Welcome news from Asia

In recent days it has emerged that tainted rice has been served in Japanese hospitals and nursing homes, while infants in China are fighting kidney stone problems after the mass circulation of toxic baby milk powder.

‘Certainly, for my part I think Irish health service consumers can be confident in comparison,’ said Prof Brendan Drumm, chief executive of the HSE, on Friday.

‘A handful of misdiagnosed cancer patients and a few stray wombs are indeed issues of concern, but there are processes in place to ensure that I don’t lose my job because of them.’

HSE’s new accidental death service

The HSE has begun manufacturing mercy wheelchairs. The first beneficiary was Beatrice Tuite (61) of St Laurence’s Nursing Home, Portlaoise. Ms Tuite suffered from dementia.

The Irish Times reported: ‘The chair was specially made for Ms Tuite and was supplied by the HSE, following assessment by an occupational therapist, with a belt around the waist to prevent her from falling out of the chair.’ Ms Tuite died of asphyxiation when her neck became caught in the safety belt, as planned.

The HSE strongly emphasised that the mercy wheelchairs were ‘not euthanasia by another name.’

The HSE has said: ‘for those without the means to travel to the Netherlands or Antwerp, the accidental death service provides another path.'

Elderly people with dementia, Alzheimers and depression can apply for the wheelchair upon consultation with a GP.