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Fergal Bowers

@fergalbowers.bsky.social

2.9K followers 440 following 360 posts

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

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Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 9m

Croke Park preparing for Saturday and Leinster v Munster.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 52m

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

Third of new cancer drugs improve survival rates - report

Just over a third of most new medicines for cancer treatment improve overall survival rate, according to the head of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 1d

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

Appeal for 12,000 blood donations over next four weeks

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is urgently seeking an additional 12,000 blood donations over the next four weeks as most blood groups have fallen to under three days of stock.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 1d

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

Call for national strategy on sudden death in epilepsy

A national strategy to reduce the incidence of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy is needed here, according to Epilepsy Ireland.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 2d

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

Public consultation launched on standards of CAMHS

A public consultation to help inform the development of national standards for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services has been launched by the Mental Health Commission.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 2d

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

Women face financial barriers to healthcare, report finds

Women face financial barriers to filling prescriptions, or regular healthcare, due to cost, a new report on women's health has found.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 3d

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

New 96-bed unit to open at University Hospital Limerick

A new 96-bed unit at University Hospital Limerick will be officially opened by the Minister for Health today.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 6d

www.rte.ie/entertainmen...

Shake-up of presenters, schedules at RTÉ's Radio 1

RTÉ has announced a shake-up to its Radio 1 weekday schedule, with former Newstalk presenter Kieran Cuddihy taking over Liveline and Oliver Callan moving to an extended two-hour programme at 11am.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 6d

www.rte.ie/entertainmen...

Ray D'Arcy to leave RTÉ after 11 years

It has been announced that presenter Ray D'Arcy is to leave RTÉ after 11 years.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 6d

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

Beaumont has repaid €25,000 to NTPF, PAC meeting hears

Dublin's Beaumont Hospital said it has repaid €25,000 to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), which was supposed to be used to cut waiting lists.

Fergal Bowers @fergalbowers.bsky.social · 7d

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 · 8d

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 · 10d

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 · 14d

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 · 14d

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 · 15d

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 · 15d

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 · 16d

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 · 16d

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 · 17d

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 · 19d

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 · 21d

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 · 22d

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 · 22d

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 · 22d

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, ...