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Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Cosmetic procedure legislation has been 'just sitting on somebody's desk' for eight years, medic says
Stalled legislation around regulating cosmetic procedures like botox and fillers is "just sitting on somebody's desk" for eight years with "no impetus to push it forward" until a death occurs, a leading medical practitioner has warned. A decision is expected from the Government shortly about recommencing drafting of legislation to regulate such cosmetic procedures. It comes amid concern at the lack of regulation in the area, amid high-profile cases in the UK about botox and other procedures in recent weeks. The Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill was approved by the then government in December 2017 and subsequently underwent pre-legislative scrutiny. It was then referred to the Office of the Attorney General for drafting. However, it has not progressed since then. Currently, botox is supposed to be only available through prescription, under the administration of qualified doctors and dentists. However, it is arriving into Ireland regularly, as seizures conducted by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) show. Last year, some 1,709 units of fake or illegal products claiming to contain botulinum toxin were seized, compared with just 26 in 2020. Unlike botox, dermal filler is not yet subjected to stringent regulations, meaning that people can be administered it in unsafe settings and environments. Botox survey This week's Irish Examiner Women's Health Report shows that a growing number of women – particularly those under 34 – feel positive towards cosmetic treatments and plastic surgery procedures including brow lifts, 'nose jobs', and breast augmentation. Just over a tenth (12%) of the 1,078 women interviewed for the IPSOS B&A survey conducted over a two-week period had undergone a procedure involving botox or fillers. Of those who had undergone botox or anti-wrinkle injections, 82% would consider doing it again. Almost half who underwent either of these two procedures admitted to having done them for a confidence boost. Similarly, 47% of those who had lip fillers or injections also said they done it for confidence. Just 50% said they had done the latter for anti-aging purposes – compared with 66% who said they had done botox or anti-wrinkle injections for anti-aging reasons. Dublin-based aesthetic medical practitioner Dr Eithne Brenner said regulation in Ireland is slow. 'I think it (legislation) has just been sitting on somebody's desk and there is no impetus to push it forward. Until we get something shocking like an Irish death, I don't think we are going to get enough change. We are behind in terms of legislation and we really need it.' A statement from the Department of Health said: 'A decision is now being sought from the Government to recommence drafting of the Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill. A memo for Government will be considered at Cabinet shortly.' Last week in the UK, 14 people from County Durham and Darlington experienced "adverse reactions" including eye drooping and double vision following "botulinum toxin" injections. Of those, 10 people had required treatment. Read More Register of approved practitioners offering botox and fillers to be established
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Singles Run Club: How a 5km Marina run shows singles a route past the apps
Connection. As human beings, it is fundamental to our existence and yet, in this day and age, more and more people are struggling to forge healthy and meaningful connections. Why? I think we've become accustomed to 'staying in our lane', head buried in our phones, rushing with nowhere to rush to. All distractions from what truly matters. Perhaps if we simply opened our eyes to the world around us, opened ourselves up to new opportunities, and lived in the moment, we would see how, as social animals, we are wired for connection, making relationships crucial to our wellbeing, happiness, and overall survival. Even the simplest of acts, such as smiling at someone walking down the street or saying hello to a stranger on the bus, can make someone's day; which in itself is reflective of how we have become so deprived of connection as a whole, that the smallest of interactions or gestures give us a boost. As a 30-year-old singleton in Cork who has recently gotten her spark back after years of struggling with self-confidence and failed situationships, let me tell you — being present, learning to be comfortable in your skin, and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone is where it's at. And rocking up to a singles run club at the Marina Market earlier this month was just that — completely out of my depth. Not only was it my first singles event but it was also my first time attending a run club — a double whammy for someone who gets anxious about trying new things. But the more I thought about it, I realised — what better way to meet someone like-minded? We've all decided to try something different, we've all hopped out of bed early on a Saturday morning to go for a 5km run, and we're all