The agreement reached between the Department of Health and the Irish Medical Organisation clears the way for the drawing up of a new GP contract for family doctors, to include the Government’s plans for free care for under-sixes.However, there was no indication last night when talks might begin or even whether they would take place at all. The issue is likely to be discussed at today’s meeting of the Cabinet subcommittee on health, which is also expected to discuss proposals to take the heat out of the medical card controversy.

Minister of State for Primary Care Alex White yesterday welcomed the agreement with the IMO which sets out a process for engagement on publicly funded contracts involving GPs. After months of stalemate, the IMO agreed last month to enter “talks about talks” with the Department of Health. These resulted in yesterday’s agreement.

This deal is separate from the settlement of litigation between the IMO and the Competition Authority, which was announced yesterday, though this agreement also helps clear the way for substantive discussions to begin again between the IMO and the department……

Read more:http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/imo-to-permit-gp-contract-facilitating-free-healthcare-for-under-sixes-1.1812939

Hundreds of positions pledged for community-based mental health teams last year have still not been filled, latest figures show.The numbers come at a time when campaigners warn that psychiatric services are under heavy strain as a result of rising demand and staffing gaps. In December 2012, the Government announced that €35 million would be invested over the following year in appointing 477 staff to community mental health teams for adults, children, older persons and other services.Figures for the end of March 2014 show just over half – or 267 – of these promised posts have been filled, while a further 26 have agreed start-up dates.

read more http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/hundreds-of-promised-jobs-in-mental-health-services-not-filled-1.1844635

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After revelations that a worryingly high number of people have pre-diabetes, Abi Jackson looks at why it’s not too late for many of us to take action.Type 2 diabetes recently hit the headlines again, with major new research – published in the British Medical Journal – revealing that some 14 million people in England alone now have pre-diabetes, three times higher than figures from 2006.

read more http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/learning-to-read-the-warning-signs-of-diabetes-danger-30385133.html