Podcasts about HSE

Pete Andrews from EchoBolt joins to discuss ultrasonic bolt inspection, the Bolt Wave device, and blade stud defect detection. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Welcome to Uptime Spotlight, shining light on wind. Energy’s brightest innovators. This is the Progress Powering tomorrow. Pete Andrews: Pete, welcome to the program. Good to be back. Yeah. See you face to face. Yeah. Yes. This is wonderful. It’s a really great event to catch it with loads of the. UK innovation that are happening in the supply chain. So it’s, yeah, really nice to be here.  Allen Hall: This is really good to meet in person because we have seen a lot of bolt issues in the us, Canada, Australia, yeah. Uh, all around the world and every time bolt problems come up, I say, have you called Pete Andrews and Echo Bolt and gotten the kit to detect bolt issues? And then who’s Pete? Give me Pete’s phone number. Okay, sure. Uh, but now that we’re here in person, a lot has changed since we first talked to you probably two years ago.[00:01:00] You’re a bootstrap company based in the UK that has global presence, and I, I think it’s a good start to explain what the technology is and why Echo Bolt matters so much in today’s world.  Pete Andrews: Yeah, absolutely. So, um, as you said, we’re a uk, um, SME, there’s a team of 13 of us based here in the uk. Yeah. But we do deliver our services internationally, but really focused on Northern Europe. Yeah. But increasingly we’ve done more in the US and North America, a little bit in Canada. Um, but our big offering really is to help wind turbine operators and owners reduce the need to routinely retire in bulks. So we have a quick and simple inspection technology that people can deploy, find out the status of their bolt connections, and then. Reti them if necessary, but the vast majority of the time we find that they’re static and absolutely fine and can be left [00:02:00] alone. So it’s a real big efficiency boost for wind operators.  Joel Saxum: Well, you’re doing things by prescription now, right? Instead of just blanket cover, we’re gonna do all of this. It’s like, let’s work on the ones that actually need to be worked on. Let’s do the, the work that we actually need to, and instead of lugging, like we’re looking at the kit right here, and I can, you can hold the case in one hand, let alone the tools in a couple of fingers. As opposed to torque tensioning tools that are this big, they weigh a hundred kilos, and those come with all of their own problems. So I know that you guys said you’re, you’re focused here. You do a lot of work, um, in the offshore wind world as well. Yeah. I mean, offshore wind is where you add a zero right? To zeros. Yeah. Everything else is that much more complicated. It costs that much more. It’s you’re transitioning people offshore to the transition pieces. Like there’s so much more HSE risk, dollar risk, all of these different spend things. So. The Echo Bolt systems, these different tools that you have being developed and utilized here first make absolute sense, but now you guys are starting to go to onshore as well.  Pete Andrews: Yeah, that’s right. So I mean, as as you said, that there’s really [00:03:00] three main benefit areas we focus on. The first one is the health and safety of technicians, right? As you said, some of the fasteners used offshore now are up to MA hundred. So a hundred millimeter diameter bolts,  Joel Saxum: four inches for our American friends. Yeah, absolutely.  Pete Andrews: And they probably weigh. 30 kilos plus per bolt. Yeah. Um, so just the physical manual handling of that sort of equipment and the tightening equipment for those bolts is a huge risk for people. If you think 150 bolts lifting or maneuvering, the tooling around on on its own can cause all the problems. So as well as the inherent risk of the hydraulic kit failing. So occasionally we see catastrophic tool failure. Is, which have really high potential severity, you know, sort of tensioner heads ejecting or crush injuries from Tor. So that is really a key focus for our customers, just to [00:04:00] keep their teams safe, but also you have to be the cost effective and the the major cost benefit we allow is that we don’t have to revisit every bolt and every turbine like you’d have to do if you were retyping. So we believe there’s something of the order of a million pounds per installed gigawatt saving. By moving from a routine REIT uh, maintenance strategy to a focused condition based inspection, you significantly reduce the amount of intervention you make and keep your turbines running more and reduce the boots on the ground on the turbine. So three real kind of, um, key. Benefits for people adopting our technology  Allen Hall: because we routinely see tower bolts being reworked or retention depending on who the manufacturer is. And I’m watching this go on. I’m like, why are [00:05:00] we doing this? It seems, or the 10% rule, we’re tighten 10% this year, and they’ll come back and see how it’s going. That’s a little insane, right, because you’re just kind of. Tensioning bolts up to see if one of them has a problem and then you just do more of them and we’re wasting so much time because echo bolts figured this out years ago. You don’t need to do that. You can tell what the tension is in a bolt ultrasonically, which was the original technology, the first gen I’ll call it, uh, that you could tell the length of the bolt. If the length of the bolt is correct within certain parameters, you know that it is tension properly. If it’s shrunk, that probably means it’s not tensioned properly. That’s a huge advantage because you can’t physically see it. And I know I’ve seen technicians go, oh, I could take a hammer and I can tell you which ones are not tensioned properly wrong. Wrong. And I think that’s where equitable comes in because you’re actually applying a a lot of science simply [00:06:00] to a complex problem because the numbers are so big. Pete Andrews: Yeah, I mean that, that, that’s been the real. Driving force between our offering is to simplify it. So ultimately we’re based on a non-destructive testing technique. It’s an ultrasonic thickness checking technique, but when from the non-destructive testing background, it’s crack detection, people have time, they can be, it’s a very precision measurement. People have to be trained in the wind industry. We’re trying to inspect. A thousand, 2000 bolts a day at scale. It’s a completely different, um, ask of the technology and the way the technology has been developed historically has required too much technician expertise, too much configuration and set up time, and hasn’t delivered on the, on the speed that’s needed to be efficient in wind. And that’s where our bolt wave [00:07:00] unit we’ve, that we’ve developed over the last. 18 months, let’s say, where all of our focus has gone to make it as slick and as easy for a client technician to pick up with minimal training. It’s through an iOS interface. Everyone understands it intuitively. Um, it’s a bit like using the camera app on your phone. You know, you’re just hitting measure, measure, measure, measure, measure 10 seconds a bolt as you move the, um, ultrasonic transducer across, and then the data gets moved. Automatically to the cloud, to our bolt platform. And customers can view it in near real time. The engineer in the office can see the inspections happened. They can see if there are any anomalous bolts, and then there can be communication there and then whether an intervention is necessary. So it’s sort of really changed the way our customers think about managing their, um. They’re bolted joints.  Joel Saxum: Well, I think these are, these are the kind of innovations that we love to see, right? Because [00:08:00] we regularly talk about a shortage of technicians, and this isn’t, I was just learning this this week too, like this is not a wind problem. This is a everywhere problem. No matter what industry you’re in. Use are short of technicians. But we’re seeing like a tool like this is developed to be able to scale that workforce as well. Right. You don’t need to be an NDT level three expert to go and do these things. ’cause there’s a very few of those people out there. Right? Right. We know the NDT people, a lot of NDT people, and that’s a hard skillset to come by. Yeah. This can be put in the hands of any technician. Yeah, a quick training course. Just, Hey, this is how you use your iPhone. You can check Instagram, right? Yeah. Okay. You can off figure. Yeah, have fun. See you at lunch. Um, but they can, they can make this happen, right? They can go do these inspections and you’re getting that, that, uh, data collected in the field. Centralized back to an SME that’s looking at it and you don’t have to put that SME in the field and try to scale their ability to go and travel and do all these things. They can be in the office making sure that the, the QA, QC is done correctly. I love it. I think that that’s the way we need to go with a lot of things. [00:09:00]Uh, and you’re making it happen.  Pete Andrews: Yeah. And it’s a real kind of. F change in mindset for us. So originally when we started Ebot, we were using third party hardware. Yeah. Which required a bit of that specialism. Yeah. A bit of care about the setup of the project, getting multiple parameters configured before you got going. And it wasn’t really something we could put in the hands of a customer.  Joel Saxum: Yeah.  Pete Andrews: Which meant Ebot scale was limited to what our own team could go and do, and regionally as well. You know, so we’re UK based. Probably 60% of our customers are uk, but now we have this Northern Europe offshore wind is obviously on our doorstep, but then increasingly we’ve done more and more in North America, so we’ve probably been to five or six sites now in North America and expect that to be a growth market because we can, we can now ship the devices over there, give some virtual training help. Uh, [00:10:00] people set themselves up and then that opens up that market, you know, so it’s been a real change in strategy for us, but has allowed us to have far more impact than we otherwise would just try to be a pure service.  