 Plant trees. Explore your options at gov.ie forward slash forestry. An initiative of the government of Ireland. Foilside, at the centre of more for your euro, with great value gifts. So it's worth making the journey wherever you live. With convenient parking, late nights and all your favourite brands, you're better off shopping at Foilside. See foilside.co.uk If you're pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant and live with migraine, you may be worried about how to treat your symptoms if you stop taking your medication during your pregnancy. To address this and other issues, Migraine Ireland are holding a free online seminar on Thursday the 19th of October at 4pm, with neurology specialist Dr Finula McCann from Craig Avenue area hospital. Book your free ticket now at migraine.ie with thanks to HSE CH01 Donegal for the funding for this event. Thanks Greg. Good morning to you. Morning mate. Yeah, do you know what I was just thinking? They weren't saying thanks Greg. I wasn't like done. I was saying you came in singing surprise, surprise. Do you remember that? Yeah, do you remember that? I said it was a long time ago. Was it a black year of course? Yeah, it was a good show wasn't it? Thanks to Cat's people. Surprise. Good. Then she did obviously blind date. Yeah. So that was her two big shows. I think surprise. Surprise, surprise was nice. It was. I think Carol, someone tried to do a remake of it but it just wasn't the same. No. It was really good like but obviously there was so much research and put into that because there were tracking people that might have been in there. Do you remember when they used to on radio shows? I'm sure it happened here where you would get someone and they were in Australia and you would call them and then you would connect them with the call. Do you remember that like mom would have to the like with nowadays though that's all gone away because people are chatting all the time. Yeah. It was so expensive to call that you'd have radio shows. I think I had a lot of this and you would sort of say surprise. Here's your daughter on a phone. I've spoken to you three years. I know. Like can you imagine how the world's changed? Those were nice moments weren't they? They were but things have gone to pot. See that technology. AI thing. Don't you worry about it anyway. Right. Get on with it. Take care of yourself. See you tomorrow morning. It is approaching two minutes past nine. Let's get a news update and it's over to Donald Kavanaugh. Thank you Greg. Good morning. I'm just very, very happy to be here. I'll talk to the Ganze, the professor that was Hostel, who in a matter of months families with homes affected by defective blocks will be moving into hotels while their homes are being rebuilt. Councillor Jack Murray says there's a serious shortage of housing in the peninsula and in Baun Khanh in particular. He says this is pushing up rent prices to the point where they're double what they were just a few years ago and that's severely affecting anyone who had hoped to save for a deposit. crumbling. The number of drink driving checkpoints on the roads is at its lowest level since 2017 and Irish Times analysis of enforcement trends foresees 150,000 drivers in total will be breathalyzed by the end of this year, that's compared to around 314,000 tested for alcohol at roadsides in 2018. Up until the end of July of this year around 88,734 people had been breath tested at checkpoints. Many older people are finding it hard to meet one-off costs as they get older. Age Action's new report shows older people highly value the state pension, but many are struggling. Three in ten of those aged 66 and over rely on social protection for over 90% of their income. Four in ten rely on it for more than half of their money. Age Action Policy Specialist Natal Connor says women are faring worse than men in old age. The ISRI reckons that there is a 35% pension gap between men and women, which is to say women's pensions are a third lower than men's on average. So that's a huge gap. We also know that of course in situations where there's a bereavement often a woman is left as a widow and can lose an awful lot of pension income and at the same time still has all of the expenses of the same house. Efforts are being made to bring around 40 Irish citizens in Gaza to safety. Israel is preparing to launch an offensive by air, land and sea after a million people living in northern Gaza were told to travel south. A border crossing in Egypt is expected to open this morning for aid and foreign nationalists to pass through after it was delayed at the weekend. However, journalist Hannah McCarthy, who's in Israel says it's still not clear if that will happen. We've heard that it's very, very fluid and I mean even on Saturday when it was supposed to open it was cancelled basically at the same time it was supposed to open. So it's a very fluid situation and when I say that this is like diplomatic chess pieces, it's very much that situation. There's nothing to do with international humanitarian law here. It's about diplomatic negotiations right now and Egypt is playing quite a high stakes game as well as Israel. With a forecast and after a cold and frosty start today will be mostly dry with sunny spells, just some isolated showers, cool with top temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees Celsius in a light to moderate east to southeast winds. We'll regular updates on our website, howlandradio.com, back with news again at 10 o'clock. My perfect escape would be a city break somewhere with loads to do. Nothing, just relax and go out. Dinner and drinks in the hotel before heading to bed. Nice and early for an amazing night's sleep. At Muldron Hotels, we provide you with everything you need to escape your way across Ireland and the UK. Save on every room every night when you book direct with click on Muldron at MuldronHotels.com. The county's number one talk show, the 9 till noon show on Highland Radio. And now it's time for the talk of the Northwest. The 9 till noon show with Greg Hughes on Highland Radio. And a very good morning to you this Monday morning, the 16th of October, 2023. It's fast approaching six minutes past nine. And you're very welcome along to the show. And hopefully we have your company here for the next three hours in the program and throughout the day on Highland Radio. And it's always a busy one today, particularly with a focus on health following on from our story with GPs last week. Seven to eight of them signed a letter saying, look, the ED is in such a state we need an external review. Well, over the weekend, 11 consultants at Letter Kenney University Hospital have written to the health minister backing the GPs and expressing their serious concerns over the operation of the ED and its impact on patient outcomes. They say we could be looking at a service collapse on remarkable statistics, which I'll go through before we head into the newspapers just to set up some of what we're going to be talking about today. ED waiting times, by the way, they are the most vital and visible. Sorry, the most visible sign of a hospital that is in distress. And in Letter Kenney University Hospital, they have deteriorated dramatically in the last three years. Fifty two percent of patients are seen in Letter Kenney's ED within six hours of presentation. So just over half the target is 95 percent. And just to give you some context, in 2020, 80 percent of patients who attended Letter Kenney ED were saw within six hours. A third of patients or not far off a third, 27 percent of patients currently experience a waiting time in excess of nine hours. That compares to just six percent three years ago. So that's a dramatic increase in long waiting times. Letter Kenney University Hospital is the sixth busiest hospital in the country. Now to put that into context, that's behind level four hospitals, you know, in Dublin and the big urban areas. So it's the sixth busiest busiest hospital in the country, but it's at the