Sully wrote: » This has been in local media for sometime, thanks to David, but I don't actually know much about it. Some report being carried out for Dr. Reilly, but I don't know the details bar there is a fear it means moving services away/around the South East. Would love to know more though.
seven_eleven wrote: » I personally will not give any of them my vote because they're all useless tools.
cococoady wrote: » Exactly the reason why I never have and never will vote. I couldn't trust any of them to do a proper job without they thinking of their own personal gain first.
Max Powers wrote: » if you dont vote then you dont use your opinion democratically on how the place should be ran, your opinion therefore is in my eyes irrelevant. Harsh i know and i dont mean it as a personal attack.
The Great Chinholio wrote: » The ballot paper really needs am official "I think everyone on this is a knob" ballot. Treat it like an official vote and enough of them allows new candidates to stand
Max Powers wrote: » Heard him talking on WLR this morning re: a hospital review group and possible spliiting up/disbanding of south-east hospitals: WRH tacked on with a Cork hospital Kk with some Dublin Hospital Wex with some Dublin hospital If you think funding for WRH is bad now, this will kill WRH off altogether. WHAT THE HELL are paudie, deasy, conway up to, absolutely f-all by the looks of it. I cant think of a single reason why we would vote for them in next local/gen election. FG/Lab is a f-ing joke in Waterford at this stage, I didnt think I would be considering FF for about 2 gen elections at least.
Siamsa Sessions wrote: » At first glance, this seems a bit of a frightener story - just like the one about taking away Waterford's city status. The Government process could be as follows: (1) Commission a report on something, with enough scope in the Terms of Reference for the odd controversial conclusion/recommendation to appear. (2) Leak the controversial bit. The result is a local outcry about something that is (a) relatively minor in the national scheme of things (i.e. no interest taken by the national media), and (b) very unlikely to happen anyway. But you get a load of local people up in arms & you give the local media something to report on. The local TD from the Government party gets to say he's not taking this lying down, requested a meeting with the relevant Minister, commissioned his own report, etc. The end result: loads of hot harmless air, the local TD gets kudos when the controversy dies, and those that matter get on with whatever their own real agenda might be. It looks like a mixture of kite-flying and 'Distract-divide-and-conquer'.
Sully wrote: » The City status thing was always total rubbish.
Sully wrote: » I'd be inclined to defend what we have if there were serious grounds of it being removed. Even if it wasn't decided but there was a strong possibility.The City status thing was always total rubbish.
Waterford Senator David Cullinane says he has been informed that the review group looking into hospital networks is recommending the complete breakup of the regional network in the Southeast. This would mean Waterford networking with Cork and Clonmel.Wexford with one Hospital in Dublin and Kilkenny with another hospital in Dublin.David Cullinane says the information comes from a well placed source and if allowed to proceed will haveserious implications for Waterford Regional Hospital.He says this is one of the most important issues facing the people of Waterford from a health perspective.
Fine Gael Waterford Deputy, Paudie Coffey, has today (Thursday) met with Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly TD, during which he outlined his position on any proposed reconfiguration that may affect Waterford Regional Hospital. Deputy Coffey has stated that while he accepts the need for hospital reconfiguration in the South East, any reconfiguration that takes place must not diminish Waterford Regional Hospital’s status as a level four category hospital. “I want to make it clear that the Minister has informed me that no decision has been made in respect of any reconfiguration. However he does expect an independent report on the matter to come before him within the next two weeks. Minister Reilly was willing to meet with me, listen to my views and take them on board. “During my meeting with Minister Reilly, I told him that any diminution of Waterford Regional Hospital’s status as the regional hospital for the South East would be completely unacceptable. On the 3rd of October 2012, I spoke in the Dáil on this matter and highlighted the report from the South East Hospital Working Group. I called for the Minister and for the HSE to consider the proposals in this report. “I firmly believe that having the Regional Hospital in the largest urban centre in the South East is absolutely essential and critical for the region. I am working with my colleagues in the Oireachtas on a regional basis on this matter and I believe Waterford’s Regional Hospital’s status should be protected for many reasons. 1. From a healthcare perspective, a South East hospital reconfiguration would retain acute speciality services for patients in the south east region in a more co-ordinated and strategic way but with WRH as its core. This is in keeping with the 2008 report on reconfiguration for the south east. 2. 500,000 people live in the South East region, giving the proposed South East Hospital Network the critical mass to remain sustainable and viable. 3. It is logical from an economic point of view, in terms of employment and for WIT’s application for Technological University Status. There is no doubt that any downgrading of WRH would have a seriously negative impact on the regional economy in the long term. “I will continue to work with all of the stakeholders in Waterford Regional Hospital and with my Oireachtas colleagues across the region to ensure that the best possible outcome is delivered for patients in the South East in any proposed reform.”
