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Tag Archives: Dr Michael Harty

Cahercalla Hospital

Cahercalla ‘in the red’ due to Covid-19 with €895k loss in 2021

The company that operates Cahercalla Community Hospital in Ennis plunged into the red last year to record losses of €895,091 from trading activities. New accounts show that Cahercalla Community Hospital CLG recorded the €895,091 loss after revenues decreased by €663,000 or 12% from €5.65m to €4.99m. In their report, the directors state that Cahercalla Community CLG “was massively impacted on many levels by the Covid-19 pandemic”. They state that “the financial impact is clearly seen in the financial statements for 2021”. The company made a loss of €895,091 from trading activities but pointed out that the loss was “somewhat mitigated by an insurance claim of €151,777”. Occupancy rates were highlighted as the main driver of the loss. The accounts – signed by company director and former TD, Dr Michael Harty – show that the loss last year followed a surplus of €184,940 in 2020. The directors reveal that in 2021, occupancy rates had slumped to 80.5 residents due to the …

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Blow for west Clare as prominent GP set to retire

CLARE health services have been dealt a blow following confirmation Dr Michael Harty will retire from his general practice at the end of next February. Having spent more than 37 years delivering health care to patients in West Clare, the former Independent Dáil Deputy has decided to bring the curtain down on his own medical career. In an interview with The Clare Champion, Dr Harty (69) revealed he is isn’t taking on any new patients in his Kilmhil practice due to his imminent retirement. However, he continues to get calls from people as far back as Kilkee and Ennis that are outside his catchment area on a weekly basis looking to join his patient list. “I have reached the stage where it is important for me to retire. It will be difficult because you build up a relationship with patients over a 37-year period after looking after four generations of the one family.” “This corporate knowledge is a great asset …

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‘Major changes’ at Cahercalla to address shortcomings highlighted in HIQA report

MAJOR changes to governance and staffing have been introduced recently in Cahercalla Community Hospital and Hospice to address shortcomings identified in the latest Health Information and Quality Authority inspection. That’s according to Cahercalla Board chairman, Dr Michael Harty, who has admitted the standard of care fell below normal standards during a major Covid-19 outbreak. A risk inspection by HIQA over three days on January 20, January 30 and February 1 found Cahercalla was non-compliant with 12 national regulations. While Cahercalla went 10 months without contracting any Covid-19 case, it had 23 confirmed cases among residents from December 28 to the end of January, of which four passed away, which was a matter of great regret to Cahercalla. Even though Cahercalla did fall short of HIQA standards during the Covid-19 outbreak, Dr Harty reassured families of patients the facility is now on a very strong footing and has addressed all the issues raised by the independent regulatory authority. Given Cahercalla is …

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Cahercalla board ‘fully accepts’ findings of HIQA report

THE board of Cahercalla Community Hospital has said it fully accepts the findings of the HIQA report on an inspection carried out “at a time when Cahercalla was at its lowest ebb while dealing with a substantial Covid-19 outbreak which involved 25% of residents and resulted in 25% of staff being absent on Covid related leave.” The report, which was published on Friday, comes off the back of an unannounced inspection of the facility on January 20, 2021 during the Covid-19 outbreak. The report deemed Cahercalla to be ‘non-compliant’ in 12 different regulatory areas at the time. Responding to the publication of the report, Chairman of the Cahercalla Board, Dr Michael Harty said, “The board of Cahercalla fully accepts the finding of this HIQA report. The inspection was carried out at a time when Cahercalla was at its lowest ebb while dealing with a substantial Covid-19 outbreak which involved 25% of residents and resulted in 25% of staff being absent …

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Cahercalla Hospital

Community activist shaken by online abuse

A COMMUNITY activist was shaken by the vile online abuse she experienced after posting a video seeking support to deal with a major outbreak of Covid-19 at Cahercalla Community Hospital and Hospice, Ennis. Hillary Tonge spent weeks organising the manufacture and distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) with others to nursing homes throughout the county including Cahercalla last May. On Saturday, January 16, Ms Tonge recalled she was contacted by a very stressed Cahercalla staff member, who outlined staffing issues, presented a letter written by Board chairman, Dr Michael Harty, and requested her assistance. In view of the role played previously by the Mná ag Gaire Women’s Shed group making PPE for nursing homes, Ms Tonge posted a video on Facebook seeking the public’s help under the group’s name. In an interview with the Clare Champion, Ms Tonge confirmed she did make efforts to contact Cahercalla management on Saturday, January 16 by phone but couldn’t get through. Dr Harty’s letter …

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Dr Harty Lauds Help Of Army After Cahercalla Covid-19 Outbreak

THE Irish Defence Forces and the HSE Covid-19 Support Team are providing significant external support to an Ennis community hospital, which has been severely hit by staff defections following a major Covid-19 outbreak. It is the first time that the Irish Defence Forces has provided non-medical logistical assistance to a long-stay residential facility in Clare since the start of the pandemic. There were 20 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Cahercalla Community Hospital and Nursing Home  earlier this week. According to SIPTU, more than half of Cahercalla’s 60 healthcare assistants (HCA) 36, were out as positive cases or close contacts. The union has outlined 12 out of the hospital’s 28 nurses were also off work and one nurse left. One kitchen attendant and one cleaner were also off work. However, the HSE has provided a total of 18 nurses and healthcare assistants and ten agency staff, which varies on a daily basis. SIPTU health official, Mark Quinn has confirmed staff are …

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Cahercalla Hospital

Defence Forces provide non-medical support at Cahercalla after Covid-19 outbreak

Members of the Irish Defence Forces are providing non-medical logistical support at Cahercalla Community Hospital following an outbreak of Covid-19 infection. It has emerged that there are currently 19 cases of Coronavirus in the medical facility. The Board of Cahercalla has moved to assure relatives they are doing everything possible to protect and care for patients following grave concerns expressed about the impact of the outbreak on social media on Saturday. It has confirmed members of the Irish Defence Forces are on site to give non medical logistical support in order to allow staff concentrate on their clinical duties and to assist in the setting up of the vaccination areas at Cahercalla. In a statement issued to the Clare Champion on behalf of the Cahercalla Board, Dr Michael Harty outlined the hospital are working closely with HIQA, the HSE dedicated Covid-19 Response Team and other agencies to manage and control this outbreak to ensure continued quality care, safety and welfare …

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Former Bishop says ‘forgiveness lacking’ in GolfGate row

BISHOP Emeritus of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh has added his voice to the debate raging over ‘Golfgate’, and raised concerns over a “vindictiveness” in Irish society. The fall-out from a dinner attended by more than 80 members of the Oireachtas Golf Society generated international headlines and is the subject of a Garda investigation over apparent breaches of Covid-19 restrictions. After the event in Clifden, Deputy Dara Calleary stepped down from the Agriculture portfolio and gave up the deputy leadership of Fianna Fáil. Also sanctioned was Deputy Jerry Buttimer, who resigned as Leas Cathaoirleach of the Seanad. Dr Michael Harty, a former Independent TD, issued an apology after attending. The Supreme Court has requested a report on the attendance at the event of former Attorney General, Mr Justice Séamus Woulfe. All the while, pressure intensified on Commissioner Phil Hogan, who announced his resignation a week after attending the dinner. The event led to a huge outpouring of anger. National and local …

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