bottom in terms of funding per patient. And just to give you an idea in a kind of a light by light comparison, the annual funding for patient per patient for Letter Kenney University Hospital is six thousand nine hundred and twenty two on nearest neighbor Sligo. It's eleven thousand, right? So that's not far off double. And it seems in the mid teens for, you know, certain sized hospitals, but Letter Kenney, the sixth busiest in the country, but it is at the bottom of the table in terms of funding per patient. The 11 consultants and we'll speak to one of them later on in the program. Obviously, they're very busy, so that's going to be later on in the show. They're calling for an external review team to inquire into operations of at the hospital, but they want it to go beyond the ED sustainability of medical and surgical services. They want that looked at radiology services, facilities and staffing levels in the ED hospital, acute bed capacity, access to community hospital beds for step down and on it goes. They say that the hospital is currently in a crisis and is rapidly approaching a tipping point, warning failed recruitment of medical and surgical specialists will lead to a failure of on call rosters. Such a scenario, they say, would inevitably lead to service curtailment and raise the possibility of service collapse. As I say, we're going to be talking about that a little later on. The consultants say they've raised this issue with the hospital management. They've raised these issues with SEALTA. They've raised these issues with multiple health ministers, including the current health minister, with no success. And they are backing the 78 GPs in Donegal, saying that the ED effectively is not fit for purpose in terms of ensuring as many possible positive outcomes for patients as there is. We're going to be speaking to one of those GPs a little earlier in the show. We're going to speak to a consultant later in the show. We're going to speak to people about their experiences in the ED. Yes, it's health heavy, but this is critical. We're at a tipping point. We've seen with the CDNT, we no longer can accept that those services are not there to be provided. People stood up, people got together, and now there are some inroads being made in relation to that. The hospital situation is the same. People have had enough. The professionals have had enough. They're threatening the GPs to lead people out into the streets if something is not done. These calls cannot be ignored. We've got 11 senior consultants in the hospital and 78 GPs across the county, all saying they have serious concerns about the operation of the ED at Letter Kenney University Hospital. So stick with us. We're going to be talking about that extensively because it is important. And if you don't think it's important to you now, God forbid, if you were to get sick, it would be very important to you then, or if you have someone in your family who was sick. But I think we're at enough is enough point in terms of the reaction from the medical professionals. We'll have coverage of that, of course, throughout the morning. Stay with us on that. Vulnerable service users across the county are facing major disruptions as workers in community and voluntary sector organizations are preparing to take indefinite strike action from tomorrow. This is the Donegal News. The industrial action was announced last month and will involve close to 5,000 workers from organizations funded by the Health Service Executive and other state agencies, bringing many vital services to a halt. The Derry News this morning reports on a war of words. Over contentious, Cregan Planning Application, a war of words has erupted between a residence association and a Derry councillor regarding a proposed housing development in the city. Responding to a recent Derry News interview with independent councillor Gary Donnelly, Hyde Park Residence Association described his remarks as unfounded and malicious allegations. And if you're interested in that story, more on the front of and inside that paper today. There is quite a focus on health in some of the nationals today. As you would know, Stephen Donnelly didn't get the funding he says is required to run the Health Service effectively, which means at least 4,000 seriously ill patients may be unable to access potentially life-saving medicines next year due to the government's decision not to provide funding for new drugs in last week's budget. This is The Times, by the way. They include about 1,000 cancer patients hoping to access 23 new medicines going through a funding approval programme and 3,300 patients with other conditions that could be treated by 11 new medicines in the pipeline according to industry estimates. And I mean, when you put that in, you know, take it off the headlines and speak it and think about it. Those are a thousand humans, a thousand people with many, many more people associated with them already stressed and worried going through cancer. And now they're learning that they may not have access to medicines which could make them better, could prolong their lives, could improve their outcomes. It's really remarkable when you break it down to that. Well, the Irish Daily Mail says that Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is accused of losing control of his department amid suggestions of a no-confidence vote as HSE Chief Bernard Glouster says the state has massively underfunded the sector. Senior government figures fear the war between Mr. Donnelly and Public Expenditure Minister Pasco Donahoe will accelerate into a major political bushfire. Speculation of no-confidence vote comes as Mr. Glouster slammed Budget 2024, claiming 22.5 billion will not be enough to run the health service. Are any of you out there interested in a no-confidence motion? All the crap that goes along with that in the days in advance, if it's called by an opposition and takes place in the doll. Do you know all the nonsense that's said in advance, then, you know, greasing the palms of the independence to win their support so it passes? Are any of you interested in that? Or would you just like to see them put their heads together and get it sorted? You know, it's too big an issue, I think, to be playing politics with. You know, who cares if there's a confidence vote or no confidence vote? It'll pass anyway. It can take up too much time and probably cost us a fortune, as I say, in terms of government making sure they have the support to pass it. On to the Middle East crisis. This is the Irish Independent. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday vowed to demolish Hamas as his troops prepared to move into the Gaza Strip in pursuit of militants whose deadly rampage through Israel's border town shocked the world. Israel has urged exhausted Gazans to evacuate to the south with hundreds of thousands. They've already done that in the besieged enclave, which is home to more than 2 million people. Hamas, which runs Gaza, has told people to ignore Israel's message. Inside Gaza's narrow and crowded streets, conditions were deteriorating as deaths from Israeli strikes rose. Bodies were stored in ice cream freezer trucks because moving them to hospitals was too risky and cemeteries were fallen. Hezbollah, they're on another part of the Israeli border and they're ready to get involved if they don't like what's going on. It's getting messy over there. Politically, it's beyond that in terms of the actual reality of death and destruction. The Irish Daily Star murder accused Richard Satchwells, isolated and under special observation on a prison landing. The star has learned that Satchwell, who's on remand in Limerick prison, is isolated and is being regularly checked by staff every 15 minutes. The 57-year-old was remanded into custody after being charged before a special sitting of casual district court on Saturday. It's understood he's being kept on Limerick prison's e-landing, a small corridor home only to two other prisoners. His sister Eddie Burke