'We said thank you to Joe from the ladies of Ireland' – Louth breastcare provider on Joe Duffy's last show
Alison along with Caroline Davis from Caroline's Breastcare in Carlow were invited to the RTE studios for Joe's last show as they had featured on Liveline in May 2024 when Joe gave them a platform to speak against HSE proposals to cut funding allowances for women who had breast cancer.
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Irish Examiner
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- Irish Examiner
Increasing use of agency staff by HSE for care of older people 'a healthcare risk', advocates warns
A doubling of agency staff use for older people's services by the HSE is a healthcare risk and the "canary in the coalmine", warning of serious problems, Age Action has warned. It follows a report in the Irish Examiner showing money paid to agencies in this sector almost doubled from €64.5m to €118.9m last year. Despite pledges to rein this in, it reached €52.1m spent already by May. Camille Loftus, head of advocacy and public affairs with Age Action, said she was disturbed but not surprised by the findings. 'A reliance on agency staff in healthcare services is a healthcare risk,' she said. If you look at instances where there have been errors, failure in care, medical misadventure, you will find very frequently that the use of agency staff was a factor. She stressed this was not because temporary workers might not be qualified, but 'it does mean they are not familiar with the healthcare setting in which they're working'. She suggested if a nursing home or homecare service was short-staffed enough to need agency help, they were unlikely to have time to offer thorough training on the day. 'If you can see a pattern where a sector in the health service is heavily staffed by people who are not full-time employed, that is an indication of a problem and it is absolutely a risk,' she said. Low salaries are common in social care for older people, especially in nursing homes, she added. 'We saw the kind of failures that can occur when a provider is consistently understaffed in that RTÉ Investigates programme on nursing homes,' she said. 'At least part of that problem was persistent understaffing. You will remember that horrific scene of that woman standing there with a man desperate to use the bathroom, and she knowing she couldn't leave over 20 people unattended — that's an understaffing problem.' Undercover footage shot at two homes run by Emeis Ireland was shared by RTÉ in June to widespread outrage. In general, Ms Loftus said: 'When you're dealing with residents where dementia might be an issue, a constant turnover of staff where people don't know residents' preferences is worrying. It's risky, it makes it more likely something will go wrong for the patient. The pressures are only likely to continue, with the projected rise in people living longer. She raised concerns about how this is being managed by the HSE and Government. 'The agency staffing numbers are like a canary in the coalmine, it's a warning to us that in this system — which we all think is creaking at the seams — that those fissures are becoming critical now,' she said. The HSE said agency staff were used to cover holidays, sick leave or maternity leave, as well as when short-staffed. It acknowledged recruitment as a challenge, saying this was the case for health services worldwide now. The data was released by the HSE to Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane. He criticised the HSE's staff policy — pay and numbers strategy — as ineffective, calling for 'an ambitious and realistic workforce plan'.
Irish Independent
10 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Do Not Swim notices issued for two popular Wexford beaches due to high levels of bacteria
The latest sampling conducted as part of the Council's normal monitoring of bathing water quality, showed elevated levels of bacteria at the beach. Following consultation with the HSE, it is necessary to issue 'Do not swim' warning notices at the above beaches in accordance with the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 and in the interest of public health. Further samples have been taken, and results are expected on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at which stage the bathing prohibition notices will be reviewed. In addition, the Council's Environmental Technical Team are investigating the matter. The Do Not Swim notices have been posted at Rosslare Strand and Ballyhealy beaches. Bathing water quality results for 19 Wexford beaches sampled over the 2025 to date bathing season, have been mainly excellent as published on the EPA operated website Wexford County Council advises members of the public visiting the above beach to 'please abide by the public notices advising against swimming.' Further updates will be issued through the media and via the Council's website and more information on bathing water quality can be obtained on
Irish Independent
14 hours ago
- Irish Independent
How to reverse weight gain in your 40s and 50s with Professor Donal O'Shea
Professor Donal O'Shea, HSE Lead for Obesity, joins me on this week's episode of The Real Health podcast. Professor O'Shea has recently started using social media to combat misinformation when it comes to diet and nutrition. The Obesity expert explained, 'I wanted to get the facts out there because I had people coming up to me in the hospital saying, 'tell me exactly when I should start the carnivore diet? and how long I should be on it for?' I was going, eh no. I said, look we publish papers, we write review articles that go into medical journals, but it's an echo chamber. Opinion and behaviour is formed out on social media.' During the conversation, the HSE Lead for Obesity said that there is some good news for the current status of Obesity in Ireland. He highlighted that, 'number one, we have levelled off in our obesity rates overall so we are no longer climbing. Secondly, we did not get the bump in obesity rates in childhood during COVID that were seen in other European countries.' You can listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.
