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Health

Flu Vaccine Shortage Sees Clinics Cancelled and Pharmacists Restrict Jabs to Over-65s

A manufacturing crunch has left Ireland's private flu vaccine supply critically short, forcing pharmacists to restrict jabs to over-65s and leading to the cancellation of workplace vaccination clinics. The HSE's public programme remains unaffected, but the shortage has created significant anxiety ahead of what health officials are warning could be a difficult winter.

Conor Brennan1 Oct 2026👁 17

Health

CervicalCheck Claims Cost State Nearly €19m as C&AG Report Reveals Dozens of Cases Still Ongoing

The State has paid nearly €19 million in relation to CervicalCheck claims, with dozens of cases still ongoing, according to a new report from the Comptroller and Auditor General. The figures emerge as the CervicalCheck scandal continues to cast a long shadow over Ireland's health system, with affected women and their families still awaiting resolution years after the controversy first broke.

Conor Brennan

5 min read1 Oct 2026

Health

Pharmacists Restrict Flu Vaccine to Over-65s as Manufacturing Crunch Leaves Private Supplies Short

Community pharmacies across Ireland have restricted private flu vaccine supplies to patients aged 65 and over following an unprecedented manufacturing crunch caused by the need to update all three influenza strains simultaneously. Workplace vaccination clinics have been cancelled, though the HSE has confirmed that public supplies for vulnerable groups remain secure ahead of the national campaign launch on October 8.

Conor Brennan

5 min read30 Sept 2026

Health

ADHD Medication Reimbursements Quadruple in Ireland Over a Decade as Young Adults Drive Surge in Diagnoses

New research published in the Irish Medical Journal has found that the number of patients receiving public reimbursements for ADHD medication in Ireland has increased by 314% over the past decade, rising from 3,377 to 13,966 individuals. The largest growth has been among those aged 16 to 34, with dispensing rates for women now nearly equal to those of men.

Conor Brennan

5 min read30 Sept 2026

Health

Northern Trust Faces Criticism After Teenager with Complex Needs Placed on Adult Surgical Ward at Causeway Hospital

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has faced public criticism after an 18-year-old with complex needs was placed on an adult surgical ward at Causeway Hospital rather than a children's ward, with her parents describing the experience as 'distressing'. The Trust acknowledged that the transition from children's to adult services can be 'horrendous' for families and committed to working with families to agree on care plans that prioritise safety and compassion.

Conor Brennan

6 min read29 Sept 2026

Health

NI Childminders Face 'Severe Financial Burden' as Heating Oil Costs Double Due to Iran War

Registered childminders in Northern Ireland are facing a dual crisis of doubled heating oil costs and an inability to pass these expenses on to families, as the Iran war drives global oil prices to their highest levels since 2008. The Stormont Home Heating Oil Support Scheme, which offers a £100 voucher to lower-income households, has received nearly 124,000 applications since opening on 9 September.

Conor Brennan

6 min read29 Sept 2026

Health

NI Spina Bifida and Scoliosis Inquiry Risks Becoming 'Farcical Exercise' Without Proper Resourcing, Advocates Warn

Advocates for children affected by spina bifida and scoliosis have warned that a proposed commission of investigation into concerns about their care at Children's Health Ireland risks becoming a 'farcical exercise' unless it is properly resourced and given sufficient powers. The warning comes as the review of care at CHI remains incomplete three years after concerns were first raised.

Conor Brennan

5 min read28 Sept 2026

Health

Ireland's Perinatal Mental Health Crisis: One in Five Women Affected as Mother and Baby Unit Delays Stretch to a Decade

Ireland is facing a significant crisis in perinatal mental health services, with one in five women experiencing mental health challenges during pregnancy or after birth and wait times for crisis support exceeding one month in some areas. A dedicated mother and baby psychiatric unit — recommended by the HSE in 2017 — has still not been established, with a feasibility study at St Vincent's University Hospital remaining incomplete for over two years.

Conor Brennan

5 min read28 Sept 2026

Health

NI Health Minister Announces £500,000 Support While Waiting Grant Scheme to Help Patients on Record Waiting Lists

Health Minister Robbie Butler has announced a £500,000 investment to continue the Support While Waiting Grant Scheme for the 2026-27 period, providing funding to voluntary and community organisations to support patients on Northern Ireland's record-breaking waiting lists. The scheme, which previously supported over 2,400 patients, opens for applications from registered charities offering grants of £5,000 to £30,000.

Conor Brennan

5 min read27 Sept 2026

Health

Commission of Investigation Recommended into Child Spinal Surgery Concerns at Children's Health Ireland

A commission of investigation has been recommended into concerns about child spinal surgery at Children's Health Ireland, as a review initiated in September 2023 remains incomplete three years after concerns were first raised. The review, which has been widened to cover surgeries performed between 2016 and 2023, has seen 62 families contacted for clinical follow-up.

Conor Brennan

5 min read27 Sept 2026

Health

Ireland Sleepwalking into Biggest Social and Healthcare Challenge, Nursing Homes Warn as Sector Hits 95% Occupancy

Nursing Homes Ireland has warned that the country is sleepwalking into one of the most significant social and healthcare challenges in its history, with nursing homes operating at 95% occupancy and the population aged 65 and over set to exceed one million by 2030. The sector is calling for a national dialogue on ageing and an urgent review of the Fair Deal funding model.

Conor Brennan

6 min read26 Sept 2026

Health

Fórsa, SIPTU and INMO Announce September 30 Health Worker Industrial Action Over Pay Agreement Failure

Three of Ireland's largest health worker unions — Fórsa, SIPTU, and the INMO — have announced a campaign of industrial action beginning September 30, after the government failed to establish a forum for negotiating a successor to the public service pay agreement that expired in June. The action, which will affect services across the HSE's network of hospitals and community health facilities, comes as the health service faces a projected year-end spending overrun of approximately €700 million.

Conor Brennan

7 min read25 Sept 2026