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A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The minister and the master of the Rotunda Hospital were at loggerheads after it emerged that consultants who had signed up to the public-only contract were conducting private practice in the Rotunda. Picture: Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie</p>

politics

It is 'unconscionable' to make private maternity patients feel 'guilty or privileged', committee to hear

master of the Rotunda Hospital Sean Daly will address the Oireachtas Health Committee on Wednesday

<p>In April, Hiqa warned that actions taken to reduce the risk from nursing or midwifery shortages were causing staffing challenges in other areas. Picture: iStock</p>

munster

Mothers and babies face 'unsafe' conditions at Limerick maternity hospital

<p>Uisce Éireann’s drinking water compliance manager reiterated the company’s advice that clear water is safe to drink. Picture: iStock </p>

munster

Uisce Éireann insists clear water is safe — despite HSE advice to the contrary

Ministers insist they back previous drugs decriminalisation recommendations

politics

Ministers insist they back previous drugs decriminalisation recommendations

Hospital security costs soar to €42m as violence concerns grow

news

Hospital security costs soar to €42m as violence concerns grow

Rotunda Hospital row

spotlight

ieExplains: Why is the health minister so critical of HSE South West?

Health insurance income reduction 'continues to be a challenge' for rehabilitation hospital

Health insurance income reduction 'continues to be a challenge' for rehabilitation hospital

Clontarf Hospital marked 150 years this week since its founder began caring for children with rickets and knock-knee at his home

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Minister questions why Mallow hospital beds and virtual wards remain underused

Minister questions why Mallow hospital beds and virtual wards remain underused

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill says vacant beds and underused services must help ease pressure on Cork's overcrowded hospitals

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

Drug dealer sells drugs for cash

Oireachtas committee calls for decriminalisation of drug possession

'Ireland must face its fear about drugs' vice-chair Mary Fitzpatrick told the committee

Thu, 25 Jun, 2026

Many colorful electronic cigarettes in the hands of a teenager. Vaping with nicotine. Danger for teenagers.

Vaping: New law will ban flavoured and colourfully-packaged vapes

The proposed ban on flavoured vapes — and curbing the colours used in packaging — has passed through the Dáil

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

NCPE chief under fire for his 'cost-effectiveness' comment on life-saving drugs

NCPE chief under fire for his 'cost-effectiveness' comment on life-saving drugs

Michael Barry made his comments after a review into the approval of new medicines was announced — in the wake of Craig Coady's plea for Friedreich’s ataxia drug

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

Lonely girl with Doll - Silhouette

Quarter of children with disabilities in State accommodation live over 50km from home

Figures also show that of the 71 children living more than 50km from their home, almost half are more than 100km from their communities

Wed, 24 Jun, 2026

Hispanic medical professional doctor nurse looking serious towards colleagues during surgery operation procedure in hospital

HSE figures show 13 men were fitted with bionic penises in Irish public hospitals last year

Devices can be manually inflated to simulate an erection, allowing a male patient suffering from impotence to regain sexual function

Tue, 23 Jun, 2026

medical technician taking mammogram exam to female patient. Mature woman undergoing breast screening or mammography

Irish researchers use AI to discover many women with breast cancer could avoid chemotherapy

Research team has identified markers in patients’ immune systems which could help doctors see which women are unlikely to benefit from chemotherapy

Tue, 23 Jun, 2026

Close-up of boy having teeth examined

Dental staff employed by HSE falls 4%, with 65 roles left vacant

Staff shortage comes as waiting lists and school-screening backlogs grow, Dáil told

Tue, 23 Jun, 2026

Pharmacist filling prescription in pharmacy

Pharmacists to be allowed issue contraception prescriptions

Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is seeking Cabinet approval today to progress legislation expanding pharmacists' prescribing permissions

Tue, 23 Jun, 2026

Close up shot of man and woman toasting and drinking red wine from glasses on dinner

Coalition 'ignoring' HSE calls to address fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

FASD, caused by exposure to alcohol in the womb, can lead to shorter life expectancy and higher rates of suicide and substance abuse

Mon, 22 Jun, 2026

Eight CUH doctors demand HSE action to mitigate 'risk of preventable paediatric deaths'

Eight CUH doctors demand HSE action to mitigate 'risk of preventable paediatric deaths'

