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 South Tipperary General Hospital A current CT scanner over 16 years old and presently installed at South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary has malfunctioned yet again.
The immediate consequences of this 10 day old malfunction is that Tipperary hospital patients are now being transported to other hospitals in the region, to undergo urgent and necessary CT Scans.
This bizarre and illogical issue, which Deputy Michael Lowry TD highlighted on radio today, becomes even more ludicrous when it was revealed that there already exists a brand new CT scanner, still stored in its original packaging, waiting to be installed at the South Tipperary facility for almost 3 years.
While it is understood that works are under-way to install this new CT scanner, Deputy Lowry has been informed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) that it will be towards the end of 2016 before same is made available for regional patients use.
As a result of the old CT scanner breaking down Hospital staff are now obliged to transport urgent patients to hospitals outside the county, to we understand, hospitals in Waterford, some 52 min or 47.1km or 30 mls away and to Limerick, some 1h-24 min or 82.6km or 51mls distance, depending on CT scanner availability.
This existing and seemingly incompetent state of affairs is now causing unnecessary inconvenience to not just seriously ill patients, but to the ambulance service and overworked hospital staff, while also costing an already underfunded HSE, unnecessary extra expense.
Meanwhile a planned two-hour work stoppage by members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) will now go ahead next week.
These stoppages are due to take place on Thursday January 14th at Beaumont Hospital, Tallaght Hospital, University College Hospital Galway, Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, Cork’s Mercy University Hospital, Cavan General Hospital and University Hospital Waterford.
 Deputy Michael Lowry TD further confirmed today that the Health Service Executive (HSE) has fully reinstated the Rural Practice Allowance Support Package, in their bid to fill a rural General Practioner (GP) post in Bansha, Co. Tipperary. This is despite the fact that the post was originally advertised without same, just last Autumn.
Locals had been extremely concerned that the village and its surrounding towns-lands would be left without an essential GP care service, once the present holder of that office had retired.
Fears for the community were fully realised in December when no applications, whatsoever, had been received after the position was advertised back last September (2015) without this annual allowance, which for rural GP’s can amount to €16,000, plus payments to cover the cost of a secretary and a nurse.
Local residents stated today that they were both “surprised, delighted and greatly relieved” that this post had been once again re-advertised to include this new offer of better GP conditions.
Lowry had strongly argued that GP practices in rural areas, like Bansha in Co.Tipperary, were not wholly viable without offering the previously acknowledged Rural Practice Allowance Support Package.
“We need to send a message to our present Government, that shutting down this type of service makes for absolutely no sense from a rural perspective”, stated Lowry.
Meanwhile the National Association of General Practitioners have set up a “No Doctor No Village” campaign, following on from the recent success of the public crusade begun in Bansha, Co. Tipperary.
Deputy Michael Lowry has today confirmed the reinstatement of a Rural Practice Allowance Support Package for a General Practitioner (GP) vacancy, which is currently available in Bansha, Co. Tipperary.
The community of the small village of Bansha and those residing in the surrounding hinterland recently converged on their local GAA hall in large numbers, on November 27th last, to register their protest and to express serious concerns over replacement services, due to the imminent departure of their current local GP.
The reason for lack of interest by GP’s in applying for a previously advertised replacement post was the removal of a ‘Rural Practice Allowance’ by the former TD and Health Minister, Mr James O’Reilly. This Rural Practice Allowance was, prior to the ascendency of the present government, always paid to offset the high costs incurred by GP’s in attempting to run a rural surgery situated outside of larger more populated urban areas.
As Deputy Lowry had predicted, over the past week the Health Service Executive (HSE) have now agreed to the restoration of this Rural Practice Financial Incentive, in respect of this GP vacancy.
“The welcome restoration of this Rural Practice Allowance will now allow for this post to be re-advertised and I am confident it will attract a suitable number of new applications,” stated Deputy Lowry.
