The dispute over the location of the new specialist breast cancer unit in Navan rather than Drogheda continues to create headlines in the local newspapers. The Drogheda Independent gives the matter front-page treatment under the banner headline "Consultant in call for breast unit relocation".
The report by Paul Murray says: "Dr Desmond Carney, who visits Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda to treat patients, has called on the (North Eastern Health) board to consider the needs of the patients and reverse the decision".
In the report Mr Finbar Lennon, medical adviser to the NEHB, says to base the regional breast cancer service in Navan would be unwise and perverse. Lourdes oncology nurses have also spoken out on the issue.
The Meath Chronicle takes up the issue on its front page and Joan Duignan reports: "A heated discussion at (an) NEHB meeting ended with a plan to hold a special meeting to `revisit' the decision taken at the end of May to locate the symptomatic breast services for women in Navan".
The Anglo Celt leads with the same matter: "The North Eastern Health Board will hold a special meeting within the next fortnight in a further effort to resolve the issue of the location of the region's new breast cancer treatment unit".
Health issues are a constant concern of the regional papers. The Kilkenny People gives prominence to a report by Jim Rhatigan about a distraught young Kilkenny woman, who is quoted, "My father is dying. For God's sake get me somewhere for him to die in comfort".
The report quotes Mr John McGuinness TD as saying: "People are distressed and frustrated at the lack of facilities for our old people. I see little solution to a problem which is haunting our community".
A headline in the Argus says: "Future status of Louth Hospital already looming as election issue" over a report which says: "Although it is four months since the maternity unit was closed at the Louth Hospital, the sense of grievance and hurt felt by the townspeople at that time has hardly abated since".
The Longford News gives front-page coverage to the adjournment of the Midland Health Board meeting following comments by a local councillor which he refused to withdraw. Cllr James Bannon, referring to the board's CEO, Denis Doherty, is quoted thus: "(You) should be ashamed. You are a disgrace to us" during what the paper describes as "an acrimonious debate on the casualty unit in Longford town".
The Longford Leader's John Donohoe reports a split has arisen between the Longford members of the Midland Health Board. "It emerged last week that the doctors' weekend cover rota is to be reduced, as well as the weekday `out of hour' rota from August 10th". It continues: "It was decided to scrap 24-hour casualty service at St Joseph's accident and emergency centre in Longford. This decision means no emergency service will be provided between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. from Monday to Thursday at St Joseph's." On a positive note, the Longford Leader reports: "Two wheelchair-bound Longford folk recently proved that disability is no barrier to enjoying life to the full and tackling its challenges as they undertook a gruelling voyage." Valerie Moran from Legan and Peter O'Toole from Drumlish sailed on the renovated tall ship Tenacious as fully fledged members of the crew after winning the Phoenix Centre Achievement award, funded by the Midland Health Board.
The Dungarvan Leader reports: "A new radiology unit at Dungarvan District Hospital, costing over £100,000, was officially opened by the chairman of the South Eastern Health Board, Ald Hilary Quinlan". The unit complements the state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment at Waterford Regional Hospital, we are told.
The Nationalist and Munster Advertiser reports: "Industrial action at St Joseph's Hospital, Clonmel is looming with nurses preparing to take action to highlight serious overcrowding and placement of beds on corridors. A spokesperson for the nurses says `Nurses are at breaking point and extremely frustrated by the conditions they had to work in' ".
The availability of illegal drugs throughout the country attracts the attention of the regional papers. A headline on the front page of the Roscommon Champion says: "Big drugs haul in Loughglynn" over a report that "Gardai in Castlerea seized drugs valued at between two and three thousand pounds at Aghaderry, Loughglynn as part of an on-going operation into drugdealing in the area. Three men were arrested".
The paper reports that: "A Knockcroghery man who pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply received a three-month suspended sentence at Roscommon District Court recently". It adds: "Two men and a woman were accused of possession of drugs in a B&B in Roscommon town." Fines were imposed.
In a comment article in the same paper Seamus Duke says: "News that the gardai confiscated a significant haul of drugs in the Loughglynn area is a further reminder, if any were needed, that the scourge of drugs is all around us in every village and town in the country".