Cork University Hospital clinical directors co-sign letter criticising issues including shortages in children’s care and outpatient plans

Sat, 20 Jun, 2026

Cork elective hospital, dogged by delays, won’t be 'shovel-ready' until 2030

Cork elective hospital, dogged by delays, won’t be 'shovel-ready' until 2030

Department of Health said hospital to be built in Glanmire on the St Stephen’s Hospital campus will now be 'up to shovel-ready status' by 2030

Wed, 17 Jun, 2026

Taoiseach Micheal Martin visit to Belfast

Frustration in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael as Martin and Harris set to back Sinn Féin abortion bill

The Dáil has debated Sinn Féin's bill which seeks to remove the three-day reflection period that a woman must wait between seeking an abortion and accessing the service

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

Developer offers to build public hospital for HSE in Limerick within seven years

Developer offers to build public hospital for HSE in Limerick within seven years

Health minister has not yet appointed a project board three months on from announcing site for new hospital in Limerick

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

Ireland records more than 18,900 STI cases as WHO targets remain out of reach

Ireland records more than 18,900 STI cases as WHO targets remain out of reach

Young adults remained heavily affected as health officials warned progress towards key disease-reduction goals is lagging

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

HSE mental health centres can't provide therapy to patients due to understaffing

HSE mental health centres can't provide therapy to patients due to understaffing

HSE data released in response to a parliamentary question shows that staff shortages mean extremely vulnerable people only get bed and medication and not the therapeutic care they need

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

woman measuring her weight on the scale

Dr Catherine Conlon: Obesity is declining in France, Italy and Portugal. Could Ireland be next?

Amid the many bad public health news stories, here's some good news: Ireland's Department of Health has signalled it is ready to challenge the global giants that promote unhealthy food

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

Endometriosis group that quit HSE taskforce launches billboards to call for 'urgent' change

Endometriosis group that quit HSE taskforce launches billboards to call for 'urgent' change

Her Voice Project co-founder Robyn Murray said they want more people to understand how devastating this disease can be

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Hiqa received more than 2,000 complaints about health and social care last year

Hiqa received more than 2,000 complaints about health and social care last year

As well as complaints about services in hospitals, nursing homes, and disability centres, there were 144 reports from healthcare staff about serious safety issues

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

OLD ELDERLY AGED PEOPLE PENSIONERS BEING CARED FOR USING CRUTCHES STRUCTURE

Hiqa finds Waterford care home delayed reporting of abuse allegations to relevant authorities

Hiqa found the centre non-compliant in areas of staffing, the administration of medicine, and notification of incidents

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

More than 10km of asbestos pipes in Cork City water system, says Uisce Éireann

More than 10km of asbestos pipes in Cork City water system, says Uisce Éireann

In 2020, it was reported that there were more than 5,100 kilometres of asbestos water pipes in Ireland. Of these, 22% were in Cork city and county, nearly double the amount in greater Dublin

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Inquest into death of Det. Supr. Colm Fox

State pathologist warns of crisis in autopsy services

Department of Justice relying on 'grace and favour' of hospitals for examinations of suspicious deaths, with 'limited' access due to staffing shortages

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

80% of Kerry community addiction treatment programme participants stayed abstinent from drink and drugs

80% of Kerry community addiction treatment programme participants stayed abstinent from drink and drugs

Based on the 47 people who stayed with ARG for the 12 months, the evaluation found that 79% (37 people) were abstinent from alcohol and drugs after the year

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Patients with rare diseases 'cannot wait' for another review into drug approval processes

Patients with rare diseases 'cannot wait' for another review into drug approval processes

Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill announced a review into how new medicines are approved here last week

Sun, 14 Jun, 2026

Elaine Loughlin: Can Jennifer Carroll MacNeill deliver Sláintecare despite resistance from healthcare leaders?

Elaine Loughlin: Can Jennifer Carroll MacNeill deliver Sláintecare despite resistance from healthcare leaders?

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill’s tough approach to healthcare reform is winning battles with hospitals and consultants, but can she deliver Sláintecare?

Sat, 13 Jun, 2026

Perfusionists pause strike action after HSE agrees to discuss pay dispute

Perfusionists pause strike action after HSE agrees to discuss pay dispute

Industrial action affecting specialist cardiac surgery staff has been paused pending discussions during public service pay talks

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

The Mick Clifford Podcast: How soon are we likely to have a single-tier health service in Ireland?

