Health « Thurles Information

Medical Services Suspended At Nenagh Hospital

Patients, in the North Tipperary area, requiring medical assessment or indeed treatment for even minor injuries, will now be diverted to other hospitals in the Midwest region.

This scenario follows the temporary curtailment of all outpatient appointments, at Nenagh hospital, since Saturday last.

The services at Nenagh have been suspended due to a significant numbers of staff absences on covid-related leave and to reduce, in extent, the current amount of public footfall.

The University of Limerick Hospitals Group confirmed that the medial assessment unit (MAU) and injuries unit at Nenagh hospital are being closed temporarily and patients are being urged to attend other facilities such as Ennis or Limerick or contact their GP for referral.

A misleading claim made on January 15th last by Tipperary TD Mr Jackie Cahill, who stated, quote, “The Taoiseach has informed me that an initial delivery of vaccinations will be sent to Nenagh hospital tomorrow morning, for front facing staff, following representations I made to him on this matter”, alas never came to fruition, despite him having the “ear of the Taoiseach” Mr Micheál Martin and his further claim that he had been in contact with the Taoiseach’s Chief of Staff on the matter.

We understand that to-date, over two weeks later, only half of the staff at Nenagh hospital have received their vaccination.

We warned, back in October 2016, of the possibility of Tipperary dwellers suffering “Death by Geography”.

Covid-19 Update: Sat. 30th Jan. 2021 – 79 Deaths – 1,414 New Cases

Only YOU can stop the current chain of transmission.

This evening the Department of Health have confirmed that, sadly, there have been 79 further deaths caused by the Covid-19 pandemic; leaving the overall death toll, here in the Republic of Ireland, remaining at 3,292.

We further learn that there have been 1,414 new additional virus cases reported in the republic today. This leaves the current total number of confirmed cases, since conception, here in the Irish Republic, at 195,303.

There have been 4,291 confirmed cases to date in Tipperary since the pandemic began.

Due to a significant number of hospital staff being absent on covid-related leave; outpatient activity from tomorrow morning at Nenagh Hospital, serving North Tipperary, is being restricted, with medical assessment and injury units being stood down to reduce, in extent, the current amount of public footfall.

Of today’s cases nationally; 608 are in Dublin, 105 in Cork, 96 in Galway, 65 in Meath, 59 in Donegal; with the remaining 481 cases located across all other counties.

There are over 1,494 people with Covid-19 in hospital, and of that number, 211 people are in ICU’s, according to Ireland’s COVID-19 Data Hub.

A number of Traveller organisations have called on members of the Travelling community to fully adhere to public health rules, including restricting their movements at funerals. Pavee Point believe it is extremely reckless to be attending large gathering such as funerals, headstone blessings, month’s minds, weddings and christenings during this current lock-down.

Be aware that a public information campaign regarding the roll-out of the community Covid-19 vaccination programme for those aged over 70, will begin this weekend. However firstly, Some 81,000 people aged over 85 are in line for community vaccination, followed by another 90,000 people aged between 80 and 84.

A number of Irish people are understood to be among some 96 others, fined by Austrian police at the ski resort of St Anton am Arlberg; latter individuals found in breach of pandemic-related rules by entering the country during a national lockdown. Fifteen officers carried out the police operation yesterday, doling out fines for those found in breach of regulations, of up to €2,180.

Meanwhile, the Italian government has announced an easing of coronavirus restrictions in most of its regions, despite warnings from public health experts that such a move would be foolish and irresponsible.

Total global cases up to 5.30pm this evening, are now standing at well over 102.2 million confirmed cases, with global deaths at almost 2.21 million.

Please Stay Safe – Stay at Home.

Thurles – Looking Back

In 1845 this building, hereunder shown, situated on the left hand side of Mitchel Street, (then known as Quarry Street) Thurles, Co. Tipperary, [as you travel eastward closer to theMoyne Road area] was the then Thurles local Dispensary.
Same is easily identified by its flat arch doorway, with its rare, detailed, ornamental relief surround; all be it in miniature form, reminiscent of what surrounds the bronze gates of Saint Isaac’s Orthodox Cathedral in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

In more recent years, residents will remember it was part of Ryan’s galvanized roof public house. Today is stands, like so many other buildings within the town of Thurles, vacant, boarded-up and decaying, long before the COVID-19 epidemic.

