Latest news with #O'Kane
RTÉ News
20 hours ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
Nearly 25% of doctors work over 48 hours a week
Almost a quarter of doctors have said they are working more than 48 hours a week, according to a Medical Council report. The Medical Workforce Intelligence Report 2024 found doctors working in surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology were most likely to work over 48 hours a week. Around 45% of those who self-reported to work over 48 hours said they were working in direct patient care. The report also said around one quarter, 26.1%, of doctors reported experiencing difficulty providing a patient with sufficient care at least once a week or more, while over one-third, 33.6%, reported never experiencing difficulty. Almost three-quarters, 73.0%, said "pressure on workloads" was the greatest barrier to providing a patient with sufficient care at least once a week or more. The report found there were 20,962 clinically active doctors working in the State in 2024 and said 78.8% of doctors retained their place on the Medical Council Register last year. It said the mean age of doctors was 43.7 years old and over 20% were 55 and older. Over 11,000 of doctors in the State were male (52.8%) and over 9,900 were female (47.2%). Almost half of doctors worked in either general practice (25.9%) and medicine (23.4%). The third largest discipline was surgery, which the report said represented 11.9% of clinically active doctors. Almost 8,990 doctors were based in Dublin, representing 42.9% of the total number, and just 34 doctors in Leitrim, representing 0.2% of the total number. The report found that 27.8% of doctors in the State have an "international basic medical qualification" from outside Ireland, the EU and the UK. This is up from 25.7% in 2023 and 23.3% in 2022. It said almost 40% of doctors with an international qualification received it from Pakistan and 21.3% have a qualification from Sudan. Commenting on the report, CEO of the Medical Council Dr Maria O'Kane said it has seen a "phenomenal increase" in the number of doctors joining the Medical Council Register in recent years. However, she added: "Despite there being over 30,000 doctors on the register at the end of 2024, our research today shows that only 20,692 doctors report being clinically active in Ireland in the same year." Dr O'Kane said last month's report on General Practice in Ireland"aligns strongly" with the Medical Council's data and it "shares the same views on the urgent need for strategic, sustainable investment in training, recruitment, and retention – for GPs and other doctors alike".
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Johnstone butcher with 40 years' service wins praise
John Kerr started at John Marshall and Son back in 1985 when he was just 17 and has since risen through the ranks to become the shop manager of the family-run business. West Scotland MSP Paul O'Kane hailed the Johnstone butcher for his four decades of dedication after publishing a Holyrood motion to honour him. John Kerr (Image: Newsquest) Mr O'Kane said: 'When I read that John had reached this fantastic career milestone, I knew I wanted to raise awareness of it at the Scottish Parliament. 'Saying that he (John) can't imagine doing anything else is really quite special. It's great to see someone truly love what they do for a living. 'He's committed 40 years of dedication to his craft and forty years of service to the local community. 'We have so many great businesses in Johnstone and people in the town are loyal to these local champions on the High Street,' added Mr O'Kane.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
News correspondent panics as wasp lands on her face during live broadcast
A British correspondent's live report received a lot of buzz. ITV news reporter Sara O'Kane fought off an invasive wasp that landed on her face during her live television broadcast on Wednesday night. O'Kane came face-to-face with the insect as she was finishing her report on a triple murder investigation for UK's ITV channel in Northern Ireland, according to a video on social media. 3 Sara O'Kane fought off an invasive wasp on live television Wednesday night. ITV News The wasp first landed on her white shirt before it flew up and sat right on her nose as she finished speaking to the network anchors as part of her sign-off. O'Kane broke her composure, blinked her eyes and used the paper in her hand to try and swat the wasp away. The journalist claimed she was unaware that the cameras were still rolling. 'I am now aware that ITN had not cut back to the studio,' O'Kane wrote on X Wednesday night, referring to the news provider for ITV. 'I held it for as long as I could but that wasp was coming for my face. Please don't let this moment take away from the devastating tragedy @UTVNews was reporting on today in Fermanagh.' 3 O'Kane thought she was off-air when she tried to swat at the wasp. ITV News O'Kane was reporting on a mother and her two kids being murdered in Northern Ireland when the untimely incident happened on live television, according to ITV. The clip went viral, receiving over 37,500 views on X as of Thursday morning. While the insect attack amused many viewers who saw it unfold live on television, some viewers also showed the reporter some grace. 3 The clip of O'Kane's unexpected incident went viral on social media. ITV News 'I don't think anyone with an ounce of compassion would think you did anything wrong,' one person wrote on X. 'You reported well on a very difficult piece.' 'Saw it live Sara, professional as always. Nature happens,' another person commented. 'Fair play, I would have totally lost it,' a third wrote. O'Kane is a reporter who covers Northern Ireland as part of Britain's ITV Network, according to the news organization's website. In recent months, other media personalities have found themselves becoming the story while cameras are rolling. Last month, an Australian news reporter Lauren Tomasi was reporting on live television when a bullet fired by a Los Angeles Police Department officer struck her in the leg during anti-ICE riots. Fox News Host Jonathan Hunt was anchoring 'Fox News @ Night' when his guest, former Trump administration official Camryn Kinsey, fainted during a live interview in May 2025. Kinsey blamed 'severe dehydration' for the shocking on-air emergency.