seeking that all-important connection. Breda Graham at the new park on Cork's Marina. Picture: David Creedon The first of its kind held in Cork, the singles run was hosted by Your Friend, My Friend, a company set up by Dublin-based couple Samantha and Eoin Keating. Think meeting someone naturally, without having to work out whether someone is single or not — that part is done for you, you'll be glad to know. The rules are: those who are single wear black and those who are taken wear colour — a sure way to suss out who in the group you can approach and strike up conversation with. Sixty singles donning their black running outfits showed up to the meeting point at NoSin at the Marina Market, before a sea of black could be seen running down the marina, after first stopping up for a quick warm-up and mingling session at Marina Park. During the warm-up, simple things such as a rock, paper, scissors battle with the person next to you to determine who would be the one to do 10 jumping jacks made everyone comfortable and got the conversation flowing. The run itself was at a nice conversational pace, something a slower runner like myself was very appreciative of. My training sessions for the 10km at this year's Cork City Marathon were a sight for sore eyes, to say the very least. Not the sort of thing that would attract any potential partner. Something that had stopped me from attending these sorts of run club events in the past had been the fear of being too slow but this relaxed run had no expectations attached to it; people ran, jogged, walked — whatever they were comfortable with. After the run, it was back at the market where everyone got a complimentary NoSin smoothie bowl or smoothie. I loved this aspect as it meant people stuck around and mingled. It was the perfect way for people to get to know one another and share contact details and, looking around at everyone sitting at tables together, sharing stories, you would never have guessed that most showed up to the event alone. Members of the new Singles Run Club on their first run on the Marina, Cork. Picture: David Creedon After the event, organisers Sam and Eoin send an email with a link where you have the option to enter a person's name whom you would like to continue to get to know. That person then receives an email with your details and, if they're interested, it's up to them to reach out. This allows you to follow up with someone, if they too are interested, and also gives everyone that added layer of comfort. And that's something that makes Your Friend, My Friend stand out — Sam and Eoin's genuine interest in fostering connections, whether it's forging romantic relationships or nurturing friendships, all while building a vibrant community. Speaking to Sam, it's obvious that she is passionate about people making genuine connections and is in tune with the distractions of day-to-day life, such as social media and dating apps — something she has found people becoming more and more frustrated with. As someone who has tried and failed at dating apps, I share her sentiment. Apps can dehumanise their users as just a profile that is often hidden behind a paywall. 'For some reason, people are OK with ghosting you or cancelling at the last minute, or people just tend to be much more flaky on apps. "But when you meet somebody in person, you immediately connect with them and they're a human being, and you're not going to just ghost them because you've already had that initial connection with them,' she says. 'When people are on apps, they can spend weeks, sometimes, texting and, especially women, we build guys up in our head to be something that they might not be, and then when we meet them, immediately you can feel the vibe and think, 'This isn't my person.' And so it's deflating, because you spend so long doing that kind of dance back and forth. When you meet people in person, you just immediately know.' Michael Nunes and Amy Goggin out on the first Singles Club run on the Marina, Cork. Picture: David Creedon And with the number of people in their 30s with 'still figuring it out' set as the answer to their relationship goal on dating apps, it's no wonder that more and more people are turning to in-person events to meet the right people. Not only does Your Friend, My Friend aim to combat loneliness and forge connections through hosting singles run clubs but also through speed-dating events, singles socials, wine tastings, weekend getaways, and, most recently, a wedding for singles. You know that exciting feeling when you're single at a wedding and you realise the cutie giving you eyes from across the room is also single? Well, imagine that — but everyone in the room is single. The singles wedding party, the first of its kind, was held in collaboration with Fallon & Byrne in Dublin this week, featuring a fake bride and groom, a comedian delivering the best man's speech, a bouquet toss, a magician, a DJ, a feast from Fallon & Byrne, and 120 singles. So, is it time we ditch the apps and go in search of making in-person connections? If you ask me, the popularity of these social clubs and events says it all. Going back to basics by creating authentic, real connections is the way forward for modern-day dating.