Allen Hall: Well, let’s talk about the big problem in the states of a minute, which are the root bushing or inserts that are loose in some blades. When you lose that pushing, you also lose the tension on the bolt that can be measured. Is that something you’re getting involved with quite a bit now because of just trying to determine how many bolts are affected and, and where we are on the safety scale of can we run this turbine or not? Is that something that EE bolt’s been looking into? Pete Andrews: Yeah, absolutely. So I, I’d say there’s sort of two halves of what we do. There’s the, there’s the bulk wholesale monitoring of. Typically static connections to eliminate this routine retitling where it’s not needed typically, typically. But then we have these edge cases of certain [00:11:00] connections and certain platforms that have known bolt integrity problems, and we are working with clients to really, um, manage those integrity risks. Blade stud is an absolute classic, you know, sort of, I think almost every turbine OEM on some, if not all of their platforms has got. Embedded risk into their blades, pitch bearing connections. Um, so yeah, exactly as you said, our customers are using the technology for two things really. One is to ensure the bolts have been tightened to the preload that was specified or the target window. And quite often we find there is an opportunity to increase the preload and therefore increase the resistance to fatigue failure. So. You know, particularly on older sites where the bolts perhaps not in the condition they were on day one. Well, they definitely won’t be. Um, when people have gone and retti them, they haven’t got back to where they, they should be.[00:12:00] So we can prove that and increase a bit of that resilience, but then also start to look for the segments around the joint where, um, the bolt might start loosening or failures are occurring, and find areas where they can really hone in. And actively manage risk. And that sort of leads to what we’ve decided to do for the next year, particularly with Blade Stud in mind, is evolve this technology. So whilst it’s also measuring the elongation, we will do a defect scan at the same time. So you’ll monitor your blade stu, um, connection and we’re hoping that we can set the device to flag to you there and then. We believe this bulk has got a defect while you’re here, get it changed out before it fails and, and all the knock on problems, um, from there. Joel Saxum: So what you’re just pointing to there is a, is a workflow, right? So to me that is typical [00:13:00] of some of the amazing, innovative companies in the UK that I’ve run into throughout my career. And that is, you’re a group of SMEs, you know, bolted connections. That’s what you do, right? But then you’re like, hey. If there’s a tool, we could make a tool that would make our lives a bit easier, then it’s like, well, we could make the entire industry’s lives a little bit easier as well. So let’s iterate on that. And now you’re able to send these kits around the world to look at these things. Hey, you have a problem with this specific model. We can help you with this because we know the failure mode and we know how to look for it. Let’s do that for you. Also here, you’re doing bolt bulk measurements. We got that for you. But it all kind of flows back to the fact that Echo Bolt is a team. A bolted connection, SMEs that are making tools and being able to also provide consulting if need be. Yeah. Right. Um, to, to an entire industry. And I think that, um, this is my take on it, right? Wind is stop number one. I think you guys are gonna do a fantastic year, but there’s a lot of, uh, opportunity out there in bolted [00:14:00] connections as well. Allen Hall: A tremendous amount blade bolts being broken from defects in the crystalline structure. What appears to be a more. Rapidly developing issue across fleets that I’ve seen. I went to a farm this summer and the number of blade bolts that were there on the table that were broken on the conference room table was And the whiteboard office. Yeah. Yeah. This one,  Joel Saxum: this one.  Allen Hall: Your hard head is not gonna protect you from this one. It’s, it’s, it was this, um, I couldn’t imagine the amount of time they were spending hunting these things down. And of course, the only way they were finding ’em was they were broken. You like to catch ’em before they break because it becomes  Joel Saxum: a safety risk. Just not too long ago we saw an insurance case where there’s an RCA going on and it is pointing at an entire tower came down. Right. And it is pointing at a mid, mid tower section bolted connection. How often do you guys run into those problems? Or are you contacted by insurance companies or anything like that to, to take a peek at those? Pete Andrews: We haven’t done anything directly for insurance [00:15:00]companies, but we have been engaged by. Engineering consultancies that are doing RCA type activities. Okay. Um, things like at the end of defect liability periods mm-hmm. A customer has, has seen, they’ve had a lot of, uh, issues from an OEM, maybe an OE EM has offered a modification or an upgrade, assessing whether that upgrade is actually solved the problem or not. We’ve got involved in, um, but the tower. Issue specifically. It’s actually very rare we find, um, problems with tower connections, but where we do is often where they haven’t achieved good flange flatness, ah, during installation or the bolts have been, let’s say, left out in the elements for a period and lubrication has been, has deteriorated before the bolt’s been installed. So there are cases out there, but what I would say is. [00:16:00] To think about your whole life cycle, so ensure the bolt’s installed correctly and we can help with that with a QA to say, yes, this torque or tightening method has got you to the load that you want. Do some through life monitoring, but often if you install it correctly, it will it’s operational life. You will have very little concern. But then in the UK market, we’re increasingly getting involved again at the end of life, right? Life extension where life extension turbines are 20, 25 years old. How does an operator make a decision to carry on running without replacing all bots? Um, and that’s where increasingly we being asked to use the technologist just to say, actually the joint is fine. The bolts have run in a good, um, operational envelope. Run them on. Don’t replace a hundred percent of them like you might have been recommended to from your, um, yeah. Turbine supplier side. [00:17:00] Allen Hall: So Pete, if someone’s doing a repower where they’re basically putting a new one in the cell on an existing tower, they’re making a lot of assumptions about all the bolts from the ground up that they’re gonna be okay. And I know we’re talking about that. We’re in a lot of installations where. If the turbine has gone through a repowered or two. So now those bolts are 20 years old. Yeah. And trying to get ’em to  Joel Saxum: 30 35. 35  Allen Hall: 40. Yeah. I don’t know what they’re doing. By those bolted connections. Are they just like replacing the bolts? Are they hitting ’em with a hammer again? Is that the, yeah,  Pete Andrews: I mean, they might replace ’em, but you’ve got a problem with the foundation bolts. ’cause they’re obviously often anchor bolts set into concrete, so you have to reuse them and. With the projects, both in wind and in process power industry with the chimney stacks to try and ascertain whether foundation bolts that are set into concrete are still suitable for operations. So look for corrosion losses, look for [00:18:00] defects. Um, so yeah, they’re all things that need thinking about before you just make the snap decision to repower. But I think  Joel Saxum: a lot of that, uh, going back to a couple minutes ago, you were talking about at the commissioning phase, making sure that you have proper qa, QC of how these things were installed day one, and then making sure that before commissioning of a turbine, they’re checked. I think that’s really important. We’re starting to see that in the blade world now too, where we’ve been talking about it for a long time, and now when you talk to operators, they’re like, we’re getting inspections done on the blades before they’re hung. Or at the factory before they’re hung. After they’re hung. Like they want a good foundation baseline. Are you seeing that in the bolted connection world too?  Pete Andrews: Yes. Sort of. It’s just emerging for us. What we’ve found is, so most of our customers are in the operational phase ’cause they are the ones feeling the pain. Yeah. Of the routine retitling work. When they do major components, they sometimes engage us to come and say, can you check [00:19:00] before and after the blade was removed? What was it? Before we took it off from a a bolt load perspective, what is it afterwards? Can you then recheck after 500 hours When we retalk it? And what we’ve seen there often is the initial install hasn’t got them to where they needed to be and they’ve had to go and do the break in maintenance or the 500 hour REIT to get the bolts to the right load. So one of the questions that we have is whether. Some of the defects are actually being initiated very early on in that initial running in period and whether if, if actually you’d taken the time at, at the point of assembly to make sure you were correct, whether that avoids some of the knock on integrity concerns. So yeah, it’s interesting area.  Allen Hall: Well, bolts are what hold wind turbines together and you better know you have the right. Tension and [00:20:00] torque on your bolts to get to the lifetime of the wind turbine and to, and to check it once in a while. And I know there’s a lot of operators I can think of right now in the United States that are sort of doing that job somewhat. I I think they have missed out on opportunities to save a lot of money and to call it echo bolt. How do people get ahold of you? Because that’s one thing I run into all the time. Like, Hey, hey, you gotta talk to Ebol, call Ebol. How do they get ahold of you?  Pete Andrews: So the easiest ways are via our website. Which is echo bolt.com. Um, LinkedIn, you’ll find us at Echo Bolt on LinkedIn. Reach out. Our email would be info@cobolt.com. So any of those route and you’ll, uh, reach me and the team and more than happy to speak to you about any of your faulting concerns or problems. We are, uh, yeah, we’re passionate about your problems.  Allen Hall: Pete, thank you so much for being on this podcast. I, it is great to actually see you in person and see the bolt wave technology. It’s really [00:21:00] impressive. So anybody out there that needs bolt tensioning to checking tools, you need to get ahold of Pete at Echo Bolt and get started today. Thank you Pete. Thanks guys. It’s great to be here.