“The local Action Committee, lead by Mr Andrew O’Halloran and the Bansha community are to be fully complimented on taking the initiative in highlighting this issue. Through their resilience and determination they have succeeded in receiving a most positive outcome regarding this Rural Practice Allowance problem,” continued Deputy Lowry.
The local Bansha Action Committee are now expected to meet on Monday evening next, December 21st, with officials from the HSE, to further discuss the implementation of this now welcomed decision affecting this rural locality.
 Pictured L-R, John O’Shaughnessy (Clancy Construction, Drangan), J.J. O’Sullivan (O’Sullivan Construction Ltd, Littleton) with employees Ciaran King and Dave Fleming, pictured here adding the final touches to the Suir Haven Sensory Garden in Thurles. With the arrival of new railings and glass panels, the Suir Haven Sensory Garden is now complete. A huge ‘Thank You’ to the many local construction industry members involved; each who donated materials, time and labour, totally free of charge.
For those less familiar with Suir Haven, same is a community based support centre where everyone is welcome; whether one is currently living with cancer or affected by it. These persons can include clients, family, carers, children and friends.
All of the cancer support services available are provided free of charge. In fact this wonderful facility is truly a ‘drop-in centre’, meaning that anybody who wishes to avail of the services provided can call in without referral from a General Practitioner (GP).
The centre which is located in a non-clinical setting, offers not just emotional support, but also counselling, practical help and information; all provided in a safe, positive and totally confidential environment.
Suir Haven Sensory Garden is expected to officially open in early Spring 2016 and we hope to bring you further details of all those involved in this worthwhile project later.
However in the meantime “What a great sense of community spirit by those involved – well done to all and again thank you.”
 The community of Bansha, Co Tipperary and those residing in the surrounding hinterland are expected to converge on their local GAA village hall in large numbers tonight, to discuss serious concerns over the imminent departure of their local General Practitioner (GP).
The current GP presiding over the health clinic at Bansha, which has over 2,500 patients, is due to retire in the New Year; however to-date no replacement applications, to take over the duties of this rural vacant practice, have been received by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The reason for lack of interest by GP’s in applying for this post, is the removal of a ‘Rural Practice Allowance’ by the former failed TD and Health Minister, Mr James O’Reilly. This ‘Rural Practice Allowance’ prior to the ascendency of this government was paid to offset the high costs naturally incurred in attempting to run a rural surgery situated outside of larger urban areas.
We understand that those organising this emergency meeting have been criticised by local TD Mr Tom Hayes, who claimed that the meeting was unnecessary and who also stated that the issue was resolved. We understand this matter in fact, to-date, has not been resolved as per Mr Hayes’ own Facebook, uploaded by him on Nov. 25th 2015 and which states “I will be meeting with the Health Minister Leo Varadkar later today to discuss the current situation in Bansha. I understand there are fears regarding the future of the service, but I am confident that the situation can be resolved.” One cannot help but wonder what kept him from approaching Mr Varadkar prior to Nov. 25th.. Was he not aware of the plight of his local constituents or perhaps he was ill himself and had been forced out of the area and thus out of earshot, while in search of a resident GP in Dublin’s Blackrock Clinic?
However we now understand from locals that Independent TD Mr Michael Lowry has intervened in this most serious of health-care issues and has placed a common sense plan of approach on the table which is currently being carefully examined. While no details of the ‘Lowry Plan’ were forthcoming from his office today, we understand that if his proposals are agreed the ‘Rural Practice Allowance’ may be returned to the areas of not just Bansha, but also to Cappawhite and Glengoole, Co. Tipperary, where similar serious rural GP replacement problems also currently exist.
One must ask the question “What has Co. Tipperary done, to so offend this present Fine Gael / Labour government, which over the last 5 years has done absolutely nothing to support our ailing rural communities, except in the last few days to attempt to steal our ‘Shannon waters’ for an over inflated Dublin economy?”
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