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Irish Independent
4 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
94pc of Wicklow pharmacies sign up for free HRT scheme
If you have a prescription for HRT from a GP, registered nurse or midwife and you are registered for the Drugs Payment Scheme or have a medical card, you can get free HRT medicine from a pharmacy participating in the Free Hormone Replacement Therapy scheme, of which 94pc of Wicklow pharmacies have signed up. Women can identify their nearest pharmacy to them that is providing the service by using the HSE pharmacy finder, at Praising Wicklow pharmacies for their 'extremely positive' uptake of the scheme, Wicklow TD Edward Timmins said he was grateful to Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill for engaging with all stakeholders so successfully to 'deliver this medication free of charge for the many women around the country who need it'. 'The majority of pharmacies across the country are participating in this scheme, and this figure is increasing daily, meaning that all women will be able to access this free medication in a pharmacy convenient for them,' he said. 'In Wicklow, 94pc of pharmacies will offer the free medication to women, which is extremely positive. 'It's important to note that the new arrangement includes a pharmacy dispensing fee, so medication will be completely free. 'The symptoms women encounter during perimenopause and menopause are varied, and women's lives can be hugely impacted,' he added. 'HRT is such an important medicinal regime for women and can positively improve their lives and make daily living much easier. This scheme is transformational for women. I commend the pharmacies here in Wicklow who have joined the scheme to continue to provide vital healthcare to our communities.'
Irish Examiner
12-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
HSE warns people to stop using three vapes which are mislabelled as having no nicotine
The HSE has warned people to stop using three vapes or e-cigarettes which are falsely labelled as having 'no nicotine' when in fact they do contain high levels of nicotine. They were found to have nicotine at concentrations of 18.0 mg/ml to 19.0 mg/ml following analysis by the State Laboratory. People have been asked to return the following products to the shops: The Crystal Bling 6000+ puffs - Sub-brand (flavour): 5G HRTP Blue Razz Lemonade, Batch No. THE240801 McKesse MK Bar 7000 - Sub-brand (flavour): Passionfruit & Lime JNR Crystal Pro Max 5000+ puff - 0% nicotine Sub-brands (flavours): Kiwi Watermelon Ice Batch No. C24H8399-CP5000. Anyone who has used these vapes and feels unwell should contact their GP and also inform the HSE on a dedicated email address: Dr Maurice Mulcahy, Regional Chief Environmental Health Officer at the HSE said a number of issues were raised around these e-cigarettes. 'We found that they have (nicotine) concentrations as high as 19.0 mg/ml,' he said. 'While this may be below the legal permitted limit of 20 mg/ml, it is not what the consumer has been told they contain. 'In addition, these products were found to have 7.7ml to 9.4ml of nicotine-containing liquid, almost four to five times the permitted volume (2ml).' The HSE has the power to seize vapes breaching the legal limits, destroy them and carry out prosecutions. 'However, retailers play an important role in protecting the consumers of such products from potential harm and should be checking both the products themselves and their suppliers' details before selling them on to consumers,' he warned. 'Otherwise, they may not only be putting the consumer at risk, they may be breaking the law and making it more difficult to trace and seek the recall and withdrawal of dangerous batches of such products.' The HSE's national environmental health service has urged shops to check their products more carefully to 'ensure they are not breaking the law and endangering public health'. 'We are calling for much greater vigilance by retailers and importers of e-cigarettes with regard to the safety, quality packaging and labelling of such products in order to protect consumers from potential harm,' the HSE said. Distributors and importers have also been contacted. Dr Mulcahy pointed out if Irish-based retailers bring e-cigarettes into Ireland from a non-EU country, including Britain, 'they may by virtue of this fact also be considered an importer'.
