ALL patients’ hospital medical records are to be standardised next year to ensure vital information is not missed, the Health Service Executive (HSE) announced yesterday.

AN intensive campaign by the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) has been blamed for pushing the country’s cervical screening programme to a point where the Health Service Executive had to send tens of thousands of tests to the United States to be analysed.

PARENTS called for greater openness about superbugs in maternity hospitals as Minister for Health Mary Harney admitted full details about infection rates would not be available any time soon.

The Health Services Executive must resolve the problems with the troubled Monaghan General Hospital, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today.

NURSES claim a threat to withhold a pay increase due next month is linked to their accident and emergency protests despite health service managers’ denials.

AN offer by Ben Dunne and several businessmen to buy portakabins and equipment for overcrowded A&Es has been turned down by the Health Service Executive (HSE) on health and safety grounds.

FORMER Health Minister Micheál Martin is to be called before the Oireachtas Committee on Health next month to discuss the Travers Report.

A SENIOR official from the Health Service Executive has endorsed the call for radiotherapy facilities to be made available to public patients at Waterford Regional Hospital.