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
The wild west of beauty: why Ireland's cosmetic treatment craze needs taming
Type 'botox party' into your search engine and watch as almost two million results pop up. Among the items there to grab your attention are card designs for invites to such a party, videos on how to 'experience the excitement of botox parties', tips on how to run such an event, and a 'what you need to know' guide for those just starting out on such an adventure. Botox, fillers, and other cosmetic procedures are now as normal as booking in for a hair appointment, a chin wax, or a dental scale and polish. More traditionally associated with a select number of providers, the offering open to people now who are looking for cosmetic improvements is wide, with people also considering travelling abroad for procedures, or simply getting together with 'the girls' for a laugh, a drink, and a shot of botulinum toxin (botox) in the comfort of their own home. This week's Irish Examiner Women's Health Report shows that a growing number of women, particularly in the under 34 age profile, feel positive towards cosmetic treatments and plastic surgery procedures including brow lifts, 'nose jobs', and breast augmentation. For example, 44% of those in the 25 to 34 age bracket felt positively about cosmetic treatments compared with just 17% of the over 65 category. While there is slightly more reticence about plastic surgery procedures among all age cohorts, the age differential remains. Over a third, 35%, of those in the 25-34 age category felt positively about plastic surgery compared with just 10% in the over 65 category. Overall, 12% of the 1,078 women interviewed for the Ipsos B&A survey conducted over a two-week period had undergone a procedure involving botox or fillers. For the vast majority of respondents, the experience was positive. Of those who had undergone botox or anti-wrinkle injections, 82% would consider doing it again. Why do people do it? So why do people do it? Almost half of women who opted for cosmetic treatments such as botox or anti-wrinkle injections did it to boost their confidence. The desire to roll back the years was also evident in the responses with 50% saying they had undergone lip fillers/injections for anti-ageing purposes, compared with 66% who said they had done botox or anti-wrinkle injections for anti-ageing reasons. In recent years, dental practices across the country began offering cosmetic procedures including botox and dermal fillers, with the Dental Council having its own code of conduct for the area, which was updated in 2023. The Irish Examiner survey shows that while one in seven of the surveyed women were aware of dentists offering cosmetic procedures, just one in 10 knew GPs also offered such services. Dublin-based aesthetic medicine practitioner Eithne Brenner has been a doctor for 36 years, including 25 years as a GP. She diverted her focus to aesthetic medicine in 2007 and says that her clients are mainly women in the over 45 category, who are looking for cosmetic work to tackle signs of ageing. 'I do work with lasers improving people's ruddy complexions, doing work that can be very subtle and very effective,' said Dr Brenner. 'The filler side of it is one of the areas where there is still a lot of bad work out there. I don't see the younger girls at all because they are looking for a bargain in somebody's kitchen. "I tend to see people 45 or 50 plus who want subtle changes and they are terrified of looking different but they want something. My work is more restorative. The younger girls are going to beauticians and people who are cheaper. They take more risks. 'I have colleagues who do amazing breast reconstruction for somebody who has very heavy, very droopy boobs and pain. In the right hands, surgery can be transformative. But it is about doing research. These are very serious medical procedures.' Dr Brenner accepts that there is more awareness now of the dangers of unscrupulous people carrying out cosmetic procedures but said: 'There is still a drive for plastic surgery and there is an issue of how do we raise our younger generation to be really careful and know they don't need these things.' Currently, botox is supposed to be only available through prescription, under the administration of qualified doctors and dentists. However, as seizures conducted by the Health Products Regulatory Authority show, there is a thriving market for counterfeit and illegal versions in Ireland. Last year, 1,709 units of fake or illegal products claiming to contain botulinum toxin were seized, compared with just 26 in 2020. Unlike botox, dermal filler is not yet subjected to stringent regulations, meaning that it can be administered in unsafe settings and environments. Legislation delayed Legislation mooted in 2016 still has not been enacted for governing the area of cosmetic procedures. The Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill was approved by the then government in 2017 and subsequently underwent pre-legislative scrutiny. It was then referred to the Office of the Attorney General for drafting. In March, in answer to a parliamentary question, health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the legislation remained with the AG's office and that her department continues to work on it. She said it will, for the first time, 'introduce a licensing requirement for all hospitals, public and private, and certain designated high-risk activities in the community'. The general scheme of the bill outlines that 'designated activities are likely to initially relate to cosmetic surgery services but other services may be added over time as the licensing system becomes embedded in the health system'. Social Democrats health spokesman Pádraig Rice called the delay in progressing the bill unacceptable. 'It's almost eight years since the draft legislation received government approval, and yet there is no sign of the final bill,' said Mr Rice. 