OxygenCare, a leading Irish medical device distributor with over 54 years of experience supporting anaesthesia and critical care, has announced the Irish launch of the GE Carestation 850 Anaesthesia Delivery System at the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (CAI) Annual Congress, held in O'Reilly Hall, UCD. The launch marks a significant milestone in OxygenCare's long-standing partnership with Irish healthcare, reflecting more than five decades of innovation supporting clinicians, from early gas delivery systems to today's connected, data-driven care environments. As the exclusive Irish distributor for GE HealthCare's anaesthesia portfolio, OxygenCare is introducing the GE Carestation 850 as a Digital for Care-ready platform, aligned with the HSE's evolving digital infrastructure, including the One Health Record (National EHR), NIMIS, and future integrated care systems. "The theme of this year's CAI Congress, 'The Evolution of Anaesthesia and Critical Care', perfectly reflects our journey," said Maurice Moran, Managing Director, OxygenCare. "For over 50 years, we have enabled Irish clinicians to deliver safer, more effective care as technology has evolved. The GE Carestation 850 represents the next step: advanced clinical performance combined with seamless digital integration, fully aligned with HSE Digital for Care standards. We are proud to launch it here among the clinicians shaping the future of anaesthesia in Ireland." Designed for Ireland's Digital Healthcare Ecosystem The GE Carestation 850 is built as a fully connected medical device, supporting the transition from paper-based workflows to a data-driven, integrated perioperative environment. Key Digital Features include: Interoperability by Design: Simplifying connections to other medical devices and to hospital networks. Real-time data transmission can be configured to automatically send important physiological, machine and service data to various clients simultaneously. Integrated Care Connectivity: Bi-directional data exchange with Shared Care Record and future Community Care Record. Cybersecurity Framework: Future-ready: Extra computing power to accommodate smart tools and features. AI-Ready Architecture: Supports future decision tools such as predictive alerts and ventilation optimisation. Advanced Clinical Performance The GE Carestation 850 is engineered to support the evolving demands of anaesthesia and critical care: Advanced ventilation modes for both low-flow and high-flow anaesthetic techniques. High-resolution touchscreen interface for intuitive operation and rapid clinical decision-making. Efficient vapouriser and gas management systems. Native integration with anaesthesia information systems and hospital PAS. End-tidal control (Et Control) Automatically adjusts fresh gas flows to maintain EtO2 and EtAA targets. The new GE Carestation 850 is a platform for today and for the future – engineered with digital architecture that supports ongoing software innovations while delivering advanced clinical performance combined with seamless digital integration.The system will be displayed at the CAI Congress, continuing OxygenCare's long-standing commitment to engage directly with Ireland's anaesthesia community. See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Talks at the Labour Court aimed at resolving a pay dispute at the National Ambulance Service will resume this morning. SIPTU has described the discussions as "difficult" and said agreement has not yet been reached. "The Labour Court has asked the parties to return today as a final opportunity to try to resolve the dispute before next week's industrial action, which would involve a 72 hour work stoppage amid an ongoing work to rule according to the Union. The dispute over pay and conditions stems from accusations that the HSE has failure to implement the pay scale recommendations of an independent report in 2020. For their part, Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians and Ambulance staff claim the scope and duties of their roles has expanded in recent times but the pay has not matched this change. To find out the latest, Daragh Dolan was joined by Clooney-Quin based Orla Considine who is on the Midwest Irish Ambulance Representative Council.