Just in from a meeting in WIT on the reconfiguration of hospital services in the South East. A very serious meeting involving all stakeholders - political, business, medical, educational etc. It was a very stark meeting on the implications of a possible break up of the South East hospital network. It would be a disaster not only for Waterford but also for the whole south east - Wexford, Kilkenny, South Tipperary & Carlow. At present we have the critical mass (500,000) to support all clinical specialaties but fragmentation would mean a loss of services and prevention of other services being devleoped. A great deal of work is being done on a politcal level in relation to this and this will continue. The message needs to go out across the region that the region will suffer if break up of services occur, please talk to friends/family etc in SE and make them aware, this is not about Waterford it is about the region!! We will be doing this on a political level also!! John
Yes Boss wrote: » Can you clarify this statement please? The only statement to date from Paudie Coffey (FG) was that Waterford would retain its 'Historic Status'. Now he was either stating facts or it was a 'mistake'. If what he said was fact - Waterford will be a 'Historical City' like Kilkenny and Clonmel and not a City under the Local Government Act 2001 which is the law of the land.
jad2007 wrote: » And none of the TD's could make it to the meeting, IMHO this is the biggest issue facing Waterford. All that merger/ city status is just a agenda driven by councillors scared of losing their jobs. No TD.s made the meeting and less than half our councillors. it just shows the caliber of what is representing us.
FG Waterford will be meeting Saturday & we will be organising a meeting of all FG local councillors in the SE at which the consultants and the SE hospital group will present the facts and we will try win support at that level, oireachtas members will do likewise and I am sure Labour will do the same. I will also be seeking the agreement of the Director and Chairman of the SE regional authoritytomorrow to allow the presentation which we received tonight to be delivered at the next meeting of the authority which is Monday 24th November - this is important as all political groupings from the 5 counties sit on this authority!
Meeting opened by Mr Gordon Watson - expressed disappointment at no-show from all four Waterford TD's. He outlined SE region almost completely self sufficient. Only cardio thoracic and brain surgery referred out of region. WRH very large hospital - bigger than St. Vincent's or Mater or Tallaght hospitals! Cork/Dublin already overcrowded. All SE hospitals j...ust 40/50 mins apart. If SE region broken there will be less than 500k population - not enough critical mass to justify regional services like cancer centre etc. Job and service losses will ensue even if that's not the immediate intent. Proposal is for a unified management board for all SE hospitals required to deliver even better services as the South East Hospitals network. Reconfigurations cost money. WRH is a teaching hospital of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and hassle memorandum of understanding signed between WIT, RCSI & WRH. V important. With Coronary treatment - time is crucial. Coronary angioplasty is the optimum treatment provided by cath labs. For best result it needs to occur within 90 mins of heart attack . 90% success rate. National plan says this should be in Waterford 24/7 but it currently operates only 9-5 Mon/Fri! Don't have heart attack outside those times!!! Serious doubts about extension to 24 hr service if region gone and/or competing with Dublin or Cork for resources. WRH already produces a lot despite historical under resourcing! Prof John Higgins appointed as Chairman of newly appointed Hospitals Restructuring board in June. Board only met for first time in October!! Higgins did his own work in interim with no board imperative! It's his report that is causing all the concern as it has been leaked that it proposes the break up of the SE region. WRH cancer centre has been commended by HIQA. Why abandon and ignore existing resources in time of economic difficulty? Memorandum of understanding has been signed between WIT & RCSI. SE population will lose out on healthcare. Decision not yet made. Higgins report due on ministers desk shortly and then to cabinet perhaps before Christmas. Without SE region kilcreene will go. Dr Rob Landers Clinical Director of WRH stated that - if Prof Higgins report is enacted it will be a disaster for SE! Must do everything possible to prevent it. Senators David Cullinane & Maurice Cummins in attendance. South Tipperary giving full support to WRH proposal. Can't say same true for Carlow/Kilkenny on basis of the say of just 1 or 2 or 3 senior consultants in one hospital in Kilkenny (St. Lukes). Without them - Carlow Kilkenny - the region is weakened and vulnerable to predation. Huge majority of consultants in SE in favour of WRH proposal. Tipp & Wexford on side. Issue in Kilkenny. Doctors in Kilkenny met WRH consultants last night. Support there. Simon Cross - vascular surgeon stated when 'vine withers' they'll be told to move to Cork. Far worse outcomes for SE population. That'll be first thing to go. With 3 vascular surgeons must have minimum 500k population. Take home pay of hospital workers in city €140m into local economy. Why dismantle something that's functioning very well? Rob landers - clinical director for cancer care in SE said definitively if this goes ahead and region broken up cancer care will be decimated and cancer care unit will be shut down. Sen Maurice Cummins spoke - first heard rumours last thurs in Leinster Hs! Contacted Minister Reilly & met him on Wednesday (yesterday). Also met with Waterford & Wexford consultants