Tipperary people being foolishly identified as brainless imbeciles by this Fine Gael government.
We reported on Tuesday last July 9th that seventy patients lay on surf board type trolleys at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), with a total of 456 patients lodged in similar conditions across the 26 counties of Ireland. A further 26 patients remained on trolleys at South Tipperary General Hospital, leaving a total of 96 patients or almost one quarter of the national patient count, waiting for a bed in just Co. Tipperary alone.
On the following day, Wednesday July 10th, last, University Hospital Limerick serving North Tipperary issued a statement through the UL Hospitals Group. They declared that 232 patients had attended their emergency department between 8:00am July 9th and 8:00am July 10th. They further advised people to avoid their medical facility, urging members of the public to consider attending injury clinics at St. John’s Hospital [Opening Hours 8:00am – 6:00pm]; at Ennis Hospital [Opening Hours 8:00am – 8:00pm]; and Nenagh General Hospital [Opening Hours 8:00am – 8:00pm]. They failed to state where patients should attend in the case of night time accidents or other emergencies?
We hasten to point out that these figures above stated can be viewed online and are confirmed by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
Following last Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council, a joint motion from councillors attending, called on the Minister for Health Mr Simon Harris to make an ‘unannounced visit’ to Limerick hospital and then to immediately begin the process required to reopen the Accident & Emergency units at St. John’s Hospital (Co. Limerick), Ennis Hospital (Co. Clare) and Nenagh General Hospital (Co. Tipperary), and furthermore to upgrade Ennis Hospital to the status of a Model 3 hospital.
They also called for a meeting to be held with Mr Harris, inviting TDs from Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary, together with Co. Councillors from the same stated areas. Their hope is to discuss the future of the health service within the UL Hospitals group.
Independent Cllr. Ms Anne Norton of Clare Co. Council claimed that previous visits by the Minister to UHL, saw trolleys hidden away and out of sight around the hospital. Cllr Norton also claimed that numbers on trolleys should be dropping during summer months, adding she believed we are experiencing the worst health crisis ever, across Ireland.
Independent Cllr. Mr Ian Lynch and Fianna Fáil Cllr. Mr Cillian Murphy expressed the view that the UHL model has completely failed, with patients feeling at risk being sent there and with none of the plans discussed being put in place. Cllr. Murphy pointed out that the current population for Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary was 400,070 and projections indicated some 18% of future growth. Keeping these figures in mind, he stated our health service is only going to further deteriorate.
Are Tipperary Co. Council totally asleep on their feet?
It would appear that those who attended at our own last Tipperary Co. Council meeting, had not heard of the ongoing problems being experienced at University Hospital Limerick or had forgotten to properly adjust their monthly secret agenda.
Still when you vote at local elections for “more of the same”, what do you get? Answer:- “more of the same.”
Meanwhile our Dáil adjourned officially on Friday last, July 12th, with no further business scheduled for discussion until the resumption of business on Wednesday, September 20th next.
Of the 158 members of our national parliament only one Minister and three opposition TDs remained within the portals of the Dáil (soon to be refurbished at a cost of €17 million), for the final debate, before the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Seán Ó Fearghaíl, wished those not present a joyful, happy and relaxing holiday.
Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s electronic key fob machine in Leinster House, like the CCTV system in Thurles, obviously no longer appears to be functioning.
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