What's in the papers

GMC Northern Ireland provides a round-up of stories which have been in the Northern Ireland newspapers in the last week.

Week ending 9th May 2008

Health officials acknowledge serious mistakes

The Derry Journal reports on the evidence session of Northern Ireland Health Committee held on 1st May 2008. The committee heard evidence relating to the suicide of Madeline O’Neill, who killed her nine year old daughter Lauren in July 2005. Health officials acknowledged that serious mistakes were made and called for an urgent overhaul of mental health services.

Hospital cleanliness a top priority in Northern Ireland

Almost two thirds (65%) of the 1000 people who took part in a Ipsos MORI poll, commissioned by the Belfast Telegraph, rated hospital cleanliness as the number one issue facing Northern Ireland today. Three quarters of the respondents would be willing to pay more for cleaner hospitals through increased taxation. The Belfast Telegraph also reports that concerns over the spread of deadly hospital superbugs have heightened the debate over the cleanliness of hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Coroner queries use of morphine device

The Belfast Telegraph reports that at the preliminary inquest into the death of 28 year old Janet Brown, Coroner John Lecky stated his intention to write to Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer. Mr Lecky wishes to find out if patient controlled analgesia devices, which administer morphine, are in use in local hospitals. Mrs Brown died at Antrim Area Hospital in September 2006 just hours after giving birth to her baby son, a pathologist’s report later revealed she had died because she received too much morphine.