Failure to monitor the side-effects of drugs to treat long-term mental illness is shaving up to 20 years off the lives of thousands of patients, according to a leading consultant psychiatrist.

Longer nursing home waiting lists, emergency department closures, a cull of 75,000 medical cards, and cancer screening cancellations all form part of a savage €1bn health service cutback next year.

A €108m black hole exists at the centre of the HSE’s plan to cut over €1bn from the health service next year.

The Irish Medical Organisation is calling for a minimum unit pricing structure for alcohol across the country.

The Irish Medical Organisation last night said presidents of the organisation were unaware of how their annual allowance was calculated.

Overworked junior doctors are falling asleep in their cars and risking major accidents because of the excessive hours they are being forced to endure.

Health Minister James Reilly’s two key health service reforms are facing their first major hurdle after plans for a new hospital doctor grade and free GP care hit a significant union roadblock.

JUNIOR doctors have called for a nationwide survey of staff hospital overnight rooms after claims some units are unclean, a security risk and suffering from “vermin infestation”.

JUST a quarter of interns at two Dublin-based teaching hospitals said they routinely wear gloves when taking blood, a study has found.

READING reports of some of the prices quoted for all-Ireland hurling final tickets rising to as much as €4,800, I find it upsetting to think of that money going into the pockets of touts.