On Friday’s Morning Focus Marian Egan spoke with General Secretary of the INMO Liam Doran who said that patients’ lives will be put at risk – if the HSE goes ahead with its plan to implement new cost-saving measures
The Health Service Executive is to impose 130 million euro of cost saving measures before the end of the year
The HSE is running a budget deficit of 259 million euro – after funding reductions of 2.5 billion since the beginning of 2010
It says while every effort is being made to target areas that don’t impact on patient services – some disruption is inevitable
The additional measures include a 35 million euro reduction in the use of agency staff and overtime and 26.5 million euro savings on medical equipment and furniture
Home Help hours are also being cut further by 5.5 per cent – saving almost 11 million euro
Niall Hunter of Irish Health. Com explained the cuts regarding home help hours and carers.
Lorraine McMorrow of Ennis based Urlar Publications is being effected by the Target Express liquidation
Her company’s first publication book launch has just taken place but they are fast running out of copies as the consignment is stuck in the Limerick depot
She is hoping that the situation will be rectified soon
Lorraine was made redundant from her job in Shannon recently and went on to found Urlar Publications, she joined Marian in studio.
Patients for Patient Safety Ireland is a new campaign group set up to improve patient care
Chairperson Margaret Murphy spoke with Marian and said the group hoped to identify people who would engage with it, people for whom the health system had failed and who would like to share that experience in a positive way
Last month, the State Claims Agency reported an increase in clinical claims for the first half of the year compared with previous years
It said this may be due to people, injured as a result of a medical negligence event, being more likely to sue doctors, dentists and hospitals in more difficult economic times
Contact Patient for Patient Safety Ireland by emailing mila.whelan@hse.ie or patientsafetynet@live.ie or see www.hse.ie
1 in 2 Irish adults have a higher than recommended level of cholesterol according to results from a nationwide screening programme
The Flora proactive Cholesterol Roadshow, has found that more than 1 in 2 Irish adults (55%) have higher than the recommended level of cholesterol, which can increase the likelihood of developing heart disease
The research involved independent registered nurses traveling to towns and villages nationwide to carry out over 1,000 FREE cholesterol checks on members of the public and offering them expert nutritional advice based on their results
Nutritionist Dr Patricia Heavey had some advice for listeners on how to keep their cholesterol levels in check.
The spread of ivy and increasing rainfall rates in recent years is causing immense structural damage to Ireland’s mediaeval churches, according to a new survey.
‘A Medieval Church Survey for County Clare’, which is funded jointly by the Heritage Council and Clare County Council
The survey found that a third of the 170 churches surveyed have disappeared in the intervening 173-year period, while a third are in a dilapidated condition and are at serious risk of disappearing
Approximately 55 churches were found to be in good structural condition, due mainly to ongoing maintenance and in some cases the presence of intact or partially intact roofs
Simon Large, Surveyor of the Medieval Churches for County Clare, joined Marian in studio to discuss.
Continuing the series of featured walking trails across the county – Clare FM’s Maire Moynahan met with Gerard Kennedy of the Burren Way Ltd to discuss plans to extend the Burren Way, the development of looped walks in the Burren and he also gave her a description of the beautiful Lough Avalla Farm Looped Walk in Kilnaboy.
Christina Clancy, Treasurer of the Nell Galvin Festival Committee, had a word about all the free events planned for this weekend as the annual festival gets underway in Moyasta. Contact 9080702 or 0872830511 or see www.nellgalvin.com or email nellgalvinfestival@gmail.com
Milford Hospice annual Harvest Fair, one of the biggest annual events of its kind in Munster, is set to take place this Sunday
Celebrating 27 years, the Harvest Fair will be staged at the Unigolf complex in Castle troy and will be open all day until 5pm
Pat Quinlan, CEO of Milford Hospice, urged people to come along and support them.
If you have a story, comment or query for the Morning Focus team email Focus@clare.fm
