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The Minister for Health must progress the option of building a Model 3 hospital in the Mid-West following the completion of a HIQA review of urgent and emergency healthcare services in the region, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “I welcome that this review has […]

The inquiry into scoliosis and spina bifida care in Children’s Health Ireland must be more than a box ticking exercise which results in a report devoid of solutions, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice said: “I welcome the government’s commitment to hold this public inquiry into CHI, however, it must be […]

The government must urgently regulate the sale and marketing of nicotine pouches, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “Nicotine pouches are increasingly being used by teenagers across the country – they’re cheap, flavoured, and aggressively marketed to children. “The product is widely available in corner shops with no age restrictions, packaging […]

Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice will introduce a Bill today to close a loophole in the law that allows the drinks industry to circumvent restrictions on alcohol advertising when it comes to 0.0 products. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s spokesperson on health, said: “The Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 was a landmark piece of […]

Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice has described confirmation that Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) is to be integrated into the HSE by 2027 as an inevitable consequence of the organisation’s litany of failures. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “This is welcome news, but hardly a surprising development given the succession of controversies […]

The Minister for Health must take some share of responsibility for the latest delay to the National Children’s Hospital, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “When questioned earlier today on when the new hospital would open, Minister Carroll Mac Neill flippantly suggested that people should […]

Nicotine pouches should be viewed as a gateway to lifelong nicotine dependency The government’s failure to regulate the sale of nicotine pouches poses an ongoing threat to children’s health and wellbeing, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. “Today, the Irish Cancer society has highlighted that popular festivals – like Electric Picnic – are partnering with […]

The full multidisciplinary report on the timeline of care provided to Harvey Morrison Sherratt must be completed and provided to his family as a matter of urgency, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice. Speaking ahead of next weekend’s demonstration march in Dublin in memory of the nine-year-old, who had spina bifida and scoliosis […]

Lack of workforce planning and the HSE’s failure to initiate a comprehensive recruitment drive is exacerbating the crisis in primary care services for young people, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on mental health and disability, said: “This government continues to be in denial about the scale […]

Sláintecare must not be neglected in the revised National Development Plan (NDP), according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “Sláintecare cannot be allowed to become a sacrificial lamb in the revised NDP, due to be published next week. “While there should absolutely be a clear focus […]