Health « Thurles Information

15 Ambulances Queued Outside ED At University Hospital Limerick Yesterday.

Surely, Tipperary politicians could find at least one of their highly paid personal assistants, working from home, with the ability to write even a short paragraph, highlighting the current major difficulties being experienced at University Hospital Limerick.

For example, this would allow Teachtaí Dála, like Mr J. Cahill or Mr M. Lowry to communicate their characteristic explosive spitting and choking noises in Dáil Éireann, in the weeks ahead, and more importantly be caught on TV.

I say this in the knowledge that sources within the ambulance service, confirm that at least 15 ambulances were queued-up outside the Emergency Department (ED) at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon.

Same delays, we understand, were due to high levels of patient overcrowding. Yesterday also, there were 81 patients waiting for a bed in the hospital serving North Tipperary, recorded in daily figures published by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

All 24-hour Emergency department services in the Midwest Region were in the past reconfigured into University Hospital Limerick and yesterday sources confirmed that there were not enough trolleys to allow incoming patients to be handed over to hospital staff.

It is widely acknowledged that pressure in UHL could be greatly reduced if 24-hour emergency departments in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, in Ennis, Co. Clare and St. John’s in Limerick city were re-opened.
UHL has a current catchment area containing over 400,000 people and is almost daily, consistently the most overcrowded hospital within the Irish State.

Last month the INMO called on the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) to investigate overcrowding at the medical facility.

On January 25th, the nurses’ union confirmed it recorded 97 patients without a bed at the hospital, latter the highest number recorded in any Irish hospital since the union began compiling trolley figures.

Irish Mainland Confirms 10,101 New Cases Of Covid-19 Today.

The Department of Health here in the Irish Republic have confirmed 7,694 new cases of Covid-19; this total consisting of 3,342 PCR-confirmed cases and 4,352 positive antigen tests registered through the HSE portal.

At 8:00am today, there were 653 Covid-19 patients in our Republic’s hospitals, up 37 on yesterday, and of these 46 remain in ICU, down 2 on yesterday’s figure.

Sadly, 13 deaths were reported today, bringing the total number of Covid-19-related deaths in the Republic of Ireland, since the start of the pandemic, to 6,521.

In Northern Ireland their Department of Health has confirmed 2,407 new cases of the virus.

Also, this morning, there were 477 Covid-19 patients in northern hospitals, up from 473 yesterday and of these 5 remain in intensive care, unchanged since yesterday.

The Department of Health in Northern Ireland also confirmed that 4 more persons, who had previously tested positive for the virus have sadly died, bringing the total number of deaths linked to Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic to 3,217.

Thurles Supporting Ukrainian People.

**Elwira Patan, Aneta Hughes** *(Proprietor Polish Shop, Thurles)*, **Monica Kowalska, Janus Dobrowolski and Krzysztof Hryc wrapping clothing and medical supplies bound for war torn Ukraine**.

Today, on the border with Belarus, a Ukrainian delegation continues to hold talks with hostile Russian officials. French President Mr Monsieur Emmanuel Macron has been speaking by phone with President Mr Vladimir Putin, urging him to halt his oppressive offensive against Ukraine.

Here in Thurles Co. Tipperary, the ‘Polish Shop’, (Sklep Polski Jelonek) with an address at Stradavoher, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, today deal with a continuous flow of Tipperary people, all anxious in particular to help refugees crossing over the polish border.

Speaking to the proprietor of the ‘Polish Shop’ in Stradavoher, Mrs Aneta Hughes, this afternoon, confirmed that volunteers continue to work in shifts packing the many donations of food and clothing being brought to her retail premises.

**Medical supplies bound for Poland & Ukraine**

Indeed, as we talked a courier arrived (see poster in top image above) to transport yet another donated cargo, picked up free of charge for delivery to Poland’s northern border.
Donated items to-date have included clothing, ground sheets and tinned or dried food goods.
Proprietor, Mrs Hughes has pointed out that she is no longer seeking clothing items, but is continuing to accept medical goods, ground sheets and tinned or dried food goods.
She is also seeking help from hauliers who can transport, free of charge, medical and food supplies into North Eastern Europe. [Tel: Contact (0504) 36081]

Meanwhile, Western placed sanctions on Saturday last, triggered by this wanton Russian invasion, have sent Russian currency (The ruble lost about 25%) plummeting, forcing ordinary Russian inhabitants to line up at banks and ATMs.

EPA Statement On IPCC Working Group 2 Report.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) statement on the publication of the IPCC Working Group 2 report – Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.

This IPCC Report highlights the interlinked threat posed by climate change for human health ecosystems and biodiversity.
The roles and benefits of planned adaptation in reducing climate exposure and vulnerability are highlighted in the report, as well as the need to avoid short term adaptation responses which could – in the longer term – amplify climate risks.
Globally, many pathways remain to achieve climate resilience and a sustainable future, and the report outlines the enabling factors and decision making needed.
The report emphasises the need for Ireland and the EU to achieve its policy objectives of climate neutrality and climate resilience by 2050.
The timeframe for action is getting shorter and there are limits to what we can do through adaptation alone.

