Elected Tipperary politicians have turned a deaf ear, when it comes to matters affecting, in particular Limerick University Hospital; latter medical facility currently struggling to service the needs of their patients.
Time has now come for yet another failed Minister for Health, currently Mr Simon Harris, to resign in the certain knowledge that he and his misguided liberal-conservative Fine Gael minority colleagues, have failed once more, the people of North Tipperary.
Two hospitals serving Co. Tipperary; namely South Tipp General Hospital, Clonmel and Limerick University Hospital, have both topped daily trolley figures today, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
These figures confirm that a total of 120 patients are without beds across both Tipperary Hospitals. Seventy patients are without suitable supports in Limerick, while another 50 patients exist in similar circumstances in Clonmel.
What is Radon? Radon is a radioactive gas formed in the ground, brought about by radioactive decay of uranium, latter present in all rocks and soils.
Outdoors, radon quickly dilutes to a harmless level, but when it enters an enclosed space, such as a house or other building, it can accumulate to unacceptably high levels. Radon is a lung carcinogen and is linked to some 300 lung cancer cases each year in Ireland, making it a serious public health hazard.
About one third of Ireland is classified as a high radon area by the EPA, however, the EPA recommends that homeowners in all areas test their homes for radon. Ireland has relatively high indoor radon levels, with an average indoor level of 77 Bq/m3, compared to the worldwide average of 39 Bq/m3.
EPA warns that failure to carry out remediation work, after testing high for radon gas, is a serious health risk.
Radon gas is invisible, colourless and odourless – and causes around 300 cases of lung cancer in Ireland every year
About 5,000 householders in Ireland have taken immediate action and have had their homes tested for radon, following Radon Awareness Campaigns in their area.
One in 6 of these were found to have high radon levels
Too many homeowners are putting their health at risk by not carrying out vital remediation work
On European Radon Day today, Thursday 7th November, the EPA is now calling on all householders, to take action to protect themselves and their families. In these homes, remedial action should be carried out as a matter of urgency to reduce exposure to radon.
Radon is second only to smoking as the leading cause of lung cancer. It is estimated that about 300 lung cancer cases each year in Ireland are linked to radon exposure. Reducing high radon levels will, over time, save lives.
Radon is easy to test for and easy to fix, so learning more about what it is, and how you can protect yourself is critical. The World Health Organisation has categorised radon as a Group 1 carcinogen, in the same group as asbestos and tobacco smoke.
Ms Stephanie Long, (Senior Scientist, Environmental Protection Agency) has stated: “Radon is invisible, colourless and odourless. It is present in all Irish homes and it is estimated that up to 500,000 people are living in homes with radon levels above the acceptable level of 200 Bq/m3. Many Irish homes still need to carry out a radon test or they could be completely unaware of the potential problem in their own home. Testing your home to identify if you have a problem is the first step.”
“Radon is only a problem if it is ignored. If there is a high radon level in your home, it is exposing you and your family to an unnecessary radiation dose. Radon is present in all homes however, levels can vary. Just because your neighbour’s home has been deemed safe from radon does not mean you are safe. If you haven’t already done so, we would urge you to protect your family’s health by carrying out remediation work as soon as possible”.
Reducing radon levels is simple and inexpensive and will immediately reduce the risk of developing lung cancer. For moderate levels of radon, improving indoor ventilation may reduce the level by up to half, the cost of which is low. For higher levels, a fan assisted ‘sump’ can be installed which can reduce radon levels by over 90%. The sump can be installed in a day by a contractor with little disruption to the home.
Give yourself and your family peace of mind in the knowledge that your home is safe. For more information and to find a list of registered radon remediation services visit HERE.
Raw sewage is flowing from the local authority sewage treatment plant in Thurles, Co. Tipperary; directly into the River Suir, downstream.
Section of River Suir beyond Cabra Bridge, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, as observed on September 19th, 2019.Photo: G.Willoughby.
The Director of Services for Water, currently stationed with Tipperary County Council, Mr Marcus O’Connor, has finally admitted that double standards are permitted, when it comes to environmental issues affecting the River Suir here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
As our readers will be aware, the River Suir first rises on the slopes of the Devil’s Bit Mountain, north of Templemore in north Co. Tipperary. It flows through the village of Loughmore before encountering the towns of Thurles, Holycross, Cahir, Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir, before entering the sea in Co. Waterford.
The river stretches for some 184km in total length and less than 30km from Thurles begins a 53km stretch, now known as the Suir Blueway, strongly recommended I might add to tourists who enjoy water sports.
Tipperary Tourism – The Suir Blueway The Suir BluewayTipperary is the perfect escape for all the family to savour some of Ireland’s most beautiful countryside and fascinating history. Enjoy a paddle on flowing waters, go for a cycle along river banks, take a hike up nearby mountains, or a more sedate stroll in the bustling medieval towns and villages, from Cahir to Clonmel and on to Carrick-on-Suir. Popular with anglers, this area holds plentiful reserves of brown trout, we are informed.
Speaking on TippFM Radio this morning, Mr O’Connor stated; “It is not an everyday occurrence. There are a number of overflows and in times of high intensity rainfalls those overflows operate and you do get sewage getting into the river Suir and that’s not ideal”.
Further according to Mr O’Connor; a plan is in the design stage however the solution will be “a couple of years before anything is done on the ground”.
Do please make a special note of their three operational times and dates here in Thurles all shown hereunder.
Tuesday next October 29th, 2019, from 2:00pm – 5:00pm. Wednesday October 30th & Thursday October 31st, 2019, from 5:30pm – 8:30pm each day.
When deciding to attend, please do keep in mind the following facts: –
You can visit any clinic 90 days after your last donation.
One in four people will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lives.
Only 5% of the population are regular blood donors.
Over 1,000 Irish people receive transfusions every week in Ireland.
One car accident victim may require up to 30 units of blood, a bleeding ulcer could require anything. between 3-30 units of blood and a coronary artery bypass may use between 1-5 units of blood.
Approximately 70,000 patients will have transfusions in Irish hospitals this year.
Over 3,000 blood donors are needed each week in Ireland.
A unit of blood lasts for just 35 days.
Some blood packs for new born babies or cancer treatment only lasts for 5 days.
There is no substitute for human blood.
The IBTS supplies 71 hospitals in Ireland with blood and blood products 365 days a year.
So, remember if you are not already a blood donor, here is the perfect opportunity and you never know, the life you save could be your own.
We understand that the Food Safety Authority of Ireland(FSAI) have again issued a recall of Celtic Pure bottled water products, due to microbiological contamination.
The Irish watchdog’s second recall of products comes after batches of Celtic Pure Water were pulled from shelves on Monday last, after they were found to contain Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Enterococci and E. coli bacteria.
Today it was confirmed that further bacteria had been detected in other additional batches. Again, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococci or E. coli bacteria were detected in implicated batches.
It should be noted that Pseudomonas aeruginosa poses a serious risk to people whose immune system has been severely compromised e.g. transplants or chemotherapy patients. The Enterococci and E. coli, contamination indicates that the bottled water has interacted with some faecal material.
The brands in question relate to Celtic Pure Still and Sparkling waters, contained in one-litre; two-litre; five-litre; 19 litre and 500ml containers. Find link to the affected brands and points of purchase HERE.
People who have already purchased the affected product are being advised not to consume same.
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