Health - Thurles Information

High Risk Of Measles Outbreak In Ireland.

With the Health Service Executive (HSE) warning of the high probability of an outbreak of measles, here in Ireland; the Executive is now working on a programme to expedite vaccinations for teenagers and young adults.

Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable infectious disease caused by measles virus. Symptoms usually develop 10–12 days after exposure to an infected person and last 7–10 days.
Initial symptoms typically include fever, often greater than 40°C (104°F), cough, runny nose, and inflamed eyes.

Mr Stephen Donnelly (Minister for Health) is expected to discuss the matter with Cabinet Ministers today, confirming the likelihood of a significant increase of measles cases, which has been notified across Europe this winter; thus raising concerns about wide transmission of the disease in Ireland.

Due to low vaccination rates, it is estimated that up to one-fifth of the population in some Irish counties have no protection against the disease. Vaccination rates have fallen below the critical level of 95% here in Ireland, with almost 1 in 5 males aged 18 and 19 unvaccinated.
It is hoped that a programme for Leaving Cert and 3rd level college students, could encourage many of those persons, whose parents were discouraged from taking advantage of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, (the first dose of which is generally given to children around 9 months to 15 months of age), all because of a false and now long discredited link with autism.

The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly led to a major slowdown, world-wide, in immunisation efforts against one of the most contagious viruses which is so easily preventable.

The World Health Organization and the US Centre’s for Disease Control and Prevention, in November last year, both stated that there had been a massive annual rise in measles cases and resulting deaths globally.

Last July, British Health Authorities warned of a steady rise in measles cases and warned of the risk of a resurgence of the virus, particularly in large cities which could occur due to low vaccine coverage rates.
Ireland recorded only four cases of the disease in 2023, same being imported from outside the EU in a single family outbreak, however, no cases as yet have been reported so far this year.

Thomond Park, Limerick To Host Inaugural Nursing Homes Conference.

Revised funding model required for sector to cater for Ireland’s ageing population – The Alliance

Nursing home providers, health professionals and politicians will gather at Thomond Park in Limerick on February 28th next for a conference focusing on the future of nursing homes and the challenges faced by the sector.

**Pictured ahead of The Alliance “Shoulder To Shoulder” Nursing Home Expo 2024 are** *(left to right)* **Ms Karen Ronan**, *(General Manager of the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau)*, **and Shane Scanlan and Marcella Scanlan of** **The Alliance**.

Ms Mary Butler TD, (Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People), will perform the opening address at The Alliance “Shoulder To Shoulder” Nursing Home Expo 2024, which is being hosted by Ireland’s newest and second largest trade association for nursing homes with the support of The Shannon Region (latter comprising County Tipperary, County Limerick and County Clare), and Conference Bureau and Guerin Media.

The closure of 60 nursing home closures during the past five years, the dangers of a multinational operator-dominated sector and the need for a revised funding model in light of Ireland’s ageing population are amongst the key issues set to dominate the conference.

The one-day inaugural event will feature an address entitled ‘Solutions for an ageing population’ by Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Mr David Cullinane ahead of a political panel discussion chaired by Newstalk presenter, former GP and columnist Dr. Ciara Kelly and featuring Mr Michael McNamara TD (Independent), Ms Patricia Ryan TD (Sinn Féin spokesperson for Older People), Senator Mr Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fáil) and Mr Richard O’Donoghue TD (Independent).

Ms Susan Cliffe, (Deputy Chief Inspector of HIQA), and Ms Auriol Kelly, (Business Manager for PTSB), will address the key nursing home industry issues of regulation and finance, while a panel discussion centering on the importance of further education will feature contributions from Ms Niamh Condon (Dining With Dignity), Mr Jonathan Murphy (Griffith College), Ms Wendy Blakely (Strategic Thinking), and Ms Carmel Kelly and Ms Clodagh Killeen (LHP Skillnet). There will also be a few surprise guests on the day, providing insights on leadership and team building.

