iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Early morning walk - peri/menopause. Let’s talk about loss of libido-sex drive. Don’t be embarrassed to ask/talk abt it. Ask yr GP abt testosterone/lubricants. Frequent UTI’s aren’t normal! Read up on Vulva health. Address it - don’t avoid it. It’s not too late. @menomandate

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Early morning run - peri/menopause. Let’s talk about sleep or lack of it! It’s my worst symptom. Don’t fight it. Get up for ten mins.. Sleep is medicine & not enough of it makes coping with all the other symptoms much harder. Try supplements. Less caffeine, alcohol & more🏃‍♀️🏋️‍♀️🚶‍♀️‍➡️

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Early morning run.. in midlife we keep moving.. Endorphins come with exercise and like a natural medicine can lift our mood. @menomandate @alicesmellie @MenopauseNI 🌈🏃‍♀️ #menopause

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Menopause - awake since after 3 30am! I thought I was over the worst of symptoms but after 5 years it feels like I’m starting over. All symptoms back with a vengeance. You shld not mess abt with HRT changing doses/patches.. it must be sorted by GP. It’s crap! Work soon 🫩

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

Menopause affects so many parts of women’s bodies - ovaries, muscles, skin and our brain. Brain fog is debilitating. Exercise becomes hard. And Every day another woman will find herself in peri/menopause. List your symptoms and look/ask for help. @BrMenopauseSoc @MenoScandal

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Words,Wisdom & Women - #ThedictionaryofLostWords documents the importance of language especially around women’s health and the important role women played compiling the Oxford English Dictionary. “Mothers have a vocabulary all their own..” Thanks Pip Williams for Esme. #words

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

If life is feeling a little heavy - I recommend you pick this up. It’s a reminder to see the good in people and not to be too hard on ourselves. This is beautiful. @NiallL90377 thank you for Noel. “By the grace of new chapters, it was morning”.

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Some day of public awareness around #ovariancancer Imagine these two on billboards,posters & public health campaigns. Two sides of the cancer story - on a plate. Leading the way @CCampbell162 & @SJA_McC Thank you. 🌈🏃‍♀️

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Powerful stories from brave women - This is @BBCSpotlightNI I will be talking about this programme across TV & Radio. View tonight BBC1 @10 40 pm. Or catch it now on the BBC iplayer www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Maternal mental health: Calls for specialist unit in Northern Ireland

Mothers with serious mental health problems are separated from their babies in Northern Ireland, unlike the rest of the UK.

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Staff told me they just kept their head down hoping they would not be picked on..a leaked copy of the cardiology inspection report lays bare bullying allegations & claims of a lack of trust among staff. This is a shocking read www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Royal Victoria Belfast: Heart surgeons threw instruments and bullied nurses - report

BBC News NI has seen a leaked report into the culture at the Royal Victoria Hospital's cardiac surgery unit.

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

There’s a tremendous air of expectation.. the pair are quietly happy but not visibly showing any emotions. The tone is neither raised nor muted. There’s the odd laugh & trip to fridge…They’re sitting in their usual seats & wearing their @LFC scarves & pins. Father & Son. ❤️

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Are you affected by this dental story? Out of the 360 dental practices in Northern Ireland, only two are now fully NHS. An investigation by @bbcnewsni health unit www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Dentists remove over 50,000 NHS patients from practice lists

Out of the 360 dental practices in Northern Ireland, only two are now fully NHS.

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

Inishowen this evening in all her natural beauty. ☘️

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Important public information: @healthdpt opens public consultation on redesign of Serious Adverse Incident Procedure in NI - it says there’s evidence that aspects of the SAI procedure need to be “refreshed and redesigned”. The consultation will close on 6 June 2025.

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman and sometimes it’s brilliant. Today we’ll be told how we should be feeling .. Just Be yourself and it’s ok not to be ok. Ask friends how they are & listen. #InternationalWomensDay2025 🌈🏃‍♀️

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

“I liked a drink, trifle and the tender moment between a parent and child.” Blue Road tells the extraordinary life story of Irish writer Edna O’Brien. It’s superb. Applauds to filmmaker Sinéad O’Shea’s doc which features a final testimony from OBrien before she died in ‘24. #BlueRoad

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Imagine heading off to work or beginning a shift caring for a family member &you’ve been up & awake for several hours. Sofa surfing since 3am. Throw in night sweats and you might be feeling wrung out. This is how some women who’re navigating the #menopause are feeling.. as they start the day.

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Corridor care - I witnessed this in the RVH ED this week. Trolleys with very sick people feeling a freezing cold blast every time the ambulance bay opened to wheel in another trolley.

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Some backdrop last night for our walk home:

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Did the Department of Health's winter preparedness plan published in early November go far enough? Some of those currently working in the thick of it say it didn't. My Analysis. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Almost 400 people waiting to access hospital beds in NI

Most of the extra beds which are used in an emergency are already occupied, BBC understands.

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Christmas festivities well underway after last night’s Carol concert @_stgens 🎄 Thanks to everyone involved. So much talent in a school that clearly puts its girls and community first. My mum and I loved it. Thanks all.

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

NI’s health & social care service - past present and most importantly its future. @policyni hosts a conference exploring waiting lists, staff & what priorities should be to improve services & retain staff. @drjulespsych tells us of a 30% increase in mental health list in 4 years. @AlanStout

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

A senior economist says the delay and overspend at the new maternity hospital at the RVH raises issues over patient care and accountability. Full report here ⬇️ x.com/bbcnewsline/...

x.com

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Marie-Louise Connolly @mlchealth.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Women’sHealth Get women’s health right in NI and everyone benefits says England’s Women’s Health Ambassador. A call to NI’s health chiefs to deliver dedicated hubs. Follow her story across @BBCNewsNI

bbc.co.uk

Women's health hubs 'essential for NI patients'

Women's health hubs are currently being rolled out in England as part of a strategy launched in 2022.

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