Ireland's Eye: What's going on in the old sod this week

A look at news from around Ireland

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TB on a Trolley

THE Irish Nurses and Midwives Organization (INMO) has called for swift and immediate action after the HSE confirmed that a patient with TB was left on a trolley in the emergency department of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital for several days.

Three people who are understood to have been in the cubicle with the infected patient are being monitored and screened for the disease.

The HSE identified and offered screening to a number of people who have been in close contact with the infected patient, including family, partners and people living with the TB patient.

The clinical director, Dr. Dominic O'Brannagain and group general manager of the Louth Meath Hospital Group, Margaret Swords said they are treating the case as “a serious adverse incident” because of the length of time the patient remained in the Emergency Department.

However, the HSE visitors or other patients attending the department are not at risk as the overall risk of transmission of the disease is considered to be low.

Tony Fitzpatrick from the INMO said the crisis had reinforced the inherent dangers involved in having a critically overcrowded emergency department.

“It is unsafe and unacceptable,” he said.

“The HSE needs to learn lessons from what is happening. The cannot keep defending the indefensible.”

Fitzpatrick said morale among staff in the hospital is extremely low as the situation seems to deteriorate every week.
 
Drogheda Independent

School Problems

A NEW survey of disadvantaged Northside Dublin schools found sharp increases in discipline problems, a rise in attendance issues and dramatic cuts in help for children with special needs.

The survey of school principals carried out by the North Dublin branch of the Irish National Teachers' Organization (INTO) also reveals that 20 local schools have lost a total of 59 teachers over the past three years, with 16 of them taken from special needs pupils.

A total of 27 teachers were taken from traveler children in 18 schools, and 74% of principals have reported an increase in the challenges facing traveler children, with another 16% predicting issues arising in the near future.
According to the survey, the cutbacks are having a devastating impact on pupils with special needs. Nine out of 10 principals say they’ve already witnessed increased challenges for children with special education needs in their schools, while the other 10% are predicting challenges ahead.

In the survey, 70% of the principals stated monetary cutbacks imposed to date had affected their ability to cater for students, and many expect conditions in disadvantaged schools to get worse.

Some 45% say discipline issues will rise and a further 30% expect more problems in the future. Thirty percent also report rising attendance issues, with another 30% predicting the problem to increase.

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Nster.com