As you face the building today, note the premises on the left side of this Dispensary (formerly Ryan’s Pub) was John Mullany’s corn store in 1845, latter who also sold candles and soap, etc..

Continuing left and westward, the building next door, today currently occupied by Thurles Municipal District / Co. Councillor Mr Jim Ryan, was then the home of Denis Mullany.

On the right, again while facing the Dispensary building; previously in 1845, existed a right-of-way / lane-way, which has long since been built across. Next travelling east of this former lane was the home of James Kerwick, who was neighboured by John Carroll, latter a shoemaker.

In 1845 and right through the Great Famine years, in this dispensary the poor and dying came, seeking medicine and medical treatment, which was offered free of charge.

The treatments being offered here in 1847 is today a matter of public record, which saw patients being sent from here to the Thurles Fever Hospital, latter then run by Dr. George Bradshaw Esq M.D.. [Latter was the father of Dr. William Bradshaw V.C.]

Who was the doctor in the Thurles local Dispensary in Quarry Street, I hear you ask?

I suspect some of you may have already guessed. Yes, it was Dr. Robert Charles Knaggs, the same man who identified the project known as the “Double Ditch” which in turn gave employment to a large number of men 175 years ago, in 1846, putting bread into the mouths of starving Thurles families.

If you believe that Ireland in 2021 has too few ‘Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds; read about our towns problems in March of 1847, transcribed from a meeting attended by the same Dr. Robert Charles Knaggs, who described conditions at the Thurles fever hospital; quote “Destitution and sickness are on the increase. The Fever Hospital is full. In the female ward there are two patients in every bed. The funds are nearly exhausted and it is with the deepest regret that we have to announce that the Hospital must be closed on the 13th April (1847) from want of funds.”

Then in 1845, as indeed now in 2021, little has changed; we the electorate, are still unable to get support from our elected politicians.

Perhaps now Thurles elected Co. Councillor Mr Jim Ryan, with his known established associations with this same building, together with all the other local lazy councillors and self-promoting politicians, might decide to answer the question, “Will the planned Thurles inner relief road impinge, in a negative way, on the 1846 Thurles “Double Ditch”, which has been a right of way and a Mass Path for 175 years and which is the property of the people of Thurles and a national monument?

By the way, when you our elected councillors and politicians; of all political groupings, assume a particular position for photographers; (anxious that latter photographic captured material be used to build your delusionary public profiles), while you lay wreaths at 1916 commemorative events; realise it was the Great Famine (1845-1849), which truly engendered the 1916 rising, undertaken by unselfish individuals “the latchet of whose shoes you are not worthy to unloose,” [Apologies to St. Luke Ch.3: V.16.], and who eventually, at their great personal expense, brought about the freedom we all enjoy today; free from our colonial enslaving neighbours.

We promise you more startling news on the ‘Double Ditch’, coming very soon.

Covid-19 Update: Fri. 29th Jan. 2021 – 48 Deaths – 1,254 New Cases

Only YOU can stop the current chain of transmission.

This evening the Department of Health have confirmed that, sadly, there have been 48 further deaths caused by the Covid-19 pandemic; leaving the overall death toll, here in the Republic of Ireland, remaining at 3,214.

We further learn that there have been 1,254 new additional virus cases reported in the republic today. This leaves the current total number of confirmed cases, since conception, here in the Irish Republic, at 193,892.

With transmission in the Tipperary community remaining high, there have been 717 killer Covid-19 cases confirmed in Tipperary in the past 14 days, to yesterday, (January 28th). There have also been 14 further cases in the 24 hour period, to midnight yesterday, (January 28th). There have been 4,237 confirmed cases to date in Tipperary since the pandemic began.

