Hope at Christmas

IN our current straitened existence, the exuberant refrain of the Christmas hymn Joy to the World might fail to lift the spirits of some.

Christmas does, however, offer hope and new beginnings in the image of the infant Jesus in a manger, innocent of the influence He would have on world history.
Since Christmas was established as a Christian festival, it has been celebrated through thick and thin. Even during wars through the centuries, the guns and cannons have fallen silent in respect to His memory and the message delivered by the angels to the shepherds on that first Christmas night, “Peace on earth, goodwill to all men”.
Christmas has stretched out to become a universal holiday, not just for Christian worshippers but also for people of other faiths and none. Goodwill is a common thread that is woven into the fabric of civilised society all over the world, irrespective of colour, race or religion.
In modern times, generally speaking, we have come to enjoy a Christmas with a huge consumer-driven dimension. Some believed that we had travelled too far down the road of consumerism but the economic downturn of the past couple of years has put the brakes on things somewhat.
Unemployment and the impact of the recent budget will dictate what kind of Christmas many will have. The days of spending like there’s going to be no tomorrow are gone, as some will be forced to make choices between gifts and food. This may not be all bad in that it should get people to refocus on the meaning of Christmas.
For those coping with serious illness or recently bereaved, Christmas can be a very stressful time. Crises are often accentuated by joy and jubilation in other people’s lives so help and support for people in such vulnerable situations is vital.
It is also vital to heed the advice of the gardaí and voluntary groups to stay in touch with the elderly and people living in isolated areas and, if possible, pay them a visit. This is especially relevant during the current harsh weather conditions. On this note, we should also spare a thought for those whose are hoping for an improvement in the weather so they can travel to be with their families.
No matter what your personal circumstances are, however, it is important to try to put your problems to the back of your minds and celebrate Christmas, whether as a religious festival or a major social event, even if it is on a tight budget. Most people manage to strike a balance between the two – the birth of Jesus and the arrival of Santa Claus provide a forum for a wonderful family celebration.
If nothing else, this will steer people’s minds away from the economic hardships for a while. That’s something to cheer about.

Growing threat to Ennis hospital

IS there a danger that the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis will simply become a waiting room or point of transfer for patients who will have no choice but to be admitted to the region’s medical centre of excellence in Limerick?
Just a week after it emerged that plans are afoot to centralise acute in-patient cardiology services to Limerick from February, a draft blueprint document for the future of acute medicine services in the Mid-West is pointing towards another serious hit for Ennis hospital.
Among the options outlined in the blueprint is the closure of the intensive care unit at Ennis. In short, this means that palliative/respite/rehabilitation/GP patients could be admitted to Ennis but after assessment, high-risk patients would then be transferred to Limerick hospital to the appropriate in-patient unit.
Averting to the possibility that Ennis could lose its intensive care unit, the draft states where the site does not have ICU, the patient would be assessed using the ‘national early warning score’, which would determine if transfer is needed to another hospital.
It is also notes that a range of day services could be made available five days a week, based on local need, at Ennis. It would be attended on a five-day basis by various consultants with appropriate support from a junior hospital doctor.
The loss of the cardiac unit and the ICU, in rapid succession, would represent a devastating setback for supporters of Ennis hospital. It could impact on an individual or company’s decision to move to the Clare area. After all, a first-class hospital is a crucial element of any community infrastructure. In a county with a population of 110,000 people, around 30,000 of whom live in Ennis and its immediate environs, it is simply not acceptable to see health services being attacked in such a fashion.
The latest news adds to the growing body of evidence that the future of Ennis is heading downhill, despite reassurances that the capital investment programme is proof of better times ahead.
Unfortunately, Ennis hospital is not the only Clare facility that will be affected if proposals in the draft blueprint are implemented.
St Joseph’s hospital in Ennis may no longer be a place for long-stay elderly patients with no specific medical conditions.
Palliative/respite/rehabilitation/GP care patients could be admitted to in-patient beds in this hospital; these would be under the care of a medical officer. Admission requests could be extended to a geriatrician and/or other consultants following agreement with a medical officer. A range of day services would be available five days a week, based on local need. 
At this stage, the people of Clare will be looking to the Minister for Health in the next government to remove all threats to Ennis hospital and safeguard its future.