The Mick Clifford Podcast: How soon are we likely to have a single-tier health service in Ireland?

Irish Examiner Health Correspondent Niamh Griffin is Mick's guest on this week's podcast

Listen | Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Families urge HSE to make life-changing drug Givinostat available as soon as possible

Families urge HSE to make life-changing drug Givinostat available as soon as possible

Parents warned the longer it takes for Givinostat to be made available, the higher the chance patients will become ineligible

Thu, 11 Jun, 2026

A male senior doctor consults with a female senior patient in a bright, modern office setting. The focus is on a stethoscope and

Public-only hospital contracts: HSE audit says rollout risked failure due to lack of oversight

The lack of coherent oversight of the phasing out of private consultancy care in public hospitals 'increases the risk of failure' of the new public-only contract system

Thu, 11 Jun, 2026

Mounjaro price increase

Weight-loss drug users save hundreds on food as uptake triples

British households using drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic are spending £418 (€485) less on food per year on average – survey

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026

Mary Horgan reappointed as interim chief medical officer after 'unsuccessful' recruitment drive

Mary Horgan reappointed as interim chief medical officer after 'unsuccessful' recruitment drive

She will hold the position of CMO on a temporary basis for a total of four years

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026

Rotunda Hospital row

Rotunda master says private maternity care row raises issues that must be explored

Professor Sean Daly says patient safety drove the board’s decision as wider staffing concerns remain unresolved

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026

Heart operations to be cancelled tomorrow due to strike over pay

Heart operations to be cancelled tomorrow due to strike over pay

Cardiac surgeries at Cork University Hospital, the Mater Hospital, St James’s Hospital, Children’s Health Ireland, and Galway University Hospital are to be impacted

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026

Niamh Griffin: Rotunda row is over but women are left asking — where is our maternity strategy?

Niamh Griffin: Rotunda row is over but women are left asking — where is our maternity strategy?

In the wake of a controversy sometimes framed in terms of choice, a maternity advocate said: 'We need to talk about the choices that we don’t have'

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026

Taoiseach tells Cork dad who lost one son that discussions on life-changing drug for his other son will be brought forward

Taoiseach tells Cork dad who lost one son that discussions on life-changing drug for his other son will be brought forward

'Emotional' Micheál Martin told Craig Coady he would 'do everything I can to get the Skyclarys drug to your son and to 200 other patients'

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026

Minister extends Rotunda deadline for data on private work by public-only consultants

Minister extends Rotunda deadline for data on private work by public-only consultants

'I expect to hear from them today. I have not heard from them yet,' health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said at Mallow General Hospital in Cork

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026

Health experts warn against use of 'potentially fatal' baby sleep pillows

Health experts warn against use of 'potentially fatal' baby sleep pillows

According to the HSE babies can suffocate if their nose and mouth become covered by soft objects such as pillows or blankets

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026

'My little boy’s life is in the hands of the HSE': Mother makes plea for drug to be approved

'My little boy’s life is in the hands of the HSE': Mother makes plea for drug to be approved

Hopes HSE group will sanction costs of drug that could slow progress of life-changing condition for Archie, 9

Sun, 07 Jun, 2026

Taoiseach Micheal Martin visit to Vatican City

Taoiseach: Ireland is 'not going backwards' to private model of maternity care

Micheál Martin said contracts signed by consultants and maternity hospitals to provide public-only care 'have to be honoured'

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

Letters to the Editor: Medical specialists back TD's call for generational ban on tobacco

Letters to the Editor: Medical specialists back TD's call for generational ban on tobacco

Cork North Central TD Colm Burke called on the health minister and the HSE to 'get serious' about smoking. Now, 14 public health medicine specialist registrars explain why he's right

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

Rotunda board seeks meeting with minister over maternity care row

Rotunda board seeks meeting with minister over maternity care row

Hospital wants to meet Jennifer Carroll MacNeill after

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

Administrator looking at medical record

Patients forced to wait months or even years for medical records, despite legal right to access

Legally, authorities are supposed to provide records within one month. In practice it can be a year or more

Thu, 04 Jun, 2026

Irish Cabinet meeting

Public servants must honour contracts amid maternity care row, says Simon Harris

Over 68% of consultants have signed up to a public-only contract, latest HSE figures show

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026