MORNING FOCUS MONDAY 6TH OCTOBER
The HSE is today responding to the story regarding Palliative Care support beds at Regina House. Commenting, HSE Area Manager for the Mid West, Bernard Gloster, said ' We have to be absolutely definitive and clear on such a sensitive issue. The following are the facts and we are anxious to assure the public. Regina House has capacity to support two people in palliative care at any one time. Today, there are two people in the Centre receiving palliative care. No person at home who requires a palliative care bed in Regina House has been refused since a particular staffing pressure arose in late summer’ Bernard Gloster and Cllr Ian Lynch joined John to discuss the issue.
Medical cards should not be granted automatically on the basis of a particular illness, an expert group has decided. It said that those who apply for them need to continue to be assessed on the basis of their means or financial hardship. The group was set up in the wake of the public backlash over the removal of many discretionary medical cards which are granted to those over the income threshold who are deemed to have high expenses due to illness. The expectation was that it may name illnesses that would automatically qualify. However, the HSE's expert panel's report said this kind of list is "not feasible or desirable". It risks "inequity by diagnosis and further fragmentation of services. Noreen Keane who's son Ronan holds a medical due to serious disability and Dr Michael Kelleher from Lahinch and IMO GP Committee member disussed the controversial report with John.
A science course to be taught under the new Junior Cycle programme has been put out for consultation but teachers are being ordered by their unions not to take part. Peter Quinn, Teacher at St Flannans College Ennis and ASTI Standing Committee representative for Clare and Limerick outlined the reasons for this stance.
The PPI awards are considered the Oscars of the radio industry and were an excellent night for Clare FM who brought home no fewer than 5 awards on the night. General Manager of Clare FM Susan Murphy, Deputy News editor Gavin Grace and Legendary Clare FM big match commentator Syl O'Conner joined John to chat about the trophy haul.
Our man in sports Derek Lynch joined John to look back at Cratloes win in the county senior hurling final yesterday.
Finally as always on a Monday John Murphy, wildlife expert and Chairperson of the Clare branch of Birdwatch Ireland joined John in studio to answer listeners' bird and wildlife queries.
If you have a story, comment or query for Morning Focus email Focus@clare.fm or write to us – Morning Focus, Clare FM, Francis Street, Ennis, Co. Clare.
