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Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
New miscarriage counselling service: trauma and grief that dare not speak its name
The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) announced earlier this month that it is expanding its counselling service to include women and couples who experience recurrent pregnancy loss. As part of a HSE-funded pilot project, anyone who has two or more miscarriages in a row is entitled to eight free counselling sessions. 'We've supported the sexual and reproductive health of people in Ireland since 1969, providing specialist counselling throughout that time,' says the IFPA's counselling director, Clare O'Brien. IFPA counselling director Clare O'Brien. 'We're delighted to have received HSE funding that enables us to become the first State-funded organisation to provide the psychological care women and couples need following miscarriage.' This care is sorely needed. Every year, approximately 14,000 women in Ireland have a miscarriage, meaning about one in every four pregnancies ends in loss. According to the Irish Examiner's women's health survey, some 58% of women report that the availability of support in the aftermath of miscarriage is poor. Women and couples have turned to organisations like the Miscarriage Association of Ireland and Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland or to independent therapists. 'There was nothing integrated alongside medical care, up until now. Women who have experienced recurrent miscarriage, and their partners, will now be referred to our specialist counselling services by their local maternity hospital,' O'Brien says. The custom of keeping pregnancies secret until after the first scan at 12 weeks can complicate how people grieve, O'Brien acknowledges: 'In other countries, people share their happy news much earlier. But here, the norm is to wait until after that first scan. Because many miscarriages happen in the first trimester, this means many couples won't have told anyone they are pregnant, which makes it harder to share that they have lost their baby.' Couples can grieve alone, as a result. 'And they do so in such individual ways,' says O'Brien. 'Miscarriage can cause sadness, anger, confusion, guilt, numbness, uncertainty, and fear for the future. There are so many unanswered questions about what happened and why. It's a very difficult time for people.' Alice Sheridan: 'The ripple effect of miscarriage goes on for miles. It's the loss of a life and all its possibilities." Photograph: Moya Nolan No heartbeat Alice Sheridan is a 45-year-old from Skerries in Dublin. She believes many women and couples are 'silently screaming and no one is hearing them'. 'The ripple effect of miscarriage goes on for miles. It's the loss of a life and all its possibilities. For some, it's the loss of the prospect of parenthood. It's a whole future that gets abruptly and violently taken away,' she says. Sheridan speaks from experience. She married in 2009, became pregnant three months later, and gave birth to her son, Jack, in 2010. 'I sailed through that pregnancy,' she says. However, when she and her husband tried for another baby, it took them four years to conceive. 'We were so excited, but at the eight-week scan, we realised there was no heartbeat,' she says. 'We'd lost our baby.' Over the next four years, the couple had two more pregnancies, but both ended in miscarriage. None of the pregnancies progressed beyond eight weeks, meaning Sheridan never developed a baby bump. 'In many ways, I felt this mirrored how our grief wasn't seen,' says Sheridan. 'The grief that follows miscarriage isn't always recognised by society. Lots of people don't know what to say to people who have lost pregnancies, so, often, they don't say anything at all.' Jennifer Duggan, Chairperson of the Irish Miscarriage Association at her home in Carrigaline, Co. Cork. Picture: David Creedon Relying on one another Jennifer Duggan is a 40-year-old from Carrigaline, in Cork, who also knows the pain of miscarriage. When she married at 23, she never imagined she would have difficulty starting a family. 'We married in 2007 and were pregnant at the start of 2008,' she says. 'I was already starting to show when we had our first scan at 12 weeks.' They were devastated when that scan failed to find a heartbeat. Their baby had stopped growing at eight weeks. Having been reassured by doctors that their miscarriage was 'just one of those things that happens as part of women's reproductive life', Duggan and her husband soon started trying again. They experienced another loss before having their son Dáithí in 2009. Two years and two more miscarriages were to follow, before their daughter, Síofra, was born in 2011. 'Looking at us from the outside, people probably thought we had planned the perfect family: A boy followed by a girl two years later,' says Jennifer. 'They would never have guessed we had lost four babies along the way.' Both had come from large families, so they yearned for more children. 'But we held off for a while, after Síofra, for fear of something going wrong,' says Duggan. 'But, eventually, the want for another baby grew bigger than the fear.' They had two more miscarriages before they sought help from a fertility clinic. 'They told me my ovarian reserve was low and recommended we try IVF with donor eggs,' says Jennifer. 'But that didn't feel right to us, so we decided to try one last time, and, happily, we had our son Oisín in 2015.' Looking back on it now, Duggan can see how traumatic the pregnancy losses were: 'My husband and I really relied on one another for support. Our family were great at looking after us, but friends often struggled to know what to say. I started trying for a family at the age of 24, when none of them were at that stage of life.' She found the peer-to-peer support offered by the Miscarriage Association of Ireland helpful. 