Daily Record
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Renfrewshire dance pupil and local dance school recognised in Scottish Parliament motion
Local MSP Paul O'Kane has paid tribute to "Renfrewshire's dancing queens". Renfrewshire dance pupil and her dance school have been celebrated in the Scottish Parliament. Paul O'Kane, MSP for West Scotland, commended the Dans-Scene musical theatre school and pupil Ava Morrison with a motion at Holyrood. The motion recognised Ava's impressive casting in the Scottish Ballet's production of The Nutcracker and the teaching she has received at the Johnstone-based dance school. Mr O'Kane recently met with school principal Gillian Whyte and pupil Ava to present them with a framed copy of the motion, which also marked the school's 25th anniversary. Mr O'Kane said: 'It is fantastic to see someone like Ava have her talent recognised and rewarded by being cast in such a prestigious ballet production – I'm sure the sky is the limit in terms of what she can go on and achieve in the world of dance. 'It wouldn't have been right to pay tribute to Ava without acknowledging the huge contribution Gillian Whyte has made to dancing in Renfrewshire with Dans-Scene Company. 'I'm delighted for Gillian to have her company reach the 25th anniversary milestone – she has helped nurture so many young talents and undoubtedly helped instil self-belief into many young people who want to become professional dancers.' He added: 'My motion was my way of letting Holyrood know about two of Renfrewshire's dancing queens. 'Dance schools and the volunteers who run them really add to the rich communities we live in across Renfrewshire and bring joy to young people and their families.' The motion lodged by Mr O'Kane states: 'That the parliament congratulates 10-year-old Ava Morrison on her achievement of being awarded the role of Clara in the Scottish Ballet's production of The Nutcracker; understands that in Gillian Whyte's Dans-Scene Company's 25th anniversary year, Ava and one other pupil have achieved roles within this production, which will be performed across Scotland and in parts of Newcastle; commends them for their consistent hard work and practice, which has given them this opportunity, and recognises the hard work that the dance studio has undertaken, which has been shown in its widespread successes.'
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Why do I hate my job? Am I drinking too much? What people really ask a shrink
Owen O'Kane worked as a nurse in palliative care for 10 years before retraining as a psychotherapist. He eventually rose to become a clinical lead for the NHS. O'Kane now works in private practice and is the author of four books including 'How to be Your Own Therapist' and 'Addicted to Anxiety'. He appears as an expert on BBC One's 'Change Your Mind, Change Your Life'. People tend to come into therapy with the most 'respectable' version of their story. The problem they start with isn't the real issue. For example, someone might start off by saying 'I want to work on public speaking and confidence', but once I get to know them, they may also be dealing with issues around self-worth – or 'imposter syndrome' – where they wonder whether they are good enough, or will be 'found out'. It's rare for a therapist to be shocked by a client's story: we've heard it all. That's not to say we're immune, however, and sometimes a person's story can bring up something from a therapist's own past. This isn't necessarily a bad thing – the best therapists in my opinion are those who have walked the walk. Mostly, our job is to 'be alongside' the client and help them understand their story, their symptoms, where they have got stuck and how to find a way through. Hope is at the centre of everything. Feelings of shame, helplessness or even 'unlovability' can underpin many everyday issues. More often than not, these relate back to adverse childhood events, or some degree of trauma that's never been dealt with. Anxiety has always been common, but these days I am seeing more of it. Diagnosable conditions such as panic disorder, OCD, PTSD and generalised anxiety disorder have been around for years, but an increasing number of people are reporting what I'd call more chronic everyday anxiety – feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or struggling with uncertainty. There's a risk that if this chronic anxiety isn't dealt with, it can lead to a more serious acute condition. Even a statement like 'I'm feeling anxious about the climate' usually has a link to the person's own story – 'am I safe?', 'Can I cope?', 'I don't know how to manage the uncertainty'. Here are the five most common everyday problems I see in my treatment room: When a client starts the conversation with a statement like this, my job is to try to unpick it. 'What does this look like?' I'll ask – and am usually met with a list of the factual things that are going on, such as: 'I'm too busy at work, I've got too much on, I'm worried about paying my mortgage.' Of course, everyday life events can contribute to feeling stressed, but it's the person's internal reaction to these events that's the important thing. Many people struggle with uncertainty and not knowing how things are going to turn out. The adrenalin from this is making them feel on edge or perhaps making it hard for them to sleep. There are two approaches that can help. The first is practical: to try to break down the contributing problems, to make them feel more manageable, to prioritise and focus on what small next steps would be useful. But the second, deeper part is to challenge the person to look at their beliefs about how things 'should' be when they are proclaiming that life 'isn't fair' or 'it's all too much'. Perhaps it would be more helpful for a person to have a more flexible approach to their problems. Maybe it's OK not to know what's around the corner, that it's acceptable for things to be a bit untidy and that it's OK to ask for help. The client is probably contributing to their problems more than they realise and it's the act of trying to take total control that creates more internal turmoil. Whether they are referring to their intimate relationships or broader interactions with friends or colleagues, it's not unusual for people to struggle. Relationships are the one area where we can be 'hit' quite strongly, and they can often hold a mirror up to parts of ourselves we don't like. There's another layer in that relationships can also be conflictual, and each person will have their own version of events as they go on the attack or run to their own defence. We're all familiar with the blame game – 'he did this, she did that' – but the trick is to notice the feeling evoked in yourself when a person does something you don't like. 