HSE issues warning over sunbed use as skin cancer diagnoses rise above 11,000
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland, with more than 11,000 cases diagnosed every year.
An event is being held by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and the Institute of Public Health (IPH) to discuss sunbed use in Ireland and explore future options for reducing skin cancer in Ireland
"Skin cancer is a significant public health problem in Ireland,' public health specialist for the NCCP Dr Breeda Neville said.
"The majority of skin cancers are caused by UV exposure, which means that skin cancer is largely preventable by protecting your skin from the sun's UV rays and by not using sunbeds.'
Skin cancer diagnoses include cases of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.
Selling or hiring a sunbed to anyone under 18 is already illegal in Ireland, while a mandate to 'explore ways to ban commercial sunbed use' is included in the Programme for Government.
The HSE has said using a sunbed is 'never safe' and exposing the skin to UV radiation from the sun or sunbeds damages skin cells, accelerates visible signs of ageing and increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
'There is a precedent for the successful banning of sunbeds. Australia introduced an outright ban on commercial sunbeds in 2016,' Craig Sinclair of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said at the event.
"The measure has enjoyed strong public support and has undoubtedly prevented thousands of skin cancers and delivered an estimated saving of over AU$64 million to the Australian Health system.'
The use of UV-emitting devices like sunbeds is classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). An IARC study has found using a sunbed for the first time before the age of 35 can increase the risk of developing melanoma skin cancer by 75pc.
'We have recently undertaken a comprehensive assessment of sunbed use in Ireland,' Minister of State for Public Health Jennifer Murnane O'Connor said.
"The findings will inform the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan and provide policy options to reduce skin cancer risk. The Institute of Public Health looks forward to publishing our report in the coming weeks.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
HIV carries 'a big societal stigma' in Ireland despite progress in treatment
A 'persistent stigma' remains around HIV in Ireland, despite progress in treating the condition. The Cork Sexual Health Centre highlighted the stigma as revealed in its latest annual report. The report states that it provided 860 rapid HIV tests last year, as well as 677 HIV support and counselling sessions. The chairman of the centre, Ciaran Lynch, said: 'Whilst there have been very significant advances in the treatment of HIV and Aids over the last number of decades, there still is a big societal stigma associated with the condition. "Dealing with the issue is both dealing with the condition itself but also the stigma that can be associated with it. 'A lot of that is a result of people being uninformed as to the progress that has been made in treating the condition since the early 80s. In the 80s, a diagnosis of HIV would inevitably lead to full-blown Aids. "But the progress in the treatment has meant that most cases do not progress to Aids, and people can live a very fulfilling and very regular life with the treatment that is now available," Mr Lynch added. HIV is a serious, chronic illness that affects the body's immune system. It requires treatment and management for life. Antibodies Earlier this year, findings published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science — which analysed over 6,000 serum samples from bloods tests ordered by GPs, which were tested in eight hospital laboratories — revealed that analysis of bloodwork from over 1,000 people from the Cork region found HIV antibodies in 1.05% of samples, approximately three times the national average. It came as the HSE launched the "You, Me, and HIV" campaign to help reduce the stigma experienced by people living with HIV here. Survey results released to coincide with the launch of the campaign showed that 70% of people do not know that a person with HIV cannot pass it to sexual partners when they are on effective treatment. Mr Lynch said there is also a stigma around transgender issues. 'As society progresses and we see very progressive developments, such as marriage equality and tolerance of difference, new differences emerge and become visible, and that is where the transgender community actually is," he said. Those issues come with their challenges as well, as the previous ones did. There are the challenges of societal understanding and societal acceptance, and both go hand in hand The centre's executive director, Fiona Finn, said the relocation of the centre from Peter's St to the South Mall means the team at the centre is now ready for 'the next phase of its journey, continuing to provide vital services, raise awareness, and advocate for minority populations especially those living with HIV and trans people'. The report noted that there was a 26% increase in demand for post-termination counselling at the centre last year, rising to almost 330 sessions. Meanwhile, 328 counselling sessions were provided for members of the LGBT+ community last year. The centre has been in existence for more than 30 years, providing sexual health education, advocacy, and support services. The centre says its focus is on 'inclusivity and respect', with services including pregnancy counselling, sexual health workshops, and rapid HIV testing, as well as serving as a collection point for SH24 self-test kits.