'Because members had been through it themselves, they understood the jealousy I'd feel at others being pregnant or the sadness I'd feel coming up to the due date of a baby I'd lost. They got what I was going through,' says Duggan, who is now chairperson of the association. Alice Sheridan: 'The grief that follows miscarriage isn't always recognised by society. Lots of people don't know what to say to people who have lost pregnancies, so, often, they don't say anything at all.' Photograph: Moya Nolan Grieving alone Sheridan benefited from counselling after her miscarriages: 'It helped me process my loss and figure out what the future would look like for me and my family.' Sheridan found the experience so beneficial that she decided to retrain as a counsellor: 'I wrote my thesis about the disenfranchised grief many feel after miscarriage. People don't always recognise the profound loss involved and how women and couples need that loss to be acknowledged.' Acknowledging that loss is what the IFPA's new counselling service plans to do. 'It's difficult to say what the demand will be, but we do know that one in four women experiences miscarriage and our team of eight counsellors will be there to support them,' says O'Brien. 'All of us are accredited by the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy or the Irish Association for Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy and have decades of experience. Women and couples will be able to choose between in-person counselling at six centres throughout Ireland or sessions over the phone or Zoom.' These sessions will aim to validate people's bereavement. 'The grief that accompanies miscarriage is real and deeply felt,' says O'Brien. 'We don't want anyone to feel isolated and alone. We want them to know they can speak to us about their loss, frustrations, and fear, without judgement and with total confidentiality and support.' In the meantime, if you know someone who has experienced pregnancy loss, O'Brien has advice on how to support them. 'Sit with them and listen to what they have to say,' she says. 'Don't feel you have to suggest something to fix the situation, as they have just had a huge loss that can't be fixed. And remember that practical help — like childcare, cooking meals, doing shopping or cleaning the house — can make a big difference when people are going through something as physically and emotionally taxing as pregnancy loss.' If you have experienced miscarriage and want to avail of free counselling from the IFPA, ask your healthcare professional to refer you to the service. Click here to read our National Women's Health Survey. The Irish Examiner Women's Health Survey 2025 Ipsos B&A designed and implemented a research project for the Irish Examiner involving a nationally representative sample of n=1,078 women over the age of 16 years. The study was undertaken online with fieldwork conducted between April 30 and May 15, 2025. The sample was quota controlled by age, socio-economic class, region and area of residence to reflect the known profile of women in Ireland based on the census of population and industry agreed guidelines. Ipsos B&A has strict quality control measures in place to ensure robust and reliable findings; results based on the full sample carry a margin of error of +/-2.8%. In other words, if the research was repeated identically results would be expected to lie within this range on 19 occasions out of 20. A variety of aspects were assessed in relation to women's health including fertility, birth, menopause, mental health, health behaviour, and alcohol consumption.
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
'One-stop centre' to help migrants and refugees access health services in Cork
A new hub is to be launched to serve as a 'one-stop centre' for migrants and refugees living in Cork City to access health services. Migrants' rights charity Nasc, in partnership with Cork City Council and the HSE, is launching the Migrant Health Hub which will see HSE staff helping migrants with queries on how they can access health services in Cork. International protection applicants, refugees living in both state-provided accommodation and within the community, the Roma community, as well as the broader migrant population, will be able to access the services. The hub will act as an outreach facility for the HSE migrant health response teams, addiction services, screening and immunisation services, as well as psycho-social services. It is designed to help identify gaps and map existing supports to ensure more targeted, effective interventions for migrant communities. Additionally, it is set to provide "safe, supportive spaces" that will help address emotional, physical, cognitive, social and cultural health, as well as support integration and inclusion. It will also have staff from the HSE's migrant health services on site to help answer queries on accessing health services in Cork. Members of the local authority integration teams, as well as Cork City Partnership, who work directly with the migrant community, will also be present to answer any questions or concerns. The Cork Migrant Centre, South Parish Community Centre, Lib Counselling, Brijj, and Children and Young People Services Committee will be involved with the Hub. Nasc have said the ethos behind the hub is "one of partnership and collaboration." "Ensuring that Cork lives up to its promise as being a true 'City of Welcomes. The launch is being timed as part of Refugee Week 2025, which has an overarching theme of 'Community as a Superpower'," they added. The hub will be launched on Friday by the Lord Mayor of Cork on World Refugee Day. The launch will see musical performances from Citadel, Sauti Mentors, the African Queens, and Kalyna Soul Project. Additionally, murals created by migrant women and muralist Joe Caslin will also be on display.
