients, their families, voluntary and community organisations) … Continued

Mary Harney has been retained as Health Minister in Brian Cowen’s new cabinet, announced on the evening of Wednesday 7 May. Having held the position since September 2004, it is expected that Mary Harney will remain as Health Minister for at least another year in order to oversee the Government’s reform programme for the health … Continued

Following an Assembly debate on the shortage of NHS dentists in Northern Ireland, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey announced that private dentists are to be invited to tender for a large-scale contract to provide dental services to NHS patients. Mr McGimpsey said the idea had worked elsewhere, stating: ‘Everyone in Northern Ireland should be able to … Continued

Despite the ban on smoking in public places, the National Health and Lifestyle Survey (SLÁN) reports that there has been an increase in the number of smokers between 2002 and 2007. In 1998, rates were at 33%, decreasing to 27% in 2002 but then increasing to 29% by 2007. Professor Hannah McGee of the Royal … Continued

Almost 30,000 healthcare workers, who are members of the Impact trade union, have voted to take industrial action over the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) recruitment freeze and its impact on services. The employees voted by 85% to 15% to sanction industrial action, which will involve a refusal to co-operate with HSE advisors or the Executive’s … Continued

One third of all adult dental injuries are sports-related, the Irish Dental Association has reported. Dentists are warning people that oral injury can occur while playing basketball and volleyball and is not exclusive to those engaging in full contact sports such as rugby and Gaelic games. Women who play hockey are the most likely to … Continued

A review of the milk supply chain in Ireland has revealed that young women and teenage girls should increase their consumption of milk to improve their calcium intake. Martin Higgins, chief executive of safefood, which undertook the review, commented: ‘It is clear from this review that while nine out of 10 people on the island … Continued