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22nd October 2013 • Volume 20, Issue 40 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Headache At Beaumont Continues 4,681 Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly has claimed that there is good news for patients, as trolley figures are down 15 per cent at Beaumont Hospital, which is the main hospital for the North County. He claims that there is By Patrick Finnegan “real progress being @TheCountyLeader made, as this year’s national trolley figures are 32 per cent lower than in 2011.” The County Leader is familiar with trolley figures at Beaumont, through the INMO (Irish Nurses
ON TRO LLEYS and Midwives Association)
and they are checked on a daily basis. Dr Reilly’s figures may well stack up, but residents from the North County, who are unfortunate enough to have to wait for a bed in Beaumont Hospital, and are consigned to a trolley, will draw little comfort from the minister’s figures. For the past year, the average number of people on trolleys at the hospital has been between 20 and 30 per day. The anguish that this visits on families is extraordinary, where loved ones are forced to try and get sleep, propped up in chairs and narrow walkways have to be negotiated between trolleys. In many cases, these are extremely ill people. Everyone acknowledges the great work that hospital staff, especially front-line staff, like doctors and nurses have to endure on a constant basis. These vital staff members are under huge pressure, as they attempt to deliver the impossible - beds for people who are
Molly Murray celebrated her 103rd birthday recently at the Lusk Community Centre. Pictured presenting Molly with the President's medal is acting County Mayor, Cllr Tom O'Leary. Also pictured are, Mary Haughey (Acting Assistant Nursing Director, Lusk Community Centre), Eleanor Conlon (Molly's daughter), Marie Murray (Molly's daughter) and Elizebeth Murray (Molly's grandaughter).
seriously ill. Dr Reilly may feel that a reduction of 15 per cent is making real progress, but as long as there are corridors full of patients in real danger, anything other than a hospital free of trolley beds will be regarded as unsatisfactory. A visit to Beaumont Hospital, which is the main head trauma hospital for the region, is a sobering experience. Many regard it as an horrific place to visit, with distraught families trying to comfort loved ones. The doctors and nurses are forced to make deciMinister Reilly sions and prioritise which patients need the most urgent care. This is utterly unacceptable in a modern, first world country. The unimaginable scenario of a major emergency happening around the city, or the North County, can only be imagined.
So, let’s stop slapping ourselves on the back and issuing figures that reveal minimal progress in a very serious situation. While the figures relate to Beaumont, figures from Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda are much more encouraging and show a definite downward trend. A spokesperson for Dr Reilly said, “The figures reveal that, so far in 2013, there were 4681 people recorded on trolleys at Beaumont Hospital. That figure is down from 5024 in 2012 and 5527 in 2011. When direct comparisons are made to 2011, the trolley figures for this year have been reduced by 15 per cent. When compared to last year, we see that that trend is continuing in a positive direction with a reduction of seven per cent being recorded.” “I am not for one minute suggesting that having 4681 people on trolleys is acceptable; it is not. However, it is encouraging to see that real progress is being made in tackling this issue,” the statement ended.
Manager’s Last Council Meeting
Pictured with the Sam Maguire Cup on it's visit to Thornleigh Educate Together National School in Swords are sisters, Shannon, Saoirse and Síomha Fallon.
County Manager, David O’Connor has decided to call time on his career with the County Council. He will retire as County Manager of Fingal County Council on expiration of his contract in mid November 2013. He will take up a temporary position, working with a local government agency. A spokesperson for the Council told the County Leader, “Based on his active
involvement in the local government cost saving programme in recent years, O’Connor has been asked by the City and County Managers Association, with the support of the Department of Environment to take on a six month temporary assignment following his retirement, to coordinate the work of the Local Government Efficiency Review based at Parnell Square”.
“This is not a salaried position, as it is only part-time work. Any payments made to him for time spent on this work, will be through the City and County Managers Association.” The October full Council meeting last week was O’Connor’s last meeting as County Manager. He will retire in mid November. He became County Manager in 2006, after serving as Director of Planning.
Manager, David O’Connor