Novus Medica

System ‘fails to understand mental health problems’

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:57:19 +0000

The major failure of the mental health system is that it does not sufficiently understand the emotional and psychological aspects of mental health problems, or the importance of exploring in detail the individual’s experiences.

That is according to the author of a new book, Selfhood, which will be launched in Cork today by Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health Kathleen Lynch.

The book is written by Dr Terry Lynch, a psychotherapist and GP living and working in Limerick, who also wrote the bestseller Beyond Prozac in 2001.

At the launch Dr Lynch will give a talk about his own journey, from typical GP to recovery-focused mental health service provider and author. (Examiner) >

Cancer-screening device sits idle in hospital as private operator sought

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:11:37 +0000

A SPECIALIST cancer-screening facility in Cork will remain closed until later this year as a private provider is sought to operate it.

The purpose-built screening unit houses an unused €3.8 million Pet (positron emission tomography) scanner used for superior detection in oncology. The device is one of three in Ireland and its non-use is forcing patients in Munster to travel to St James’s or Mater hospitals in Dublin to be screened. (Times) >

GPs refusing to join care teams

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:07:06 +0000

SOME GENERAL practitioners (GPs) around the State are refusing to participate in the introduction of the Government’s primary care strategy in protest at cuts in their fees.

HSE national director for integrated care Laverne McGuinness told the Dáil Public Accounts Committee yesterday it was not compulsory under their contracts for GPs to take part in primary care teams. (Times) >

Higgins says mental health goal is recovery

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:48:55 +0000

BOUNDARIES AND antipathies between professionals who treated people with mental health problems were getting in the way of people’s recovery, President Michael D Higgins has said.

Speaking at the second national conference of the Irish Council for Psychotherapy in Dublin yesterday, he said it caused him “great distress” to hear continuing debates about whether it was correct to focus on treating the brain (with medication) or the mind (with counselling).

“What is important is the human experience of the person in front of you,” he said.

Mr Higgins said he “completely” agreed with the argument put forward by another speaker, Prof Renos Papadopoulos, director of the Centre for Trauma, Asylum and Refugees at the University of Essex.

Prof Papadopoulos said victims of trauma should be treated within a framework that addressed all facets of the person and did “not focus exclusively on the psychological or psychiatric dimensions of the person”. “The issue of access to listening must not be a casualty to institutional or professional boundaries,” said the President. He also spoke of the continued stigma around mental ill-health.

“Many mentally ill people are still the victims of uninformed or distorted ideas that can lead to discrimination . . . which can in turn exacerbate mental health difficulties.” (Times) >

HSE in breach of care rules for psychiatric patient

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:46:14 +0000

THE MENTAL Health Commission has found the Health Service Executive to be in breach of the Mental Health Act over its care for a 39-year-old male psychiatric patient. The man has been in custodial care at an acute psychiatric unit in Ennis, Co Clare, since July 2008, and round-the-clock security costs to the HSE for the man run at €1,000 per day. The estimated security bill for the man since July 2008 to date is €1.3 million. (Times) >

‘Investigate doctor who failed our little boy’

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:06:33 +0000

The parents of a two-year-old boy who died from the effects of massive blood loss after an artery was punctured in a routine surgical procedure want the doctor they believe failed their son investigated by the Medical Council. (Examiner) >

HSE rejects safety fears for mothers

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:34:17 +0000

THE HEALTH Service Executive has said plans are being put in place to try to deal with the potential loss of up to 47 midwives from the Mid-Western Regional Maternity Hospital in Limerick.

It follows a statement on Tuesday from Dr Gerry Burke, a consultant obstetrician at the hospital, who has claimed mothers and newborn babies may die if the hospital loses the midwives under the HSE’s early retirement scheme. (Times) >

Hospital apologises for death of child (2)

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:32:16 +0000

OUR LADY’S Children’s Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin has apologised before the High Court over failures in the care of a haemophiliac child who died after undergoing a medical procedure in the hospital.

“As grieving parents, we should not have had to meet a wall of silence and a culture of denial from the hospital. We put our trust in the hospital and they failed us and our son.” (Times) >

Obstetrician’s remarks ‘outrageous’, says Kenny

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:23:43 +0000

TAOISEACH ENDA Kenny has described as “outrageous” remarks by an obstetrician about shortages in midwifery services in the mid-west. Dr Gerry Burke, a consultant obstetrician at the Mid-Western Regional Maternity Hospital in Limerick and chairman of the Labour Party in Limerick, had warned that mothers and their new babies could die because of the number of midwives due to retire by the end of February.

Mr Kenny said Dr Burke’s comments were outrageous and “beyond the norm for a medical person of his stature to equate the process of staff legitimately leaving the health service under the programme with an attack – in the context of paying back money to German banks – on babies and pregnant mothers”. (Times) >

Reilly announces new hospital target

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:20:59 +0000

MINISTER FOR Health James Reilly has announced a new target to ensure no patient will wait more than nine hours in emergency departments before they get a bed or are discharged. “I would describe that as a cause for cautious optimism and we are not resting on that place now. We are moving forward to set new targets.” He was speaking at the launch of a report from the Department of Health’s special delivery unit which outlined a drop in the level of overcrowding in emergency departments.

Dr Martin Connor, a senior adviser to the unit, said the cumulative trolley count in January 2012 was 5,046. In January 2011, the figure was 6,893 while the previous year, the figure was 6,304.

“It is difficult to say congratulations when there’s still 5,000 patients that aren’t getting the service we would want,” Dr Connor said. However, the situation was “significantly better than it was”. (Times) >