Health « Thurles Information

Data Breach At University Hospital Limerick

University Hospital Limerick (UHL), (the medical facility serving North Tipperary), will be sending written communications to some 630 patients within the Midwest region, following a data breach which concerns adults, parents/guardians and children. Same was subsequently published online in the form of a file linked from a Twitter account, last May, 2020.

Gardaí were informed of the alleged breach by a non-HSE employee; with the hospital, itself, becoming aware of the breach on May 29th last.

We understand the data, which included patients’ names, dates of birth, together with medicines dispensed, were removed from a computer system and relates to patients who attended at the hospital’s emergency department between April 18th and April 22nd last.

The data in question is understood to have been extracted from an automated system used in the hospital’s emergency department, without the consent of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and not by any one employee of the HSE.

Unconfirmed reports state that the data may have been accessed by an employee of a company; latter employed to support the data system concerned.

Twitter moved quickly to block the link to the data, while also disabling the account.

Gardaí and the Data Protection Commission were immediately notified and the HSE obtained a High Court Order, on June 5th last, to restrain the individual involved, from communicating further obtained confidential information.

The company then supporting the system at the time, is no longer managing the data concerned.

Covid-19 Update: Tue. 6th Oct. 2020 – One Death – 432 New Cases

This evening, figures from the Department of Health confirm that there have been sadly one death caused by the Covid-19 pandemic; leaving the overall death toll here in the Republic of Ireland remaining at 1,811.

However, there are 432 new additional cases reported today, leaving the current total number of confirmed cases, since conception in the Irish Republic, at 38,973.

Of this evening’s confirmed cases; 111 are in Dublin; 51 in Donegal; 41 in Cork; 32 in Clare; and the remaining 197 are located across 20 other counties, with 836 cases totally identified todate in Co. Tipperary.

Please do make a special effort to stay safe by reducing social contacts; avoiding crowds;
physically distancing; while wearing face coverings and washing your hands regularly.

Covid-19 Update: Mon. 5th Oct. 2020 – Zero Deaths – 518 New Cases

This evening, figures from the Department of Health confirm that there have been zero deaths caused by the Covid-19 pandemic; leaving the overall death toll here in the Republic of Ireland remaining at 1,810.

However, there are 518 new additional cases reported today, spread across the 26 counties; leaving the current total number of confirmed cases, since conception in the Irish Republic, at 38,549

Of this evening’s confirmed cases; 134 are in Dublin; 53 in Cork; 49 in Limerick; 34 in Donegal; 32 in Meath; with the remaining 216 cases located across 20 counties.

Thurles district now has the second highest incidence rate of Covid-19 virus in Co. Tipperary at 36.1 per 100,000 of the population, surpassed only by Nenagh district at 37.4.

The GAA and LGFA have paused all club fixtures with immediate effect until further notice, however training can continue as long as participants adhere to all relevant public health guidelines.

A further 616 people in Northern Ireland have tested positive for Covid-19, with thankfully no further deaths.

In light of this evening figures, it is understood that the Government is set to reject the National Public Health Emergency Team’s recommendation to place the entire country under Level 5 restrictions.
Instead, the it is understood that every county will be moved to Level 3 Covid-19 restrictions, with improved enforcement.

Please do make a special effort to stay safe by reducing social contacts; avoiding crowds;
physically distancing; while wearing face coverings and washing your hands regularly.

Covid-19 Update: Sun. 4th Oct. 2020 – Zero Deaths – 364 New Cases

Eight new cases of killer COVID-19 virus confirmed in Tipperary.

However, there are 364 new additional cases reported today, spread across the 26 counties; leaving the current total number of confirmed cases, since conception in the Irish Republic, at 38,032.

Of this evening’s confirmed cases; 8 are confirmed in Tipperary; 100 cases are in Dublin; 55 in Cork; 31 in Donegal; 24 in Limerick; 23 in Galway; 17 in Clare; 14 in Sligo; 13 in Roscommon; 10 in Kerry; 8 in Wicklow; 7 in Kildare; 6 each in Kilkenny and Offaly, 5 each in Cavan, Mayo and Meath, with the remaining 27 cases located in nine other counties.

There have been 462 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland in the last 24 hours, with sadly 1 further death.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) are holding a meeting this evening to further assess the current rising Covid-19 numbers. This unscheduled meeting raises the possibility that further restrictions could be recommended to Government on Tuesday by NPHET. The meeting was chaired unexpectedly by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan.

A HSE daily operations report confirmed that cases in medical facilities have jumped this morning, with 134 confirmed cases in hospitals and 20 in intensive care units, (ICU’s).
In hospitals serving Co. Tipperary, up to last night, seven COVID-19 virus cases were being cared for in University Hospital Limerick, and one such similar case in South Tipperary General, Clonmel.

Please do make a special effort to stay safe by reducing social contacts; avoiding crowds;
physically distancing; while wearing face coverings and washing your hands regularly.

Covid-19 Update: Sat. 3rd Oct. 2020 – 10 Deaths – 613 New Cases

9 new cases of killer COVID-19 virus confirmed in Tipperary.

This evening, figures from the Department of Health confirm that there have been sadly 10 deaths caused by the Covid-19 pandemic; leaving the overall death toll here in the Republic of Ireland remaining at 1,810. (1 case denotified.)

However, there are 470 new additional cases reported today, leaving the current total number of confirmed cases, since conception in the Irish Republic, at 37,668.

Of this evening’s confirmed cases; 9 are confirmed in Tipperary; 224 are in Dublin; 58 in Donegal; 46 in Cork; 44 in Kildare; 31 in Limerick; 28 in Laois; 21 in Kerry; 19 in Galway; 17 in Clare; 13 in Meath; 12 in Louth; 12 in Monaghan; 9 each in Offaly and Wicklow; 8 each in Cavan and Wexford; 7 each in Carlow, Sligo, and Roscommon; 6 in Mayo; 5 in Kilkenny; 5 in Westmeath;, with the remaining 7 cases located in three other counties.

Some 924 family outbreaks of Covid-19 were reported in September 2020. Same remains a significant increase from 530 family outbreaks in August; 127 outbreaks confirmed in July; 126 in June; and 94 in May.

Acting Chief Medical Officer has appealed to everyone in the Irish State to follow public health advice and only meet up with people from one other household at any given time.

Ireland’s 14-day incidence rate has now increased to 100.9. This is the number of cases of the virus per 100,000 of the population.

There are 113 people with the virus in hospitals across the State, with 21 patients receiving treatment in ICU’s.

Please do make a special effort to stay safe by reducing social contacts; avoiding crowds;
physically distancing; while wearing face coverings and washing your hands regularly.