recommended his clients receive medical attention while in prison. And that's a gentleman who you would have seen regularly appearing on radio and TV, appealing for information about his late wife. It's going to be the subject of a Netflix show. You can be sure of that. The Sunday morning, Sinn Féin is slightly increased. It supports as the most popular party in the country, but Miehal Martin has overtaken Mary Lou Macdonald as the most popular leader. The Fina fall chief leaped ahead of Sinn Féin president in a new poll. The Tarnished have bagged a satisfaction rating of 47% against Macdonald's 46%. It breaks a winning streak for the Dubliner, who dropped from 49% approval in September. Okay, there you go. I'm sure Miehal Martin will be pleased with that. And finally this morning, elderly priests are coming under unprecedented pressure to abandon their retirement plans due to the worsening vocations crisis and declining clergy numbers. The Irish Mirror tells us that the official retirement age for Catholic priests in most diocese across Ireland is 75. However, at least 300, equating to 15% of the 2,100 clergymen working in the Irish church are in their mid-70s or over. And with fewer priests than ever hanging up their clerical collars, once they reach retirement age, those numbers are only going to increase according to the association of Catholic priests. And we heard last week, too, the reality that more funerals are going to have to be done by the laity because there simply won't be the priests available to do all of the work. All right, okay. We are going to be joined by Dr. Kieran O'Farrie to discuss what progressive any has come from the letter issued last week by GPs. And also, his reaction to consultants at Letterkenny University Hospital now coming out, expressing their concerns of, well, even the potential of services collapse at the hospital. The newspapers are courtesy of Kelley-Centra Mountaintop Letterkenny, the 2022 C-store national off-license of the year. Homeowners, it's time to unlock incredible savings on your energy bills. Efficient renewables is here to reduce your energy consumption. Say goodbye to Skyrock in the cost and hello to renewable energy solutions. With no vat on solar panels and the generous grants for both solar panels and heat pumps, see these innovative systems in action in our state-of-the-art showroom in Newton, Cunningham today. Contact the efficient renewables on 074 97 08 320. Join Connelly's MG Sligo for the 2024 Donegal Motor Show Canal Road Letterkenny from the 17th to the 21st of October. Test drive the 241 MG range and find your perfect MG driving experience with the MG4 EV or the MG HS plug-in hybrid. 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The time's just approaching 20 minutes past nine. Now, as I mentioned in the preamble, there are 78 GPs wrote a letter. They came together, unprecedented, expressing their concerns about the ED, calling for a few, calling for a number of additional measures. Because there were concerns of the outcomes for their patients, that's if they would go to the ED if they were sent. Now, of course, we'd always encourage people to do so, but we can understand concerns. Now, of course, the medical professionals all work in the one area, but what we then got yesterday from 11 consultants within the hospital really is a further insight into their concerns and the conditions there. One of the 78 GPs that signed that letter was Dr Kieran Alfari. He joins us on the programme now. Kieran, and there's something happening here, isn't there? It was a very important intervention, I think, from you and your GP colleagues. But the 11 consultants throwing their weight behind your calls and then giving us a further insight into the conditions at the hospital, really, it's been an eye-opener, and I think it's a really important intervention. I would agree, Greg, and as you said, I think it's very important, and it shows a lot of the strength of feeling that's out there, that our hospital consultants who obviously don't find it easy to speak up about the service within their own hospital have taken this unprecedented move. And again, I think it shows that we are starting a bit of a movement here. We're gathering a broad consensus of doctors, stakeholders, and people, and I think we really are starting to highlight the difficulties that we have here in Donegal and the inequity that we have here in Donegal and the significant risks that the doctors of Donegal are now highlighting for the patients of this county. And the consultants pointed out the reality of the funding crisis, really. Letter of Kennedy University Hospital, the sixth busiest hospital, just under 7,000 euro per patient. But in 14th in terms of funding, which is well down the table, our neighbour Sligo, 11,000 euro per patient. You know, that sort of talks beyond the ED, which the consultants did in their letter, but it really lays it bare, the reality of the underfunding of this really, really important acute hospital. Yes, and we know Donegal is different. You know, we hear that a lot, but it is in terms of health care, completely different to anywhere else in the country. Letter of Kennedy University Hospital is a large Model 3 hospital. And as you said, it's one of the busiest in terms of emergency care in the country, but the level of funding that's been received in Letter of Kennedy just doesn't match the service needs that are there. And so the people of the Northwest here are being discriminated against and aren't getting the funding that we need to provide safe and effective care for patients in this part of the country. All right, Doctor, stay with me because Paul McLaughlin is Sinn Féin, TD, of course, in Donegal, and I know I only have a brief moment with you. And we've heard your remarks as it relates to the CDNT situation, a very important meeting upcoming. But I might just get a brief response from a political perspective, if you don't mind, as it relates to the letters from the GPs and now the consultants, Padraig. This is an awful lot of people in very high positions saying some very serious things. Absolutely, Greg is extremely welcome to the intervention, by the GPs. I was speaking to some of them. We have asked the minister by a parliamentary question. We urgently come up to Donegal, engage with the GPs, examine their request. I believe he needs to implement it urgently for an external review. But the intervention now of the consultants is extremely worrying. And you see yourself, Greg, you've highlighted it over the weekend. They say that we consider that this hospital is in crisis and rapidly approaching a tipping point beyond which failed recruitment of medical and surgical specialists will lead to a failure of on-call rosters. Such a scenario would inevitably lead to service curtailment and raise the possibility of service collapse. It couldn't be more serious. Greg, I was working over the weekend on the comparison data where we look at all the hospitals across the state, the amount of money that they get and the number of inpatients. And as you say, Letter Kenny is a sixth largest hospital in the state, almost 26,000 inpatients. This is a major hospital. It has more inpatients than five model fours. A model four is a higher model, the Letter Kenny a more urgent model, but Letter Kenny has more patients than all of those. So it's underfunded. But then when you look at the level of underfunding, it's absolutely shocking. And Greg, I've been doing these tables for years now. I've been speaking out about this. I delivered newsletters to thousands and thousands of houses across Donegal, you know, presenting the evidence. But I was absolutely shocked over the weekend to see it's just got worse and a lot worse than what it's always been. Like, we need this intervention desperately from the GPs and from the consultants. But politically now, we need to get in behind them. The people of Donegal, the TDs, the counselors, they get in behind the GPs and the consultants