The EPA welcomes the publication of the Working Group II report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability, as part of its 6th Assessment Report.

The report shows the unequivocal evidence of climate change impacts around the world. These impacts are evident in human and natural systems. It recognises that delaying action on adaptation and mitigation will miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.
Ms Laura Burke, (EPA Director General), said: “This report shows us what we have to do in adapting to the current and future impacts of climate change and ensuring that we are resilient to its impacts. Ireland is also facing the impacts of a changing climate as detailed in The Status of Ireland’s Climate report which was published in 2021 by the Environmental Protection Agency, Met Eireann and Marine Institute.
The EPA has, with other funding bodies, supported the development of climate projections so that we can enable planned adaptation. This information is available to support the sustainable and planned adaptation measures that are highlighted as necessary in the IPCC report.”

Commenting on the report Mr Frank McGovern, (EPA Chief Climate Scientist), said: “This report highlights the need for the integration of climate change adaptation into decision making on planning and development across all sectors of the economy and society and across all regions. This can be enabled under the Climate Action Plan 2021 and National Adaptation Framework.”

The EPA leads in the development and co-ordination of national climate change research in Ireland. It works with other agencies and research bodies in the development of key climate related observations, including observations of greenhouse gases, aerosols, river flows and freshwater levels.

TUS & UPMC Sign Agreement To Establish Sports Medicine Clinic In Tipperary.

TUS and UPMC sign agreement to establish World Leading Sports Medicine Clinics in Limerick and Tipperary.

Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) and world leading health care provider UPMC today (Monday, February 28, 2022) announced the establishment of state-of-the-art sports medicine clinics for the Moylish and the Thurles Campuses, to benefit both TUS and the wider sporting community.

**President of TUS** **Professor Mr Vincent Cunnane and Chief Operations Officer, UPMC in Ireland**, **Ms Trish Lane**.

The agreement signed by UPMC Sports Medicine and Ireland’s newest technological university will see the first phase of the clinics open to the public, sports clubs and teams in the region, as well as TUS teams, as early as this summer.

The UPMC Sports Medicine clinics will ensure that TUS teams and athletes have access to the most up-to-date functional movement assessments, scientifically based strength and conditioning programmes, clinical diagnostics, including MRI scans, and equipment that will help with recovery and athletic development. The clinics will be equipped and staffed to provide evidence-based, quantitative measurements of strength and performance for optimal care.

Welcoming the agreement, President of TUS Professor Vincent Cunnane said the new partnership would not only bring the most highly developed sports training and sport treatment facilities to Limerick and Tipperary, but also allow for further research and education in the area of sport conditioning, rehabilitation, and injury diagnostics and treatment, by collaborating and developing academic and research programmes at TUS.

“As well as providing an integrated and modern service to sports people and teams in the Mid West, the TUS/UPMC partnership will work together to further develop these services with our team of researchers and scientists. TUS is also working closely with UPMC designing new academic programmes that will ensure our graduates have the most in-demand skills in this area when they graduate. In addition, an increased range of work placement options will be available at UPMC to TUS students,” said Professor Cunnane.

“TUS and UPMC share many common principles and goals, with our foundations in education and research and our ambitions to provide the most sought-after opportunities, services and facilities for the regions.”

“UPMC is proud to partner with TUS to bring the communities of Limerick and Tipperary access to advanced equipment and treatments close to home for athletes of all skill levels,” said Ms Trish Lane, (Chief Operations officer (COO), UPMC in Ireland). “Adding to the UPMC Sports Medicine clinic located in the WIT Arena in Waterford and part of the UPMC International Sports Medicine Network, these clinics will provide patients with outcomes-driven care while prioritising safe return to play.”

TUS Vice President Campus Services & Capital Development Mr Jimmy Browne said it is important that the development of these specialised sports clinics in Limerick and Tipperary not only benefit TUS teams and students but will further strengthen the facilities that TUS have available for our academic and research community as well as the wider sporting community.

“TUS has a strong community and sporting ethos. It is important that these clinics are available to teams and sports people not just in the university but across the Mid West. UPMC Sports Medicine offers one-on-one and group sports performance training and conditioning. Its evidence-based programme helps athletes of all levels increase strength and improve flexibility and core strength. The state-of-the-art equipment available for the first time in the region will help level the playing pitch for athletes in the Mid West and support them as they reach their full potential.”

UPMC is the official health care partner of the GAA and GPA and the official sports medicine provider to Meath GAA, Kildare GAA, Wexford GAA, Waterford GAA, Kilkenny GAA and Carlow GAA.