The current wait list represents a 26% increase on the same time period of last year.

A letter to public representatives, seen by The Echo, explained that refurbishment works in the acute admissions unit in St Michael’s are planned, to enhance the safety and delivery of care, and in line with regulatory requirements.

The 6.2% hike to €27.4bn in the national health spend is not broken down by region.So it is not yet known how many more healthcare staff, hospital beds, and nursing home places Cork will get, writes Amy Campbell

There are a number areas in healthcare where investment could substantially take the pressure off the system, medical sector professionals tell John O’Shea in advance of next week’s Budget. Additional hospital staffing, mental health resources, early intervention and expanded services for our seniors are all on their wishlist

Population growth and ageing is anticipated to lead to nearly 200,000 more hospital presentations per annum over the next 15 years

HSE South West is advising people to attend the ED if they have an urgent or emergency care need, but if they have a less serious condition to consider all care options

The HSE Tobacco Free Ireland Programme provides services to people wishing to quit smoking tobacco products, but does not have services for people to quit vaping.

The level of assurance of the adequacy and effectiveness of the governance, risk management, and internal control system at Cork University Maternity Hospital  was rated “limited”.

The services planned for the centre include public health, podiatry, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech & language therapy, dietetics, a network disability team, and a home support team.

Hazardous drinking is commonplace (64%) among young people, and one in three young drinkers has an alcohol use disorder.

Other new features on the app include BreastCheck screening appointments, week-by-week healthy pregnancy information and functionality to update allergy information.

Data provided by the HSE shows there were 40,654 medical card patients seen across the four local health office areas in Cork last year, a difference of more than 6,000 patients when compared to the 46,741 seen in 2019.

She claimed that if her daughter had received surgery when she was a child, she would not need a hip replacement now, an operation which could only now be carried out in the United States and would cost an estimated €300,000.

To qualify for a GP visit card, a range of criteria must be assessed including your income, your marital status and household expenses.

 Social Democrats Td Liam Quaide said there has been a 74% increase in applications between 2022 and 2025 so far in the South West region, which is likely to increase this year.

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.