and stand up and fight for justice and fairness for our hospital once and for all. All right, listen, thanks very much for your time this morning. Thanks, Ian, Fein, Deputy Poer, McLaughlin. We've also made... We've extended invitations to the Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly and local Minister Charlie McConnallog, but nothing back from them as of yet. And you were suggesting there, or saying, Dr Keir Nofari, the consultants have gone far beyond, haven't they? Really, they've come up with another 11 recommendations, which sort of gives us quite an insight into their concerns about the general running of that hospital. Absolutely, and I think, you know, we've expressed our concerns about the emergency department because that is the service that people see and it's what's kind of critical in time of need. But the emergency department functions as part of the broader hospital system and all these things that the consultants have highlighted feed into that, such as radiology services. On-call wrote us the amount of hospital beds, access to services like urology, cardiology, endocrinology, you know, all that is part of how the hospital functions and no one department can work independently of the other. Same as, you know, as GPs, we require the hospital for our health system to work and the hospital requires GPs so that the hospital can function. So we're all interrelated and you can't just pick out the emergency department as the only problem and the consultants have done that very eloquently in their letter. They've also significantly highlighted the waiting times in the emergency department and I think those figures are really stark. You know, there's a national recommendation that 95% of patients should be seen in less than six hours. We see in letter Kenny that 27% of our patients in 2023 are waiting more than nine hours and that's more than a 400% increase in the last three years, which is quite shocking and it does show that the reason we as GPs and the hospital consultants have spoken up now is that we are seeing significant deterioration in those issues in the hospital. Yeah, and a rapid deterioration at that and that counts the people that stay there because we also have an incredible high amount of people that turn up at the ED and they give up, they leave before they're actually treated. The consultants say they've raised these issues previously with hospital management, with Sealtah, with numerous consecutive health ministers. What does this say about the running of the hospital in your view? Is it a local issue? Is it a regional issue? Is it a national issue? What needs to change there, do you believe? I think it's a local issue, it's a regional issue and it's a national issue. Everything is part of that. Obviously, funding becomes a national issue and we need our politicians in the county now to stand up and fight for Donegal but you know, we've come together as a group of clinicians here. We're not politicians, we're not trying to be politicians. We're trying to come together and advocate for our patients. That's a big part of our role and we see that they're not getting the service that they should get here in Donegal. So, you know, we'll talk to local management, we'll talk to national leadership. We want anybody who has any ability to improve the situation here in Donegal to come together and to try and make a difference. Where does this go from here? Because it seems that Donegal is the easiest part of the country to ignore. And I don't mean that politically either but I can only judge it by the reaction to the letter that you guys issued and also I know the consultants' concerns were shared with local media outlets as well. I don't see much coverage of it, if you know what I mean. So hopefully some local politicians will raise this issue but if this was Dublin, if this was Galway, if this was Korg or somewhere else, this probably would be second, third, if not front page news. It seems, unfortunately here in Donegal, we're easy to ignore. So what do we do next if this sort of momentum, this push doesn't deliver results? Is it taking to the streets? Well, you heard Park McGinnis on your programme last week saying we're not going to let this go and we aren't going to let this go. And I think we are gathering momentum now. We're very grateful for you to continue to highlight the issues here. We think it's very important that we do that. We think for far too long this has been quiet and things have deteriorated and we're going to continue now and we need the public support on this. We need people to come together. Anybody that has any influence needs to stand up and say enough is enough now. We're not going to let this go. We're going to continue to fight until we see improvements in services here in Donegal and it's not going to be easy. I've seen these questions being asked of the minister before of Donegal and the answers that can come back. Obviously very technical answers about Model 3 and Model 4 and the care that's provided in different hospitals. But we as clinicians know that our patients here in Donegal are not getting the service that they need and that is why we're speaking up. Yeah, and the easiest thing in the world to do is to try and make it all complicated and stuff. If you know what I mean, but this is basic stuff. We need the resources and the people and the equipment to make sick people better. Absolutely. And the bottom line is the stories that we hear day in, day out. And everybody in this county is here in them on a regular basis of people waiting excessive lengths of time. And we know as clinicians, and the evidence is clearly there that excessive waiting times also results in poor outcomes. So we know that our patients here in Donegal are suffering because they're not getting the care that they need. OK, listen, thank you for your time. I know you're all very, very busy and we'll be speaking to a consultant a little later on the show as well. But for now, GP Kieran O'Farre, thank you so much for your time. As you can see, GPs are resolute in their views that were issued in that letter last week. And as I say, we'll be talking to a consultant a little later on to get an insight from within as to what's going on there. Greg, with the way that the budget went for health last Tuesday and the minister and the CEO of HSE saying it won't go far enough for his health service, if this recruitment ban comes in, what hope do we have to get additional staff here in Latter-Kinney? I know myself, I had to wait March 2022 in ED from 9.15 a.m. until 3.30 the next morning before I got to bed. That sounds like good now, if that makes sense. I know that's like a crazy thing to say, but it sounds like you did OK. I know you didn't. I hope you understand what I'm saying. That's a disgrace. But yeah, the recruitment embargo is incredibly, incredibly significant and that will feed into the conversation over the course of this morning. It's not all money, very poor management in the ED. Well, you heard from the GP there. It's a local, regional and national issue, according to him. I think the HSE should hire in a private company to run the hospital, make things run more efficiently. LUHED has been in crisis for years. The GPs refer everything to the ED. They see only the simple things that they can get, the 50 or 60 Euro 4 and write a letter for everything else. It is time to make GPs work for the health service and not their pockets. Regarding the ED consultants, they do not care about the people of Donegal, the staff of Burnt Out, Disrespected and Villified. It's time for an external review. Well, that's what the GPs themselves are calling for. GPs refer about 5% of their patients. GPs only refer their patients if they believe they're very sick. Now, we did hear opposing views last week that maybe some care could be provided by GPs rather than being sent to junior doctors with less qualifications or less experience than them. But the reality is, is when we talk about