Irish Times
8 hours ago
- Irish Times
5,500 patients have stayed in Irish hospitals longer than medically necessary this year
More than 5,500 patients have been in hospital for longer than medically necessary so far this year, with 29 patients having stayed in hospital for more than six months due to delays in accessing care they need in the community. A delayed transfer of care occurs when a patient is ready to leave inpatient care but is still occupying a HSE -funded bed. It happens for a variety of reason, including delays in accessing home care, delays in accessing residential care, homelessness or complex care needs, among others. An internal HSE report found there have been 5,548 delayed transfers up to August 5th, 2025. This has resulted in 85,556 lost bed days. The number of delayed discharges has decreased when compared to the same periods in previous years. Up to August, 2023, there were 6,610 patients in hospital longer than necessary, while in 2024 the number was 6,235. READ MORE According to the latest report, 74 patients have been in hospital this year despite being medically fit for discharge for three or more months, while 29 have been there for six or more months. Every week, on average, there are 404 patients in hospital who are well enough to be discharged. Galway University Hospitals have the highest weekly average at 44, followed by Letterkenny University Hospital (33) and Sligo University Hospital (26). The hospital with the lowest average number is St Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, with zero. In the week ending August 5th, there were 393 delayed transfers, of which almost two-fifths related to delays in accessing nursing homes or residential care settings. Forty-seven patients were delayed as their funding application for nursing home support had not yet been submitted and 12 patients were waiting for their application to be reviewed. A further 47 had been approved for funding but were waiting to secure a place in a care setting, while 20 patients were awaiting step-down placements at community nursing units, district hospitals or HSE facilities. Complex clinical needs is another cause behind the delayed transfers, the HSE report shows. There were 22 patients with behavioural, verbal or cognitive issues who were awaiting access to dementia-specific services in the week ending August 5th. Twelve patients were waiting for a 'bespoke residential placement' due to challenging behaviour that requires specialist management. The HSE is seeking to reduce delayed discharges to alleviate pressure on public hospital beds, which are often in high demand, resulting in more than 100,000 patients waiting on trolleys last year. Delayed discharges are also a concern as they increase a patient's chances of contracting a healthcare-associated infection. A HSE spokesman said to help reduce delayed hospital exits, the executive provides temporary financial support for patients who are medically discharged but unable to return home. 'This funding facilitates timely transfers to private nursing homes or convalescent care, helping to free up acute hospital beds,' he said. The spokesman said discharge delays can occur where patients are awaiting arrangement of suitable home support or residential care and they have complex clinical needs or legally complex circumstances. 'Delays experienced in identifying a suitable nursing home place for a patient can be caused by such beds to meet a patient's specific needs not being available in the area at that time,' he said. 'Some geographic areas are currently experiencing challenges in securing nursing home beds due to a shortage of available nursing home beds in the area.'
The Journal
8 hours ago
- The Journal
Expert dispels 'ludicrous' influencer claims that sunscreen has dangerous chemicals
SOME INFLUENCERS ONLINE are telling their audience that not only is sunscreen not needed, but that its chemicals could be dangerous. The HSE has said there's no truth to the claims and no science to back them up. 'The idea that the sun doesn't cause skin cancer is just ludicrous,' the HSE's clinical lead for dermatology Anne Marie Tobin told Newstalk Breakfast. 'It's the most preventable type of cancer you can we have. And the one thing that's involved is UV radiation.' She said that, health benefits aside, protecting skin from the sun is the single most effective anti-aging technique. However, it's young people who are most likely to see the misinformation and believe it, even if it conflicts with other ideas that have been marketed to them. Advertisement 'Bear in mind that these were a similar audience that were targeted with anti-aging creams, and having a fridge to keep their cosmetics in,' Tobin said. 'Not using a sun block when you're younger is incredibly dangerous, because the amount of sunburn you get adds up all over your lifetime, and severe sunburns, for example, a blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence doubles your risk of melanoma in later life. 'So it's a particularly worrying trend to be putting out there among a younger audience.' Says it may be harder for teenagers to conceptualise that they will age. Meanwhile, people are getting skin cancers at much younger ages now. 'We're seeing people in their 30s, which would have been very unusual, getting skin cancers,' Tobin said. 'A lot of skin cancer is very treatable, but it does leave you with scars, and usually it's in very obvious places on your face.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
