A round-up of this week's other health news in brief ...
Young people avoid GP visits due to cost
Almost 20 per cent of young people do not attend a doctor when they are sick because of the cost involved, according to new research from the National Youth Council of Ireland.
James Doorley, assistant director of the organisation, said the Government should review and enhance eligibility criteria for medical cards given this finding.
The survey was conducted among 1,020 people across Ireland aged 18-25 years.
Parents to rally against cutbacks
A protest against planned cuts in services at the State’s largest children’s hospital, Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin, is due to take place this evening outside the hospital at 6pm.
Organised by parents and supported by Patients Together, the rally has been organised in response to news that the hospital is closing wards and planning to have 8,000 fewer outpatient attendances this year in a bid to stay within budget. It is currently facing a deficit of €9.6 million.
INO calls for action on hunger strike
The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) yesterday called on Minister for Health Mary Harney to immediately appoint a mediator to try to resolve a dispute between the HSE and a man on hunger strike at a Waterford hospital.
Sean Brett, the son of a patient in St Patrick’s Hospital, has been on hunger strike for the past week in an effort to force the HSE to reverse its decision to close a 19-bed ward at the hospital.
The HSE maintains the closure is vital for health and safety reasons. It says there will be no loss of beds as it will contract beds in private nursing homes instead.
Liz Curran, INO industrial relations officer for the area, said: “Our members at the hospital are becoming very concerned about the potential serious damage to this man’s health if his hunger strike is allowed to continue.
“Somebody must take the initiative and we are calling on the Minister to appoint an expert to intervene in this potentially dangerous stand off.”