The HSE is to review the death of an elderly man in Donegal
The HSE is to review the circumstances surrounding the death of an 87-year-old man in Killybegs, Co Donegal last Friday.
The body of Michael McIntyre was found near the Killybegs pier during the search
The Health Service Executive is to review the circumstances surrounding the death of an 87-year-old man in Killybegs, Co Donegal last Friday.
Paddy Keeney went missing from Killybegs Community Hospital on Friday morning.
His body was found near the pier at around 4.30pm that afternoon and his funeral took place in Killybegs today.
The funeral also took place of Michael McIntyre of Malin Beg, Glencolmcille, whose body was also found near the pier during the search for Mr Keeney.
Gardaí say both deaths were accidental drowning.
In response to a query from RTÉ News the HSE has confirmed that a Risk Register has been in place at Killybegs Community Hospital since July 2010.
A statement from the HSE West said that “As part of the overall HSE Risk Management Policy, patients at Killybegs Community Hospital are assessed and if their cognitive ability is found to be impaired, they are given an electronic tag”.
The statement said the tag was designed to alert staff “if the patient moves off the ward and enables staff to find the patient before they leave the ward area.”
The HSE could not confirm whether or not Mr Keeney was wearing a tag as it cannot comment on a patient’s medical or personal details.
An unannounced HIQA inspection of the hospital in September 2009 found that “the centre operated an open door policy which created a potential risk to residents with cognitive impairment who may leave unescorted”.
A follow-up inspection in February 2010 found some progress had been made in relation to risk assessment but a formal policy on risk management had not been put in place. A response from the Hospital said it would be done by July 2010.
The HSE said it “is currently reviewing the circumstances surrounding the sad death of Mr Keeney including his care needs. The HSE and staff in the hospital wish to express their condolences to the family and friends of Mr Keeney.”
The body of Michael McIntyre was found near the Killybegs pier during the search
The Health Service Executive is to review the circumstances surrounding the death of an 87-year-old man in Killybegs, Co Donegal last Friday.
Paddy Keeney went missing from Killybegs Community Hospital on Friday morning.
His body was found near the pier at around 4.30pm that afternoon and his funeral took place in Killybegs today.
The funeral also took place of Michael McIntyre of Malin Beg, Glencolmcille, whose body was also found near the pier during the search for Mr Keeney.
Gardaí say both deaths were accidental drowning.
In response to a query from RTÉ News the HSE has confirmed that a Risk Register has been in place at Killybegs Community Hospital since July 2010.
A statement from the HSE West said that “As part of the overall HSE Risk Management Policy, patients at Killybegs Community Hospital are assessed and if their cognitive ability is found to be impaired, they are given an electronic tag”.
The statement said the tag was designed to alert staff “if the patient moves off the ward and enables staff to find the patient before they leave the ward area.”
The HSE could not confirm whether or not Mr Keeney was wearing a tag as it cannot comment on a patient’s medical or personal details.
An unannounced HIQA inspection of the hospital in September 2009 found that “the centre operated an open door policy which created a potential risk to residents with cognitive impairment who may leave unescorted”.
A follow-up inspection in February 2010 found some progress had been made in relation to risk assessment but a formal policy on risk management had not been put in place. A response from the Hospital said it would be done by July 2010.
The HSE said it “is currently reviewing the circumstances surrounding the sad death of Mr Keeney including his care needs. The HSE and staff in the hospital wish to express their condolences to the family and friends of Mr Keeney.”
Irish Government Awarded ‘C+’ Grade for Children’s Rights
“the Best Grade in Four Years”
The Government has received a C+ grade from the (click lick here) Children’s Rights Alliance in its annual “report card” on the State’s commitments to children.
The alliance said the grade showed the Government’s record was improving but it still had more to do.
Chief executive Tanya Ward said the grade, the best achieved by any government since the alliance first published its report card in 2009, had the potential to give Ireland a “fresh start” on the road to make it one of the best places in the world to be a child.
However, she highlighted two areas where the Government fell down: the continued detention of 16- and 17-year-olds in St Patrick’s Institution in Dublin; and the impact of Budget 2012 on vulnerable families.
The Government received an E grade on the impact of budget cuts on children in poverty, a grade which Ms Ward reflected the “unfair” cuts aimed at low income families, particularly lone parents and families with three or more children. “We know that these families are amongst the most vulnerable to poverty,” she said.
The Government received an F for the continued detention of children at St Patrick’s, part of the Mountjoy prison complex. The institution houses people from the age of 16 to 21 in a mostly adult regime.
Ms Ward said the overall B- on education was brought down by the cuts in the provision of special education needs for children with special requirements.
In health, the Government received a C overall. The Government was praised for its committal to build a national children’s hospital. Ms Ward said while some progress had been made on mental health, the overall C+ grade was dragged down by the continuing practice of placing children in adult units.
The Government was only awarded a D grade in relation to alcohol and drugs because it had failed to publish a national addition strategy or to take any concrete steps to deal with the impact of alcohol on children.
