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Fergal Bowers

@fergalbowers.bsky.social

2.9K followers 440 following 350 posts

Health Correspondent RTÉ News. Journalist for 45 years. NUJ member. Author. Views my own.

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Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 13h

www.rte.ie/news/2025/10...

Patients can face two hour wait for ambulance, cttee told

The HSE's National Ambulance Service has said that failures to meet response targets means that some patients can wait for more than two hours for an emergency service response.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 1d

www.rte.ie/news/budget-...

Dept of Health budget to provide for 3,300 extra staff

A record level of total funding of €27.4bn will be allocated to the Department of Health for 2026.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 3d

www.rte.ie/news/munster...

UHL warns of 'exceptionally high demand' for services

University Hospital Limerick is urging people not to attend the hospital in Dooradoyle, unless absolutely necessary, and to use alternative services instead, due to "exceptionally high demand" this we...

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 6d

www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

'Not where I should be,' say under-65s in nursing homes

Twelve hundred people under the age of 65 are currently living in nursing homes, largely due to a lack of accessible housing according to to the Irish Wheelchair Association.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 6d

www.rte.ie/news/2025/10...

Pioneering heart surgery for children carried out at CHI

Doctors in Dublin say they have been carrying out pioneering heart surgery on children with heart defects at CHI Crumlin.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 8d

www.rte.ie/news/busines...

46% of Irish population now have health insurance - HIA

The number of people with private health insurance rose slightly between April and June, despite a significant spike in the cost of premiums.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 8d

www.rte.ie/news/health/...

New hospital for Mid-West among options given to Govt

A new hospital in the Mid-West with a second emergency department is one of three options presented to the Government by HIQA, following a review of urgent and emergency healthcare services in the reg...

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 8d

www.rte.ie/news/2025/09...

Parent of neurodivergent children speaks of difficulties

The Ombudsman for Children has called for maternity hospitals to record the number of disabled children born annually. As part of a series examining disability services in Ireland, our Social Affairs ...

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 9d

www.rte.ie/news/2025/09...

Inquiry to assess spina bifida, scoliosis care at CHI

The parents of Harvey Morrison have said there will be an inquiry into the care of spina bifida and scoliosis patients at Children's Health Ireland.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 10d

www.rte.ie/news/health/...

€250m 'supplementary' needed for health service - Gloster

The Chief Executive of the HSE has said that a "supplementary" will be required for the health service this year "probably in the order of about €250 million".

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 12d

www.rte.ie/news/us/2025...

EU: Trade deal shields bloc's pharma from new US tariffs

The EU's trade deal with the US shields the union's pharmaceutical exports from tariffs higher than 15%, Brussels has said, after US President Donald Trump announced new levies on medicines.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 13d

www.rte.ie/news/health/...

Chickenpox vaccine to be made free for children aged one

The Health Service Executive has announced that the chickenpox vaccine will be made available free of charge for all babies born on or after 1 October last year.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 14d

www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

CHI due to be integrated into HSE by 2027

Children's Health Ireland is due be integrated into the HSE by 2027, it has been confirmed. It follows a period of controversy for CHI over governance issues and issues around spinal surgery and scoli...

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 14d

www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

Mary Wilson and Áine Lawlor sign off from Morning Ireland

Broadcasters Mary Wilson and Áine Lawlor will sign off on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1 for the final time this morning.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 15d

www.rte.ie/news/us/2025...

Paracetamol safe during pregnancy - EU Medicines Agency

The European Medicines Agency said that there was no new evidence that would require changes to the region's current recommendations for the use of paracetamol, known as Tylenol in the United States, ...

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 15d

www.rte.ie/news/2025/09...

Home birth governance creating risks for mothers - HSE

Weaknesses in the governance of the current home birth system creates a risk for expectant mothers and their babies, according to an internal HSE audit.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 15d

www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

Many men dying from largely preventable causes - report

A new report on men's health has found that many men in Ireland are dying too young, of causes that are largely preventable.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 20d

www.rte.ie/news/dublin/...

Hand luggage liquid rules at Dublin Airport end tonight

New rules at Dublin Airport mean that passengers will no longer have to take liquids, gels and electronic items out of their hand luggage when passing through security.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 20d

www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

15,000 more beds needed by 2040 - Nursing Homes Ireland

Ireland's ageing population means there will be a sharp rise in demand for both home support hours and long-term residential care beds up to 2040.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 27d

www.rte.ie/news/busines...

Milk, butter up as food inflation rises 5.1% in August

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that food inflation rose by 5.1% in August - its highest level since December 2023 when it stood at 5.6%.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 28d

www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

Mater marking 40th anniversary of first heart transplant

The Mater University Hospital in Dublin is marking the 40th anniversary of the first heart transplant, which took place at the hospital on this day in 1985.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 29d

www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

Loneliness 'powerful factor' in health of older people

Loneliness has emerged as a persistent and powerful factor influencing the health and wellbeing of older adults, according to Trinity College Dublin's Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · Sep 8

www.rte.ie/news/2025/09...

Cancer survivors in call over 'right to be forgotten'

Cancer survivors and campaigners are calling on the Government to ensure the 'right to be forgotten' is enshrined at five years in forthcoming legislation.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · Sep 4

www.rte.ie/news/2025/09...

Ombudsman criticises State's response to Donabate case

The Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon has said he is "extremely concerned" over the State's response to a boy who is missing in north county Dublin and presumed dead.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · Sep 4

www.rte.ie/news/health/...

Minister receives timeline report of Harvey Morrison care

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has said she has received a timeline of care report, which she commissioned, in relation to the late Harvey Morrison.