A roundup of today's other stories in brief.
FEET FIRST:A School of Podiatry has opened for the first time at the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG). The School of Podiatry will offer the first undergraduate podiatry programme available in the State and will lead to a BSc in podiatry. Students can apply for entry to the four-year course from the academic year 2008-9 onwards and an annual intake of 25 students is planned.
A Podiatry Clinic will be developed by the HSE in Galway University Hospital - Merlin Park to work in partnership with the school to provide for the clinical education and training components of the programme.
The announcement follows a competition organised by the Higher Education Authority in which six bids were received for the establishment of the school and an international panel recommended awarding the contract to NUIG.
The Fás Skills and Labour Market Research Unit Healthcare Skills Monitoring Report of August 2005 identified podiatry as an occupation with long-term supply shortfalls and recommended that a BSc in podiatry be set up.
RED DYE BAN:A red dye used in sausages and burgers is being banned by the European Commission because it could cause cancer.
The move came in a unanimous vote of an EU committee of national food health experts, and comes into force within days.
The decision affects the colouring agent Red 2G, which would no longer be allowed to be used in the EU or imported in foodstuffs because of a potential cancer risk highlighted earlier this month by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Red 2G is primarily used by small producers and small butchers in Ireland and Britain. The EFSA said Red 2G converts in the body to a substance called aniline, which should be considered as a carcinogen following tests of its effects on rats and mice.
Red 2G is already only allowed in limited amounts in food - in sausages with a minimum cereal content of 6 per cent and in burger meat with a minimum vegetable and/or cereal content of 4 per cent.
VIRUS RESTRICTIONS:St Luke's General Hospital for Carlow/Kilkenny has imposed restrictions on visitors, due to a suspected outbreak of the Noro virus, or Vomiting Bug.
Three patients are showing symptoms consistent with the virus. General Manager of the hospital, Anne Slattery, says members of the public should keep visits to the hospital to a minimum - making essential visits only.
Meanwhile, Waterford Regional Hospital (WRH) remains closed to visitors, save in exceptional circumstances, in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus.
A review of admissions will be undertaken daily to ensure sufficient capacity for acute admissions to the hospital.
Some 29 patients at WRH are displaying symptoms of vomiting and/or diarrhoea. In addition, 19 members of WRH staff are affected.
BONE SCAN:McCabe's pharmacy is to offer bone density screening to customers in its Dundrum store at a cost of €50. By measuring the bone density in the heel, the scan can help identify people who may have osteoporosis, or osteopenia (low bone mass) that may be a precursor to osteoporosis.
People having the test will have their foot scanned by ultrasound and will be given a printout of the bone density measured. They will be offered advice on changes to lifestyle, nutrition, exercise levels and potential medication requirements to maintain good bone health.
Osteoporosis cannot be cured, but it can often be prevented or slowed down.
INSPECTORATE CHIEF:Marion Witton has been appointed chief inspector of the Social Services Inspectorate in the Health Information and Quality Authority.
To date, the work of the Social Services Inspectorate has been focused on children in care, primarily on the inspection of children's residential care.
Recently, its role has been expanded to include the inspection and registration of residential services in the public, private and voluntary sectors for older people (including nursing homes) and people with a disability.