Tag Archives: Raheen Community Hospital

TWO crafty Whitegate ladies are putting their skills to good use by producing a range of handmade fabric face masks, and raising funds for Raheen Community Hospital in the process. Mum and daughter Geraldine and Aoife Burke, who have both studied textile design, have made over 150 masks to-date and the items, which are machine washable and have a slot for filters, are available in local shops. Once the road map for reopening Ireland was announced, and guidance provided recommending the wearing of face coverings in settings like shops and public transport, Geraldine and Aoife drew on their design and crafting skills and began to get creative. Raheen Community Hospital is a facility that is close to the hearts of everyone in East Clare and for the Burkes, it is particularly special. “My father-in-law, Billy Burke, was in Raheen for nine years,” Geraldine explained. “He was a wonderful man, with a larger than life personality. The care he received at …

LOCKDOWN has been a creative time for a family of film-makers living in Mountshannon. Not only have father and son Terence and James Ryan been working on three projects – including one tipped to be shot in Clare – Terence’s wife Susan Morrall, a scientist and screen-writer, is also making PPE for Raheen Community Hospital. The family, which also includes award-winning director Kit, have long links to East Clare. Terence and Susan have lived in Ireland for two decades and Terence’s father, who was from Clonlara but emigrated to England, came to live in Mountshannon for the final five years of his life. “Ireland was always home and we visited every year,” Terence, a director, writer and producer, said. “I grew up in South Kensington but came home to go to school in Tipperary and it was the best thing I could have done.” The family will probably be best known for their award-winning production Property of the State, released …

CLARE GP and former Dáil deputy, Dr Michael Harty has said the while the ongoing ban on visitors to nursing homes was “a dilemma”, the time was not yet right to lift restrictions. The Kilmihil-based GP said that, despite a call from the nursing homes regulator to look at allowing visits, the overriding concern had to be keeping Covid-19 out. Earlier this week, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) called on health officials to examine ways of easing restrictions, over concern for the welfare of residents. “For elderly people, isolation from family and visitors is very restrictive,” Dr Harty said. “But, we must balance the dilemma that poses with keeping the virus out. Given the devastating impact that Coronavirus can have, the balance probably comes down in favour of the restrictions.” Noting that some nursing homes were facilitating families to see residents at their bedroom windows, or by video call, Dr Harty said that these were the preferred option …

A YOUNG Whitegate woman is determined to show her support for East Clare’s older citizens during the lock-down, by pledging to run 100km before May 5. Through her challenge, Anna Madden, who lives in Galway City, has raised over €3,000 to-date for Raheen Community Hospital. The 28-year-old is meeting her goal, while sticking to public health guidelines of exercising within a 2km radius of home, and undertook the fundraising challenge after fearing that the Community Hospital was being forgotten about in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis. “I found it a bit upsetting and sad to find that nothing was being done by way of fundraising,” said Anna. “All of the focus at the moment seems to be on the big hospitals and their facilities. My mum works at Raheen Community Hospital and almost everyone in Whitegate area has some kind of connection. They do such wonderful work and there’s an amazing atmosphere there.” Anna admits that her fundraising ambitions …

Elderly residents are facing into a period of time without daycare facilities, after the HSE made the decision to close both Raheen Community Hospital in Tuamgraney and Regina House in Kilrush. However,  Mary Cassidy of the Support Group for Raheen Hospital says the HSE’s decision to temporarily close the daycare centres in Tuamgraney and Kilrush will upset many service users and their families. In a statement, the HSE says the decision has come about because of a lack of nurses, and that this is caused by factors including annual leave, sick leave and them unavailability of agency staff. Long-term residents at the two nursing homes are being prioritised, with available nursing staff being used to cater for their needs, the statement read. The HSE insists the closure will only be for “a couple of weeks”.

The planned extension of Raheen Community Hospital is to get underway this August, according to Clare TD, Joe Carey. Deputy Carey said he had received the up-date from Bernard Gloster, manager, HSE Mid West Community Healthcare. Deputy Carey said, “ “The extension to Raheen Community Hospital has the benefit of planning permission and detailed design documents are currently being developed. It’s my understanding that the procurement process for a works contractor is to be progressed over the next few weeks and when completed the project will be tendered to the short listed contractors. The HSE inform me that should all go according to plan, work will commence on site during August 2015. “This news will be of great comfort and relief to patients and their families who rely on the wonderful services in Raheen. This important development will enable the hospital to continue to provide appropriate care in the community for years to come. I want to thank the HSE …