A series of free health lectures for the public is set to begin at the end of this month, covering a range of topics including stroke, mental health, cancer, gum disease and wound management.

The MiniMed Open Lecture Series is run by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Lectures are free of charge and will take place in the RCSI in Dublin on the last Wednesday of each month between October and next March.

Each lecture will be delivered by an expert in that field.

According to Prof Kevin McGuigan, director of the MiniMed series, the lectures will be ‘informative and entertaining'.

"The series has been developed for people who are interested in learning more about topical health issues. In an age of increased patient participation and greater health awareness, the MiniMed series affords people the opportunity to learn more about health related-issues from leading experts," he said.

The first two lectures will take place on Wednesday, October 30, from 7pm to 9pm. During this time, Prof David Williams, a consultant in stroke medicine at Beaumont Hospital will discuss ‘everything you need to know about strokes', while Prof Michael Walsh, head of the RCSI's department of otolaryngology will discuss ‘nose bleeds - a problem for all ages'.

While the lectures are free, registration is essential as space is limited. Previous lectures have been very popular, with demand for places far higher than availability. Anyone interested in attending can register online here.