Irish Times
7 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Hospital apologises after misdiagnosis of seven-year-old's appendicitis
A hospital has apologised to a girl whose appendicitis was misdiagnosed at its emergency department in July, 2022, before her appendix later ruptured. A letter of apology from University Hospital Galway (UHG) was read in the High Court as Ariana Mocanu settled a legal action against the Health Service Executive (HSE) for €64,000. Jeremy Maher SC, instructed by PBN Litigation for Ariana, told the court the girl – who was seven years old at the time – had been incorrectly diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and discharged after midnight with antibiotics. Nine hours later, counsel said, she was brought back to the hospital but her acute appendicitis had progressed to a perforated appendix and peritonitis. She required urgent surgery. READ MORE Counsel said the girl's father had, on a number of occasions, raised the possibility of appendicitis with the hospital's treating medic but was told it was a urinary tract infection. Mr Justice Paul Coffey was told that liability and causation in the case are contested. In a letter, UHG said Ariana had been assessed by an emergency medicine doctor who formed the opinion, based on her presenting complaints, that the diagnosis was more likely to be a urinary tract infection than appendicitis. 'On this occasion, the diagnosis turned out to be incorrect. The hospital apologises for this initial misdiagnosis,' the letter from hospital manager Chris Kane said. It added: 'We regret what Ariana and her family went through and we wish Ariana and her family the very best.' Mr Maher told the court that experts on their side would say there was never a case where she should have been sent home. He said the HSE contended surgery would not have been possible at the hospital before morning in any event, which counsel said he found to be bizarre. Ariana had to have open surgery the next day and counsel said she had shown incredible courage. Ariana, from Gorey, Co Wexford, sued the HSE through her father. Outside court, the girl's parents, Diana and Petru Mocanu, through solicitor Piarais Neary, said they had brought the case for Ariana and to highlight to other parents the risk of appendicitis and to know the signs and when to seek urgent medical treatment. They said they welcomed the apology after three years. The young girl was brought to UHG on July 23rd, 2022 complaining of acute central abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. In the proceedings, it was claimed there was afailure to take any reasonable care for the safety of the girl and an alleged failure to exercise an appropriate level of skill, competence and diligence in or about the diagnosis, assessment, management and treatment of the child when she presented at the hospital. It was claimed she had been discharged with an incorrect diagnosis whereas she should have been admitted. All of the claims were denied. Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Coffey said he was satisfied it was fair and reasonable.
Time Business News
8 hours ago
- Health
- Time Business News
How often should I carry out a legionella risk assessment as a business owner
According to the HSE Acop l8 'The control of legionella bacteria' in water systems a legionella risk assessment should be reviewed regularly and at least every two years or if there is reason to believe that the current assessment is no longer valid. A Legionella risk assessment may no longer be valid if: There are changes to the water system. There are changes in the use of business. There is new information available about the risk or current control measures are no longer effective. How Often Do You Need a Legionella Risk Assessment? For high-risk environments, such as care homes, hospitals, or buildings with complex water systems, more frequent assessments may be necessary. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that any potential sources of Legionella bacteria are identified, assessed, and properly managed to protect the health and safety of building occupants. Keeping your Legionella risk assessment current is not just best practice—it's a legal requirement under UK health and safety law. How frequently should Legionella testing be carried out? Legionella testing follows the same principles: it is recommended to test every two years if you are confident that existing control measures remain effective and compliant. However, if there have been changes to the water system or if conditions such as stagnant water or fluctuations in temperature are present, factors that can encourage the growth of Legionella bacteria, it is advisable to carry out testing sooner. Why is it so important to test for Legionella? Legionella bacteria when inhaled can pose a serious health risk because the bacteria can cause Legionnaires' disease. Those most vulnerable include people over the age of 45, individuals and anyone with a weakened immune system. The illness can be dangerous to those who catch the disease. Testing for Legionella is especially important because the bacteria can thrive in a wide range of common building water systems, including hot and cold-water tanks, pipework, showers, cooling towers, and even decorative fountains. It grows most effectively in water temperatures between 20°C and 45°C, particularly where water is stagnant or where scale, sludge, or biofilm are present. Many systems can develop these conditions unknowingly, especially