The Oireachtas Committee for Health will be holding a meeting about staff morale in the HSE later today. Speaking to Anton ahead of this meeting was Matthew Sadlier, President of the Irish Medical Organisation.

In this episode of the HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing podcast, host Noreen Turley speaks with Kathleen King, HSE National Endometriosis Education Lead, and Cate O'Connor, HSE National Endometriosis Education Officer, who have developed an educational programme educating young people in school and clubs about periods, pelvic pain and the impact of endometriosis and adenomyosis. They explore how severe menstrual symptoms can affect school, college, work, sport, friendships as well as mental health, and why it is vital to distinguish typical period discomfort from distressing symptoms that regularly disrupt daily activities. Kathleen explains that endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition, predominantly found in the pelvis, linked with severe cyclical pain, bowel and bladder problems, fatigue and migraine, and that it can be difficult to diagnose. The guests put a real emphasise on the importance of tracking menstrual symptoms over several months, noticing patterns, and bringing concrete information to GP appointments. They introduce MISE, the HSE menstrual health and endometriosis education programme for schools, workplaces and sports clubs, adapted from a long‑running New Zealand initiative. MISE aims to normalise conversations about menstrual health, empower young people to understand their bodies, and help parents and teachers recognise when to seek medical advice. The episode also outlines how GPs can use HSE clinical guidance to make a presumptive diagnosis and start treatment, and highlights trusted information sources, including MISE Ireland and HSE.ie   Produced by GKMedia.ie

The Oireachtas Committee for Health will be holding a meeting about staff morale in the HSE later today. Speaking to Anton ahead of this meeting was Matthew Sadlier, President of the Irish Medical Organisation.

A new ESRI report projects major increases in HSE primary and community care workforce needs by 2040, driven mainly by population growth and ageing, with all staff categories expected to expand significantly. The biggest increases are forecast for services focused on older people, including occupational therapists, podiatrists, audiologists, and public health/community nurses, with annual workforce growth needs of up to 3.2%. Dr Aoife Brick, Senior Research Officer at the ESRI, and lead author of the report joined Anton to discuss.

A new ESRI report projects major increases in HSE primary and community care workforce needs by 2040, driven mainly by population growth and ageing, with all staff categories expected to expand significantly. The biggest increases are forecast for services focused on older people, including occupational therapists, podiatrists, audiologists, and public health/community nurses, with annual workforce growth needs of up to 3.2%. Dr Aoife Brick, Senior Research Officer at the ESRI, and lead author of the report joined Anton to discuss.

