The issue was raised in a motion proposed by Independent councillor Finbarr Harrington at the recent meeting of Cork County Council’s West Cork Municipal District.

David Lane, HSE South-West general manager of social inclusion, said lives would be saved due to a decision to provide naloxone, a medicine that can reverse opioid overdose, directly to people who have overdosed but decline ambulance transport to hospital.

In HSE South West, made up of Cork and Kerry, there are 186 people waiting up to three months; 124 waiting four to six months; 115 waiting seven to 12 months, and 200 waiting more than a year, HSE data shows.

According to figures released in response to a parliamentary question, the HSE screened 137,134 women in 2024, failing to reach its target of 195,000.

The HSE confirmed 1,250 young people across Ireland are living in nursing home settings, with only 104 having been transferred out since 2021.

As of last December, there were five patients in the unit, all of whom had been there for five years or more. 

The hours reduced from 88,752 hours for the first six months of 2024 to 59,328 in the same time period this year — a 33% reduction.

From the 183 cases opened at the service from May 2019 to 2022, anorexia nervosa was the most common diagnosis of open cases, representing 138 — 75% — of CAREDS cases, with other diagnoses including bulimia and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.

New HSE data show almost 10,000 people have been waiting for more than 12-months to access therapies - almost half of those for psychology treatment.

The majority of the people from the latest National Treatment Purchase Fund figures were waiting for outpatient treatment — 6,398 people were waiting more than 18 months, 7,527 for 12 to 18 months, 15,000 for six to 12 and 42,260 for less than six.

The centre in Midleton provided long-stay residential mental-health care, until its closure in 2023.

Alcohol was the most common primary substance abuse in the South-West, accounting for 53% of all presentations

More than 60 different reasons for cancellation were provided by the HSE, but in 44% of cancellations, the reason was listed as “not specified” or “other reason”.

The funding is targeted at stigma reduction and to encourage men, who otherwise would not usually avail of counselling, to seek help with their mental health.

Inspectors noted: “Overall there was a relaxed and calm atmosphere in the centre; residents were seen up and about and were seen moving freely in the centre, supported by staff who were caring.”

CUH had 889 patients treated on trolleys during July, with an additional 196 patients treated on trolleys in the Mercy.

The figures show a decline every year, except in 2021 where there was a slight increase from 2020 figures, but the low figure in 2020 may be due to the pandemic.

Inspectors noted that in the HSE-run centre, residents were overall seen to be well cared for and staff interactions were kind and respectful.

Sinn Féin senator Nicole Ryan said: "Unless you're lucky enough to afford private care, that help just isn't there."

A CT scanner and a linear accelerator at the hospital, which are used to detect and treat cancer respectively, had been idle for three years.

The Health Information and Quality Authority published 14 inspection reports on Tuesday

Now in its third year, the one-day event will take place on August 24 from 12pm to 4pm at Fair Green in Midleton.

The public are being advised to consider all care options - including GPs, pharmacists and SouthDoc out-of-hours services.

It comes as the drinks industry has cautioned against introducing these labels as part of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018, saying it would do damage to the industry particularly in light of threats of tariffs from the US.

The minister was speaking to the media during a two-day visit to Cork this week when she toured community hospitals which have been recently refurbished in Kanturk, Millstreet, and Macroom.

At a sitting of the High Court in Cork on Wednesday Ms Justice Carmel Stewart also approved an award of €55,000 to the family of Daniel O’Leary, late of Knockbrack, Banteer, in Co Cork.

Ms Carroll MacNeill also paid visits to community hospitals in Macroom and Kanturk during her two-day sojourn in Cork.

The granting of conditional planning approval was described by the local TD as "encouraging".

Figures have revealed long waiting times for psychology, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy (SLT) and physiotherapy services.

High number of GPs nearing retirement a concern for healthcare sector

Government urged to scrap parking charges for all public patients and healthcare staff in Budget 2026.

Concerns about delays in care and about medication had been brought to the attention of the management, but were not appropriately documented.

The ground-breaking agreement will see an extended health service, whereby some staff will be rostered over seven days instead of five.

The booklet is a joint project between staff at the Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), University Hospital Kerry and HSE South West mental health services.

A report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) suggested that more than 700 GPs were due to retire across the country in the next five years, but that double that number would need to be recruited by 2028 as the population increased and the number of elderly as a proportion of the population also surged.

Matt McAuliffe, aged 55, from Ballynoe, Conna, is preparing to take on the famous 170km route on July 5, when he will be joined by his 19-year-old son, Cathal.

Cork TD says that without the specialised service people with co-occurring mental health and addiction issues can 'fall through the cracks of existing services.'

Social Democrats councillor Ann Bambury sought support for a motion urging the health minister to address severe shortages in staffing of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Sinn Féin Cork South Central TD, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said there is need for cross-party and cross-departmental action on the sensitive issue. 

A HSE representative confirmed that the developers behind the project, Infrastructure Investment Fund ICAV Valley Healthcare Fund, have lodged an appeal against the council’s decision.

Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said in the Dáil last week: “Ireland’s first public AHR centre is scheduled to open in Cork later this year. It is anticipated to commence service provision in late 2025 and expected to be fully operational in 2026.”

In response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire about how many of these are actually taking new patients, a HSE spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, it is very difficult for the HSE to ascertain how many dentists are actually seeing new medical card patients in any given period of time."

Fewer than a quarter of posts in a Cork centre for endometriosis patirnts, located at the Lee Clinic and operated by CUMH, have been filled.

Surveillance in mental health services involves using technology to observe or monitor service users to inform their care and treatment.

HSE South West regional executive officer Andy Phillips said: “I would want people needing an operation to have that as close to their home as possible, so within Cork or Kerry and at a hospital that’s close to them, that provides appropriate services.”

The Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (Hems) has already been tasked to nearly 300 calls so far this year from its base at Rathcoole airfield. 

Andy Phillips was speaking after The Echo reported there were more than 1,200 children overdue for as assessment of need in Cork, with 77% of these waiting over six months.

A concerned Cork father has spoken out after his son, 12, experienced a frightening medical episode after vaping a synthetic drug. 

Following an unannounced inspection of the HSE-managed St Finbarr’s Hospital on Douglas Road, several issues, that were described as ongoing, were identified with the premises.

The extension at Millstreet Community Hospital incorporates 11 single en-suite bedrooms, as well as a new dining room and sitting room.