Rural Independent TDs have called for the Government to cancel plans to build a new national children’s hospital in Dublin city centre, warning the location will fail to help children and teenagers in genuine need.

Private hospitals in Cork, Kilkenny, and Mullingar have been asked to support public hospitals as part of the latest Health Department and HSE efforts to tackle overcrowding at Ireland’s emergency departments.

Building the National Children’s Hospital in Dublin’s inner city is nonsensical. Connolly is a much better fit and the Government must admit it was wrong, writes Fin Breatnach

A family touched by tragedy hopes to help get Ireland’s first doctor-led air ambulance service in the air.

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WITH the Belfast consultant who carried out the independent clinical review into cardiac care at University Hospital Waterford resolutely defending his findings, it has to be said that he is making a lot of sense.

A mother who miraculously survived after being burned in a barbecue accident has raised over €200,000 for the National Burns Unit, where she received life-saving treatment.

Ovarian cancer is the disease that whispers, so people should listen carefully, advises Juliette Casey whose daughter, Emer, died ten years ago from the disease.

A Dublin firm leads mobile revolution in healthcare appointment management, writes Trish Dromey.

In what has been described as a “transformative” breakthrough, a group of patients suffering from advanced liver disease as a result of hepatitis C have been cleared of the virus.

Visiting restrictions remain in place at three large hospitals today as efforts continue to contain the latest surge in influenza cases.

Dhara Kivlehan was given a photograph of her newborn baby Dior just before she was transferred from Sligo Regional Hospital to Belfast four days before her death, an inquest heard yesterday.

Leo Varadkar, the health minister, has rejected claims that concerns over the new children’s hospital site are being "swept under the carpet".

Kilkenny, who play Offaly in the Leinster SHC at Nowlan Park tomorrow (7pm), have made three changes from the league final win over Tipperary.

Approximately half of all Allianz League games in hurling and football operate at a loss, it has been revealed.

Ever wondered what became of all those bright young minds who collected the Young Scientist title over the years? Well wonder no more.

Cork GAA chairman Bob Ryan reiterated his opposition to proposals to change the way 20m frees are taken in hurling and questioned the timing of such a move.

The HSE will claw back funds from any hospital or health agency which continues to flout a ban on top-up payments to senior officials.

Nurses have urged Health Minister James Reilly not to force through yet more budget cutbacks, warning the policy “is threatening patient safety and creating unacceptable delays in cancer treatment”.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has insisted patient safety is the Government’s absolute priority as it continues to slash costs across the health service.

The CEOs of four of the country’s biggest hospitals have written to the HSE warning that years of health cuts have created “unacceptable delays” in accessing cancer treatment and are threatening the quality and safety of patient care.

HSE director general Tony O’Brien has claimed it will take until the summer to teach all doctors and nurses basic hand hygiene standards after yet another hospital dirt scandal.

Delayed discharges are costing the health service over €500,000 a night.

Avondhu 6-15 Carbery 0-13

The Taoiseach revealed he has received “letters written in blood” over his Government’s legislation allowing abortion in limited circumstances, which was published last night.

Almost half of Jimmy Savile’s victims in his home county – including three people who were just five at the time – were abused in hospitals, according to newly released figures.

Campaigners in Waterford are optimistic that no services will be cut at Waterford Regional Hospital if the Higgins report into hospital reconfiguration is adopted by the Cabinet in two weeks time.

The number of cancelled hospital operations and procedures has almost halved since Health Minister James Reilly’s appointment — but still stands at 13 a day.

The HSE has refused to explain how much of its hospital food budget is spent on “overheads”, such as staff, storage and electricity — and, as such, what remains for patient meal ingredients — unless a significant fee is paid.

A teenager has been shot in Dublin this afternoon.

Parent representatives have reacted with a mixture of anger and relief to news that a national children’s hospital site has been chosen after almost two decades of delays.

Some 19 years after a national children’s hospital was first mooted, and three years after the first deadline to build it was missed, St James’s has become the project’s site.

The chief losers in the bid to build a new children’s hospital are extremely disappointed their site was overlooked in favour of a campus that does not have all the advantages the losing Mater site had to offer.

The government has announced that it is to develop the new children's hospital on the campus of St James's Hospital in Dublin.

The national children’s hospital will be delayed beyond 2016 — and now legal uncertainty surrounds the charity established to raise millions for the project.

St James’s Hospital is set to win the long-running race to be named the new National Children’s Hospital site.

Cancer survival in Ireland could improve by up to 10% with well-organised cancer control systems, according to the head of the National Cancer Control Programme.

Hospitals are spending as little as €2 on meals for patients — half the price of a McDonald’s Happy Meal and a rate doctors and nutritionists claim risks failing those most in need.