New haemophilia drug a life changer for Killarney manFri, 11 Dec 2020 11:06:31 GMTKillarney AdvertiserA groundbreaking new drug could soon be on the market for haemophilia patients across the world as a Killarney man’s clinical trial has dramatically changed his life. Brian O’Mahony (62) – who has lived with the condition for over six decades – this week told the Killarney Advertiser that as a sufferer whose life has been severely impacted by the condition – the success of the drug “is life-changing” ... New gene therapy functionally cures Irish haemophilia patientsTue, 8 Dec 2020 11:08:58 GMTEvening EchoA ground-breaking gene therapy has “functionally” cured three Irish people with haemophilia. Haemophilia involves inherited blood disorders in which there is a defect in the clotting mechanism of the blood. The Irish Times reports that traditional treatment with a clotting factor requires weekly injections, while the new gene therapy means there is no need for injections for at least 10 years. The therapy provides patients with a new “working copy” of the genes for clotting factor protein ... New gene therapy functionally cures Irish haemophilia patientsTue, 8 Dec 2020 11:07:48 GMTBreaking NewsThe therapy provides patients with a new 'working copy' of the genes for clotting factor protein. A ground-breaking gene therapy has “functionally” cured three Irish people with haemophilia. Haemophilia involves inherited blood disorders in which there is a defect in the clotting mechanism of the blood. The Irish Times reports that traditional treatment with a clotting factor requires weekly injections, while the new gene therapy means there is no need for injections for at least 10 years ... Irish haemophilia patients given functional cure for conditionTue, 8 Dec 2020 01:08:04 GMTIrish TimesNew gene therapy gives patients ‘working copy’ of genes for clotting factor protein Haemophilia is a group of inherited blood disorders in which there is a defect in the clotting mechanism of the blood. Photograph: iStock Three Irish people with haemophilia have been given a “functional cure” for the condition using ground-breaking gene therapy. The three are among 54 patients worldwide who participated in a trial for severe haemophilia that started earlier this year ... Contact tracing to expand to cover one week prior to infection instead of two daysThu, 26 Nov 2020 07:25:44 GMTIrish IndependentThe new RocDoc Drive-Thru Covid-19 testing facility at Dublin Airport. Photo: Steve Humphreys Two months ago, Professor Philip Nolan sent out a series of tweets in an effort to explain why restaurants and pubs were being asked to close, despite the lack of data to support the move. It was a reasonable question to ask, he said, but this line of thinking was a “misrepresentation of the data on clusters and outbreaks ... Health Minister announces extension of suicide reduction strategy to 2024Wed, 25 Nov 2020 17:56:58 GMTWestern PeopleKenneth Fox The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly and Minister of State for Mental Health, Mary Butler have announced the extension of Ireland’s national strategy to reduce suicide to 2024. They said that since 2015, the strategy which is known as Connecting for Life has provided a nationwide, cross-sectoral approach to reducing self-harm and suicide rates in Ireland ... Briton Alex Dowsett to target hour record in Manchester on December 12Tue, 10 Nov 2020 17:11:56 GMTDaily TelegraphBriton must beat Victor Campenaerts's distance of 55.089km to regain record Alex Dowsett previously held the hour record — 52.937km — in 2015 before it was taken by Bradley Wiggins Alex Dowsett has announced plans to regain the world hour record in Manchester next month. Dowsett, 32, set a mark of 52.937km at the national velodrome in May 2015 but only held the record for just over a month with Sir Bradley Wiggins managing to complete 54 ... An Taoiseach launches Keep Well campaignThu, 29 Oct 2020 13:06:00 GMTCavan County CouncilA new ‘Keep Well’ campaign has been launched by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD and ministerial colleagues, which aims to support people and communities to mind their physical and mental health over the coming months. The Government Plan for Living with COVID-19: Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021 highlights the important role that individual and community resilience will play in contributing to our ongoing response to COVID-19. Today’s launch is a call to action to everyone across our society ... 5 Supports for Health and Wellbeing during Level 5Thu, 22 Oct 2020 13:46:40 ISTIrish League Of Credit UnionsAs we head into level-5 restrictions for the next six weeks, the days are colder, the nights darker. But this time, things are different - we're more experienced. We emerged from the last lockdown, witnessed the generousity, compassion and support our communities are capable of. We braved it together, and built new, digital means of communication. Below, we have listed a range of resources and supports available to help boost your health and wellbeing, should you need them during this time ... Webinar Physical Activity and the PandemicFri, 18 Sep 2020 10:27:03 ISTInstitute of Public HealthKeeping active and well as we grow older is a key challenge for public health. This event will focus on the value of sustaining physical activity as we get older and how to support populations to do so. Speakers from Ireland, the UK, and Australia will share evidence, policy and best practice. The webinar will have a key focus on challenges faced in keeping populations active during the COVID-19 pandemic ... Dublin hospitals under significant pressure says HSE chiefFri, 18 Sep 2020 09:37:20 ISTKildare NationalistThe director general of the Health Service Executive (HSE) has warned that the hospital system is heading into a difficult period and that some Dublin hospitals are already coming under “significant pressure.” Paul Reid urged people to follow public health advice. “If we keep going on the road we’re going, we’re heading onto a road that could get us back to the point where we have to take more restrictive actions,” he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland ... HSE launches new online drug resources for Overdose Awareness dayMon, 31 Aug 2020 13:37:13 ISTextra.ieThe HSE has announced that it is launching new online support resources to mark International Overdose Awareness day. To mark the day on Monday, August 31, the HSE, the Department of Health, the Union of Students in Ireland will host a virtual event to commemorate those who have died or suffered permanent injury due to drug overdose. It is also hoped that the event will raise awareness of current overdose concerns, as well as reducing the stigma surrounding drug-related deaths ... National Orthopaedic Hospital reverts to elective servicesTue, 25 Aug 2020 09:36:46 ISTIrish Medical TimesThe hospital repurposed to a trauma centre in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic The National Orthopaedic Hospital, located in Cappagh, Dublin, has transitioned back to elective orthopaedic services, working to reduce the backlog that has arisen since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic ... Main points What are the new Covid 19 restrictions.Wed, 19 Aug 2020 07:26:05 ISTIrish TimesFresh guidance for over-70s to remain in place until September 13th Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Minister for Climate Action Eamon Ryan at the post-cabinet press briefing at Government Buildings in Dublin on Tuesday. Photograph: Julien Behal Photography/PA Wire. The Government announced these new measures to combat coronavirus on Tuesday evening. They are due to come into effect immediately and remain in place until September 13th ... Pubs masks and parties At a glance the main Covid 19 actions from a big government briefingThu, 16 Jul 2020 09:16:10 ISTThe JournalA number of significant announcements were made last night. LAST NIGHT SAW a series of major announcements relating to the government’s response to Covid-19 in this country. It was the first major reopening roadmap press conference to be held by the new government and comes on the back of an increase in cases in the past week. It featured Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, acting chief medical officer Dr. Ronan Glynn and saw a number of important announcements ... HIQA to develop Overarching National Standards for the Care and Support of Children using health and social care servicesThu, 16 Jul 2020 08:07:22 ISTHealth Information and Quality AuthorityThe Health Information and Quality Authority has today announced that it is to develop an overarching set of national standards for the care and support of children using health and social care services. This is the first time a set of standards that focuses on the needs of a whole population across health and social care services has been developed by HIQA ... Race against time The inside story of Ireland s Covid Tracker appThu, 16 Jul 2020 06:25:31 ISTIrish TimesWork began on the app in March, but bluetooth and privacy issues had to be ironed out Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly launches the official HSE Covid Tracker contact tracing app at the Department of Health in Dublin on July 7th. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire Your Web Browser may be out of date. If you are using Internet Explorer 9, 10 or 11 our Audio player will not work properly. There was a moment in recent weeks when it seemed as if Ireland’s contact tracing app would never arrive ... App sees Ireland take leap into Covid tracing unknownTue, 7 Jul 2020 14:46:18 ISTRTE NewsThe app has been launched in Ireland (Pic: RollingNews.ie) Ireland has taken its first leap into the world of coronavirus tracing apps. Other countries which have launched Covid-19 contact tracing apps have had mixed experiences so far. In Germany, the uptake was 20-25%. Norway pulled its tracing app after concerns were raised by the data privacy watchdog there and the UK has ditched its original app in favour of something new in the autumn. The key to the success of any such app is uptake ... Doctor Tony Holohan To Receive Freedom Of Dublin CityTue, 7 Jul 2020 07:55:55 ISTEast Coast RadioDublin City Councillors last night voted in favour of awarding Dr Tony Holohan the Freedom of the City. Doctor Holohan stepped away from his work last week to spend time with family as his wife is receiving palliative care. The nomination was proposed by the Lord Mayor Hazel Chu, in recognition of his work leading the response to Covid-19. The HSE says it'll take until October to clear the backlog of smear testing that built up while Cervical Check was suspended ... It s never too late to stop smoking even after 40 yearsMon, 29 Jun 2020 14:46:42 ISTDonegal NewsEvery day Paddy Keeney goes for a 5km walk with his dog. This would have been impossible two years ago when he was still smoking as his breathing was too bad. Paddy is 65 years old and began smoking at 22 and was a heavy smoker, smoking between 20- 40 cigarettes a day. Cigarettes were the first thing he thought about in the morning and the last thing at night. There were always emergency cigarettes and rolling tobacco in the house ... Donnelly says move towards universal healthcare has to be acceleratedMon, 29 Jun 2020 10:36:06 ISTNewstalk 106-108FMThe move towards universal healthcare has to be 'accelerated' in response to the COVID-19 crisis, according to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly. He says an "awful lot of men, women and children" are waiting months or years to see a doctor or access a required scan, treatment or surgery ... Shops free to reopen under biggest easing of Covid 19 restrictionsMon, 29 Jun 2020 02:16:28 ISTIrish TimesRecommendation against non-essential travel outside Ireland remains in place Charlotte Oppermann of Om Diva, a vintage clothing shop on Dublin’s South Great George’s Street, which is preparing to reopen. