MORE than eight months after an elderly woman suffocated while strapped to a chair in a north Cork nursing home, two suspended nurses have still not been interviewed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) over the incident and the HSE has not completed its investigation.

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) has still not completed its investigation into the circumstances behind a 65-year-old woman’s death, almost seven months after she died from asphyxiation while strapped to a chair in a care home.

NO criminal charges are likely to be brought following the death of a woman strapped to a chair at a Cork nursing home last year.

A SENIOR consultant, who turned down the post of chief executive of the Health Service Executive (HSE), is believed to be back in talks about taking up the position.

ALCOHOL abuse is leading to the sharp rise in sexually transmitted infections (STI), which are now at their highest-ever recorded level, Health Minister Mary Harney said yesterday.

Almost 100 people are now infected with mumps in three different outbreaks across the country, more than three times the amount at this time last year.

DRUGS Minister Noel Ahern caused a bit of stir when he suggested that prison authorities should provide clean needles for drug addicts in prison.

THE epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among teenagers will continue to rage unless treatment services are expanded and properly resourced, doctors have warned.

I WISH to reply to Audrey Dillon’s criticism (Irish Examiner letters, January 7) of my letter published on new year’s day in response to Rónán Mullen’s column on the young teenage mother sent to Britain for an abortion by the Midlands Health Board.

By Ronan Mullen I WOULD have liked to write about Saddam Hussein this week, and how his capture might offer a new prospect of stability in Iraq. But I have something more serious to write about, something deeply troubling.

THE State is paying over €22 million each year to keep less than 100 children in health board high support and special care units.

A HEALTH BOARD is understood to have sought approval from a district court that would allow a teenager who became pregnant in its care to travel to Britain for an abortion.

EIGHT prominent health board members, who are publicans, have criticised the Government’s smoking ban and called for a compromise deal.

PSYCHIATRIC nurses are burnt out, suffering from low morale and need more training to keep up with changes in the system, a study has found.

Fine Gael has accused Health Minister Micheal Martin of poor financial planning on foot of a document released under the Freedom of Information Act.

A LITANY of ward closures, A&E overcrowding problems and appalling services for the elderly have been outlined by angry delegates attending the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) annual conference in Galway.

A MAN who was admitted to a midlands hospital with suspected Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is not suffering from the virus.

HEALTH board bosses will shortly appear before the public finance watchdog to explain the €20 million medical card system blunder.

LESS than one-third of children and 36% of adults eligible for the National Treatment Purchase Fund have been treated.

THE Department of Justice is to meet local authority members in Longford following claims the town is a dumping ground for refugees.

THE full scale of the scandal surrounding doctors who claimed millions of euro to provide medical cover for deceased patients was exposed yesterday.

CASH-STRAPPED health boards which are struggling to make ends meet will not be getting additional funds in the new year.

AS eighty ambulance staff in the midlands gear up to withdraw from on-call service on Monday, concern is growing about the demands being made on emergency personnel in the south east.

Nursing staff at Portlaoise General Hospital's A&E department have confirmed that they will begin a work to rule at 9am tomorrow morning.

MORE than one in four Irish women never check their breasts for symptoms of breast cancer, the Irish Cancer Society has warned.

MORE than half of mentally-ill patients receive no diagnosis and are ignorant of the side-effects of medication, according to a survey.

Up to 600 jobs are set to go in health boards across the country. The news comes in the wake of today’s confirmation by the Western Health Board, that 200 positions are to go in their area.

Neans McSweeney

THE strike by junior doctors escalated yesterday after they refused re-enter labour relations talks until their old rostering agreements are put back in place.