# Public Health

March

March 2023

# Medicine

Almost 1 million doses of illegal and counterfeit medicine seized by HPRA in 2022

Almost half of the substances seized were sedative medicines or anabolic steroids.

9.1k

Mar 29th 2023, 1:29 PM

# minimum unit pricing

Minimum unit pricing led to 13% fall in alcohol-related deaths in Scotland

Scotland still allows alcohol to be sold for cheaper than Ireland’s minimum unit price policy.

11.2k

Mar 21st 2023, 6:30 AM

# Covid-19

Former NPHET member: Long-term school closures were 'not required'

Professor Cormican was speaking this morning to RTÉ’s Brendan O’Connor.

28.8k

Mar 4th 2023, 4:13 PM

# Public Health

Drug decriminalisation policy 'could help with criminal and social issues', Irish report finds

Decriminalisation is the removal of criminal penalties for possession of drugs for personal use.

10.0k

Mar 3rd 2023, 6:00 AM

# breda smyth

'Go back to doing the things you love': CMO writes post-pandemic open letter to older people

Prof Breda Smyth said she wanted to reassure people who were concerned about the spread of Covid that it is safe to go out and about.

11.4k

Mar 1st 2023, 12:26 PM

This year

2023

# System Overload

The Explainer x Noteworthy: How is the Irish public health system coping?

Reporter Peter McGuire and Dr Anne Dee of the Irish Medical Organisation tell Susan Daly about public health challenges and reforms.

4.7k

Updated

Jan 27th 2023, 1:45 PM

# Public Health

HSE not at 'starting line' in developing digital health record

An Oireachtas committee heard that the current paper-based record system is holding the health service back.

8.5k

Jan 25th 2023, 2:12 PM

# System Overload

Strength of gay community response to monkeypox was ‘key’ in controlling outbreak

After Covid, monkeypox was the first big test for Ireland’s public health system. How did we fare – and what can we learn?

13.1k

Jan 3rd 2023, 12:01 PM

THE MORNING LEAD

Public health reform taking off - but success depends on State tackling inequality

A report by

Peter McGuire

Targets for recruiting public health staff are mainly on track, an investigation by Noteworthy reports.

This follows two decades of campaigning, with experts saying initial improvements are only the beginning

Data collection and analysis lag behind, with improved systems vital to make an impact

Expert: 'Public health medicine doctors were treated as second-class professionals for a long time'

15.2k

Jan 3rd 2023, 12:05 AM

Last year

2022

# Outbreak

Health probe underway into increase in E. Coli cases in Mid-West HSE area

29 cases were recorded in the week preceding 27 August, 7 of which were in the Mid-West region.

11.4k

Sep 6th 2022, 10:15 AM

# Public Health

WHO to decide if monkeypox is a global emergency as Ireland records 10 more cases

The WHO decided in June against declaring such an emergency but will reconvene next week amid rising cases.

16.6k

Jul 15th 2022, 8:47 AM

# Outbreak

Recent decline in childhood vaccinations reaching crisis point, UN says

24.7 million children missed their first dose of the measles vaccine, while 3.5 million missed the first vaccine for HPV.

9.5k

Jul 15th 2022, 6:15 AM

# transmission

Monkeypox outbreak ‘could amplify’ during festival season, says World Health Organization

Evidence suggests the current outbreak could have started in Europe in mid-April.

18.5k

May 31st 2022, 5:20 PM

# typhoid fever

Public advised to get travel vaccines after recent cases of typhoid fever in Mid West region

The Department said that high-risk areas included the Indian subcontinent, Africa, south and southeast Asia and South America.

20.1k

May 31st 2022, 3:04 PM

# cancer screening

Cervical smear intervals moved from 3 to 5 years with HPV testing. Why?

In short, screening every three years with cytology is as effective as screening every five years with HPV.

27.7k

Apr 18th 2022, 9:00 AM

# CervicalCheck

Population coverage of cervical cancer screening has been dipping since 2017

The report notes that since CervicalCheck began in 2008, it has reduced the incidence of cervical cancer by 2.8% per year.

10.2k

Apr 13th 2022, 3:40 PM

# Cryptosporidium

Concerns raised by public health officials following Cryptosporidium outbreak in Mid-West

There were 121 Cryptosporidium cases recorded in the Mid-West region in 2021

26.9k

Apr 5th 2022, 6:34 PM

# Public Health (Alcohol) Act

Minimum alcohol pricing rules kick in today - here's what that means

€7.10 is now the minimum price for a bottle of wine that has an alcohol content of 12%.

62.4k

147

Jan 4th 2022, 6:00 AM

All time

# nphet

Varadkar says 'a plethora of voices' caused 'mixed messages' on Covid

It comes after Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is ‘trying to check out’ reports that some members of NPHET withdrew from broadcasts

34.7k

Updated

Dec 6th 2021, 11:10 PM

# covid latest

Taoiseach says 'call to arms' has helped stabilise cases but suggests Christmas will not be 'normal'

Legislation that will allow the government to reinstate mandatory hotel quarantine passed all stages in the Dáil this evening.

NPHET met today to discuss the advice it will give to government on the risks posed by the new Omicron variant.

