News Ireland update Friday as told by Donie

New rescue chopper Sikorsky S-92model 

on the way to Strandhill Sligo

    For Sligo   

Strandhill’s Sikorsky S-61, like the one above left, will be replaced by an S-92 model, like the one pictured above right.

THE Irish Coastguard rescue centre at Strandhill airport will take delivery of a new state-of-the-art search and resuce helicopter later this year.

The Sikorsky S-92 will replace the previous S-61 helicopter, which has given twenty years of unbroken service to the coastguard. It is one of a number purchased by the Canadian Helicopter Corporation, the helicopter service operator for the Irish Coastguard, and will be delivered to Sligo in September.

A mobile command centre is also being stationed at Strandhill, where a second S-61 helicopter is also now based as back-up.

“The first of these new helicopters is going to Shannon and the second to Sligo in September,” manager of Sligo airport, Joe Corcoran confirmed.

Mayo GAA star 37 dies of suspected sudden adult death syndrome

          
Jason Morley: died overnight at his home

 ANOTHER talented Gaelic footballer has died from a suspected case of sudden adult death syndrome (SADS). Jason Morley was found dead by his wife, Rebecca, in their home at Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, when she woke on Wednesday morning.

Mr Morley was 37 and worked for a local scaffolding firm.

It is thought that his unexpected death may be down to SADS, which is believed to be responsible for approximately two deaths a week in Ireland.

All-Ireland winning Tyrone footballer Cormac McAnallen was a healthy 24-year-old when he fell victim to the condition in his sleep in March 2004.

His death prompted an ongoing awareness campaign which has resulted in many sports players being screened for cardiac conditions and defibrillators installed at sports clubs.

Typically, SADS victims suffer unexpected heart problems while exercising.

Mr Morley’s remains were removed to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar where a post mortem was due to be carried out yesterday.

It is understood he had been complaining of a sore throat in the days before his death, but had been to a doctor and was taking medication for that complaint.

Over the past two decades, Mr Morley, a brother of former Mayo intercounty footballer Tony Morley, distinguished himself on local playing fields winning many honours with the Ballyhaunis GAA Club.

He was named club footballer of the year in 2000. Ballyhaunis club secretary Vincent Caulfield said yesterday Mr Morley had been the epitome of what every sportsman should be.

“He was brave, as strong as a horse, looked after himself well,” Mr Caulfield said. “Off the field, Jason was a true gentleman and a great family man.”

A message on the club’s website yesterday read: “It is with great sadness and deep regret our club have learned of the sudden and untimely passing of our loyal, cherished player and friend, Jason Morley.

“(We) offer our sincere condolences to his wife Becky, son Conor, parents Josie and Tony, brothers Tony and David and extended family and wide circle of friends.”

Mr Morley’s removal will take place to his local Bekan Church tonight at 7pm.

Minister for health Dr Reilly wants health cuts plan to be ‘more ambitious’ 

 

MINISTER FOR Health James Reilly is to ask the Health Service Executive to redraft its service plan for 2012, which proposes wide-ranging cuts to frontline services.

Cuts in home-help hours were among proposals Dr Reilly found unacceptable in the draft service plan. He wants the HSE to redraft it before he presents it to Cabinet for approval.

The plan is the legal agreement between the HSE and the Government on how its €13 billion budget will be spent this year. It was presented to Dr Reilly last month and will be brought to Cabinet for final approval by January 13th.

Under the plan, the budget for primary care/community demand- led services was set to fall by €51 million. However, a new target to save €124 million on drug costs was also proposed. A 5.5 per cent cut in home-help hours was also included.

In the mental health area, the plan said there would be closures of core service elements such as acute in-patient beds, acute community services and high-dependency continuing care.

A spokesman for the Minister said Dr Reilly was hoping the HSE would produce a “more ambitious plan” which would “require the system to become more productive in a better and more innovative way”.

The cuts to home-help hours were unacceptable given there were already too many people in long-term care, he said.

Dr Reilly also wanted to see “more ambitious targets” for day surgery and changes to the way services were delivered, the spokesman said.

The draft plan envisaged cuts in funding for hospitals of between 3 and 7 per cent, depending on the financial deficit being carried over by each hospital. It suggested activity levels in hospitals may fall by 5 per cent next year.

Earlier yesterday Dr Reilly said he was unhappy about parts of the plan, in particular that “a 5 per cent cut in budget means a 5 per cent cut in activity”.

“That is not acceptable. We have to find other ways of achieving the budget requirements and at the same time maintain service to the best extent possible,” he said.

“I acknowledge there may be some reductions in service but to start off the year with the white flag up saying there is going to be a reduction of X per cent, to me that’s not acceptable.”

Dr Reilly said he was concerned about the departure of an estimated 3,200 HSE staff, who have expressed an interest in leaving by the end of February to avail of particular pension arrangements. He said the service plan would have to be reviewed in March when the extent of the departures was known.