Irish Times journalist Martin Wall has won the Journalist of the Year award at the GSK Irish health care media awards.
Wall was presented with the award for breaking one of the biggest health stories of the year - how senior managers in voluntary hospitals and agencies were being paid additional benefits, in breach of the public pay policy.
Martin Wall is the Industry Correspondent of The Irish Times and has written on industrial relations affairs and on public service reform and developments in the health service over the last 25 years.
The judging panel described the work as “a major national exposé. The investigation was comprehensive and detailed and led to a national debate.”
A documentary concerning deaths of babies at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise, a radio broadcast raising awareness about heart attacks and articles relating to the medical card scandal, the dangers of internet-based tanning products and bullying in the medical profession were also among the winning entries.
Entries were judged by an independent judging panel, chaired by John Bowman and including healthcare professionals, journalists and representatives of patient and support groups.
Aidan Lynch, vice-president and general manager of GSK in Ireland, presented winners with their awards.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr Lynch said: “For over a decade, these awards have recognised and rewarded outstanding contributions to the field of medical and healthcare journalism in Ireland.
“We are extremely fortunate to have a strong independent media in Ireland who act as an independent voice, challenge pre-conceptions, ask the hard questions and push for answers, challenge health policy and bring personal stories from right across the country to life.”