Health officials considered whether more restrictions should be advised in the context of the current situation.

Legislation that will allow the government to reinstate mandatory hotel quarantine passed all stages in the Dáil this evening.

117k

157

Updated

Dec 2nd 2021, 10:20 PM

# Covid-19

Midnight closing time for pubs from Thursday as Cabinet agrees on measures to curb Covid-19

The government’s previous advice for people to work from home if possible is to come into force again from Friday morning.

181k

271

Updated

Nov 16th 2021, 6:38 PM

# Public Health

Government should consider reinstating work from home advice amid 'very high' Covid cases - NPHET

In his latest letter to the Minister for Health, the CMO said extending the use of Covid certificates should also be considered.

19.2k

Nov 12th 2021, 4:34 PM

# Public Health

New laws on alcohol advertising during sports and children's events come into force today

It follows the banning of loyalty points for alcoholic drinks and the introduction of the so-called “booze curtain”.

10.8k

Nov 12th 2021, 6:00 AM

# Explainer

The government's health screening 'czar' wants people's input on how services could be extended

We see screening as something that is in the public ownership, Professor Niall O’Higgins said on why the public were being asked.

9.7k

Nov 7th 2021, 6:30 AM

Voices

Opinion: Coping with Long Covid - how exercise and other treatments can help

The focus on research into and symptoms of Long Covid needs to be complimented by treatment options, writes Dr Jennifer Dineen.

17.9k

Sep 9th 2021, 7:00 AM

# Covid-19

Coronavirus: 1,997 new cases confirmed in Ireland

The Department of Health announced the figures this afternoon.

50.1k

Aug 28th 2021, 1:52 PM

# Public Health

'Trust parents': Archbishop says sacraments should proceed despite public health advice

Dermot Farrell claimed the Government’s Covid-19 measures were “discriminatory” to the Catholic Church.

30.8k

109

Updated

Aug 4th 2021, 2:01 PM

# Public Health

Minister asks public and churches for patience on communions and confirmations

Charlie McConalogue asked people to follow the public health guidelines and to hold off on hosting the ceremonies.

19.4k

Aug 3rd 2021, 1:54 PM

# Public Health

Dr Mike Ryan: 'We're underestimating the tsunami of mental health issues emerging'

Dr Ryan also spoke of how inequality has led to poorer outcomes for marginalised groups during the pandemic.

22.0k

Jul 7th 2021, 12:32 PM

# Public Health

Northern Ireland won't follow England's approach to easing restrictions, says deputy first minister

Michelle O’Neill branded the UK Government’s approach to removing restrictions “reckless”.

13.1k

Jul 6th 2021, 4:42 PM

# Limerick

'Frustration' as Leaving Cert students in Limerick to miss written exams due to Covid outbreak

Over the past fortnight there have been 800 confirmed cases in Limerick.

57.4k

Jun 5th 2021, 1:13 PM

# restrictions

Emergency Covid-19 powers extended after narrowly passing Dáil vote

After November the powers can be rolled over for a further three months, but will not go beyond next February.

20.5k

Jun 3rd 2021, 8:29 AM

# nphet

CMO warns Health Minister that the risk of a further spike in Covid-19 cases remains

Dr Tony Holohan advised that people who are not yet vaccinated should limit indoor interactions with other unvaccinated people.

11.7k

Jun 1st 2021, 4:41 PM

# Public Health

84 public health consultant roles to be created under proposed Dept Health and IMO deal

It’s understood that the IMO will recommend the agreement to their members.

12.0k

Apr 15th 2021, 8:30 PM

Voices

Opinion: Dog fouling is driving Ireland's residents barking mad

Fianna Fáil TD Cormal Devlin says we need greater education and enforcement when it comes to the growing scourge of dog fouling.

28.6k

Apr 9th 2021, 7:00 AM

# Coronavirus

Coronavirus: Eight deaths and 591 new cases confirmed in Ireland

Four deaths occurred in March, with four happening in February.

76.8k

168

Apr 2nd 2021, 4:09 PM

# VTEC

E. coli outbreak identified at setting in Mid-West region

The outbreak affected young children in a single setting.

29.6k

Mar 29th 2021, 4:49 PM

# Public Health

Dr Gabriel Scally doesn't feel 'dumped' from CervicalCheck and has 'an understanding' with the minister

Scally’s 170-page report into the CervicalCheck programme was published on 12 September 2018.

10.0k

Feb 25th 2021, 12:31 PM

# timeline

The CervicalCheck controversy: How a vital cancer screening service is fighting to regain the trust of women

Cervical screening is a vitally important service for women in Ireland. But it’s been marred by flawed policies and deep mistrust.

The powerful, brave women who pushed for a higher standard of cervical screening programme

A look at the reports that examined the CervicalCheck programme, and found it clinically sound

Where are we now with the issue of liability, the court cases, and the screening programme itself?

18.4k

Feb 25th 2021, 1:18 AM

# National Service Plan

HSE struggles to recruit public-health doctors, as it launches 2021 spending plan

Over half of the HSE’s boosted budget will go towards non-Covid-19 measures.

12.9k

Feb 24th 2021, 6:13 PM