waiting times for a bed, these aren't people, you know, with a broken toenail. These are people that have been triaged and they need to get into the hospital. There's this notion sometimes, I think, that it's, people are waiting 36 hours to be told, you're grand and done. It's not, it's to get access to the hospital. When we talk about trolley waiting lists, those are people who need to get into a trolley. Sorry, to need to get into a bed. So that's what those are. They're not people that are just sitting around and there might be nothing wrong with them. They've been deemed ill enough to have to access the hospital. Okay, we're going to get another resident of Donegal and other listeners' insight into the situation there after these. Watch the show live now on YouTube, Facebook and at highlandradio.com. There are many reasons people are switching to Clear Mobile. Serious deal. Simple as. Customer service is A1. Great coverage. There you go. Unlimited calls, texts and data with 99% 4G population coverage for $14.99 a month plus your first month free. You clear? They are. Clear Mobile. Everything you need, nothing you don't. Switch today at ClearMobile.ie. 30-day contract, activation fee and fair use applies. First month free applies to monthly fee only. Max date and speed, five megabits per second. See ClearMobile.ie for terms. Step into our showrooms at Foyant Company in Letherkeny and Valley Buffet this month and you'll be transported into a realm of endless possibilities. Imagine lounging on a luxurious leather sofa, hosting friends at a stunning dining table or sinking into a cloud-like mattress in bed at the end of a long day. Reserve now to ensure delivery for Christmas. Also shop online at Foyant.ie. Finance is available. Inquire in store at Foyant Company Letherkeny and Valley Buffet. There's bingo every Monday night at Halfway House Bingo Burnford. Doors open at 7.30 with eyes down at 8.30. 2,500 Euro must go. The snowball is now 1,750 Euro on 45 numbers or less. If you're not in, you can't win. That's Halfway House Bingo tonight at 8.30. Some cars pass by unnoticed and others. Others catch your eye. There's something about them, something different. Something that just speaks for itself. The Opel Astra, a new generation Astra. A car that just has to be experienced on every level. Named Continental Tires Iris Compact Car of the Year 2023. The Opel Astra speaks for itself. Test drive the Opel Astra at Heron Auto Opel. See Heron Opel.ie for details. Do you want the very best for your pet? At Gary's Pet World Letherkeny, we offer fantastic value on all your pet foods, accessories, grooming and pet care products. We cater for cats, dogs, rabbits, birds and fish and open seven days per week at Letherkeny Retail Park or you can browse and buy 24-7 at petworld.ie and we will deliver to your home. Treat your pet with a visit to Gary's Pet World. It's what they deserve. Dunny Gold Denture Clinic, Letherkeny. Denture problems, we can help. At Dunny Gold Denture Clinic, we customize, personalize and tailor your dentures to suit you. Call us for a free consultation on 9-1-25-25-3. Find us at Balli Rain, Letherkeny, beside Rossum College. Medical cards, welcome. For all your denture needs, call Dunny Gold Denture Clinic on 9-1-25-25-3 online at dunnygoldentureclinic.ie. Okay, so as it relates to the situation at Letherkeny University Hospital, we've heard from GPs, we're hearing from consultants and we're hearing from you, the people who go in there to attend us. Majella is amongst us. Majella, good morning. Thank you very much for joining us today. No bother, Greg. Good morning to you too. Right, so you were in the emergency department recently. Just before we get into your story, Majella, were you familiar with how overstretched staff were? Had you been in there recently, or was this sort of you seeing for the first time, first hand, what's going on? No, I've been talking to people that has been in and they're all saying the same. Right, so you were in there with your daughter. Tell us your experience. Yeah. She went down at nine on a Friday night and I went down shortly after 10. She didn't get to see an E.D. doctor to a quarter past two the following day. In the afternoon? Yeah. Wow, okay. And she didn't get a bed until that evening then. She was admitted, but it was a bed, but it wasn't in a ward. It was in a hallway with like a curtain thing across. There were no beds, but she was glad to get the bed. Yeah. So she was 17 hours, if my maths are correct, waiting for an E.D. doctor. And then a further number... Now, obviously, she wasn't there because she didn't need to be there. She was there because she had to be there. The doctor says, right, we need to admit you. And after that, then she had a further number of hours to wait before she got a bed that wasn't actually a bed as such. What did you see in terms of, you know, what staff happened to go through the nurses and doctors, et cetera? What was your observations? People sitting on chairs. Old people. For Himalayaners, like ourselves. The E.D. outside casualty. All right, so I think I've lost the line. Majella, are you there? Someone was there. Sorry, Majella. I lost the drop the line there. You were telling us outside the line dropped. It's our problem, I'll sort that out. But you were saying what you saw. People on chairs, take it from there. They were on chairs sitting inside the casualty doors. All the beds were full, the cubicles. Bringing more people in. Outside, sitting in the sitting area. Every chair was packed. They were sitting on floors. That's just a constant thing now. It must be really difficult for the staff to work in that environment, Majella. I honestly don't know how to do it. The nurses and the doctors are rushed to their feet. I really don't know. Something needs to be done now before it gets worse for these winter months coming up. Yeah, and you're calling on the government and management to act? Oh, they have to act because that's definitely not right. The health system is definitely no way near where it should be. Okay, Majella, I hope everyone's okay now. Thanks for helping us to understand. I appreciate it. Mary, good morning to you. Morning, Greg, how are you doing? I'm good. What was your experience, Mary? I was sent to from the GP office in the morning. So I was in casualty at about 10 o'clock in the morning. And I was really sick. I was really sore and turned out appendicitis. And I could barely stand. So the triage nurse, she put me on a wheelchair and she brought me in behind. But I was in there for three hours. And my husband was in the waiting area, waiting to hear about me. And he had heard somebody call my name. So they didn't even know where I was. And I was in behind. So then I seen somebody and he examined me and said, yeah, it doesn't look good. It looks like appendicitis. And I took another half an hour or so or an hour to get some pain relief. And I was on a wheelchair this entire time. So just to answer the timelines again. So you went in there unable to stand in acute pain. It was three hours before anyone saw you and you were examined. And at that point, was any pain relief given to you over those three or four hours? No. OK. So the doctor says, we need to admit you. After they said we need to admit you because it looks like appendicitis, how long was it before you got out of that chair? But you said you were in the chair for 31 hours. I was because it seemed to be all very confused because there was two different doctors came and seen me that evening and both examined me. Like if they had to move me out of, they didn't move me. They brought me into a different room and then put me back to where I was at the back of the A&E. So they examined me and they all said, like both of them, three of them said, you know, it looks like appendicitis but we just have to wait or whatever. And we had to get a CT scan. I was like, that's fine. I didn't get a CT scan until I was about 7 or 8 o'clock that night on the Wednesday. And