Irish Medical Times

HIQA to assess inclusion of breast density in screening programme Assessment will consider whether it would be beneficial to measure, record, and notify women attending BreastCheck of their breast density

The health regulator HIQA has begun to assess whether checks for breast density should be included into the BreastCheck screening programme. www.imt.ie/news/hiqa-to...

High potency powder and crystal forms of MDMA circulating in Ireland Health officials warn against adding powders or crystals to drinks as they may be more potent than thought

Powder and crystal forms of MDMA are now more common than pills among young people, with lab results showing their availability at high potency in Ireland, health officials have said. www.imt.ie/news/high-po...

AI health strategy criticised for lack of consultation with workers Any deployment of AI in public health service must be done in consultation with workers, unions said

Healthcare unions have expressed disappointment that a strategy for integrating AI into healthcare was published without engagement with worker representatives. www.imt.ie/news/ai-heal...

You might be interested in…Therapeutics Update (Part 2) Dr Ray O’Connor continues his review of the latest clinical studies on therapeutics, including anti-depressants, statins, and ibuprofen

Dr Ray O’Connor continues his review of the latest clinical studies on therapeutics, including anti-depressants, statins, and ibuprofen. www.imt.ie/clinical/you...

First national AI healthcare strategy published Implementation of ‘AI for Care’ will improve efficiencies and provide more consistent care while taking advantage of innovations in screening and diagnosis, officials say

Faster diagnosis, improved patient flow and a reduction of up to 40 per cent in clinicians’ paperwork are among the range of benefits promised in Ireland’s first national strategy for the use of artificial intelligence in health and social care. www.imt.ie/news/first-n...

First national AI healthcare strategy published Implementation of ‘AI for Care’ will improve efficiencies and provide more consistent care while taking advantage of innovations in screening and diagnosis, officials say

Faster diagnosis, improved patient flow and a reduction of up to 40 per cent in clinicians’ paperwork are among the range of benefits promised in Ireland’s first national strategy for the use of artificial intelligence in health and social care. www.imt.ie/news/first-n...

HSE acquires site for new Limerick hospital Construction is expected to be carried out in phases to facilitate faster increases in capacity for healthcare services in the mid-west

The HSE has acquired a 43-acre site just two kilometres from University Hospital Limerick as part of plans to ease pressure on health services in the region. www.imt.ie/news/hse-acq...

Shortage of out-of-hours GPs adding to ED pressures – Minister “Increasingly older population of GPs are carrying that out-of-hours burden,” Dr Martin Daly tells Dáil

The Minister for Health has expressed concer that the lack of availability of out-of-hours GPs in parts of the country may be putting additional pressure on many of the country’s most overcrowded EDs. www.imt.ie/news/shortag...

All because of the #EpsteinFiles

More than 500 norovirus cases recorded so far this year Levels of virus recorded in last year of February was over twice the median number of cases seen in the same week over the last four years

More than 500 cases of winter vomiting bug were recorded by health officials in the first two months of this year, new figures reveal. www.imt.ie/news/more-th...

Hope for a bright future for treating spina bifida just over the horizon Ireland will see stem‑cell–augmented foetal surgery only after larger trials, longer follow-up, and European regulatory pathways, writes Terence Cosgrave

www.imt.ie/opinion/comm...

New awareness programme to address endometriosis knowledge gap Schools-based initiative to provide age-appropriate, fact-based, and culturally-sensitive resources to help young people navigate their menstrual health

A new awareness initiative has been designed to address the critical gap in education around endometriosis, a condition which affects more than 200,000 women in Ireland. #IWD2026 www.imt.ie/news/new-awa...

These differences require acknowledgment, exploration, and an equitable response—ie, treating individuals according to their need.
- The Lancet (2/2)

It is incontrovertible that there are differences in health needs, risks of exposure, access to care, care-seeking behaviours, and health outcomes by gender and sex.

Irish antibiotic use must fall by 24 per cent in five years to reach EU target Antimicrobial consumption fell to just over 20 doses per 1,000 people last year

Ireland will have to reduce its consumption of antibiotics and other antimicrobials by 24 per cent in the next five years if it is to meet an EU target aimed at addressing the public health crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). www.imt.ie/news/irish-a...

You might be interested in…Therapeutics Update (Part 1) Dr Ray O’Connor looks at the latest clinical studies on therapeutics, including beta-lockers and potassium sparing diuretics

Dr Ray O’Connor looks at the latest clinical studies on therapeutics, including beta-lockers and potassium sparing diuretics. www.imt.ie/clinical/you...

Proposed laws to regulate nicotine pouches for first time The Government has approved amendments to the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill, which will be ‘future-proofed’ to cover any newly created nicotine products.