'He makes me angry,' a client might tell me. I will respond: 'no, you are angry. You are responsible for your own emotions. You can't rely on another person's behaviour to dictate whether you feel rejected, not seen or not heard.' All this can be difficult to acknowledge. The first step is to be aware of the above, and the second is to ask yourself whether you are willing to take some responsibility in the conflict. (I'm not talking about situations such as domestic violence, abuse or coercive control when responsibility may lie with the other person). My suggestion in any relationship challenge is a four-step process: Understand what has been activated in you. Never react in the moment. Is there another perspective you might consider? Speak to the person when you can balance rationality and emotion. I once worked with a client who was going to end her relationship with a boyfriend because he didn't call her for three days while he was on holiday. She was convinced he was seeing someone else, and was moments from leaving him a voice message to end the relationship. The day was saved when she received a call from him, informing her he was in hospital with a burst appendix. 'So why are you staying?' is always my first question. What my client really wants me to say is 'oh, that's terrible' so they can go into every tiny detail of how awful their job is, but we could sit there for the next 10 years doing that. People tell me they stay in horrible jobs because 'someone has to pay the bills', but the real reason is that they are stuck in their mental state. Again, it comes back to the need for stability and security: people don't like to make changes, and they like predictability, even if it's bad. Earlier in my career, I worked with patients who were dying. This, more than anything, made me realise that life is short. If something is making you miserable – in this instance, your job – then it's not negotiable. There will be an alternative role out there for you that pays the same amount, or possibly even more. Don't use your fear of change or attachment to the old routine as an excuse to remain unhappy. I advise my clients to do a cost-benefit analysis about the factors that might make them leave or stay. Yes, understand that change is scary, but how does that stack up against five more years of misery? It's just possible a new job will make you happier than the one you have now. Plus, if you do find a new role, the realisation that the process wasn't so bad after all will give you invaluable confidence and resilience to help you in the longer term. We aren't necessarily entering the realms of addiction here; this situation could refer to any behaviour that becomes unhelpful and which comes at a cost. It could be drinking or drugs, but it could also be too much sex, shopping or work. Psychologists call these 'maladaptive coping strategies'. An example might be the person who finds it impossible to perform well at work after a bottle of wine at night but feels they 'need' the alcohol to relax and fall asleep. The first thing to realise is that this might be a way of coping, but it may also be creating more challenges and difficulties. My role is to understand what the person in front of me is trying to soothe, repress or avoid. And when I ask my client what that is, most people can answer the question quite easily. Many agree when I suggest they are mostly 'trying not to feel'. 'Do you think it might be useful to start to feel?' I will ask the client. 'Are there other ways you can self-soothe and ease some of the pain in your life?' These are different for everyone: some people might go to the gym, others take long walks, take up painting, join a book club, meditate, but there are invariably alternative solutions. Clients often complain that their relationships aren't progressing, their jobs aren't fulfilling and that life was supposed to be better than it is. Of course, none of this is helped by social media, which leads a person to the assumption that everyone is doing better than they are, which almost certainly isn't true. People rarely share a sh-- day or put a rubbish photo on Instagram. The upshot of this is that many clients internalise their dissatisfaction and blame themselves. They start to believe that if only they had loads of money, a better job, a bigger house, or were thinner or more beautiful, they would be happier. But the truth is, I rarely see this happen. If you try to use the external world to heal internal wounds, this just won't work: it's a bottomless pit. The first thing I do as a therapist is to challenge these beliefs. I ask clients to recall a time when they received the big promotion, the expensive car – and to ask how long the feelings of subsequent feelings of wellbeing lasted. The answer is usually: not long. Once the person is aware of the evidence that none of this worked, they are able to start exploring how they really feel about themselves and begin working on the things that are really standing in the way of their happiness. As told to Miranda Levy Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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