Nurses at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital to strike next week

The A&E of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital is frequently overcrowded

Nurses at this area’s main hospital will strike this day next week to protest at horrific conditions they claim are putting patients’ lives at risk.

Overworked Accident and Emergency staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda will hold the action next Wednesday November 19 from 1pm-2pm.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said that our elderly have been stripped of their dignity and privacy as they are forced to lie toe-to-toe on trolleys in the hospital’s corridors.

They said that these patients, often in their 80s and 90s, are frequently subjected to a three or four day wait in the overcrowded hospital’s hallways.

Shocking figures released by the group last week showed that the number of patients on trolleys at the hospital had soared by a staggering 243 per cent last month, compared to October 2013, to 631.

Continuously being short-staffed is also making the problem even worse, according to the union.

The INMO said that they have outlined the gravity of the situation in a letter to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) but were told that funding is not available at the moment.

Union members have decided that enough is enough and their members are going to stop all non-essential work to get their voices heard.

Tony Fitzpatrick, INMO Industrial Relations Officer, said that the worsening crisis can be detrimental for people’s health.

He said: “The risk of a death in the Emergency Department increases by 30 per cent when this level of overcrowding exists and it is becoming impossible for our members to provide safe care to patients.”

Mr Fitzpatrick added that the lack of suitable nursing home beds has also had a negative impact on our hospitals.

He explained: “In excess of 60 patients are clinically discharged but remain in acute beds in the hospital due to the lack of step down facilities and this problem needs to be urgently addressed.

“Since 2010 acute and non- acute beds have been closed in the catchment area for example 97 beds were closed in the Louth County Hospital and bed numbers were reduced in the Cottage Hospital, Drogheda, St Mary’s, Drogheda, St Oliver Plunkett’s Dundalk and St Joseph’s Trim.”

He said that some of the €25million that was allocated in Budget 2015 to tackle overcrowding should be used now as we enter into the harsh winter months, where hospital admissions increase.

Local creches offer to come to the aid of those affected by Ages and Stages closure

Two local crèches have offered to come to the aid of parents affected by the impending closure of the Ages and Stages Early Years Centre in Mullaharlin Park.

It was revealed yesterday that the crèche off the Dublin Road would be closing its doors on Friday August 29^th.

That has sparked fears amongst parents about what will happen with their children after that while staff are also facing an uncertain future regarding their job status.

However, commenting on the Talk of the Town Facebook page this morning, Ciara Byrne of the Pugwash Bay crèche encouraged those affected to get in touch with her.

She said: “Parents and staff please contact me on 0429338055. I am the manager of Pugwash Bay crèche and Montessori based in Dundalk . We may be able to help you guys out.”

Mandy Stevenson from the Redeemer crèche in Ashling Park has also extended an olive branch to affected parents.

She emailed Talk of the Town to say: “I am the chairperson of Redeemer board. I was shocked to hear the news regarding the closure of Ages and Stages creche.

“We are a community creche in Redeemer and are willing to support parents with places for their children. My contact details are 0871351413.”

Claire Woods of Louth Childcare also added: “Support for Parents is available from Louth County Childcare Committee in seeking alternative childcare arrangements. Please contact us on 042 9336364  or visit our website www.louthchildcare.ie.”

Blow for parents, staff and children as local crèche is set to close

Staff, parents and children involved with the local Ages and Stages Early Years Centre were dealt a devastating blow yesterday after it was announced that the crèche would close its doors at the end of this month.

The facility at Mullaharlin Park, off the Dublin Road, has been open for 20 years having initially started out in Dundalk Resource Centre. It only relocated to Mullaharlin Park in November 2008 following funding for a new centre from Pobal, ICTU, NDP, DSP, Louth County Council and the Louth County Childcare Committee.

Catering for children from six months to six years of age, it has been a hugely popular place in recent years. Now though it is set to close its doors from Friday August 29^th.

One worried parent contacted Talk of the Town about Ages and Stages this morning, expressing concern at where she and other parents would find a replacement facility for children at such short notice.

Describing the news as “devastating”, she said: “I picked up my daughter from crèche yesterday evening only to be handed a letter by a young girl in tears informing me the crèche would be closing within two weeks and I would need to make alternative childcare arrangements as soon as possible, it came as such a shock!

“They’re such lovely girls in there and have built up such an amazing bond with my little girl, I don’t know where I’m going to start to find somewhere else as good.

“Apparently this is due to both lack of funding and lack of take up in childcare places. I can’t understand it though as this crèche is heavily funded by Pobal and is in an ideal catchment area located beside DKIT and only 5 minutes from Blackrock and the M1.

“I was so disappointed that given the circumstances management were not available to speak with parents and not on hand to deliver the news in person.
“I’m not sure if anything can be done to save it but I thought even just raising awareness might help.”

As well as the inconvenience and stress caused for parents by the closure, it is believed that more than a dozen staff will be out of jobs if the crèche does close its doors.

Are you affected by the closure or have your children used the facility? Let us know your thoughts!

Blow for the Long Walk as another store is to close

The Long Walk Shopping Centre has suffered another blow with the news that Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe is to close at the weekend, just eight months after opening last October.

The news comes just weeks after one of the centre’s anchor tenants, Penneys, opted to pull out of the centre.

Mr Simms sold sweets from both the past and present and filled a void in the old print shop that had been idle for more than a decade.

The Long Walk Shopping Centre is 20 years open this month but there will be little celebrations after another empty unit is left vacant when the store closes its doors for the final time on Saturday.

The store had employed four staff.

Dundalk IT inviting tenders for catering services

Businesses are now being offered the opportunity to tender for catering services at Dundalk IT.

Those interested in providing canteen and catering services at the college have until 3pm on Friday May 16^th to submit their application.

The catering contractor will be required to provide a comprehensive catering service during the normal operating hours at DkIT when students and staff are in attendance (e.g. early September to late June) and a reduced facility to include lunches is also required from 10am to 4.30pm during holiday periods.

For further details click here or call Peter McGrath on 042-9370210.

 

 

Realt na Mara NS open day next week

Realt na Mara NS in Mill Street

Realt na Mara National School in Mill Street will host an open day on Thursday April 10^th from 10.30am to 12 noon.

This will give parents the chance to see all that the school has to offer, as well as meeting staff and students and taking a tour of the school and its classrooms.

Enrolment forms will be available on the day with further details available at www.realtnamarans.ie