News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

“On his behalf, I would like all of you here today to consider carrying a donor card,” she said.
(Source: Leitrim Observer)

Limerick

Three cancer operations scheduled for last Wednesday were canceled and rearranged for this week as the HSE deals with what it described as “exceptional demand for inpatient beds” this week.

As it struggled to contain costs last year, the HSE pledged that cancer procedures would be protected from any cuts in elective surgery.

But one breast cancer patient who contacted the Limerick Leader described how she had been notified on Tuesday that an operation to remove a lump - scheduled for the following day - had been cancelled.

“Three [cancer] patients have been deferred until Wednesday, January 11 due to an exceptional demand on inpatient beds for the last 48 hours,” a HSE spokesperson explained.

“Acute hospitals in all parts of the country come under particular pressure at this time of year and this entails special attention to emergency admissions. Where procedures have to be deferred, this is always done in accordance with clinical priorities.”

“Cancer surgery will continue to be treated as a priority by the HSE and, as outlined above, due to the exceptional demand three patients have had to be deferred until next week,” the spokesperson added.
(Source: Limerick Leader)

Longford

A little girl was thrown around "like a rag doll" by a Rottweiler in a savage mauling while she sang Christmas carols.

Nine-year-old Lauren Kelly is lucky to be alive.

She suffered horrific neck and arm injuries and was hospitalized after the attack in Longford.

Lauren's mother, Marcella (41), was also injured as she threw herself across her daughter's body to try and protect her from the attacking dog.

Marcella said: "All I could hear was her screaming and being thrown around like a rage doll. We're just so thankful she's alive."

Lauren was with her younger sister and a friend when they came across the dog outside a house in the village of Abbeylara on St Stephen's Day.

The girls had been singing Christmas carols. The dog jumped a fence and attacked the young schoolgirl.

Her six-year-old sister Ciara ran home screaming for their mother to come and help.

"I tried to pull the dog off her by kicking him but he just gripped harder," said Marcella. "The only thing I could do was lie down on top of her to protect her but then it sunk its teeth in my arm."

Shortly afterwards, brothers of the children's friend arrived and managed to control the dog.

Marcella and Lauren were rushed to Mullingar Regional Hospital where Marcella received 12 stitches.

Lauren was transferred to Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin the following morning.
The dog that attacked Lauren has since been put down.
(Source: Evening Herald)

Louth

A Pakistani doctor recruited by the HSE says he is considering leaving Ireland after suffering racist abuse in a nightclub.

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Nster.com