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Most shops and other businesses can reopen, and travel is being allowed nationally, from today, under the biggest easing of Covid-19 restrictions since the pandemic began ... Face coverings become compulsory on public transportSun, 28 Jun 2020 18:09:06 ISTBelfast TelegraphOne more coronavirus-related death has been confirmed in Ireland on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 1,735. A person wearing a protective face mask sits on a bus in Dublin (PA) Face coverings will be compulsory on public transport from Monday as capacity on buses, trains and trams will increase from 20% to about 50%. n conjunction with this move, face coverings will be compulsory on all public transport services ... HSE s Covid 19 contact tracing app is ready for launchWed, 24 Jun 2020 07:56:42 ISTIrish TimesLong-awaited app to manage infection control as economy reopens has been undergoing extensive testing ahead of release Ireland’s Covid-19 tracker app is ready to launch, the Health Service Executive has said. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Ireland’s Covid-19 tracker app is ready to launch, the Health Service Executive has said. The HSE said it will provide further details on plans to launch the app alongside a promotion campaign to “support its uptake and sustained use” later this week ... Simon Harris Facemasks should be worn but arent a magic shieldMon, 8 Jun 2020 08:27:45 ISTIrish ExaminerThe Health Minister has said the "strong advice" is that people should wear face coverings in shops and on public transport - but he warned that they aren't a "magic shield". The advice came as Simon Harris announced that there are 10 Irish hospitals with no coronavirus patients. Mr Harris said that there are 132 people with Irish hospitals with the virus. Mr Harris confirmed that the 2m rule for social distancing is under review with the National Public Health Emergency Team is under review ... Covid 19 restrictions Heres whats new from today and beyondMon, 8 Jun 2020 07:46:05 ISTRTE NewsWhat has been termed 'Phase 2+' begins today The easing of restrictions brought in to contain the spread of Covid-19 has been accelerated with what has been termed "Phase 2+" beginning today, here's what you need to know about the changes. Phase 2 Plus (8 June) Everything outlined in Phase 2 has been given the green light while some of Phase 3 has been brought forward. Stay Local: You may travel within your own county, and up to 20 kilometres from your home if crossing county boundaries ... Covid 19 Limited easing of restrictions proposed as pressure grows to reopen economyThu, 4 Jun 2020 06:26:23 ISTIrish TimesHealth officials to discuss reopening of playgrounds and allowing summer camps Minister for Health Simon Harris with kitchen staff Tracy Bailey and Sandra Wynne at the National Council for the Blind of Ireland’s Iona Resource Centre in Dublin on Wednesday. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Public health officials are set to give the go-ahead on Thursday for a further easing of restrictions designed to prevent the spread of Covid-19, with only minor changes to the Government’s original roadmap ... Minister for Health announces influenza vaccines to be made available without charge to all children aged 2 12 and all risk groupsMon, 18 May 2020 10:27:44 ISTmerrionstreet.ieMinister for Health Simon Harris TD has today announced his intention extend the influenza vaccine to children without charge. Minister Harris confirmed all of those in the HSE-defined at-risk groups, aged from 6 months to 69 years inclusive will also be available to access the vaccine without charge. All persons aged over 70 already have access without charges. The vaccination will be available to all children aged from 2 to 12 years inclusive ... Health Minister pleased and nervous Ireland is taking first steps out of lockdownMon, 18 May 2020 09:28:35 ISTBelfast TelegraphSome retail outlets are reopening, outdoor work is resuming and sports like golf and tennis can be played again. A golfer walks to the first green at Charlesland Golf Club in Greystones, County Wicklow (Donall Farmer/PA) Heath Minister Simon Harris has said he is pleased and nervous as Ireland takes its first steps out of the coronavirus lockdown. hase one of the country’s five-phase exit plan was triggered on Monday ... Patients with severe Covid 19 infections had abnormal blood clottingThu, 30 Apr 2020 13:37:17 ISTBreaking NewsPatients with severe cases of Covid-19 had abnormal blood clotting which contributed to some deaths, research has found. The study found that patients with higher levels of blood clotting had a significantly worse prognosis and were more likely to require intensive care. Scientists from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) said their findings show Covid-19 is associated