Ms Ward welcomed the Government’s commitment to hold a referendum on the rights of the child this year; the establishment of the department of children and youth affairs and process towards the establishment of a new child and family support agency.
She congratulated the Government on its overall grade. “You have done better but you could do more,” she said this morning. “Next year, we won’t just be evaluating the Government on its intentions. We’re going to be evaluating the Government on its performance and its deliverables so it should be a much tougher report card.”
Galway based Doctor
Denies sending inappropriate texts to female Doctor colleagues
Monday, 23 January 2012
Fitness to practise hearing before the Medical Council
A Galway-based doctor has denied sending inappropriate emails and texts to female colleagues.
A Medical Council fitness to practise inquiry is examining allegations that a hospital doctor sent inappropriate emails and texts to colleagues.
Dr Onada Olajide Onada worked as a senior house officer at University College Hospital Galway from August 2010 to January 2011. He was dismissed from his post after disciplinary hearings.
It is alleged that he sent female colleagues texts which commented on their dress and other communications which included the words ‘sweetheart’ and ‘Hey Cutie’.
The inquiry heard today that a female doctor asked Dr Onda to stop sending the texts on two occasions.
One text sent in September 2010 read ‘Wakey, wakey. On night shift xxx”.
Dr Onada denies he engaged in harassing or inappropriate or intimidating communications. He said the text was meant as a friendly gesture.
He also denies sending a photo of scantily clad women to another female doctor.
It is also alleged that he failed to respond adequately or at all when bleeped and failed to inform Galway University Hospital that he would not be attending for duty.
Dr Onada, 40, is married and lives in Kilkenny and is representing himself.
He has previously told the inquiry that his communications were not inappropriate and he denies any alleged professional misconduct, or poor professional performance.
Fitness to practise hearing before the Medical Council
A Medical Council fitness to practise inquiry is examining allegations that a hospital doctor sent inappropriate emails and texts to colleagues.
Dr Onada Olajide Onada worked as a senior house officer at University College Hospital Galway from August 2010 to January 2011. He was dismissed from his post after disciplinary hearings.
It is alleged that he sent female colleagues texts which commented on their dress and other communications which included the words ‘sweetheart’ and ‘Hey Cutie’.
The inquiry heard today that a female doctor asked Dr Onda to stop sending the texts on two occasions.
One text sent in September 2010 read ‘Wakey, wakey. On night shift xxx”.
Dr Onada denies he engaged in harassing or inappropriate or intimidating communications. He said the text was meant as a friendly gesture.
He also denies sending a photo of scantily clad women to another female doctor.
It is also alleged that he failed to respond adequately or at all when bleeped and failed to inform Galway University Hospital that he would not be attending for duty.
Dr Onada, 40, is married and lives in Kilkenny and is representing himself.
He has previously told the inquiry that his communications were not inappropriate and he denies any alleged professional misconduct, or poor professional performance.
Health Minister Reilly to blame for the rising health insurance costs
The Minister of health Dr. James Reilly is driving up the cost of health insurance policies and forcing families out of the market with a “dangerous” new policy, Fianna Fáil has warned.
The party’s health spokesperson Billy Kelleher made the comments after today’s Sunday Business Post reported that Quinn Healthcare is set to increase customer premiums to cover the cost of the government levy on policies.
Kelleher said that the policy was creating a “vicious circle” where “up to 6,000 private health insurance policies are being abandoned, increasing pressure on the public hospital system, increasing waiting times for patients, and exposing a smaller client base of private insurers to further increases”.
The government announced on 4 January that the levy on health insurance policies would increase by 40 per cent. Two other health insurance companies – VHI and Aviva – said at the time that they would absorb the extra cost to stop premiums from increasing.
The head of the VHI Declan Moran had been broadly positive when the government announced it was increasing the levy, saying it was “a step in the right direction” which would help to ensure the marketplace is perfectly competitive.
Quinn Healthcare had given indications that it was considering increasing premiums, saying at the time that the levy increase would be “difficult to absorb”. The levy goes towards funding the healthcare costs of older customers.
Kelleher called on Reilly to halt the “dangerous” increase in the levy.
“The reality of the Government’s policy is that far from making health insurance universal it is actually making sure that people who have cover now cannot afford to renew their policy,” he said.
The levy was increased from €205 to €285 for adult customers and from €69 to €95 for under 18s.
New calls for a whistle-blower to be re-instated in Ireland
Calls have been issued to have a whistle-blower who raised concerns over the treatment of patients in St Brendan’s Hospital Grange-gorman in Dublin to be re-instated.
Minister of State for Mental Health Kathleen Lynch
There have been calls to re-instate a whistleblower whose contract with the HSE was terminated weeks after she raised concerns over the treatment of patients in St Brendan’s Hospital Grangegorman.
Louise Bayliss had publicised the fact that women patients were being sent to a locked hospital ward over Christmas to facilitate staff holidays.
It was early last month that Louise Bayliss raised the plight of five female patients in St Brendans psychiatric hospital who had to leave their open ward setting for a closed one over Christmas and the new year due to staff holiday rosters.
Louise was on a six month contract with the Irish Advocacy Network that advocate for patients waiting for psychiatric health services.
