A round-up of other stories in brief
FATAL FOOD POISONING:Six Chinese people, including two children, have died from food poisoning after eating dumpling soup and two more remain seriously ill, it emerged yesterday. It is the latest example of food safety risks facing domestic consumers.
Four males and four females collapsed on Sunday with severe cramps and vomiting after eating the soup for lunch in the central province of Hubei. Two died on the spot.
The dead included a 13-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy.
In Hefei, capital of the neighbouring province of Anhui, 74 people were taken to hospital on Sunday after a birthday banquet.
China is in the middle of a nationwide campaign to improve food and product safety after a string of international scares that have tainted its export reputation.
But the government is also worried about lax safety endangering the country's own citizens. Reports of usually non-fatal food poisoning at school canteens and restaurants, especially in the countryside, are common.
PRIZED PROFESSOR:Prof Desmond Carney has been awarded the Achievement Award 2007 by the British Thoracic Oncology Group (BTOG) at the 5th Annual BTOG meeting.
Prof Carney spent eight years in the National Cancer Institute in the US where he was a fellow and staff physician. He returned to Ireland in 1984. He founded the Department of Medical Oncology in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, which is now the second-largest department in the hospital seeing over 1,000 new cases each year.
The award "recognises Prof Carney for his dedication and contribution to cancer care and research throughout his career".
He has played a major role in the creation of the ARC Cancer Support Centre in Dublin and is a director of the Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre in Drogheda.
He has been an active researcher particularly in lung cancer tumour cell biology, has supervised many higher degrees and has more than 300 peer reviewed publications to his name. He is also an innovative scientist and diligent tutor, according to a statement from the Mater.
BREAST CANCER LEAFLET:Europa Donna Ireland (EDI), the Irish Breast Cancer Campaign, has launched a patient information leaflet on the specialist breast centres which have been designated by the HSE. The leaflet details what a specialist breast centre is, where they are located and why a woman with an actual or potential diagnosis of breast cancer needs to attend one.
The leaflet which is available on the EDI website will be distributed by EDI to all cancer support centres, breast care nurses, specialist breast centres, as well as relevant hospitals, clinics and medical centres around Ireland. About 3,000 leaflets will also be distributed through the Marie Keating Foundation's mobile units.
The Irish Breast Cancer Charter, which was launched by EDI last year, lists what every woman should expect in relation to diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and is available on the EDI website: www.europadonnaireland.ie.
NEW WARDS OPEN:Two new inpatient wards at Monaghan Hospital with a capacity for 50 patients at a cost of €5 million have been officially opened by Brendan Smith, Minister for Children.
"These two new wards will provide the highest quality inpatient accommodation which meets infection control and hygiene standards," Mr Smith said.
IN MEMORY OF SUSIE LONG:The launch of the Susie Long Hospice Fund takes place at the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel, Ormonde St, Kilkenny this Friday, November 16th at 7.30pm.
The organisers say the fund has been set up in memory of Ms Long "to provide the highest possible quality of end-of-life care for patients and their families through the establishment of a 10-bed hospice in Kilkenny, by raising funds, increasing awareness of the need and benefits of local hospice care and lobbying Government for support".
Ms Long died of bowel cancer last month. The final weeks of her life were spent in Our Lady's Hospice at Harold's Cross in Dublin. There is no hospice in Kilkenny.
She shot to prominence when she went public to highlight the delays in getting treatment as a public patient.