with a unique type of blood clotting ... A rapidly changing landscape Haemophilia updateTue, 31 Mar 2020 10:39:49 ISTMedical IndependentMr Brian O’Mahony, Chief Executive of the Irish Haemophilia Society gives an overview of the latest therapeutics being used by Irish haemophilia patients, including a ground-breaking gene therapy trial, which a small number of Irish patients are involved in For haemophilia A, there are now two alternative treatment options available in Ireland: 1 ... Covid 19 outbreak affects more major activities eventsWed, 11 Mar 2020 16:48:55 GMTIrish Medical TimesThe Irish Cancer Society has cancelled all Daffodil Day street collections The annual conference of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day are among the major patient advocate group events hit by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Cystic Fibrosis Ireland has taken “the reluctant decision” to postpone its annual conference that was due to take place in Galway from Friday April 3, due to the rapidly evolving situation regarding Covid-19 ... First person in Ireland with haemophilia successfully treated with gene therapyThu, 5 Mar 2020 18:15:22 GMTThe JournalIt’s hoped the breakthrough will have a major impact on the quality of life of people with the condition. GENE THERAPY HAS been used to treat a person with haemophilia for the first time in Ireland, the Irish Haemophilia Society has announced today. The person received the therapy as part of a clinical trial. The society hailed it a major breakthrough and said it would have a major impact on the quality of life of people with the condition ... Ground breaking gene therapy used for first time in Ireland to treat haemophiliaThu, 5 Mar 2020 15:19:30 GMTIrish ExaminerGround-breaking gene therapy has been used for the first time to treat a person with severe haemophilia in Ireland. With advances in gene therapy, it is hoped that haemophilia, an inherited bleeding disorder, will no longer be a lifelong disease. The Irish Haemophilia Society said the recipient, who wants to remain anonymous, received the therapy as part of a clinical trial. There is currently no cure for haemophilia but patients can be treated with an intravenous clotting factor ... Gene therapy used in clinical trial for person with haemophiliaThu, 5 Mar 2020 12:28:01 GMTIrish TimesDevelopment hailed as ‘momentous occasion for the haemophilia community in Ireland’ The Irish Haemophilia Society (IHS) confirmed on Thursday morning that the person received gene therapy as part of a clinical trial. Photograph: iStock Gene therapy has been used to treat a person with haemophilia for the first time in, a patient group has announced. The Irish Haemophilia Society(IHS) confirmed on Thursday morning that the person received gene therapy as part of a clinical trial ... Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team Tuesday 3 March 2020Wed, 4 Mar 2020 07:56:47 GMTGovernment of IrelandHPSC has been informed of a 2nd confirmed case of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) in Ireland. There are now 2 confirmed cases of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) in Ireland. 397 people tested for Covid-19 (Coronavirus) in Ireland as at Monday 2 March. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has this evening been informed of a second confirmed case of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in Ireland. The patient, a female, in the east of Ireland, is currently receiving appropriate care ... Irish Congress of Trade Unions calls on employers to pay staff should they have to self isolateTue, 3 Mar 2020 19:48:50 GMTIrish ExaminerThe Irish Congress of Trade Unions is calling on employers to continue paying staff as normal if they have been medically advised to self-isolate due to coronavirus. The ICTU says this should apply in cases where an employee self-isolates in accordance with the up-to-date guidance of the HSE. In a letter sent to IBEC, the union says it believes the normal condition for sick leave should apply in circumstances where an employee contracts COVID-19 ... Cork city GP diagnosing three cases of mumps every weekTue, 3 Mar 2020 17:29:04 GMTEvening EchoA CITY GP, who is diagnosing three cases of mumps a week on average, has warned that Cork is at the centre of a “significant outbreak”. Dr Nick Flynn, of Union Quay and MyCorkGP.ie, was speaking after an email sent to students at Cork Institute of Technology revealed that a number of mumps cases have been detected on campus in recent days ... WATCH How to properly wash your hands amid spread of CoronavirusTue, 3 Mar 2020 16:48:43 GMTLMFMThe HSE have a helpful step-by-step video that shows how to properly wash your hands (via Pexels) A useful video on how to wash your hands properly and help stop the spread of bacteria is now available. Are you washing your hands properly? With the recent spread of Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, it is even more important than ever that we are all washing our hands in the correct way, to help stop the spread of bacteria and viruses ... New treatment for people with haemophiliaTue, 22 Oct 2019 12:52:17 ISTIrish HealthWill offer more protection A innovative new treatment for people with haemophilia is to be provided in Ireland, the Irish Haemophilia Society has said. The news was confirmed at the society's annual conference at the weekend. Agreement has been reached for the provision of the treatment, which will provide greater protection for those with the condition. Haemophilia is a group of inherited blood disorders that affect the blood's ability to form clots ...