But she was immediately told not to attend work pending further training, and last Tuesday the Advocacy Network called her to a meeting.
Ms Bayliss claims she was told at the meeting that the HSE had put pressure on the Advocacy Network, a claim the Health Service Executive and the Network deny.
But now opposition and Government TDs claim Ms Bayliss lost his jobs for being a whistleblower and they are calling for her resinstatment.
The HSE and the Irish Advocacy Network will meet to dicuss Ms Bayliss situation later this week, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health Kathleen Lynch said she will seek a report from the HSE on the meetings outcome.
A Man is arrested over stabbing of a Brazilian national in Galway
Monday the 23rd January
A 21-year-old man will appear in court this week charged in relation to an incident which left a Brazilian man hospitalised with a stab wound.
The 28-year-old victim is being treated at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, where his condition was described last night as being “serious but stable”.
Gardai arrested a 21-year-old man in connection with the incident. He was released yesterday afternoon and will appear before Ballinasloe District Court on Thursday.
Gardai at Ballinasloe (0909-642123) have appealed for witnesses.
A Brazilian Man in serious condition
after a stabbing incident in Galway after party
A Brazilian man was in a serious condition in hospital last night after a stabbing in Co Galway.
The 26-year-old was stabbed after an altercation at a party in a Ballinasloe apartment. The incident happened outside the Sliabh na hAbhann complex in the town at about 1.30am.
The man was taken to Portiuncula Hospital with a knife injury to his stomach. His condition was last night described as serious but stable. A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident, and gardaí at Ballinasloe are asking witnesses to phone them at 0909-642123.
TARA BLAISE: BEING A MOTHER HELPED ME GET THROUGH MY HELL ON“THE VOICE”
Tara Blaise is amazed at the public show of support after her failure to turn around a chair in “The Voice”
Tara Blaise above is shocked and admits she felt so terrible after her nervous performance on The Voice
WHEN all four judges on The Voice Of Ireland failed to swivel their chairs and select professional singer Tara Blaise recently, it made great TV drama. At the end, the hearts of a nation went out to Tara as she stood in the spotlight like a vulnerable Bambi, waiting for the judges to have their say.
In hindsight, Blaise now believes it’s one of the best things that ever happened to her. After being out of the limelight since becoming a mum for the first time,Tara has found herself with a whole new fanbase. “I have been blown away by the reaction of the public; it’s not what I expected at all,”
Tara tells Shuffle. “I was so nervous about my performance coming out because it was done last October. I was terrified, but the public reaction has just been incredible, so supportive.
“I’ve had messages from people saying that they went and bought my music, having seen The Voice, which was a total surprise. And there were lots of private messages sent to me on Facebook; people telling their stories of horror experiences in life and coming out the other end.”
Although she’s philosophical about it now, Blaise, who comes from Co Wicklow, admits she was devastated immediately after her performance.
“At that moment I felt terrible, awful,” Tara admits. “It’s most humiliating and you just want the ground to open up and swallow you. I kept thinking, ‘You have to laugh, if you don’t laugh you’ll cry.’ I kept thinking, ‘I got through the song, I didn’t cry or fall over; that was really brave, actually. I haven’t been gigging and I’ve just done a gig in front of four judges or coaches, a live audience and a live TV audience, because there’s no stopping and starting in the show. So I thought, ‘Fair play, you are still standing.’”
MUSICAL CHAIRS: Tara Blaise was stunned when the judges didn’t swivel around for her
Tara, who has released two critically acclaimed albums, Great Escape and Dancing On Tables Barefoot, and appeared in War Of The Worlds with Russell Watson at The Point,Wembley and the Royal Albert Hall, knew that nerves had got the better of her as she sang Bon Jovi’s Living On A Prayer.
“I’d sung the song a few days before and it sounded lovely, and that’s why I did it,” she explains. “But on the day I was nervous. I knew instantly that I hadn’t done a great performance and that some of my notes were dodgy because I had been nervous.Were the judges right not turning around for me? Yeah, they were right on the day.”
Another bizarre twist is that two of the judges, Sharon Corr and Brian Kennedy, knew Blaise. “I know Sharon and Brian, but it’s not like we’re close pals,”Tara says. “I’ve toured with Brian, but as a support act I’d be leaving when he’s coming in. I didn’t really know if they’d recognise my voice.”
Tara admits she wasn’t familiar with the format of The Voice. “I knew the set up, but I hadn’t watched it before in the other countries,” she confesses.
“Nothing can prepare you for the moment you step out on stage and you’re singing to the backs of four chairs. I’ve done so many gigs: good ones, bad ones, big ones, small ones, but I’d never done a gig like that to people’s backs.”
Becoming a mum has given Blaise a different perspective on life. “I’ve gone through child birth, I can go through The Voice,” she laughs, adding, “Oh God, don’t make that the headline.
“While singing is very important to me, it’s going home and knowing that my baby is okay and fed and happy is what really matters. I was in no rush to go back to work and I’m glad I didn’t because so much happens in a year in a baby’s life.”
No comments:
Post a Comment