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HSE issue urgent call for more healthcare staff

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EXCLUSIVE

By Michelle Crean

 

Extra staff are urgently required by the HSE to deal with COVID outbreaks in healthcare settings. At present, there are more than 50 outbreaks in residential settings across Cork and Kerry which includes private nursing homes, community hospitals, disability centres and mental health services with the majority of these outbreaks in residential centres for older people.

This week the HSE said that "while the scale and impact of the outbreaks varies, we can confirm that we are currently supporting a significant number of residential centres in crisis".

"Our absolute priority in all cases is to make sure the residents of nursing homes, whether the facility is public or private, continue to receive the care they need, despite the challenge presented by COVID-19 related staff leave," the HSE said in a statement to the Killarney Advertiser.

"The level of staff ill with COVID-19 across the health service means that it is difficult for some locations to maintain their staffing at the levels needed, and this is a constant challenge. Staff are going to heroic lengths to make sure that residents continue to receive the care they need."

The HSE said that "where possible" they have redeployed staff, particularly nurses and healthcare assistants.
"We are incredibly grateful to these staff for agreeing to be redeployed at short notice to settings in crisis due to COVID-19 outbreaks.

"We have requested the assistance of the Defence Forces in providing support around cleaning and waste disposal at a number of nursing homes in crisis, allowing our nurses and healthcare assistants to focus on the care of residents and patients.

"Even with that support, we still urgently require more staff, particularly nurses and/or healthcare assistants." Any nurses and healthcare assistants who are not currently involved in direct care of patients or residents and who are available can contact Chief Officer Michael Fitzgerald directly on MichaelM.Fitzgerald@hse.ie.

"The best way for everyone else to support the efforts of healthcare workers is to simply stay at home as much as possible."

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Contactless payments launched on Local Link services

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Passengers using TFI Local Link Kerry services in Killarney and across the county can now pay for their journeys using contactless card payments.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) confirmed the rollout this week, allowing commuters to simply tap their debit card, credit card, or mobile devices, such as Apple Pay and Google Pa, when boarding.

The move is designed to offer more convenience for those using high-frequency rural and regional routes.

In Killarney, the new payment option will be available on the TFI Anseo town services, which have seen a significant increase in passenger numbers since their introduction.

The contactless system is currently available for single journey fares, while those using daily or weekly passes can continue to use the Leap website or the TFI Leap Top Up App.
Alan O’Connell, General Manager of TFI Local Link Kerry, welcomed the modernisation of the fleet.

“The introduction of contactless payments is another welcome step forward for public transport in Kerry,” he said. “It complements other major projects in the county, including the expansion of TFI Local Link services and the delivery of TFI Anseo in Killarney, which is proving to be another great initiative.”

While the new technology offers a modern alternative, traditional payment methods are not being phased out. Cash payments, TFI Leap cards, and Free Travel Cards all remains fully valid across the network.

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How will our Kerry TDs vote tomorrow?

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Tomorrow, Sinn Féin will be tabling a motion of no confidence against the Government after the protests that took place nationwide during the week.

Earlier today we asked our readers how would they vote in a no confidence motion against the Government?

Most of our readers said they would vote no confidence, while some said, yes they do have confidence in the Government.

One reader said: “Vote confidence. The only proper leadership over the last few days came from government. Courage came when needed despite how unpopular it looked in the moment. By contrast, opposition politicians wanted the country to burn to suit themselves”.

Another reader stated: “No confidence. Shambolic and heavy handed handling of protests this past week”.

However, some people didn’t have any confidence in either side with a reader saying: “No confidence in the no confidence! Different wings of the same bird! We need a complete overhaul of the political system”.

We asked the question to our 5 Kerry TDs before lunch-time today, asking them what their vote will be tomorrow.

We received one reply from Sinn Féin’s Kerry TD Pa Daly.

He will be voting no confidence in the Government tomorrow along with his party.

Other media outlets are reporting that Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae is undecided at the moment.

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