Welcome to this week’s difficulty of The Week in Medication – a round-up of all of the happenings on the earth of Irish medication
‘What’s One other 12 months’ was Johnny Logan’s plaintive cry, and now it has turn into a kind of anthem for the constructing of the brand new Youngsters’s Hospital. The newest information rising from that debacle is that it’ll now be Spring 2026 earlier than any sufferers transfer in.
The newest date for completion of Eire’s most up-to-date white elephant is June this yr, however there will probably be a ‘operational commissioning’ section which can take six months to finish after that. And since migration to the brand new hospital can not happen in winter, (scientific causes, we’re advised) will probably be Spring 2026 earlier than the hospital is open.
The price of the hospital was initially estimated to be €980 million. The present value is estimated to be €2.24 billion.
The constructing of a brand new maternity hospital is because of start within the fourth quarter of this yr and the federal government estimate on the associated fee is €800 million. So, in actual cash, about €2 billion.
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The massive value of constructing and equipping hospital services is inevitably going to constrain spending in different areas of the well being service. We had Angela Kerins – former CEO of the Rehab Group – again within the headlines this week as she featured on a particular Prime Time particular on the lookout for the Oireachtas to compensate her for her therapy by the hands of the Public Accounts Committee. (No cube, up to now)
Angela Kerins. Pic: RTE
The Supreme Courtroom has stated her authorized declare for damages can’t be entertained as members of the Dáil can’t be sued for what they are saying within the Dáil, so it could appear that even when they can’t management prices throughout the federal government, the regulation prevents them from costing us much more by means of their questioning. Which is a humorous state of affairs – their questions are meant to save cash, however on this case, may even have added to the associated fee.
The debacle inside the Arts Council who squandered €7 million on consultants for an IT system (but to be put in), the shambles inside the Peter McVerry Belief, and the huge value of a small bike shed have all made the federal government nervous of committing cash to black holes and white elephants.
On Friday, IMT reported that the new elective hospitals will value twice what they had been initially estimated, and the final financial scenario – with no-one understanding what tariffs Trump might apply to Eire – has created doubt in regards to the allocation of future spending for capital tasks in healthcare. The current withdrawal of US defence help for Europe has nations (together with Eire) scrambling to extend their defence budgets.
All of because of this there will probably be little urge for food for brand new tasks in healthcare, and the main target for the approaching years will probably be ‘worth for cash’. The federal government has elevated spending on healthcare over the past 20 years, taking us to a median place on the OECED charts, nevertheless it’s not maintaining with demand.
That appears set to proceed as Eire swivels to extend defence spending massively to help Europe in its wrestle with Putin and maybe appease Trump within the White Home.
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The Irish Motor Neurone Illness Affiliation have introduced their ‘Drink Tea for MND’ marketing campaign which can happen in the course of the month of March this yr.
In its sixteenth yr, this nationwide initiative encourages people, companies, and communities to host their very own tea events, with all funds raised supporting IMNDA’s important companies for households affected by Motor Neurone Illness (MND).
Because the IMNDA marks 40 years in 2025, the Drink Tea for MND marketing campaign is a straightforward strategy to become involved and present your help for households affected by MND. You may host a cup of tea at any stage – in your group, work or organisation.
The IMNDA depends closely on fundraising to maintain over 85% of its revenue, which funds important help companies, together with care grants, counselling, and tools to enhance the standard of life for these affected by MND.
How one can become involved:
- Register to your Drink Tea for MND occasion at IMNDA’s web site.
- Host your individual tea social gathering in March, invite your folks, household, or colleagues, and lift much-needed funds.
- Share your occasion on social media utilizing the hashtag #DrinkTeaForMND to unfold consciousness.
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We now have an individual accountable for one of the necessary jobs in world-wide healthcare who’s a hazard to the remainder of the human inhabitants. RFK Jr has been confirmed as the brand new Head of Human and Well being Providers within the US.
RFK Jr
Maybe essentially the most shocking facet of the story is that when the nomination course of was ongoing, a petition got here in from American docs supporting his nomination. Or so I learn in varied on-line information retailers.
But it surely seems that isn’t actually true. Most likely such as you, I learn headlines and assume they comprise the essence of the story, but when that had been true, then the headline ought to have learn: “Some docs and a few charlatans and principally some unqualified individuals made a submission to the affirmation hearings”.
You may learn the main points about that submission right here on this Guardian story right here when you ponder how any physician who would have labored for years, if not a long time, serving to individuals, may signal as much as this tomfoolery.
The Guardian described a few of them as ‘a self-described journalist, an authorized public accountant, a firefighter/paramedic, an authorized well being coach and somebody who stated they’d a bachelor’s diploma “with an emphasis on Jungian psychology”, no less than 75 nurses, in addition to doctor’s assistants. Greater than 90 didn’t embody any credentials in any respect.’
We’re all docs now.
They actually have heard sufficient from the professors.
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I used to be quietly having fun with the comedy of Ronny Chieng when this little bit gave me just a little chuckle. Why do Asian dad and mom need their kids to turn into docs?
