Health « Thurles Information

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.

Coronavirus Update February 28th 2022.

The Department of Health, in the Irish Republic within the past 24 hours, have confirmed 2,277 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19, with a further total of 3,642 people having registered a positive antigen test through the HSE online portal.

Yesterday, saw 2,338 PCR cases and 2,819 antigen positives, while on Saturday, there were 3,635 PCR confirmed tests and 3,147 positive antigen tests.

As of 8:00am today, there were 610 patients with Covid-19 in the republic’s hospitals and of these 47 remained in ICUs across the Irish State.

In Northern Ireland a further 1,908 cases of coronavirus were reported today, up from 1,552 cases reported on Sunday.

Today, there were 454 patients with Covid-19 in hospitals in Northern Ireland, down from 485 on Friday last.
Six Covid patients remain in northern intensive care units; down from the 8 in number reported on Friday.

Sadly, 1 more Covid-19-related death has also been reported in Northern Ireland today, bringing the total overall number of deaths linked to Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic to 3,208.

Coronavirus Update February 25th 2022.

The Department of Health, in the Republic of Ireland, has confirmed 7,956 new cases of Covid-19, within the past 24 hours.

The new figures confirm 4,335 PCR-confirmed cases and 3,621 positive antigen tests registered through the HSE portal.

The total number of Covid-19-related deaths in the Republic of Ireland since the start of the pandemic stands at 6,460 as of Wednesday last.

As of 8:00am today, 629 Covid-19 patients are recorded as being in the Republic’s hospitals, up 19 more than reported yesterday. Of this number 53 are in intensive care, down 2 on yesterday.

In Northern Ireland, their Department of Health has confirmed 2,068 new cases of the virus over the same period, down from 2,486 cases reported yesterday.

This morning, there were 485 Covid-19 patients in northern hospital, up from 483 reported yesterday; with 8 of these in intensive care, up 3 on yesterday’s figure.

The northern Department of Health confirm, also, that 2 more people, who had previously tested positive for the virus, have sadly died.

Coronavirus Update February 24th 2022.

The Department of Health in the Republic of Ireland have confirmed 7,724 new cases of Covid-19.

The above new figures, in the past 24 hours, indicate 3,763 PCR-confirmed cases and 3,961 positive antigen tests registered through the HSE portal.

At 8:00am today, 610 Covid-19 patients were in our republic’s hospitals, up 17 on yesterday, and of these, 55 were in intensive care units, up 1 on yesterday.

In Northern Ireland 2,486 new cases of the virus have been reported with 483 Covid-19 patients in hospital, 5 of which were in hospital intensive care units.

The Northern Department of Health also sadly confirmed that 2 more people, who had previously tested positive for the virus, have passed away.