Planned changes to legislation on tobacco and nicotine products are set to place restrictions on the sale and promotion of nicotine pouches for the first time, the Government has said. www.imt.ie/news/propose...

Rotunda to remain in city centre after Government drops Connolly relocation policy Maternity hospital set to submit a new planning application for redevelopment after rejection of initial plans

A critical care unit for women and enhanced treatment facilities for survivors of sexual assault are among the planned additions to the Rotunda Hospital included in its revised planning application, it has been revealed. www.imt.ie/news/rotunda...

‘Low-smoke’ fuels found to be potentially more harmful to health – study Study finds that replacing smoky fuels with ‘low smoke’ counterparts results in a two- to three-fold increase in ultrafine particle emissions

The burning of ‘low smoke’ manufactured fuels are potentially more harmful to human health than traditional home-heating methods, new Irish research has found. www.imt.ie/news/low-smo...

Former HSE CEO to chair medicines verification body Paul Reid joins board of Irish Medicines Verification Organisation while Medical Council announces election of three new members

A former HSE CEO has been appointed chair of the body tasked with managing the country’s medicines verification system. www.imt.ie/news/former-...

Stem cell therapy for foetal spina bifida repair is safe and effective – study Foetal surgeries found that brain abnormalities associated with spina bifida were reversed in every case

Combining stem cell therapy with standard foetal surgery before birth is a safe and promising approach to treat a severe form of spina bifida, a new trial has found. www.imt.ie/news/stem-ce...

Rise in number of patients being treated for eating disorders Funding for eating disorder teams and inpatient centres announced, but mental health beds remain unstaffed almost four years on from their construction

There was a 13 per cent rise in the number of patients being treated in Ireland for an eating disorder last year, provisional figures show. www.imt.ie/news/rise-in...

Medical Monopoly: Or how I accidentally became Head of the HSE My game acknowledges a truth we all instinctively understand, managing absolutely everything is an administrative purgatory from which there is no dignified escape, writes Terence Cosgrave

www.imt.ie/opinion/comm...

'Pre-signed blank referral cards’ used to refer patients for radiology services HIQA inspection finds that some staff in CUH were referring patients despite not being permitted to do so as part of their jobs, with ‘issue ongoing for several years’

Staff in Cork University Hospital were using ‘pre-signed blank referral cards’ to refer patients for medical radiological procedures despite not being designated to do so as part of their jobs, a HIQA inspection has found.

www.imt.ie/news/pre-sig...

Single daily pill shows promise as HIV treatment – study Nearly 96 per cent of participants who switched to daily oral tablet maintained viral suppression, Lancet paper finds

A new, daily oral tablet that combines two current HIV medications may be able to effectively replace more complicated treatment regimens used by long-term survivors of the virus, a phase 3 clinical trial has found. www.imt.ie/news/single-...

HSE capital plans pledge €1.5 billion for major projects this year More than €1.3 billion will go towards physical infrastructure, while over €263 million has been allotted for digital health projects. More than €1.5

More than €1.5 billion will be spent on digital and physical infrastructure under the HSE’s 2026 capital plans, the Minister for Health has announced. www.imt.ie/news/hse-cap...

You might be interested in…Social Determinants of Health Dr Ray O’Connor looks at the latest clinical studies on social determinants of health, and how the conditions in which people live, work, and interact are associated with health outcomes and inequalit...

Dr Ray O’Connor looks at the latest clinical studies on social determinants of health, and how the conditions in which people live, work, and interact are associated with health outcomes and inequalities. www.imt.ie/clinical/you...

Government launches first digital mental health strategy Investment of €7 million in digital mental healthcare includes online cognitive-behavioural therapy and text-based supports

The country’s first strategy focused on how technology can be used in mental healthcare will improve the accessibility and availability of services and supports, the Minister in charge of its implementation has claimed.

www.imt.ie/news/governm...

‘Evolutionary double-bind’ could overcome treatment resistance in prostate cancer – research Study is the first to directly quantify and validate a method of exploiting the way cancers evolve, both in the lab and through mathematical modelling

An ‘evolutionary double-bind’ may provide a solution to prostate cancers that have shown resistance to treatment over time, a new study involving Irish researchers has found. www.imt.ie/news/evoluti...

Use of agency staff by disability centre ‘likely contributing’ to safeguarding concerns – HIQA Six residential centres for people with disabilities found to be in breach of regulations in areas including protection, residents’ rights and staffing

The inconsistent use of agency staff in a centre for people with disabilities was ‘likely contributing’ to safeguarding incidents occurring there, a HIQA inspection found. www.imt.ie/news/use-of-...