Lifelines

HEALTHCARE INFECTIONS:Healthcare infections affect at least one in 20 patients admitted to hospital. There is increasing concern among patients and members of the public about the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections such as MRSA and whether adequate control measures are in place.

Lifelines is compiled by Sylvia Thompson

Broadcaster John Bowman will chair a public meeting addressing these issues on Thursday at 6pm in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, 6 Kildare St, Dublin.

Admission is free but pre-registration is required on tel: 01-8639700.

ACCESSING HEALTH TREATMENT IN EUROPE:Increasingly, people are accessing healthcare in other European countries, either because they fall ill while abroad or they choose to go to another European country to receive specific medical treatment.

A new website from the European Commission provides information on reimbursement levels for healthcare costs abroad in different situations.

Check out http://ec.europa.eu/employment _social/social_security_schemes/healthcare/ index_en.htm

It is also worth noting that 112 is the emergency number that can be dialled in all European countries.

NUTRITION AND DEPRESSION:Nutritional therapist Suzanne Laurie will give a series of morning seminars during February and March on the role of nutrition in alleviating symptoms of depression.

The seminars, which are hosted by the Institute of Complementary Therapy and Integrated Medicine, will be held in the Clarion Hotel, Cork, on Sunday, February 25th; the Hilton Hotel, Dublin, on Saturday, March 3rd; and in the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Galway on Sunday, March 4th.

The cost is €25. Booking on tel: 01-8391234 or 091-872166 or e-mail events@icim-ireland.net. You can also log on to www.icim-ireland.net