Bernadette Mullins, Senior HP & Improvement Officer- Cancer Prevention for HSE Mid-West, joins Joe to tell us about a free webinar to offer all things sunbed advice on Wednesday, 20th May from the HSE.Image via Getty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Clare senator is calling for an audit of vacant State-owned properties. Ennistymon Senator Martin Conway is seeking an assessment of buildings owned by the likes of local authorities, the OPW, HSE, Irish Rail and Bus Éireann as a means of making more units available for housing. As of April 20th, Clare County Council is dealing with 380 derelict properties across the county. Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Conway says leaving buildings lying idle in a housing crisis in unacceptable.

Get the highlights from this year's Tech Excellence Awards in Dublin, including why Rena Maycock of Chirp took home Person of the Year and how the HSE is finally digitising maternal healthcare at scale.Plus, we examine the arrival of the “Googlebook”, new premium hardware featuring the mysterious "G-key" and "Glowbar". We also tackle the sobering news from LinkedIn, where large job cuts have been announced for Ireland despite soaring revenues. For a full list of Tech Excellence Award Winners see https://techawards.techcentral.ie/—----- Listen to Tech Radio now on Apple, Spotify and YouTubehttps://www.podfollow.com/tech

Five years ago today, a Russian linked cybercrime group hacked into the HSE's system leading to a shut down and the cancellation of appointments for thousands of patients. Edel McAllister reports.

The Shop Steward of Ennis Ambulance Base claims morale within the service is at an "all-time low". National Ambulance Service staff are on strike nationwide today, with pickets in place at stations across the country until 8am tomorrow. The industrial action centres on the claim by trade unions that the HSE has failed to implement the recommendations of a 2020 report on updating salary scales to reflect changes in responsibilities and workload within the last 15 years. Paramedic and Shop Steward at Ennis Ambulance Base Finola Croke has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons recruitment into the service will become more difficult if conditions aren't improved.

Siamo on air con CAPRERA 4 - Formazione, organizzazione HSE e nuove prospettive sul lavoro In questo episodio ospitiamo Lucrezia Maggi, dell'area Risorse Umane e Ricerca e Sviluppo del Gruppo Tecnolario S.r.l. in dialogo con Federica Lombardi, Vicepresidente del Gruppo Giovani Imprenditori. La puntata affronta il tema dell'organizzazione HSE da una prospettiva concreta e trasversale, soffermandosi sull'importanza del dialogo tra sicurezza, ambiente, salute e persone all'interno delle aziende. Un confronto sull'importanza del dialogo tra persone, competenze e funzioni diverse all'interno delle aziende.

There could be delays to some non-emergency ambulance call outs from today. A work-to-rule by workers in the National Ambulance Service is getting underway today. Members of SIPTU and Unite are taking the industrial action because their pay rates are "out of kilter" with other health professionals. They say frontline staff have taken on major increases in responsibility and qualifications, but that agreed recommendations on pay and career structures have still not been implemented. The HSE says contingency plans are in place and insists substantial pay proposals have already been made. Alan Morrissey spoke about all of this with SIPTU Ambulance Sector Organiser John McCamley. Image © Pat Flynn

Close to 2,000 National Ambulance Service members of UNITE and SIPTU began industrial action from 8am this morning, over a dispute with the Government regarding pay for ambulance staff.People who require an ambulance have been told they should still call 999/112, but those experiencing cardiac or respiratory arrest, as well as serious injuries, will be prioritised.The HSE has said the ability of the National Ambulance Service to respond to requests for help will be “significantly impacted”.Stephen McMahon is Co-Founder & Director of the Irish Patients' Association and joins Ciara to discuss.

In this special episode of The kbbreview Podcast, host Andrew Davies speaks exclusively to Mike Calcutt, Deputy Director in the HSE's Engagement and Policy Division, about the regulator's major update to its guidance on engineered stone fabrication and silica dust exposure.With silicosis cases rising globally, and Australia already banning engineered stone outrigh, the UK industry is now facing tougher expectations around water suppression, mist extraction, respiratory protection and health surveillance.Calcutt explains why HSE believes there is now “no scope” for dry cutting engineered stone, how the regulator plans to inspect more than 1,000 workplaces over the coming months, and why the new guidance stops short of introducing a full ban on high-silica materials.We also discuss the responsibilities of fabricators, suppliers and kitchen retailers, the growing push towards lower-silica products, and whether this is the end of the debate or just the beginning... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Government has a recurring problem with budgetary overruns. Last year, overspending amounted to €4.1 billion. Already this year Education needs an extra 646m, while the HSE is 250m over for the first three months of the year. Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Jack Chambers joined Paul now in studio to discuss the way forward.

Two Irish citizens have been evacuated from a cruise ship in Tenerife and are scheduled to be repatriated home on the Government jet after health checks. Both passengers are currently asymptomatic and will be transferred to an HSE isolation facility for monitoring. From Tenerife, we were joined by journalist Cliodna O'Flynn with the latest.

Rebecca Brennan, a student nurse in her final year of study, and Tony O'Brien, former Head of the HSE, join the panel of Naoise Ó Muirí, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Bay North, Louise O'Reilly, Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Fingal West and Rory Hearne, Social Democrats TD for Dublin North-West.

Rebecca Brennan, a student nurse in her final year of study, explains her concerns about entering the working world following the HSE's announcement this week that it will pause some recruitment.

The number of Dementia care beds in Clare has been described as "a drop in the ocean" in comparison to what's needed. The HSE has revealed there are just 30 dementia specific beds in this county, 17 of which belong to private hospitals. It's understood 1,700 people here are living with the condition. Newmarket-On-Fergus Fianna Fáil Councillor David Griffin says much more resources are needed.

Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· The findings of the Irish Times/TG4 opinion poll on first preference votes, carried out by Ipsos B&A, suggests three leading candidates in the Galway West byelection. It shows Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) at 17 per cent followed by Noel Thomas (Independent Ireland Party) on 16 per cent and Helen Ogbu (Labour) on 12 per cent. · In Dublin Central, candidate and veteran criminal Gerry Hutch rejected claims that recent comments he made about immigrants were racist. In a social media post on Sunday Hutch said, “illegal immigrants”, including Somalis, who were “mooching” their way into the country, should be interned in the Curragh.· And Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton's recent confirmation that her department is facing a deficit of more than €500 million this year was dwarfed by the HSE's decision to pause recruitment in non-frontline roles across significant parts of the country due to a projected €1 billion overspend this year.Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:· Mark Paul on nationalist-led administrations running Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Finn McRedmond is not a fan of ‘grotty' Stephen's Green Shopping Centre, and Donald Trump's boundless appetite for self‑memorialisation. Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ashley Connolly, Fórsa Trade Union, discusses the financial issues at the HSE.

The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, has said the HSE needs to demonstrate it's in charge of its Budget following a 250 million euro overspend. For the latest, Ronan Mahon, Lecturer in Health Economics at the University of Galway.

HSE Chief Anne O'Connor had told senior management the organisation is “significantly over budget” and the situation is “serious” while a Dáil spending watchdog was announced in response to the €127,000 bike shed in Kerry hospital.The HSE will be pausing recruitment in some non-frontline roles due to a €250 million overspend…Joining Shane to discuss this is Pádraig Rice, Social Democrat TD for Cork South Central and Health Spokesperson for the Social Democrats.Image: University Hospital Kerry

The HSE is urging people to protect themselves against tick bites ahead of the summer season, as they warn of several hundred Lyme disease cases a year in Ireland.Professor Jack Lambert, Consultant in Infectious Diseases at the Mater Hospital and UCD School of Medicine joins Shane to discuss.

The HSE is being urged to progress it's new plans for a community hospital in Ennis as soon as possible. The controversial €25m proposal for the facility on a grace space at St Flannan's College was refused by An Coimisúin Pleanála last December. The HSE has now signalled its intention to reapply for planning at the site, with a submission expected to be made by September. Doonbeg Fianna Fáil Councillor and HSE Regional Health Forum MidWest member Rita McInerney says a geriatric hospital is urgently needed.

Around 26,000 people have applied for HSE funding to take Saxenda, one type of weight loss drug, since 2023. But, if you're already on weight loss medication - how has it affected you?Joining Andrea to discuss their experiences is Writer and Director Amanda Brunker, as well as listeners.

PJ talks to Barbara Louise Brennan about surviving severe bipolar disorder and the Mental Health Matters poster campaign along with Martin Ryan of the HSE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The HSE is looking into the possible link between the shingles vaccines and a lowered risk of dementia. The Oireachtas Health Committee was told today a free shingles vaccine programme for over 65s would cost 218 million euro. A previous HIQA assessment found the vaccine is safe and effective, but did not consider it cost effective at the current price. Chief Medical Officer Mary Horgan says she has asked HIQA to keep evaluating other benefits of the vaccine. Joining Alan Morrissey to discuss this was Dr. Michael Kelleher, Lahinch GP and Member of the IMO's GP Committee. Image © Medical professional administering vaccine by Mihaela Stoica's Images via Canva

Episode 1 of Rethinking EHS, Season 3 reflects on 25 years of the Inogen Alliance, highlighting how its success has been built on connecting global organisations with deep local expertise to tackle complex environmental, health, safety, and sustainability challenges.  The discussion underscores key lessons for organisations: prioritise local knowledge, embrace technology, and foster strong partnerships to deliver meaningful, scalable impact, ultimately demonstrating that sustainable progress depends on aligning global ambition with on-the-ground realities. -------------- 00:00 – Intro  00:03 – Opening & Series Introduction  01:13 – Setting the Scene: Topics & Guests  01:43 – The Origin Story: Why the Alliance Was Created  03:15 – Rising Complexity: Regulation & Local Expertise  05:43 – Why an Alliance Model (Not Expansion)?  07:21 – Evolution Over 25 Years  09:49 – Key Moments: When the Model Proved Itself  16:32 – The Present: Strategy, Purpose & Growth  22:09 – The Future: Risk, Uncertainty & Opportunity  31:52 – Advice & Closing Reflections  -------------  Sponsor  Rethinking EHS is brought to you by the Inogen Alliance. Inogen Alliance is a global network of 70+ companies providing environment, health, safety and sustainability services working together to provide one point of contact to guide multinational organizations to meet their global commitments locally. Visit http://www.inogenalliance.com/podcast to learn more. -------------  Links  https://www.Inogenalliance.com/resources https://www.Inogenalliance.com/podcast Angelique on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeliquedickson Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-ferguson-1a40b511 Keith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-knoke-27587a7 Produced by https://www.madcontent.co.nz

New research suggests that dredging is affecting water quality in Lough Neagh. Scientists from Queen's University Belfast believe that commercial dredging for sand which is widespread across the Lough has a deeper more harmful impact on ecosystems than originally thought. Serious concerns have been raised about weaknesses at Northern Ireland's Agri-food and Bio-sciences Institute. A report from the Health and Safety Executive highlighted issues with bio containment and the condition of the facilities. AFBI is an arm's length government body which carries out scientific research and also testing for diseases like bluetongue. The HSE report said that at the time of the inspection that testing was unsafe, with measures required to protect the environment. The Institute says action has been taken to 'to drive improvements and address all issues raised.'All this week we've been hearing from our National Parks, and today is the turn of Northumberland, covering much of Hadrian's Wall and the vast Cheviot Hills, it sells itself as home to England's cleanest rivers and darkest skies. It's also the least visited and one of the most remote of the National Parks in England and Wales. Rural churches are a hotspot for theft and vandalism according to a new report from the Countryside Alliance. It got data from 37 police forces across the UK which shows that last year nearly 4,000 crimes at churches were recorded, in urban and rural areas, however it says churches in villages and countryside areas are particularly vulnerable.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