then I got put back to where I was, hooked up to the pain med, the antibiotics. And I was still on the wheelchair. And then at 3 o'clock in the morning, I asked a nurse, do you know, is there any sign in my bed? And she was like, there's no request for you to get a bed. And I was like, but I have appendicitis. Like, I'm in a lot of pain, I'm like really, really sore. And Greg, I have MS as well. So I am in crime, I love them with chronic pain anyway, it marms them legs. So it was uncomfortable. I couldn't sleep, you know, on a chair, this is the middle of the night. And then she said, you're going to have to wait for a surgeon to speak to you in the morning time. So I knew it was going to be the morning time before I would see anything. And he came then about 9, half, 9, the surgeon. And he examined me again. And what I called the, and he says, no, he said to the nurse, she said to him, that no, this patient needs a bed. No, she needs a bed. That was 24 hours later though, wasn't it? Yeah. That was 9.30 the following morning. The following morning. And then I didn't get a bed until five o'clock that evening. So I was waiting from when he seen me in the morning from half, but half, nine to actually get a bed, like five o'clock. So you wanted to get the operation then after that, Mary? The next morning. The next morning, the Friday morning. So I went in on the Wednesday, and I got the operation on the Friday. But I didn't actually get a bed until the Thursday, about five o'clock. And like I thought, is it, pardon my ignorance, but is it not dangerous if you've appended a site just to be sitting around for so long? Yeah. There's what I called, there's actually, I was looking. It's a medical emergency. Can burst, 48 hours to 72 hours. I can burst, which shocked me that there was no emergency about anybody. Like my cousin, she's a radiographer, and she had said to me, if you don't feel any pain, start screaming because it's burst. Because you'll, and then you'll be in a lot of pain then. Like I could have been, I could have been septic because, you know, that's crazy. And your partner was, had no access to you because you'd have been brought in behind the ED. You were on your own then, is that right? Yeah, I was all by myself. And what was that like 31 hours? And as you say, with the complications of MS, already having chronic pain and the risk of this, I mean, it must have been horrendous for you, Mary. It was horrendous, it really was, right? It was horrible. And not something you'd ever want to go through again? Definitely not, no, definitely not. And like most of my care is actually in slago because there is no care for MS in Donegal. That's a long run for you then. How often do you have to make that run? I have to make it every month. Time to go down for treatment once a month and then I have to go down for appointments with my consultant, with my MS neurologist consultant as well every now and again every six months or so. You know, I've been able to get my... Well, I got my MRI at Stone and Slago, yeah. I could get an MRI up in Latter-Kinney in July, but that was because my MS nurse had to request of it a few months beforehand to make sure that I got it when I was supposed to get it because I'm supposed to get MRIs every six months to keep on top of it, to see the progression. OK, I got you. It's one thing after another. It wasn't just me. You know, there was a lot of women. There was a lot of patients. There was a lot of men sitting waiting. And as Michelle said, in the corridors, there was people coming on them. She was there. Yeah, that phone line. That phone line unfortunately is broken down on us, but thank you so much for sharing your story with us and I hope you're feeling better now. If you want to join in the conversation, 086625000, WhatsApp's and text to that number or give us a call at 07491 25000, thanks to listeners Mary and Magella there. Go straight down that bendy road. 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Remaining cool, temperatures no higher than 10 to 12 degrees, and a light to moderate east to south, east wind. So we're talking about the state of the health care here in Donningolland. A voice you would have heard many, many times over the years at highlighting these concerns is that of Betty Holmes, who's on with us now. Betty, good morning. Good morning, Greg. You know, this has been an ongoing battle covered on this programme for a long, long time. I think it's really important to have the GPs and now the consultants having their say on this. Hopefully this will be the catalyst for change, Betty, because you've posed a really interesting statement. If you're from Donningoll, travel or die? Yeah. Greg, do you see here in existence over 18 years, totally voluntary on paid? And it's actually over 15 years since I actually turned around and I said that Lerner Kenny Hospital was becoming the new community hospital, the new St. Joseph's up for Donningoll. And over all those years, Greg, we have had so many meetings, Dublin, Galway, Lerner Kenny, and we have heard about the fact that there are so many people in the community and we have heard about the commitment to Lerner Kenny Hospital and all. We have seen nothing that would convince us that there is real commitment to Lerner Kenny Hospital and be to the healthcare needs of the people of Donningoll. And I just, when I got, before I got the phone call, I was actually thinking about the map. And Greg, that map was actually put together in 2000, February 2017, and that time you were having a meeting with Minister Harris. And we put in the eight centers of excellence. We put in, I think it's eight prostate rapid access clinics and four breast check clinics. And they're all below the Galway Dublin line. So what does that say about Donningoll? There is no commitment at regional or national level. They are taking it from us. And I mean, it's really scary, but I'm very, very pleased that I suppose that I'm doing this from memory, Greg, and we're very upset about the whole issue. I think it's 78 doctors. At 78 doctors were prepared to put their name on neck on the line to raise the concerns to the healthcare needs of the people of Donningoll. It's a serious one. And then to hear that the consultants at Lerner Kenny University Hospital have stuck their necks out, that the hospital is being taken from us. And I'm just thinking, I mean, BAC initially came together to actually get a breast surgeon and to get radiotherapy for Donningoll patients. And we've fought so many battles all over the way, Greg. And now is the time that it's been taken from us. Nobody was going to convince me. Sorry, Greg. We have so many questions. I mean, we met with the Minister, Minister Donnelly there in November 2022 last year. When he was down open in the new primary care centres. That was a quick meeting in the Foyer of Lerner Kenny Hospital. An example is we gave all our questions at that time too. We've heard nothing back. We're looking for meetings. We get no answers to anything. It's about keeping us all quiet and hoping we'll go away. So I really, really am pleading with all the people in Donningoll and in particular our Donningoll minister, TV's and politicians. We all have to unite. It doesn't matter what political agendas are or anything else. This is about ensuring that Lerner Kenny University Hospital is not totally downgraded to a basic community hospital. But in terms of funding, Beddy, in terms of funding, maybe that's already happening. It's just to reiterate this, because it's so important, the sixth busiest hospital in the country. Now, compared to the hospitals it's competing against, OK? But it's at the bottom of the table in terms of funding. Just 6,920, 22-year-old per patient. Compared to Sligo, double what Donningoll is getting. You know, I mean, that is... I know you have, Beddy. I just wanted to reiterate it. It's shocking. But, Greg, we have been... DCC has been raising the whole issue of budgets to Lerner Kenny University Hospital