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Health

Wide Variations in Cancer Treatment Delivery Across Ireland Revealed in New HSE Data

New HSE data has revealed wide variations in the delivery of cancer treatment across Ireland, with patients in some regions waiting significantly longer for radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical procedures than those in others. The findings have prompted calls for a national cancer care equalisation programme to ensure that where a patient lives does not determine the quality of their cancer care.

Conor Brennan26 Aug 2026👁 4

Health

NI Bus Safety Bill to Ban Overtaking Stationary School Buses on Rural Roads

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced plans to introduce legislation banning the overtaking of stationary school buses on 60mph rural roads in Northern Ireland, following a public consultation that received more than 600 responses. The bill is intended to protect children boarding and alighting from school buses on roads where the risk of collision is highest.

Conor Brennan

6 min read26 Aug 2026

Health

Maynooth University Sleep Study to Examine Links Between Poor Sleep and Mental Health in Irish Adults

Maynooth University has launched a major new research project examining the links between poor sleep and mental health outcomes in Irish adults, with the study expected to provide the most comprehensive picture yet of sleep disorders in Ireland. The research, funded by the Health Research Board, will recruit 2,000 participants across the country over the next two years.

Conor Brennan

6 min read25 Aug 2026

Health

Radiologist Who Reviewed HSE Patient Scans Had Medical Licence Revoked in Two Countries

A radiologist who was engaged to review patient scans for the HSE had previously had their medical licence revoked in both Sweden and Norway, raising serious concerns about the vetting processes for medical professionals working within the Irish public health system through third-party teleradiology providers.

Conor Brennan

5 min read25 Aug 2026

Health

Robotic Surgery 'Pushing the Boundaries' of Irish Cancer Care as RCSI Launches National Training Curriculum

Robotic surgery is transforming cancer care in Ireland, with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland launching the country's first national robotic surgery curriculum in April 2026 to standardise training. Hospitals in both the Republic and Northern Ireland are expanding their robotic programmes, with the technology now used for prostate, colorectal, and oesophageal cancer procedures.

Conor Brennan

5 min read24 Aug 2026

Health

Public Warned Not to Take Unapproved Weight-Loss Drug as HSE Issues Safety Alert

The HSE and the Health Products Regulatory Authority have issued a public safety alert warning people not to take an unapproved weight-loss drug that is being sold online and through informal channels in Ireland. The alert follows a significant increase in the seizure of illegal GLP-1 products, with testing confirming that many contain no active ingredients.

Conor Brennan

5 min read24 Aug 2026

Health

HSE Skyclarys Decision Looms for Friedreich's Ataxia Patients as Families Await Reimbursement Ruling

The HSE is preparing to make a decision on whether to reimburse Skyclarys (omaveloxolone), the first disease-modifying treatment for Friedreich's ataxia, for Irish patients. The drug, which costs approximately €280,000 per patient per year, has been approved by the European Medicines Agency but has not yet been made available through the Irish public health system.

Conor Brennan

5 min read23 Aug 2026

Health

New Asthma Drug Exdensur Approved for Irish Patients as European Commission Clears Depemokimab for Severe Cases

The European Commission has approved Exdensur (depemokimab) for the treatment of severe asthma with type 2 inflammation and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, a development with significant implications for the estimated 450,000 people living with asthma in Ireland. The drug, administered just twice a year, represents a significant advance in the management of severe asthma.

Conor Brennan

5 min read22 Aug 2026

Health

HSE Warns of High-Risk Synthetic Cannabinoids Found in Vapes as Drug Safety Alert Issued Across Ireland

The HSE Drug Trends Lab has issued a public safety alert after discovering high-risk synthetic cannabinoids in vapes and other products circulating in Ireland, warning that these substances can cause severe and unpredictable reactions including psychosis, seizures, and cardiac events. The alert comes as vaping among young people continues to rise across the country.

Conor Brennan

5 min read22 Aug 2026

Health

Rare Disease Drug Recalled in Ireland After Deaths Linked to Product in Japan

The Health Products Regulatory Authority has issued an urgent recall of a rare disease medication in Ireland following reports of deaths linked to the product in Japan. The HPRA has contacted healthcare providers and patients who have been prescribed the drug and has advised that alternative treatments should be discussed with treating physicians. The recall affects a small number of patients in Ireland who are being managed through specialist centres.

Conor Brennan

5 min read21 Aug 2026

Health

HSE Announces 612 New Healthcare Training Places as Workforce Gap Reaches Nearly 6,000 Posts

The HSE has welcomed the government's announcement of 612 additional annual university places across healthcare disciplines as a significant step towards addressing a workforce gap of nearly 6,000 staff below officially permitted levels. The expansion, which includes 268 nursing and midwifery places, 78 medicine places, and 151 pharmacy places, is designed to reduce Ireland's reliance on internationally recruited healthcare professionals and to build a sustainable domestic pipeline of trained staff.

Conor Brennan

5 min read21 Aug 2026

Health

Moderna's mRNA Cancer Vaccine Breakthrough Prompts Irish Oncologists to Call for Accelerated Reimbursement Process

Irish oncologists and patient advocacy groups have called for an accelerated HSE reimbursement process following the landmark trial success of Moderna and Merck's personalised mRNA cancer vaccine for high-risk melanoma. With regulatory approval potentially as early as 2027, advocates warn that Ireland's current drug assessment timeline could leave patients waiting until 2029 or beyond for access.

Conor Brennan

6 min read20 Aug 2026