On Thursday's Morning Focus we heard from a Clare mother about a deeply worrying experience that has raised fresh concerns about emergency response times in the region. Molly Kelly's seven-year-old daughter, who is autistic and non-verbal, became gravely ill over the weekend—but the family then faced a two-hour wait for an ambulance to take her from Shannondoc to University Hospital Limerick. As questions grow around ambulance availability, rural healthcare access, and ongoing pressures in the system, Alan Morrissey spoke with Molly, to hear her story. Clare Fm reached out to the HSE for a statement on this issue: "The HSE National Ambulance Service (NAS) regrets that any service user should have a negative experience. However, the HSE cannot discuss individual case details when doing so might reveal information relating to identifiable individuals, thereby breaching our ethical duty of confidentiality. The NAS works to deliver the highest standard of care for people using NAS services. All 999/112 calls received for emergency medical assistance are prioritised using an internationally recognised system that triages calls based on clinical priority, which range from life-threatening- cardiac or respiratory arrest to minor illness or injury. This means that during particularly busy periods, lower-acuity calls may wait longer for an ambulance. Ambulance bases have additional vehicles on site. These are in reserve for breakdowns and servicing. It also means crews coming on duty have a vehicle immediately available if the earlier crew and ambulance are attending another incident. This ensures continuity of service. The NAS is undergoing a significant transformation programme to enhance service delivery, optimise resources, and expand its role in providing alternative and community-based care. Since 2022, additional investment has seen the NAS base budget increase by 41% (an additional €83 million) to €285 million in 2025. Over the same period, staffing levels have increased by 28%, with an additional 588 whole-time equivalent staff, bringing total NAS staffing to 2,655 WTE. Capital investment of €126 million has also been made in fleet replacement and expansion to support these developments. Plans for 2026 include significant investment in the NAS: an additional 263 whole-time equivalents and €20 million in new funding, including additional resources in each of Kilrush, Ennis, and Ennistymon. This investment plan will deliver 21 additional crewed ambulances nationally, operating at peak demand, as well as four more Intermediate Care Vehicles, and continued development of the Clinical Hub and alternative care pathways. " Image © Alan Place

The HSE are warning against growing misinformation around sunbed use, and would like to remind the right amount of use, is no amount. For more on this Anton heard from Professor Shirley Potter, consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon at St James's Hospital in Dublin.

ALSO: Protesters rally against new board's impact on Indianapolis education funding, Trey Williams sentenced to 6 years in death of former HSE football star Mason Alexander, and Indianapolis' Victory Field adds POW/MIA honor chair.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hello Poz Vibe Tribe!Veda Lady and Dr. Robbie have two guests this week to share with you all.  Aoife Commins is already a beloved member of the triibe and we are delighted to have her back. Listen to her first chat with Robbie and Veda here. Aoife is a sexual health nurse  living in Galway and is Ireland's leading HIV activist. Along with her dad Pat, Aoife currently appears in the You, Me and HIV campaign that we co created with the HSE.Our second guest is Jenny Keane, a sex educator who is famous for her no nonsense shame free approach to sexual wellness and pleasure. She is the founder of the Oh moment sexual wellness destinationfor adults. If this episode resonates with you, share it with anyone you think would find it useful.We're here for you Poz Vibers. Love,Veda and Robbie.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Poz Vibe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Veda⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lady and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Robbie Lawlor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ production. Big thanks to ⁠our sponsors ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dublin Pride ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who make this series possible. We'd also like to thank The Boiler House, Man 2 Man, Gay Health Network and The George for all their help and support.Episodes are produced by Veda and Robbie with production assistance from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Esther O'Moore Donohoe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Video editing, artwork, social media assets and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ all created by Lavender The Queen.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠

OxygenCare, a leading provider of life-saving medical equipment and solutions, has announced the launch of its new online shop and rental platform. In addition to other medical devices, the platform will provide exclusive access on the island of Ireland to Medela Symphony hospital-grade breast pumps, enabling parents and healthcare providers to rent or buy them. By improving access to the Medela Symphony breast pump, OxygenCare is well-positioned to better meet the high demand for breast pumps from parents across Ireland. The HSE reports that there has been an 18.6% increase in the percentage of babies breastfed at the 3 months developmental check-up since 2015. Breast feeding provides unparalleled health benefits for both baby and mother. From powerful immune system support and perfect nutrition aiding easy digestion for baby to fast post-partum recovery for mum. Breast pumps act as a supportive tool that empowers mothers to continue providing those benefits while navigating the demands of modern life, managing health challenges, and sharing the joy of feeding their baby with others. The Symphony breast pump supports mothers with: 2-Phase Expression Technology, which imitates a baby's natural sucking action Initiation Technology, which imitates a newborn's sucking pattern in the first few days after birth and can increase milk supply by 50% Pre-set programmes that are easy to use An anatomical oval breast shield with 105? angle, resulting in more milk while experiencing more comfort. Symphony stands as the most rigorously studied hospital-grade breast pump currently available. Its clinical efficacy is supported by a robust body of peer-reviewed research, including 8 randomised controlled trials (RCTs), 1 non-randomised controlled trial (NRCT), and 2 cohort studies. As the exclusive and sole distributor for the Medela Symphony breast pump, OxygenCare has developed a rental programme within its online shop which allows new parents to set up a rolling or once-off agreement. Individuals can then collect the breast pump from the OxygenCare office or a designated pharmacy*. Alternatively, it can be delivered to a location of their choice. Linda Ryan Head of Sales OxygenCare said: "When you have a baby, there is so much to think about and not everyone's birthing and feeding experience is the same. Whatever the circumstances, our aim is to make it more convenient for those who want to use breast pumps to access these vital devices." Maurice Moran Managing Director OxygenCare added: "As with everything we do at OxygenCare, the rollout of our online shop and these products is all about providing more choice, reliability and value for both healthcare providers and patients. In turn, we hope to improve support and enhance experiences." In addition to Medela Symphony® breast pumps, the OxygenCare online store also facilitates the purchase of AED defibrillators and accessories, as well as the TempoTherm Thermometer. The medical device webstore will continue to expand its offering over the coming months to include other product offerings. You can access the OxygenCare medical device web shop at www.shop.oxygen-care.com. See more stories here.

