Doctors and nurses are failing to recognise the deteriorating condition of patients in many cases because of the limited application of a pioneering early-warning system used in Irish hospitals, a HSE audit has found.

Anti-anxiety drugs are far more widely prescribed in parts of Cork’s inner city and some of its satellite towns than in West Cork, according to a new report on the quality and safety of healthcare.

Up to 478 patients are on trolleys in hospitals across the country today.

All publicly funded hospitals will be expected to provide legal health services, including women’s health services, says Health Minister Simon Harris.

There are still 500 people waiting for replacement organs, despite 2017 being a record year of transplants for Irish patients, when 327 organs were transplanted last year into 321 patients.

St Vincent’s University Hospital, has apologised in court to the widow and family of a patient who died in the hospital for any shortcomings in his care as they today settled a High Court action for €150,000.

January was the worst month on record for hospital overcrowding, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has said its figures show.

As the number of patients on trolleys who are awaiting a hospital bed increased to 575 yesterday, the HSE warned that the nasty flu season is far from over.

All scheduled surgery has been cancelled at Cork University Hospital for two weeks over Christmas, despite there being almost 1,500 people on waiting lists.

Andrea O’Mahony, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis just before her 23rd birthday, is urging anyone with any form of MS to engage in a landmark study that could potentially unlock the mystery of the genetic and lifestyle factors behind the disease.

SARA Byrne has had three major surgeries to bring her inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) under control, but she has reason to be hopeful.

A novel treatment for heart failure — one of nine drugs caught up in a dispute over funding earlier this year — is available from today to Irish patients under the State’s reimbursement scheme.

More than 2.5 million people in Europe have irritable bowel syndrome. Now, an Irish study aims to find out more, writes Áilín Quinlan

The HSE can recoup the cost of bariatric surgery within two years and then go on to save millions on medication costs, according to obesity experts.

A deal has not been reached on who will build, own and run the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) despite planners giving it the go-ahead this week.

The cost of surgeries carried out in public hospitals for the treatment of morbid obesity was over €1 million last year, according to new figures.

Thousands of Irish children suffer from severe psoriasis, but Pearl Tier is not about to let the condition get her down, writes Helen O’Callaghan.

Self-appointed Scribes and Pharisees rubbish the life’s work of hundreds of hard-working women, writes Victoria White.

A Dublin-based doctor has offered what he says is a solution to a staffing shortage at the biochemistry department in Cork University Hospital (CUH) which has led to the withdrawal of its clinical advisory service and a decision to voluntarily suspend accreditation.

HSE review of BowelScreen service at Wexford General Hospital results in 10 recommendations.

Supermarket chains and retailers have been urged to follow Tesco’s example by providing and promoting lower-sugar soft drinks on their shelves.

An international cancer trial has opened in Ireland investigating the risks for young women who had breast cancer becoming pregnant.

An Irish scientist has made a significant breakthrough towards treating one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer.

Irish scientists believe they may have developed a drug to treat a deadly form of breast cancer.

One in four people believe the parents of morbidly obese children should face criminal prosecution for child abuse. An Irish Examiner / ICMSA opinion poll also shows 44% are in favour of a sugar tax, versus 39% who are opposed.

Waiting times for the country’s only two public weight treatment services are over two-and-a-half years, with almost 1,500 waiting simply to get an outpatient appointment.

An open letter by a woman pleading for expert cancer care for her seriously ill husband has been sent to Health Minister, Simon Harris.

There is a disconnect between data on cycling injuries compiled by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and those recorded at a busy hospital emergency department, it has emerged.

The number of women giving birth by Caesarean section (C-section) in Ireland continues to rise, year on year, as does the number of people taking antibiotics.

Hospitals should be fined for failing to deal adequately with the recent surge in emergency department overcrowding, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has said.

A number of patients scheduled for surgery at Cork University Hospital (CUH) had operations cancelled in the past week because of a protocol designed to reduce emergency department (ED) overcrowding.

There has been a reduction in the number of patients on trolleys awaiting a hospital bed, even with more people attending emergency departments, according to the HSE.

An influenza outbreak among patients led to a Cork City hospital yesterday closing one of its wards.

Emergency department nurses are to strike next week after rejecting a deal to tackle overcrowding and staffing issues.