'In that time, there has been an exponential increase in demand for unregulated cosmetic procedures. Until Hiqa has the necessary accreditation, inspection, and enforcement powers, patients will continue to fall into the hands of unqualified practitioners.' Almost half of women who opted for cosmetic treatments such as botox or anti-wrinkle injections did it to boost their confidence, and the desire to roll back the years was also evident in the responses, the IPsos B&A survey found. Last week in the UK, the Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed that 14 people from Co Durham and Darlington had experienced 'adverse reactions' including eye drooping and double vision following a procedure involving 'botulinum toxin' injections. Of those, 10 people required treatment as a result. The County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said that investigations were ongoing 'but evidence so far does not suggest that the product used has been contaminated' and that 'symptoms are being reported a few weeks after injection'. It added: 'UKHSA has issued advice to clinicians to ensure that they look out for botulism in people who may have had a recent aesthetic procedure in order to provide them appropriate treatment which includes giving anti-toxin.' Meanwhile, a public health notice was issued in the past 10 days by the UKHSA asking clients of an aesthetics company in Wolverhampton who received 'vampire facials' to contact it to arrange free blood tests, due to concerns about the risk of bloodborne viruses including hepatitis. The notice said that 'inadequate cleaning of equipment used for this treatment at the clinic' had been identified as 'a risk to health'. Dr Brenner is adamant that progress needs to be made on the planned Irish legislation and cites the recent UK cases as examples of why there needs to be regulation of the sector. 'Botox is a prescription-only medicine so you have to see a doctor or dentist for a consultation to make sure you are suitable,' she said. 'But there is absolute widespread fraud and illegal use among non-medical staff and we do know there is illegal product coming into the country. When we get into fillers, it is even more Wild West. They are not counted as a medicine at all, they are counted as a medical device, a bit like a bandage. "So you could legally go onto any website, buy filler, and inject one of your friends and you are technically not breaking the law. There are good quality products but there is also a tonne of cheap stuff.' She said that people opting to buy bargain filler products online have no concept of 'cleanliness, hygiene, safety, anatomy'. Unscrupulous use of filler products can lead to strokes or other health implications such as scarring and loss of tissue, she added. 'It has been really trivialised. It has become like a commodity like getting your hair done. I do think in the 40 plus age group, they are more cautious and more nervous of looking overdone and they are the people who come to a medical person. "But the younger ones are very bargain-led, which you can understand, but that is where there is a safety issue. And you have people doing what are major surgical procedures and all that kinds of crazy things in filthy conditions. 'There was a death last year of a mum of five in the UK who died from having a litre of filler injected into each buttock.' Dr Brenner said that botox parties are not the right location for such a procedure. People could be on medications that they might not disclose in a public setting at a party. It is not conducive to cleanliness or confidentiality.' A spokesperson for the Department of Health told the Irish Examiner: 'The general scheme of the Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill was approved by government on December 12, 2017. It underwent pre-legislative scrutiny at the Oireachtas joint committee of health on June 13, 2018, was subsequently referred to the Attorney General's Office for drafting. 'Legislative priority was given to the Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023 which was commenced in September 2024. 'A decision is now being sought from the Government to recommence drafting of the Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill. A memo for Government will be considered at Cabinet shortly.'
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Teenager dies while swimming in River Nanny in Meath
A body has been recovered after a swimmer was reported missing in Laytown, Co Meath, this evening. It is understood that a group of teenage boys had been swimming in the water near Laytown Beach. The teenagers were in the River Nanny underneath the footbridge in Laytown before one of them was reported missing by a member of the public shortly before 6.15pm. The Dublin-based Irish Coast Guard Rescue 116 helicopter was at the scene within 25 minutes and the Drogheda Coast Guard Unit attended the scene a short time later. A body was subsequently recovered from the water by the Coast Guard shortly after 9.30pm. A teenage boy was pronounced dead at the scene. His body has been taken to Our Lady's Hospital in Navan, where a post-mortem examination will be carried out.
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Young swimmer missing off Irish coast as rescue helicopter conducting ‘comprehensive air search' & boats scanning water
A MAJOR search operation is underway this evening for a "young male swimmer" missing off the coast of Meath. The alarm was raised at 6.12pm today by a member of the public. The Department of Transport confirmed the The crew carried out a "comprehensive air search". The Drogheda They continue to search this evening alongside the Coast Guard boat. READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said: "At 18.12 today (20th June) a member of the public reported a young male swimmer missing at Laytown. "Conditions were smooth with a water temperature of 16 degrees. "Dublin-based R116 helicopter and Drogheda Coast Guard Unit were tasked to respond. "R116 undertook a comprehensive air search using available endurance. Most read in Irish News "Drogheda Coast Guard Unit and Coast Guard boat are continuing to search.' Gardai have confirmed they are also involved in the ongoing operation. RNLI launch major airlift rescue of family of four after getting stranded on Irish island & ending up stuck on the rocks A "As this is an ongoing incident, no further information is available." It comes after an unrelated incident in Derry earlier this afternoon in which a It is understood the man got into difficulty swimming in the sea at Castlerock beach during the scorching weather. 'AVOID THE AREA' The The assistance of the RNLI was also requested as the PSNI asked the public to avoid the scene A PSNI spokesperson said: "Police are currently in attendance after a body was found on the beach in Castlerock today, Friday 20 June. "Cordons are in place and the public is asked to avoid the area at this time." ALARM RAISED The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service confirmed the alarm was raised via an emergency call at 3.35pm today. They said: "The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a 999 call at 14:35 on Friday 20 June following reports of an incident at Castlerock Beach. "NIAS despatched a Rapid Response Paramedic, 2 Emergency Crews, 1 HART Crew and an Ambulance Officer to the scene. "Ambulance Control also tasked the Charity Air Ambulance, with HEMS Team on board, to attend. 1 Searches are continuing for the boy Credit: Getty Images
