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10th March 2015 • Volume 22, Issue 08 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Disastrous Move!
The HSE’s unilateral decision to strip Dublin Fire Brigade of its role in Dublin’s ambulance service, has been described as a ‘disastrous move’ by local TD, Clare Daly. The decision was announced by the HSE without any discussion or consultation with Dublin Fire Brigade, and is one that is likely to have implications for the general public, according to SIPTU sector organiser, Brendan O’Brien.
region, including the North County. Dublin Fire Brigade representatives have The National warned that the threat of industrial action has Ambulance Service, increased following the news that the HSE is to which is based in take over the running of its ambulance service. Tallaght, currently At present, ambulance services for North County shares call outs with residents are provided by Dublin Fire Brigade, Dublin Fire Brigade in through Swords Fire Station, and the HSE from Tara Street. it’s base at Lissenhall, Swords. Dublin City The system was critiClare Daly TD Council runs the fire brigade on behalf of all four cised as having “ineffiDublin local authorities, and it’s Chief Executive, ciencies” and “poor co-ordination” by a HIQA Owen Keegan announced the HSE’s National report published last December. Ambulance Service (NAS) will now be respon- The decision was criticised by local TD, Clare sible for all emergency calls in the Dublin Daly (ULA), who told the County Leader, “I am totally opposed to Minister Varadkar’s idea of bringing the Dublin Fire Brigade Ambulance service into the HSE. Considering the chaotic situation that the HSE is famous for, anybody would wonder as to why the Minister would consider such a disastrous move.” She continued, “It is clear that HSE mismanagement has been responsible for most of the problems in the ambulance service. One such example from my constituency here in North County Dublin, was when a HSE Swords Fire Station, which provises both fire and ambulance services ambulance driver informed me how for North County Dublin they received a new ambulance,
By Patrick Finnegan
which had 70,000 miles on the clock. He also told me how six crew members turned up for a shift, with only two ambulances available for work.” “The truth of the matter is that Dublin Fire Brigade, which covers 40 per cent of national Pictured at the Pyjama Day at Bright Stars creche in Swords on Friday last are, Ryan calls on seven per cent Leggett Condon, Nathan Condon and Sean Barrett of the national budget, has the best response times in the country. In my opinion it would be absolutely mad to transfer any amount of the Dublin Fire Brigade Ambulance service to the black hole that is the HSE,” she claimed. SIPTU sector organiser, Brendan O’Brien also spoke to the County Leader and said the threat of industrial action has now increased, with news of the HSE ambulance Brendan O'Brien of SIPTU takeover. He said that firefighters are trained to work interchangeably in ambulance or fire tender duties. Continued on page 21
Molly Set To Leave Hospital Soon The news about little Molly McNally, who had her bone marrow transplant operation recently at Crumlin Children’s Hospital, is very promising. Such is her progress, that there is a possibility that the courageous little six year old Balbriggan girl may be released from hospital later this week. Her father, Gerry spoke to the County Leader and he was very upbeat about Molly’s progress since her operation. “She’s doing well, but it’s a slow process. Yes, there was a very difficult period
which lasted a few days, but anything. They let the marrow thankfully, Molly showed develop the stem cells and extraordinary courage they then banked them in during this time,” he bags. This effectively was said. her transplant. With “Because Molly had so Molly’s stem cells coming much of the cancer from the marrow, they starting off, and with tend to be slower, which the intense round of results it a longer recovery time,” said Gerry. chemo, it was difficult to get stem cells from her. “Molly’s transplant was one of the most underEventually, they went into Molly McNally whelming things you could the bone marrow and took them from there, before the experience. It was nothing as marrow was even growing dramatic as a heart transplant or
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kidney transplant. What it amounted to was two bags taken out of the blood bank, with millions of cells, which were infused into her line. The whole thing took just 28 minutes,” he said. “Emma and I never got ahead of ourselves, and we just take each day as it comes. The hospital have moved Molly out of the transplant unit, but she is still in isolation. She’s doing really well and her counts are coming up. Last Friday was her 41st day in isolation, and it’s starting to get to her a little and she just wants to get home, and we hope that will be later this week, all going well,” concluded Gerry.
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