Thurles Information

Clare Independent TD Mr Michael McNamara has received confirmation, from the HSE, that a number of new Clinical and Diagnostic Chronic Disease posts are being recruited for the Midwest region, through the University Hospital Limerick Group.

The posts include a Consultant in Respiratory Medicine with a Special Interest in Chronic Disease, a Consultant in Cardiology with a Special Interest in Chronic Disease Respiratory, and Cardiac Physiologists with administrative support. A Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist has already commenced and with the provision of this post NTproBNP blood screening now available to GPs across the Midwest.

“I would hope the HSE expedites the filling of these positions so that extensive waiting lists for chronic disease services across the wider region can be reduced,” commented Deputy McNamara.

He continued, “It is also important that patients can receive these services closer to home without the need for travelling long distances.”

The HSE confirmed the news to Deputy McNamara in response to his Parliamentary Questions about lengthy waiting lists for podiatry services in County Clare. There are currently 542 patients waiting to be called for their first appointment and 3,461 patients on the active database in County Clare.

In a written response to Deputy McNamara, the Head of Service for HSE Primary Care Services confirmed 20 full-time specialist roles are to be assigned to a new Chronic Disease Team in Clare specialising in cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and Type II Diabetes. Based at the new Primary Care Centre on the Station Road in Ennis, services will be provided on a “hub and spoke model” across the county.

Recruitment has already commenced in respect of the positions, which include Specialist, Senior and Staff Grade Podiatrists; Senior and Staff Grade Dieticians; Diabetic Clinical Nurse Specialists; Clinical Specialist; Senior and Staff grade Physiotherapists; Respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialists; Cardiology Clinical Nurse Specialists; Staff Nurse; Staff Grade Clinical Psychologist; and Managerial and Administrative support.

The Department of Health in the Republic of Ireland has confirmed 9,324 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19, together with 10,542 positive antigen tests, logged through the HSE portal in the past 24 hours; bringing the overall total to 19,866 or 21,776 on the Irish mainland.

As of this morning, there were 1,466 Covid patients clogging our hospitals, up 41 on the same time yesterday. Of these there remain 55 patients being treated in the Republics ICU’s, across the country, an increase of 2 on yesterday.

These figures are announced, as a professor of Experimental Immunology at Trinity College, Dublin, Professor Mr Kingston Mills has stated that the surge in Covid cases was inevitable as it is difficult to stop transmission if people are not wearing their masks.

In Northern Ireland, a further 1,910 cases of coronavirus were reported on today, down from 2,524 cases on yesterday.

There are 528 patients with Covid in northern hospitals, down from 538 on yesterday, with 7 of these patients in intensive care units.
Sadly, 5 new Covid-19-related deaths have been reported in Northern Ireland today, bringing the total number of Covid-19-related deaths since the start of the pandemic to 6,693 as of yesterday.

Ireland is currently experiencing, once again, a Covid-19 surge, possibly of the Omicron Plus variant, but sadly people are reluctant to recognise this obvious fact.

The most recent statistics in the Irish Republic, sadly, confirm 26 more deaths over the last 7 days and as of Monday, March 21st, last, this brings the total number of Covid-19-related deaths, since the start of the pandemic to 6,664, despite a total of 7,826,231 vaccines for Covid-19 (excluding boosters) having been administered.

Also, as of Monday last a total of 3,825,475 people have had their first vaccine dose and 3,760,953 have had their second dose, while 239,803 single-dose vaccines have been administered.
A total of 2,881,870 booster jabs have also been administered as of same date.

The Department of Health in the Republic of Ireland has confirmed 7,038 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19, as well as at least 14,060 positive antigen tests, latter logged through the HSE portal, bringing the total number of virus cases to 21,098, within the past 24 hours and bringing the total number of infections on the Irish mainland to 23,367.

As of 8:00am this morning, there were 1,395 Covid-19 patients in our Republic’s hospital; latter an increase of 57 on yesterday’s tally. Of these, 55 patients are being treated in ICU, a decrease of 6 on yesterday.

In Northern Ireland a further 2,269 cases of coronavirus were reported today, down from 2,899 cases reported on yesterday.
There were are 527 people with Covid in northern hospitals, up from 519 confirmed yesterday, with 7 of these in intensive care units.

Sadly, 3 new Covid-19-related deaths have also been reported in Northern Ireland today, bringing the total number of deaths linked to Covid-19, since the start of the pandemic to 3,285.

If you’re going to an indoor area wear your mask again, if you’re in a large populated area outside and there’s a lot of people around, wear your mask.