News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

There has been “a dramatic increase in overcrowding” in hospital emergency departments, according to the Irish Nurses’ and Midwives’ Organisation. 



The organization has called for the opening of closed beds at all hospitals including Naas General, following the release of figures relating to patient numbers on trolleys during August. 



In all 221 patients were forced to wait on trolleys at Naas A&E during the month of August, owing to the lack of available beds. While this figure was down somewhat on the total for August 2010 (292) it was nevertheless dramatically up on the figures for earlier years, including a total of 68 for August 2007. 



Nationally, the INMO says there has been a 106% increase since August 2007. 

According to general secretary Liam Doran, the latest figures “confirm the worst fears” of the organization. He called for the opening of closed beds, saying that the trolley figures reflected the volume of bed closures nationwide, along with the reduction in continuing (long-term) care beds and the cutbacks in community-based services.

(Source: The Kildare Nationalist)

Kilkenny

Kilkenny City has been named Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre for the second year in a row in the annual Tidy Towns awards.

With a total of 308 points, Kilkenny took home one of the top prizes – including a trophy and e5,000 – as the results were announced last Monday. Its score was just two points shy of the 310 given to the overall National Award Winner, Killarney.

Inistioge meanwhile earned a Bronze Medal Award of e400, with a score of 298 points.

In the County Awards, Kilkenny City took the top honor in Co Kilkenny for e1,000, followed by an award of Highly Commended for Inistioge (e800) and Commended for Tullahought (e500), with 294 points.

The e500 Endeavour Award for Co Kilkenny went to Goresbridge, whose score rose to 219 points, an increase of 10.61% over its score from last year.

The adjudicator’s report for Kilkenny city singled out many estates and locations that looked especially picturesque, and it gave particular praise to the group Keep Kilkenny Beautiful.

It praised the “aggressive tree planting program”, the Linear Park wildlife walk and landscaping, and even “the singing birds”.

The report found that “litter control is a major challenge” and cited traffic as a problem: “Vehicular traffic seems to be at a standstill for ages in certain parts of the city centre. Even getting around on a bicycle is challenging for the adjudicator who senses an element of road rage from the impatient and frustrated car drivers who often react to being at a standstill by charging into the next available open space.”

On a positive note, the report praised the character of Kilkenny, calling it “a real hang out city ... (where) people wander about and chat, even in the rain.”
(Source: Kilkenny People)

Laois

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Nster.com