and inpatient amounts and whatever over a long, many years. We have presented that at local, regional and national level repeatedly and it hasn't been taken on board. And a few look, now we have a recruitment band and we have seen that over the years. We've always said that the good work and if there was real commitment to Lerner Kenny Hospital, they should be selling the excellence that exists there at national and regional level so people would be encouraged to come to jobs at Lerner Kenny. But look at the money, the huge amount of money that's been paid to National Treatment Purchase Fund that should be going to Lerner Kenny Hospital. And yet we have the National Treatment Purchase Fund paying big money to private hospitals to treat patients. And once you go in, you literally excuse my language, put off as soon as you do your treatment. There's no such thing as overnight or over with care. And if there's a difficulty, where do you have to come back to Lerner Kenny University Hospital? This falls at regional, local, regional and national level responsibility. Do not let them take Lerner Kenny University Hospital away from us at our hospital. That's the people's hospital. And it's been taken from us great. And that DACC map says at all, there is no two ways about it. And it goes back as you started off, you're from Donegal, do you travel or die? No railway, no motorway. No other county in Ireland has to do this. And I go back, and this is a policy- You can't even get a boss of a treatment to Galway. Unique geographical circumstances relate to Donegal. And that was Minister Mary Harney, the Minister for Health in November 2007 said that. Right. Listen, thank you very much. I'm sorry, Greg, we're just very upset. And we've put 18, over 18 years, voluntary, on-paid work and a lot of it, nobody's even aware of. And we have a lot of successes, but it's been taken from us. I know I get you. Well, hopefully now that you are getting the backing and DACC and others are getting the backing now from the GPs and, I mean, we're hearing from GPs that they're concerned for the outcomes of their patients, sending them to Lerner Kenny University Hospital. I mean, that was really concerning. We're hearing from consultants and we'll speak to one in the last hour of the show today, saying that this is everything, all the events that are happening are raising the prospect of a service collapse. So you've got 11 consultants within the hospital saying that the way things are going, the prospect of a service collapse. And then we're expecting people to work in that environment. And listen, we back the doctors, we back the nurses. That's why we're doing this, okay? That's why we're trying to highlight this. It's not, I think everybody knows that they're doing as best they can in the circumstances, but Betty, listen. They're excellent, Greg, and that should not be forgotten. And even though the difficulties have existed and what people might encounter, whatever, the staff are there, they're fully committed, they're working incredibly hard in extremely difficult situations. And that excellence has never been acknowledged. Okay. All right, well, listen, Betty, don't let it overwhelm you. Maybe we're moving in the right direction now because I think the voices that are out there now can't overwhelm you. Thank you and we must all unite and do not take this and let it go. Right. Thank you. Go and get a cup of tea. Thanks, Betty. Take care of yourself. Betty Holmes there, DACC 08-660-25000. Keep your WhatsApps and texts coming into us. 08-660-25000, or give us a call on 07491-25000. You're tuned to The Ninth & Noon Show here with a strong emphasis on health in the first hour of the show. That will continue. I make no apologies for it. It's a very serious situation when we've got GPs and consultants saying what they're saying and the stories that we're hearing from the general public, as I say, we have to give over the time for that. It's so, so important. Stay with us. It's the great autumn of savings at Supervalue with over 1,000 price cuts on all the big brands you love. Like kind spaghetti hoops was 210, now 189. Selected Lenore fabric conditioner, 33 wash was 365, now 3 euro. And money off vouchers every week on the app too. So, pop in for great savings in store online this autumn at Supervalue. With a high digital online skills course, you'll feel a real difference. I can listen to all the music I like. The boss app that's coming out, it's brilliant. Anything you want and all is to have their fingertips. The small tints, but they mean something. Learn essential online skills with simple accessible lessons at highdigital.ie or free phone, 1-800-20-30-30. Brought to you by Vodafone Ireland Foundation and alone. Vodafone, together we can. Hi, Nathan Carter here. And I'm delighted to say I've just had two installations from Cherrymore kitchens and bedrooms. And I have to say their attention to detail is second to none. With their sleek design and craftsmanship, your dream kitchen is just a visit away. So why not head over to Cherrymore kitchens and bedrooms and let the magic begin? Cherrymore kitchens and bedrooms done a gold time. More kitchens your way since 1996. Visit cherrymore.ie or call 97-25-822 to book your free design appointment. Get ready for a spooky season at Century Complex. This Halloween, we have a great selection of movies at Century Cinemas, delicious food and cocktails at Backstage Bar and Grill, and Century plays Halloween Family Fun Day, taking place on the 28th of October from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Get in touch at 074-912-1976 or visit centurycinemas.ie for more information. We're inviting you to our 2-4-1 open weekend at iMotors. Join us from the 20th to the 22nd of October, Friday, Saturday and Sunday to test drive a range of chaos and nascence. With finance rates as low as 3.9%, come and see how affordable a new car can be. Free service plans and many more offers. This is not to be missed. Check out iMotors.ie for opening times. We look forward to seeing you. Donegal Denture Clinic, Letterkenny. Denture problems, we can help. At Donegal Denture Clinic, we customize, personalize and tailor your dentures to suit you. Call us for a free consultation on 9-1-25-25-3. Find us at Ballerain Letterkenny beside Rossum College. Medical cards, welcome. For all your denture needs, call Donegal Denture Clinic on 9-1-25-25-3 online at DonegalDentureClinic.ie. Live on air, online and on the Highland Radio app, this is Highland Radio News. Good morning, it's 10 o'clock. Donal Kavanaugh at the Newsdesk. The decision of 11 consultants at Letterkenny University Hospital to write to the health minister about the crisis there has been welcomed by GPs in the county, 78 of whom signed a similar letter to the minister last week, expressing the same concerns. The letter from the consultants at the weekend expresses serious concerns over the operation of the emergency department and its impact on patient outcomes. The consultants add the condition of the hospital services, many of which are under extreme pressure, has been repeatedly brought to the attention of local hospital management, the self-the-group, the Department of Health and various ministers over the past number of years. While on today's 9-2-noon show, GP Dr Kiran Afari, one of the GPs who signed last week's letter, says a clear consensus is building up among medical professionals in the county and the government must take notice. I think it's very important and it shows the strength of feeling that's out there that our hospital consultants who obviously don't find it easy to speak up about the service within their own hospital have taken this unprecedented move. And again, I think it shows that we are starting a bit of a movement here. We're gathering a broad consensus of doctors, stakeholders and people. And I think we really are starting to highlight the difficulties that we have here in Donegal and the inequity that we have here in Donegal