and TD Paul kehoe in New Ross last Monday. At meeting with Minister yesterday - he (the Minister) gave no commitments. He expects to have draft proposal on 7th and final report on 15th November! Strong possibility decision made before Xmas!!! Kilkenny has not signed up to SE doc - despite some consultants in KK supporting it. Susan o Reilly (?) head of cancer care in Ireland is very against break up of region. Link to RCSI cannot be over emphasised and with WIT. HSE South management position is to maintain SE region - he believes. More need for reconfiguration in Dublin than in regions. Senator Cummins & Deputy Conway meeting Min Howlin in Wexford tomorrow. Wexford being promised things from Dublin (?). Kilkenny - one consultant is leading breakaway (probably unbeknownst to general population)! Need to tie down Wexford. Need to convince Kilkenny. Last parish in north of KK closer to Waterford than Dublin! Workers need to lobby politicians. KK GPs had been misled. (end of Senator Cummins contribution which I thought was excellent and left room to hope!?) Gordon Watson - we need to get message out to south east through politicians and everyone else. Cllr Tom Cunningham - concerned everything based on cross of Dublin Cork Galway & Belfast....?!?!?!?!? (Total opposite of what he argued at amalgamation debate.) Claire Mahony National President of Nursing & Midwifery - huge cuts coming. Applaud surgeons on stepping out on this issue - need to convince citizens. Dr Tom Higgins if we want to keep together we need to woo colleagues in Kilkenny Carlow. Plus Wexford are iffy. Henry Maloney - what we have we must hold. Does average person know what's happening? No. Need to get unions on board. Badger the politicians. Prof McWade from RCSI - WRH is a dedicated teaching hospital. Daragh Brennan a GP in Waterford - need to convince GPs in region - we need to talk to them. RCSI/WIT link very important - depth of links need to be known. WRH needs to articulate what's good about hospital also not just risks. Donie Ormond- if we lose this battle WRH will revert back to a general hospital. Rena Mulcahy - these meetings need to be replicated in Wexford and KK Carlow. Change name of Waterford reg hospital to SE reg hospital? Calling for action. Wider steering group. Lobby local & national & regional reps. Get word out on street. Let's work together as a region to drive SE agenda to save the level of services we have. Fred Jackson - St Luke's appear to be fearful that their acute services could be gobbled up - Waterford couldn't accommodate their work. Anyway how can they guarantee they'd survive in Dublin link? Need to reassure St Lukes that WRH has no designs on downgrading KK or Wex hospitals. Three critical messages - Gordon Watson: (1) call on ppl of SE and let them know what they'll lose. (2) Get wider representation to lobby/steer and (3) We are an academic institution.
Regarding last night’s meeting at Waterford Regional Hospital, I was addressing another meeting in the county on Thursday evening when I fell ill and was forced to return home. I did send my regrets and apologies via Cllr Sean Reinhardt, who also rang me early this morning and gave me a full briefing on all the information that was raised. For the record, I had met with several staff members from Waterford Regional Hospital in the past week who had made me aware of all the information to be presented at the meeting last night. Following those meetings, I subsequently arranged speaking time in the Dail for next week to have the issue raised and discussed. A specific concern which I have brought to Dr James Reilly’s attention is that, within the present economic circumstances, other centres will not have the capacity to absorb the needs of the south east population, though the population of 500,000 within reach of the existing regional resources is enough to justify a regional service in virtually every specialty. Since my election, I have consistently highlighted the shortcomings in the provision of care at Waterford Regional. A large section of the population in the south east already does not have access to appropriate and timely care and it is not just Waterford but the entire south east region that is yet again losing out. Last night’s meeting was wholly worthwhile in keeping people aware of what is being proposed at Waterford Regional but my absence was regrettably unavoidable. Regardless, I can assure people that I have been actively working on this issue for some time, including highlighting it on every level in the Dail. However, I must also make the point that I am an Opposition TD. I am not trying to score political points here and detract from the very serious situation at Waterford Regional. However while I can, consistently do, and will continue to highlight and challenge the decisions made by the Government in relation to Waterford, the people who can actually make a difference regarding these decisions in the Waterford constituency are Paudie Coffey, John Deasy and Ciara Conway. A couple of weeks ago I contacted all three and asked them to put aside all our political differences and meet to examine the full implications of the merger of Waterford City and County councils and to come up with a cogent strategy to address the countless problems facing Waterford, specifically unemployment and the pending changes at Waterford Regional Hospital. To date, I have only received a reply from Paudie Coffey, which I must add was a very worthwhile and positive response from Deputy Coffey and I am optimistic that at least two of us can work together for the good of Waterford. The WRH issue is not going to go away and I truly believe the politicians of Waterford, not only the TDs but all our elected representatives, need to work in unison on this.
Baby4 wrote: » This post has been deleted.