The Department of Health and the HSE should be putting greater focus on patient outcomes and quality of care not just on output. That's the call from the Irish Medical Organisation, whose AGM is taking place today. Speaking to Anton for more on this was Matthew Sadlier is President of the IMO.

The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, and the CEO of the HSE, Anne O'Connor, have called for all approaches to medical facilities to be kept clear for emergency service access, for medical appointments and to ensure staff can get to work and treat their patients.The Minister joins Ciara to discuss…

The HSE is being accused of failing to deliver on its promise of a vital healthcare facility in south Clare. At the latest Regional Health Forum Midwest meeting, Fianna Fáil Councillor Antoinette Baker-Bashua has asked for an update on the proposed Sixmilebridge Primary Care Centre granted approval in September 2019. HSE Mid West claims a "disagreement between the developer and the landowner" has stalled the project but says that having recently finalised a review of the healthcare needs of the town, a strategy for progressing the project will be developed in the near future. Councillor Baker-Bashua believes locals have been let down.

Concern has been raised over University Hospital Limerick's capability to respond to an emergency multi-casualty event in the region. The matter was queried at the latest meeting of the HSE's Regional Health Forum MidWest. While HSE MidWest has pointed to an interim strategy plan, it was unable to provide clarity on bed capacity or Emergency Department thresholds in surge conditions. Doonbeg Fianna Fáil Councillor and HSE Regional Health Forum MidWest member Rita McInerney isn't convinced Clare's seasonal population changes have been considered.

Jerry spoke to pharmacist Jack Shanahan of Haven Pharmacy Shanahan’s Castleisland, about the agreement reached by the Irish Pharmacy Union and the HSE.

Concern has been expressed in Clare around the lack of delivery of beds at community hospitals last year. HSE Mid West has confirmed no new long stay or short stay beds were delivered at its facilities in its older person's residential services in Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary in 2025. It's also stated that negotiations are ongoing regarding its acquisition of St Senan's Nursing Home in Kilrush where it intends to install three additional long stay beds by the end of this year. Shannonbanks Sinn Féin Councillor James Ryan, who sits on the HSE's Regional

The Irish Nurses’ and Midwives’ Organisation has accused the HSE of a lack of ‘required engagement’ in relation to staffing as part of the transfer of services from Killarney Community Hospital’s current base to a new building. Jerry spoke to Kathryn Courtney of the INMO.

Thousands of vaccines are being administered to students in the UK following an outbreak of Meningitis in Kent in which two young people have died. Dr John Cuddihy, the HSE's National Director for Public Health, on the symptoms parents should watch out for.

In this episode of Just Wondering, Norm reflects on over 50 years in sports media while diving into today's biggest conversations across the sports world. From Shohei Ohtani's historic dominance and $700 million contract to the ongoing frustrations surrounding the Dallas Cowboys, this episode blends perspective, humor, and hard truths. Joined by legendary voices like Mike Reiner and insight from Mark Cuban, the conversation moves from the early days of sports broadcasting and streaming to modern-day chaos in college sports, boxing spectacles, and the ever-changing business of professional sports. There are moments that are hilarious, moments that are sharp, and moments that make you stop and think—like a story involving a letter from John Hinckley, or why Jake Paul's boxing model keeps working. At its core, this episode is about legacy, evolution, and why sports still matter—no matter how much the landscape changes. If you've followed sports in Dallas-Fort Worth—or just love real, unfiltered sports talk—this one hits.   Chapters 0:00 — 100 Episodes & 50 Years in Sports Media Norm reflects on a career spanning decades and the evolution of sports talk. 1:53 — Mark Cuban on the Birth of Sports Streaming How Dallas sports radio helped pioneer internet broadcasting. 3:00 — The John Hinckley Letter Story A bizarre and unforgettable exchange that still stands out. 4:58 — Is Tennis Losing Its Place in America? A look at shifting popularity across major sports. 5:45 — Shohei Ohtani and the $700M Debate Is any athlete worth that kind of money? 7:49 — Jake Paul and the Business of Boxing Why fighting aging legends continues to print money. 10:35 — Cowboys, Sponsors & the Business of Football What the Cowboys prioritize—and what fans are noticing. 14:03 — Ranking America's Most Popular Sports Where each sport stands today and what's changing. 16:52 — Rangers Strategy & MLB Decisions Rotation debates and what's working (or not). 17:54 — Cowboys vs Eagles: Why One Team Wins Breaking down planning, cap management, and execution. 21:45 — Health, Aging & Perspective in Sports A deeper conversation on longevity and life lessons. 24:23 — Old School Radio Stories & Industry Origins Behind-the-scenes moments that shaped sports media. 30:04 — Mark Cuban on Mavericks Ownership Would he sell—and what still frustrates him? 35:31 — Cowboys' 30-Year Championship Drought Why time is becoming the biggest pressure point. 37:20 — College Sports Chaos & Lack of Control Transfer portal, tampering, and a broken system. 38:04 — The Wildest Boxing Moment You'll Hear Today The Big Baby Miller story that sums up modern boxing.   Check us out: patreon.com/sunsetloungedfw  Instagram: sunsetloungedfw Tiktok: sunsetloungedfw X: SunsetLoungeDFW FB: Sunset Lounge DFW Just Wondering is a long-form sports commentary podcast hosted by longtime broadcaster Norm Hitzges, offering thoughtful, numbers-driven analysis of the NFL, college sports, the NBA, and the business and culture surrounding them. Each episode blends experience, history, and curiosity to explore why things happen — not just what happened. New episodes feature clear-eyed perspective, context you don't hear elsewhere, and questions worth sitting with a little longer. 

Nicki Killeen discusses why the HSE are warning on the dangers of drug taking this bank holiday weekend.

Cathal Crowe, Fianna Fáil T.D.for Clare, on a new hospital facility in Limerick has been acquired by the HSE for 14 million euro.