Of today’s cases nationally; 437 are in Dublin, 146 in Cork, 76 in Meath, 69 in Wexford, 62 in Kildare; with the remaining 464 cases located across all other counties.

There are over 1,552 people with Covid-19 in hospital, and of that number, 211 people are in ICU’s, according to Ireland’s COVID-19 Data Hub.

Europe’s medicines regulator has recommended approving AstraZeneca and Oxford University’s Covid-19 vaccine for all people over the age of 18. Ireland is expected to receive some 300,000 fewer doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine as a direct result of a shortfall in deliveries to the EU. However, same will start arriving here a week earlier than originally planned.

Total global cases up to 5.30pm this evening, are now standing at almost 102 million confirmed cases, with global deaths at over 2.19 million.

Please Stay Safe – Stay at Home.

Covid-19 Update: Thur. 28th Jan. 2021 – 47 Deaths – 1,466 New Cases

Only YOU can stop the current chain of transmission.

This evening the Department of Health have confirmed that, sadly, there have been 47 further deaths caused by the Covid-19 pandemic; leaving the overall death toll, here in the Republic of Ireland, remaining at 3,167. (Note: 878 deaths so far in just January 2021)

On a day that the Taoiseach, Mr Micheál Martin again asks selfish, egoistic and shameless members of the Irish population to immediately halt travelling abroad on holidays; (397 out of 800 passengers arrived back from holidays in Ireland yesterday), we learn that there have been 1,466 new additional virus cases reported in the republic today. This leaves the current total number of confirmed cases, since conception, here in the Irish Republic, at 193,645.

With transmission in the Tipperary community remaining very high, there have been 793 killer Covid-19 cases confirmed in Tipperary in the past 14 days, to yesterday, (January 27th). There have also been 31 further cases in the 24 hour period, to midnight yesterday, (January 27th).

As of mid-day today, the number of people with confirmed Covid-19 virus at University Hospital Limerick, (latter serving North Tipperary) was 108, while at South Tipperary General Hospital, based in Clonmel, there were 36 people receiving treatment for the virus.

Of today’s cases nationally; 472 are in Dublin, 106 in Galway, 103 in Cork, 77 in Waterford, 70 in Limerick; with the remaining 638 cases located across all other counties.

There are over 1,620 people with Covid-19 in hospital, and of that number, 216 people are in ICU’s, according to Ireland’s COVID-19 Data Hub.

HSE Chief Mr Paul Reid has confirmed that close contacts for COVID-19 will be tested once again beginning tomorrow, Friday, January 29th.

NPHET has informed the Government that it will become increasingly difficult to maintain the level of suppression of Covid-19 that has been achieved since the New Year. Dr Tony Holohan advised the Minister for Health that NPHET expects a large number of additional deaths, brought about by the virus in the coming weeks.

In Northern Ireland, there have sadly been a further 13 deaths of people with Covid-19, taking their official death toll there to 1,792. They have also confirmed 592 new virus cases.

Meanwhile, tomorrow, the European Commission are expected to launch new rules monitoring exports of Covid-19 vaccines outside the EU. as the controversy over the AstraZeneca vaccine shortfall continues.
The EU remains currently locked in a dispute with AstraZeneca after the company informed the Commission last Friday that it could only deliver one quarter of the vaccine doses funded by member states.
The EU has further accused the company of breaching an advanced purchase agreement that should have meant 80 million doses going to the EU in the coming weeks. Officials have stated that the shortfall should be made up with supplies from two of AstraZeneca’s UK facilities, which were due to supply the contractual amounts.

In contrast, the AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine, it is claimed, should only be given to people aged between 18 and 64, Germany’s vaccine committee STIKO has stated in a draft update recommendation.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has confirmed on Twitter that 161,500 vaccine doses (3% of population) have only been administered so far here in our Republic.

Total global cases up to 5.30pm this evening, are now standing at well over 100.9 million confirmed cases, with global deaths at almost 2.18 million.

Please Stay Safe – Stay at Home.