in larger or older buildings. Under UK law, including the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, employers, landlords, and duty holders have a legal obligation to control the risk of exposure to Legionella. By conducting regular Legionella risk assessments and ongoing water system monitoring, you reduce the risk of contamination and demonstrate compliance with your legal duties. This proactive approach safeguards your building's occupants and helps prevent avoidable harm. What guidance is there for Legionella monitoring? The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides comprehensive guidance on legionella monitoring to help employers and those responsible for premises manage and control the risks associated with Legionella bacteria, which can cause Legionnaires' disease. A summary of the HSE's guidance: Monitoring and control measures for Legionella risk, as outlined in HSE guidance, involve maintaining hot water at a minimum of 60°C at the heater and 50°C at outlets, while cold water should be stored and distributed at 20°C or below. It is essential to ensure regular water movement to avoid stagnation and to clean and disinfect systems routinely. For hot and cold-water systems (HSG274 Part 2), temperature checks at sentinel outlets should be conducted monthly, showerheads and hoses cleaned quarterly, cold water storage tanks inspected annually, and calorifiers inspected and, if needed, cleaned every six to twelve months. Infrequently used outlets should be flushed as required. For cooling towers and evaporative condensers (HSG274 Part 1), weekly system condition and chemical level checks are recommended, Legionella sampling should occur monthly, and a full clean and disinfection of the system should be performed quarterly, supported by an effective biocide treatment programme. Record keeping is also critical; records of risk assessments, monitoring and inspection results, remedial actions, and responsible persons should be maintained for at least five years. All tasks should be carried out by competent individuals with suitable training and experience, which may include duty holders, designated responsible persons, or external you want to ensure your water systems are safe and compliant, contact us to arrange a comprehensive Legionella risk assessment by experienced specialists. Get in touch today for a quote. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
RTÉ News
11 hours ago
- Climate
- RTÉ News
Warmest day of year as 27C recorded in Co Roscommon
A temperature of 27C has been recorded at Mount Dillon in Co Roscommon, making it, provisionally, the hottest day of the year. Met Éireann said that, pending verificiation, it beats the 25.9C reached in Athenry, Co Galway on 30 April. The record could be broken again tomorrow when temperatures of up to 29C are forecast in long spells of sunshine. Met Éireann said that tomorrow will be "very warm or hot" with "highest values over the northern half of the country". However, showers are also possible in humid conditions and they may be heavy at times. Provisional highest temperature of the year so far, recorded at #MountDillon, Co Roscommon 📍 this afternoon. Beats the previous high of 25.9 °C at Athenry on April 30th. 🌡️ #BeSummerReady #SunSmart — Met Éireann (@MetEireann) June 19, 2025 The warm weather is expected to continue on Saturday, with sunny spells and showers, but temperatures will be lower, with a high of 25C. It will be fresher and breezier on Sunday and Met Éireann said that similar conditions will likely prevail early next week. #Pollen Forecast🌱🌳🤧📈 ➡️ High levels expected for today & the coming days. ➡️Grass, nettle & weed pollen in particularly high levels expected. ➡️Medium to high concentrations expected for grass, nettle & weed pollen. Stay protected. For moreℹ️ — Met Éireann (@MetEireann) June 19, 2025 It comes as the UK record for the warmest day of 2025 was broken twice today A temperature of 32.2C was measured in Kew, west London, hours after 30.8C was reached in Wisley, Surrey. Much of Britain is expected to be under "heatwave conditions" over the weekend. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber heat-health alert for England that will remain in force until 9am on Monday. The agency warned that "significant impacts are likely" across health and social care services because of high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions. Heatwave conditions in the UK are met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with temperature values meeting or exceeding the threshold for that location. Across much of the north and west of Britain, this threshold is 25C, but in greater London and the south-east, it is higher, at 28C. HSE urges people to use sun protection The HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and Healthy Ireland are advising people to use sun protection. Skin cancer is the most common form of the disease in Ireland with over, 11,000 cases annually, and 1,200 melanoma cases - the most serious form of skin cancer - diagnosed each year. It comes as the NCCP and Healthy Ireland launched the annual 'SunSmart' campaign. They advise people to use suncream with SPF 30+ for adults and 50+ for children, wear hats, sunglasses and clothing that covers the skin, and to avoid direct sunlight. "The more time you spend unprotected in the sun, the more UV damage your skin is exposed to which increases your risk of skin cancer, including the deadliest form - melanoma," Dr Breeda Neville of the NCCP said.
