Tag Archives: Dr Colm Henry

NATIONAL HSE chiefs have defended the controversial removal of 24-hour Emergency Care from Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals following claims University Hospital Limerick is a “centre of death” and a “centre of disaster” for some patients who were left lying on trolleys. The latest criticism of this downgrading came at a Joint Health Committee meeting on Tuesday just days before thousands of hospital campaigners are expected to attend a major protest march in Limerick from Merchants Quay this Saturday. Deputy Cathal Crowe paid tribute to the frontline staff that have worked very hard to keep the hospital system some way functional. “There has been a perpetual crisis in the Mid-West and in particular UHL. We have a population in the mid-west of almost 500,000. There was a time when this population had five Emergency Care Departments, patients were provided with a level of care were discharged and went home. “Sometimes old ways are better. I think it is time the HSE …

CLARE people have been urged to book their Covid-19 booster appointment online at HSE vaccination clinics. The Vaccination Centre in the former Outpatients’ Department at Ennis Hospital has reopened for booster vaccinations. In a statement issued to the Clare Champion, the UL Hospitals’ Group outlined booking a booster appointment online is an easy and convenient way by selecting a time and date that suits the individual person. People seeking a booster vaccine have also been advised to check with participating GPs and pharmacies. People who are more than 16 weeks pregnant are also invited to book their next booster at a HSE vaccination centre or from participating GPs and Pharmacies. The HSE and Children’s Health Ireland will shortly be inviting, through their parents, children aged five to 11 years who are immunocompromised and now due to have their first booster, following completion of their primary Covid-19 vaccine course. People aged 50 – 54 will be offered their second booster vaccine …

A NURSING union has made a written request to a local hospital group to ensure a respirator face mask (FFP2) is provided to any nurse or health care worker who deems it essential for their own health and safety. This coincides with new guidance from the national HSE concerning the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which has been the source of a dispute between the INMO and the UL Hospitals’ Group. According to the INMO, frontline hospital staff in Limerick, Ennis, Nenagh, and Croom have been told they could face disciplinary action if they upgrade to a safer standard of face mask following a recent memo. However, this was disputed by the UL Hospitals’ Group, who stated nothing in the memo restricts staff from wearing FFP2 face masks where appropriate and in line with national infection prevention and control guidelines. It has also emerged the number of health care staff off on Covid-19-related leave in the group has fallen …

Forty one more people diagnosed with Covid-19 have died, bringing the total number of deaths from the virus to 406. Of the latest deaths, 36 were located in the east, four in the west and one in the south of the country The people included 16 females and 25 males and 31 were reported as having underlying health conditions. The median age of today’s reported deaths is 85. The number of Covid-19 positive cases in Clare increased yet again and an additional eight cases now brings the total confirmed cases in the county to 106. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre reported that as of 1pm today, an additional 548 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 were reported by Irish laboratories and an additional 284 confirmed cases reported by a laboratory in Germany. With the latest figures from Germany included, there are now a total of 11,479 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. The HSE is working to identify any contacts the …