“Nursing homes are at a critical juncture and it’s time for change” commented Mr Shane Scanlan, (CEO of The Alliance Supporting Nursing Homes).
Mr. Scanlan, who is the Director of Nursing for a small family-owned nursing home in County Kerry, added, “A significant number of nursing homes have closed since 2018 and while the funding model afforded to Nursing Homes has served its purpose for a period since its introduction in 2009 with the establishment of the Fair Deal scheme, we have reached a tipping point for the sector where we must decide the changes required to adequately fund the care of Ireland’s increasingly ageing population.
As a group of people who actively works within the sector, The Alliance membership believes official representation of our sector must improve and should comprise of those directly working in the industry,” he continued.
“We are seeing consolidation in the nursing home market from large operators which take a huge percentage of nursing home beds presently and, most likely, into the future if the current trend persists. A blended model of independent, public, voluntary and private equity funded operators is favoured over the sector being controlled by 8 to 15 large multinational operators, which would be detrimental for an ageing population.”

Mr. Scanlan said recent reports from HIQA and the ESRI have highlighted how the current funding model is no longer fit-for-purpose and has led to regional inequalities in funding with a widening of the gap between the number of beds per capita in rural areas compared to that of Dublin and the commuter belt counties.

“The Alliance is fighting for a cost of care model to be introduced where the funding in relation to residents’ care follows the individual resident on a case-by-case basis and is centred on their care needs which, in turn, would adequately fund nursing homes for all residents under their care,” he explained.
“Community-based nursing homes are no different to other local services in terms of their socio-economic benefit to the communities in which they operate,” stated Mr. Scanlan. “They allow for people to be cared for in their communities and create substantial employment which has a positive knock-on impact for local suppliers. Community-based nursing homes provide an added incentive for government to support the sector and we are very much looking forward to hearing Minister Butler outline the Government’s plans to deal with the key issues affecting our sector“.

Visit HERE for more details on The Alliance “Shoulder To Shoulder” Nursing Home Expo 2024 at Thomond Park, Limerick, on Wednesday, February 28th.

Free Talk on Kids, Teens and Screen Time Challenges.

Tomorrow, Tuesday February 6th, 2024, is ‘Safer Internet Day’.

Safer Internet Day (SID) is an EU wide initiative to promote a safer internet for all users, especially young people. Webwise is the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Centre, funded by the Department of Education and co-funded by the European Commission. They provide excellent information and support for parents on how to promote safer internet use, so do visit HERE.

Another helpful site can be viewed HERE, which provides up-to-date information on movies, apps, podcasts, games and other media aimed at kids.

Please watch the YouTube video hereunder, for a previous talk given by Avril Ronan on Gaming Safety and Kids.

For Safer Internet Day 2024, Avril Ronan, from Trend Micro (a global cybersecurity leader), is offering a free webinar for parents, teachers and other adults working with young people, on ‘Let’s Talk Kids, Teens and Screen Time Challenges’.

Her talk will explore the screen time battles and challenges faced by so many parents today and it will offer practical advice, top tips, and a question and answer session.

This event is totally free and takes place on Tuesday 7th February 2024 at 7:00pm. It will last approximately 1 hour followed by 30 minutes of question and answer time. You can register to attend this Zoom webinar from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device: https://www.trendmicro.com/internet-safety/eventsie. [Please note also that Irish Sign language interpreters will sign at this event.]

Undeclared Milk In Batches Of Oishi Corn Flips Chocolate Flavour.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland warning.

Alert Summary Dated Thursday, 01 February 2024.
Allergy Alert Notification: 2024.A05
Allergen: Milk
Product Identification: Oishi Corn Flips Chocolate Flavour; pack size: 40g.
Batch Code Best before: 06/02/2024 & 24/07/2024
Country Of Origin: China

Message:
The above batches of Oishi Corn Flips Chocolate Flavour are being recalled as they contain milk which is not declared in the list of ingredients.
This may make the batches unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of milk.

Incorrectly Declared Soya In Lidl Duc De Coeur Salted Caramel & Chocolate Tartlets.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland warning.

Alert Summary dated Thursday, 01 February 2024.
Allergy Alert Notification: 2024.A04
Allergen: Soybeans
Product Identification: Duc De Coeur Salted Caramel & Chocolate Tartlets; pack size: 125g
Batch Code: All batches and best before dates
Country Of Origin: France

Message:
Soya is incorrectly declared on the ingredients list of Duc De Coeur Salted Caramel & Chocolate Tartlets. This may make the product unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of soya.

The product was sold by Lidl.