Health in Focus

Pregnancy is often idealised as a time of glowing happiness. For many women, it isn’t.

In this episode of Health in Focus, Dr Anthony McCarthy, retired consultant psychiatrist at the National Maternity Hospital, and Ireland’s first full-time consultant in perinatal psychiatry, tackles the myths around pregnancy and has a candid discussion about the mental health challenges women can face.

Health in Focus is hosted by Nicola Anderson and brought to you by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA).

Professor Jonathan Hourihane, Consultant Paediatrician at Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street, joins Health in Focus this week to discuss one of the most pressing concerns for modern parents: childhood food allergies.

In this episode we address allergy myths, rising allergy rates in children, and the critical shortage of paediatric allergists in Ireland. We also discuss:

• how 30% of children with food allergies report being bullied
• how eczema and the skin barrier are linked to food allergy
• why introducing peanut early can prevent peanut allergy
• and what to do if your child reacts to a food

Health in Focus is hosted by Nicola Anderson and brought to you by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA).

Obesity is a chronic disease, not a failure of willpower, so why do so many people still blame themselves?

In this episode of Health in Focus, Professor Helen Heneghan, consultant bariatric surgeon at St Vincent’s University Hospital, explains what really drives obesity, and how persistent myths about the disease drive social stigma and prevent people from seeking help.

Professor Helen Heneghan also chats to host Nicola Anderson about GLP-1 medications such as Mounjaro, why they are intended as a life-long treatment, and where bariatric surgery fits in.

Health in Focus is hosted by Nicola Anderson and brought to you by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA).

Menopause is a major life transition and there have been significant developments in the help and treatments available to make the lives of women better. In this episode of Health in Focus, guest host Prof. Gabrielle Colleran, President of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, talks to Dr Mona Joyce, Consultant Gynaecologist at the National Maternity Hospital, about what women in Ireland need to know to have the best menopause possible.

Health in Focus is hosted by Nicola Anderson and brought to you by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA).

In the first episode of Health in Focus, host Nicola Anderson speaks with Prof. Nicola Ralph, Consultant Dermatologist at the Institute of Dermatologists, about skin cancer, the most common cancer in Ireland. They examine why skin cancer rates are so high in Ireland, the key risk factors involved, and the preventative measures people can take to reduce their risk. Prof. Ralph also outlines the signs and changes to look out for on the skin, highlighting the importance of early detection and knowing when to seek medical advice.

Health in Focus is brought to you by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA).

Welcome to Health in Focus, the podcast that brings you expert insights from Ireland’s leading hospital consultants. Each week, we explore a range of health topics, answer the questions that matter to you and break down complex medical issues in an accessible, easy-to-understand way. We aim to help you better understand your health, make informed decisions and feel empowered to take an active role in your health.

Subscribe now and tune in every week for a new episode.