Latest news with #HSEHAS
The Journal
23-06-2025
- Health
- The Journal
HSE apologises after child given wrong Covid vaccine with a used needle
THE HSE HAS apologised to and compensated a 13-year-old child who was not only injected with a wrong Covid 19 vaccination but found out afterwards that a nurse had treated her with an already used needle. Barrister James Cross told Judge Fiona O'Sullivan in the Circuit Civil Court today that Ella Mockler Mulhern, now within six weeks of her 18th birthday, had suffered significantly as a result of the HSE's triple take on negligence and breach of duty. Mr Cross, who appeared with James McSweeney Solicitors, Tallaght for Ella, said not only had HSE staff administered the wrong vaccination when she attended a vaccination centre in Citywest Hotel, Saggart, Dublin, in August 2021, a nurse had done so with a needle used already on one of three other people. Ella's father Niall Mulhern, of Beech Park, Lucan, County Dublin, told the court in written evidence that the second vaccination had been administered without discussion with and the consent of either himself or his daughter. He said the nurse involved had denied that the first syringe had been used previously but on his further inquiry from the Clinical Lead Nurse an investigation had been carried out it had been confirmed the syringe had been used on another person but the nursing staff had been unable to identify on which one of three other people it had been used. Advertisement Mr Cross said Ella had to undergo blood tests and she had to be vaccinated for Hapatitis B. He said at least one of the possible three people who could have been injected with the syringe used on Ella had refused to undergo blood tests and as a result Ella had to undergo a post-exposure antiretroviral therapy course for a month. Judge O'Sullivan heard this had caused Ella to feel acutely unwell with symptoms of nausea. She had been upset and distressed by what had happened and had been unable to attend school for almost a month. Ella had to undergo tests for Hepatitis C and HIV, suffering psychological sequelae as a result and also developing a fear of doctors. Just under a year later Ella had developed an abscess which had ruptured during her school sports day causing her considerable further distress and which had to be treated with antibiotics. It was not known if this had been due to the treatment she had received in Citywest. Mr Cross said an initial settlement offer of €11,500 by HSE had been rejected earlier by another judge. This had been followed by an offer of €16,500 and latterly by an offer of €20,000, expenses and legal costs which Mr Cross said he was recommending to the court. Judge O'Sullivan, approving of the HSE's final offer, said the injuries associated with what had happened would have had a serious impact on the child and she felt €20,000 compensation was acceptable in the circumstances. Barrister Seamus Breen, counsel for the HSE read out an apology on behalf of his client during which he said the defendant accepted responsibility for what had happened and pointing out that Ella was blameless for what had occurred. He said the HSE wished Ella every success in her life. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
30-05-2025
- Health
- The Journal
HSE warns of dangers of new 'designer drugs' in circulation ahead of festival season
THE HSE HAS warned of the dangers of new 'designer drugs' ahead of festival season, as over a quarter of ecstasy pills tested in 2024 had more than twice the typical adult dose of MDMA. The HSE said that new types of ketamine are also appearing in Ireland, and are a cause of concern; these are known as ketamine analogues, or designer drugs. 'Ketamine is a drug that can make you feel disconnected from your body and surroundings. It can cause feelings of detachment and hallucinations which could create extra risks at festivals. These new types of drugs pose significantly higher risks, especially if combined with other drugs,' a HSE spokesperson said. They added that these designer drugs are designed to 'mimic' ketamine but the effects they cause can be much stronger and unpredictable. 'You can't tell what is in a powder just by looking at it, and even a small amount could have serious health effects,' the spokesperson said. The HSE National Clinical Lead for Addiction Services, Professor Eamon Keenan, said that it is safer for people not to use drugs at all. 'It is a concerning time as risks are increasing as a result of drug market changes, with new drugs starting to appear across european markets which can have unpredictable effects,' he said. Advertisement Professor Keenan said people should be aware of the signs of an emergency and should not delay in getting help for themselves or others if it is needed. A club drug emergency can start as someone having a high temperature, a headache or migraine, a general feeling of being unwell, confusion, anxiety, or pains in your arms, legs, or shins. The HSE advises that when people are using drugs, they avoid doing more than one type of drug at a time – which includes mixing drugs with alcohol or prescription medications such as antidepressants that work on serotonin levels. The advice is to make sure you are with people you know and that no one is left alone, and to never assume that one pill equals one dose, as this may not be the case, and it could be too much for your body to handle. HSE advice states that you should 'start low and go very slow', which means taking a small test dose. 'Pace yourself by taking a small amount and leaving time between use, which can help you identify how you are reacting to the substance. If you don't react how you expected, avoid taking any more,' a spokesperson said. The main advice is that if you are in doubt about how you are feeling, get checked out. 'Chat with medics on site at events if you are concerned, don't delay in getting medical help if you are concerned about a reaction: medics are your mates, and your wellbeing is the main priority,' a spokesperson said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
12-05-2025
- Health
- The Journal
HSE issues warning over three types of vape wrongly labelled as having no nicotine
The three vape products that the HSE has issued a warning about. HSE HSE THE HSE HAS issued a warning about three e-cigarette products that have been wrongly labelled as containing no nicotine. The health service said the three vapes were found to contain nicotine at concentrations of 18.0 mg/ml to 19.0 mg/ml after an analysis was carried out by the State Laboratory. The products involved are: The Crystal Bling 6000+ puffs – Sub-brand (flavour): 5G HRTP Blue Razz Lemonade, Batch No. THE240801 McKesse MK Bar 7000 – Sub-brand (flavour): Passionfruit & Lime JNR Crystal Pro Max 5000+ puff – 0% nicotine Sub-brands (flavours): Kiwi Watermelon Ice Batch No. C24H8399-CP5000. Three European product safety alerts have been issued over the products. The HSE has urged people to check the electronic cigarettes they have. If they have any of the products in question, they should stop using them and return them to the shop where they bought them. Advertisement Retailers who have these products must remove them from sale and contact them to provide product and full traceability details. Any retailer who has sold any of the vapes in question must also display a recall notice in a prominent position in their premises, as well as on their website and social media. Dr Maurice Mulcahy, the regional chief environment health officer at the HSE, said that while the nicotine found in the products is below the legal permitted limit of 20 mg/ml, 'it is not what the consumer has been told they contain'. He said the products were also found to have 7.7ml to 9.4ml of nicotine-containing liquid, almost 4 to 5 times the permitted volume of 2ml. 'The HSE National Environmental Health Service, in response to finding non-compliant and unsafe products on the Irish market, will continue to use its legal powers to protect the public up to and including product seizure, product destruction and prosecutions,' Mulcahy said. However, he said that retailers 'play an important role in protecting the consumers of such products from potential harm', adding that they should be checking both the products themselves and their suppliers' details before selling them on to consumers. 'Otherwise, they may not only be putting the consumer at risk, they may be breaking the law and making it more difficult to trace and seek the recall and withdrawal of dangerous batches of such products.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
