Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 1 November 2018

It’s another busy morning in Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary, aka Blueshirt General, as hospital master Leo Varadkar and his colleagues deal with the combined effects of flu season, Halloween, and the fall-out from a vicious brawl near Áras an Uachtaráin. Varadkar (seeing yet another patient wheeled in on a trolley): What’s the story with this… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 14 June 2018

After the drama of the marathon operation to remove the 8th Amendment, life is returning to normal in the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary, aka Blueshirt General. For hospital master Leo Varadkar, it’s a chance to get out and about again, first with a visit to the Phoenix Park. Simon Harris: Remind me what we’re doing… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 31 May 2018

It’s a big day at the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary, aka Blueshirt General, as after months of preparation by a multi-disciplinary team of surgeons led by Dr Varadkar, the operation to remove Bunreacht na hÉireann’s 8th Amendment is finally under way. Varadkar: How’s the patient doing, Nurse Zappone? Zappone (reading her smartphone): 44% yes, 32%… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 17 May 2018

Emergencies are a way of life at the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary, aka “Blueshirt General”. But when the patient is a close friend and colleague, in this case the Director General of the Health Service Executive, staff must still remain calm and professional as they go about their life-and-death work. Tony O’Brien (in bed, looking… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 3 May 2018

It’s another busy day in the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary, aka Blueshirt General. Making a round of the wards, hospital master Dr Varadkar is approached by an even-more-than-usually stressed head of the Accident and Emergency department, Dr Harris. Harris (handing him a file of X-rays): I need you to have a look at these. Varadkar… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 16 April 2018

The Easter recess is over and the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary is returning to full operations, in more ways than one. Hospital master Leo Varadkar prepares for a delicate procedure on a visiting American, with the help of a committee of assistant surgeons. Varadkar: What’s this guy’s name again? Surgeon Timmy Dooley: Kaplan, I think…. Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 5 April 2018

It’s another busy morning in the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary, aka Blueshirt General. But hospital master Leo Varadkar takes time out of his busy schedule for a walk-and-talk with his head of strategic communications. Varadkar: So I’ve decided I’m shutting the unit down, John. John Concannon: I feared as much. Varadkar: I still think it… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 22 March 2018

It’s St Patrick’s Week in the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary, aka Blueshirt General. As a skeleton staff keeps things running at home, hospital master Leo Varadkar visits the US on a promotional tour. First stop is a press conference in Washington with a celebrity former patient. Varadkar (to media): I hope President Trump won’t mind… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 8 March 2018

As the Beast from the East descends, the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary, aka Blueshirt General, is on emergency footing. Meanwhile, hospital master Leo Varadkar learns of a more worrying development from his Strategic Communications Unit. Varadkar (answering phone): Yes John. What ingenious wheeze for publicising our heroic work have you thought of now? John Concannon:… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 21 February 2018

It’s an exciting day for everybody at Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary, AKA Blueshirt General, as hospital master Leo Varadkar unveils Project Infirmary 2040: a €116bn plan for the next two decades and beyond. MC John Concannon oversees the media Q & A. Concannon: Ok, folks. Dr Varadkar is a busy man, so we only have… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 8 February 2018

Attending the annual World Medical Forum in the Swiss Alps, Dr Varadkar and his chief finance officer, Paschal Donohoe, host a reception for potential investors and other guests. Bill Gates: So, Dr Varadkar, I’ve heard a lot about your hospital – it’s quite famous in America. You’re doing some real cutting edge stuff there, I… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 25 January 2018

It promises to be a momentous year for the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary, aka Blueshirt General. As Dr Varadkar continues to wrestle with his conscience on abortion reform, he gets a visit from veteran consultant Frank Flannery, who shows him part of the hospital he hasn’t seen before. Varadkar (entering empty ward where everything is… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 11 January 2018

A new year dawns in the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Hospital, aka Blueshirt General. During a round of the wards, hospital master Leo Varadkar gets a progress report from his Chief Finance Officer. Paschal Donohoe: As I said when introducing my budget last year, it’s all about steady and sustainable progress. But even so, with effect… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 14 December 2017

It’s a tense morning in the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary, aka Blueshirt General, as the hospital prepares to carry out a groundbreaking operation to separate Siamese triplets. In the glare of the world’s media, Dr Varadkar holds a press conference. Reporter: Hi Doctor. I can’t remember your name, but I’m Kay Burley, from Sky News…. Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 30 November 2017

It’s another busy morning in the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary, aka Blueshirt General. Hospital Master Dr Varadkar makes a round of the wards in the company of Head Matron Frances Fitzgerald. Varadkar (studying his Twitter feed): Gosh – look at this. A surgeon claims to have carried out the world’s first human head transplant during… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 16 November 2017

Grafton Street, mid-December. Staff of the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary, aka Blueshirt General, gather for their annual carol singing for this year’s charity, the Simon (Coveney) Community, a group offering counselling to merchant princes from Cork who had expected to be running the country this Christmas. Leo Varadkar: “In the bleak mid-winter…” Paschal Donohue: “Come,… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 2 November 2017

It’s another busy morning in the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary, aka Blueshirt General, but hospital Master Leo Varadkar somehow finds time to record his weekly promotional video. Varadkar (to camera): …and finally, as you all know, it’s Halloween. I haven’t heard what costume Paschal Donohoe will be wearing yet. Something scary I’m sure. But I’m… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 19 October 2017

Goldenbridge Cemetery, Dublin. It’s a sad day for staff of the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary as they say farewell to a former hospital director, Liam Cosgrave. Following the cortege, current master Leo Varadkar chats with Charlie Flanagan. Varadkar: He was before my time, obviously. But I’m told he was one of the great surgeons. Flanagan:… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 5 October 2017

It’s another busy morning in the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary, aka Blueshirt General. Hospital master Leo Varadkar tours the wards, accompanied by matron Frances Fitzgerald. Varadkar (stopping by a patient’s bed and examining chart): Who do we have here? Fitzgerald: It’s the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution. Varadkar: Strange name –… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 21 September 2017

At the hospital’s annual “think-in” in Clonmel, Dr Varadkar reflects on his first 100 days as Master. Varadkar: …So to sum up, these first three months have been an unqualified success. We’ve taken giant strides towards making Blueshirt General a truly world-class infirmary. And don’t just take my word. (He holds up a document) I… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 7 September 2017

Another busy morning in the Eoin O’Duffy Memorial Infirmary, aka “Blueshirt General”. As hospital Master Leo Varadkar chairs the weekly conference of senior clinicians, sharp differences arise over the use of the Human Papillomarvirus (HPV) vaccine. Varadkar: So, Dr McGrath, I understand you have some concerns about the HPV jab, even though it’s hospital policy?… Read more »

Craic & Codology, Doctor In The House, 25 August 2017

The County General Hospital, Chicago. At the start of his visit to North America, Dr Varadkar gets a guided tour of the home of a famous TV medical drama. Varadkar: So this is where they shot ER? Guide: Yes, sir. All 331 episodes over 15 seasons. Longest running prime-time medical series in TV history. Varadkar:… Read more »