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Under pressure hospital cancels scheduled appointments

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Due to the high numbers of patients presenting with flu, COVID-19, and other winter virus infections, management at University Hospital Kerry are calling on the public to seek assistance elsewhere.

Their advice is to go to a local pharmacy, GP or South Doc before attending the Emergency Department this week. Urgent cases however, will always be prioritised for treatment and care.

Patients with scheduled appointments are also being asked not to attend UHK.

The following mitigation measures have been taken:

Deferral of all Outpatient scheduled appointments up to and including Friday, January 20 [Exceptions listed below].

Deferral of Elective Surgery up to and including Friday, January 20 [ *With the exception of time critical surgeries].

Exceptions to the above cancelled clinics are:

Orthopaedic Trauma Clinics
Infusion Clinics
Dressings Clinic
Cardiology Outpatient scans and procedures
Radiology Outpatient imaging/procedures
Virtual Clinics
Antenatal / Maternity Clinics
Oncology and Palliative Care Clinics
Colposcopy and Hysteroscopy Clinics at Cíll Ide
Endoscopies [Time critical will proceed]

Other than the above listed clinics, University Hospital Kerry is kindly requesting that patients do not attend scheduled outpatient and elective surgery appointments unless they receive a call to advise otherwise, from UHK staff.

Any cancelled appointments are being rescheduled and if patients have an urgent query in relation to an appointment, they should the relevant Consultant’s secretary.

Visiting is currently restricted to compassionate cases only. UHK Management and staff would like to thank the public in anticipation of their co-operation with these arrangements.

According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, 838 patients were on a trolley in Irish hospitals today (Wednesday).

No hospital is unaffected by overcrowding with patients on trolleys or chairs in emergency departments or elsewhere in each of the hospitals.

“It is time for the Government to call this what it clearly is – an out and out crisis," INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha who is originally from Ventry, said.

“When nurses who are at the frontline dealing directly with patients and often the ones apologising to patients and their families on behalf of the State because of the chaotic conditions are calling on the Government to take action including, but not limited to, the immediate cessation of all non-urgent activity and the introduction of a time-limited mask mandate, then it must not continue to fall on deaf ears.

“Our members are treating patients in the most undignified conditions. This is not the type of care they should be providing in a country that has the resources to provide additional capacity and support.
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“Nurses and other healthcare staff cannot continue to weather this storm without adequate support and protection from their employer, it will add to the increasing intention to leave of staff which is exactly what this health service does not need.”

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Ireland’s oldest citizen has Killarney connections

Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week. Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections. The previous record […]

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Ireland’s oldest woman met with President Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin this week.

Máirín Hughes, who turned 109 on May 22 has strong Killarney connections.

The previous record was held by 107-year-old Nancy Stewart who died on September 10 2021.

Although born in Belfast, Máirín went to school in the Mercy Convent. Her father was a customs and excise officer and the family moved around a lot eventually coming to Killarney after spells in County Down and Dublin.

Her mother came from the Rathmore area and her father was from Newmarket in County Cork.

She attended the Mercy Convent and has, in previous interviews, recalled growing up on the shores of Lough Lein.

“Neighbours who had three children were given the job of taking me to school,” she said. “They were annoyed because the children were going to school for two or three years but I was put in to the same class as them – my mother had taught me.”

In 2021 she featured in the book ‘Independence Memories: A People’s Portrait of the Early Days of the Irish Nation’, sharing stories of being kept in school in Killarney during an attack on the RIC barracks down the road.

In 1924 she started a degree in science and a diploma in education at University College Cork, before working in the pathology lab in University College Cork’s Department of Medicine for 16 years.

last year she recalled her story on the podcast: ‘Living History – Irish Life and Lore’.

During the broadcast she talked about her parents’ membership of the Gaelic League in 1910; the Spanish Flu in Ireland in 1918; The Black and Tans in Killarney in 1921; the early days of the new Free State; Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 1932, visiting the Basket Islands in 1929; and working in the UCC medical laboratory from 1932 until 1948.

This week President Michael D. Higgins hosted an afternoon tea event to celebrate the important role that a variety of people have and can play in different communities and Máirín was among the guests of honour.

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Philip is running over 100kms for Cancer charity

Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday. Phillip has already […]

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Local runner and charity fundraiser Philip Kissane is set for the biggest challenge of his career as he lines up for the Cork City Marathon on Sunday.

Phillip has already completed four half marathons at various locations around Killarney – all in aid of Kerry Cancer Support Group – or the Cancer Bus as it popularly called.

This is the second time that Phillip has run four half marathon and an official race for the charity.

Back in 2021 he finished with 5km Run Killarney event but his finishing race this time around is over eight times the distance at 42kms.

“We are delighted with Philip’s continued fundraising support but also with his awareness raising for the charity,” Breda Dyland, Service Manager Kerry Cancer Support Trust.

“We are getting busier all the time and still get no statutory funding so are dependent on fundraisers like Philip’s to keep us on the road. We have just put our new wheelchair accessible bus on the Cork route so Philip’s funding will be going towards the operation of this vehicle.”

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