and the significant risks that the doctors of Donegal are now highlighting for the patients of this county. And then showing councillor is predicting that within a matter of months, families with homes affected by defective blocks will be moving into hotels where their homes are being rebuilt. Councillor Jack Murray says there's a serious shortage of housing in the peninsula and in Bancraná in particular. He says this is pushing up-rent prices to the point where they're double what they were just a few years ago and that's severely affecting anyone who had hoped to save for a deposit on the house. Councillor Murray says the shortage of alternatives means options are becoming ever more limited for those whose homes are crumbling. I've been saying this for quite some time that unless the problem was addressed, unless we had alternative accommodation, an extra accommodation made in the shown, that as the defective block crisis progressed and became more acute, we would end up seeing people in hotels, families in hotels as they're displaced. And I'm just really worried that we're now months away from that situation. We haven't yet addressed the modular homes, which I think is the solution to this problem. But more and more people, their houses are getting worse. The number of drink-driving checkpoints on Irish roads is at its lowest level since 2017. An Irish times analysis of enforcement trends foresees 150,000 drivers in total will be breathalyzed by the end of this year. That's compared to around 314,000 who were tested for alcohol at roadsides in 2018. Up until the end of July this year, around 88,734 people had been breath-tested at checkpoints. Many older people are finding it hard to meet one-off costs as they get older. Age Action's new report shows older people highly value the state pension, but many are still struggling. Three in 10 of those aged 66 and over rely on social protection for over 90% of their income. Four in 10 rely on it for more than half of their money. Age Action policy specialist, Nat O'Connor, says when it comes to older age, women are faring worse than men. The USRI reckons that there's a 35% pension gap between men and women, which is to say women's pensions are a third lower than men's on average. So that's a huge gap. And we also know that of course, in situations where there's a bereavement, often a woman is left as a widow and can lose an awful lot of pension income and at the same time still has all of the expenses of the same house. The government is working with international partners to get 40 Irish citizens out of Gaza. It comes as Israel prepares to launch an offensive by air, land and the sea after a million people living in Northern Gaza were told to evacuate over the weekend. A border crossing into Egypt is expected to open today, helping aid into the territory and foreigners out. Hannah McCarthy, a journalist based in Israel, has the latest. One of the things to know is that there's currently 40 Irish citizens in Gaza, and Michael Martin came out and confirmed that several of them are working with the UN. And we've just heard recently from the head of the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees, which is the main UN agency in Gaza strip that they're running out of food. With forecast and after a cold and frosty start this morning, it'll be mostly dry today with sunny spells and just some isolated showers, cool with top temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees Celsius in a light to moderate east to southeast wind. Tonight, dry and cold with frost possible, temperatures falling to between zero and five degrees Celsius, easterly winds light to moderate. Tomorrow morning, dry with sunny spells, becoming wet and breezy in the afternoon as rain extends from the south, top temperatures tomorrow again, 10 to 12 degrees Celsius in moderate to fresh and gusty easterly winds. That's Highland Video News. We're back with news again at 11 o'clock, regular updates on our website, highlandvideo.com. The obituary notices for this Monday morning, the 16th of October. The death has occurred in Bonnyrig, Scotland of Theresa Quinn, mother of Sean Quinn, letcher Kilmackrennan. Funeral mass will take place on Wednesday morning at half past 11 in St. David's Church, Dalkeith Edinburgh with interment afterwards in Cockpen Cemetery, Bonnyrig. The death has taken place of Noel Devaney, Raimocchi, Manor Cunningham. Noel's remains will be repose at his late home today from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. and again tomorrow from 12 noon until 10 p.m. with Rosary Knightley at nine. Funeral from his home on Wednesday morning at quarter past 10, travelling via Manor Cunningham Village to All Saints Church, Newton Cunningham for 11 o'clock requiem mass with interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Family time, please, on the morning of the Funeral. Family flowers only please the nations in Louis of Desire to the paramedic section at Letter County Ambulance Station, care of any family member. The death has taken place of Rosalyn Houston, Ney Gormley, 252 town parks convoy, formerly of Tully Vinnie, Ruffaux. Her remains will repose at her late residence from 7 o'clock this evening. Funeral from there on Wednesday morning at quarter past 10, for 11 o'clock requiem mass in St. Mary's Church convoy, followed by burial in the family plot in the old graveyard. The death has occurred of Mrs. Margaret Maggy Murray, Keju Kinkashla. Her remains are reposing at her home today and tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with Rosary Nightly at 9. House private please from after the Rosary until 11 a.m. and on the morning of the Funeral. Funeral mass on Wednesday morning at 11 in St. Columbus Church Acres with interment afterwards in Belkridge Cemetery. The death has occurred of Dominic Dim Cutterson, Grahamsland Castle Finn. Funeral from there tomorrow morning at half past 11, going to St. Mary's Church Castle Finn for requiem mass at 12 noon with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Family time please from 10 o'clock tonight and before the Funeral tomorrow. Family flowers only please. Donations in lieu of desired to Brindley Manor Nursing Home Comfort Fund, care of any family member or Kennedy's undertakers. The death has occurred of Brigitte Ann Galleher, Neymar Grotty, Drumbalogue Church Hill. Funeral mass will take place in St. Column Kills Church Glendon at 11 o'clock this morning followed by burial in Garten Cemetery. The Funeral can be viewed live on churchservices.tv with family time please before the Funeral. The death has taken place of Joe Josie Galleher formerly of Largan Rea Downings. Funeral this morning with 11 o'clock requiem mass in the church of St. John the Baptist, Cary Gart followed by interment in the adjoining cemetery. The Funeral mass will be streamed live on the Miva Parish Facebook page. And the death has taken place of Neil McCague, Craigtown Cardona. Funeral from his late home this morning at quarter past 10 going to the church of the Sacred Heart Cardona for 11 o'clock requiem mass with interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. For family information and more details regarding wakes and funerals, please go to highlandradio.com. Ah, the bakery regular. Bit of banana bread. Oh, the wandering eye. The lemon drizzle is looking very drizzly today. Didn't see that coming. Swayed by the old Swiss roll. In business, your customer's tastes can change, but switch to flow gas and your electricity and gas prices won't. Our fixed price plans mean your prices won't change for the duration of your contract, giving you better control of your business energy costs. Talk to your energy broker or visit flow gas.ie slash business today. Flow gas, energy for everyone. Terms and conditions apply. The county's number one talk show, The Nintel Noon Show on Highland Radio. And you're very welcome back to the program this Monday morning. How are you all keeping? I do hope you are very well indeed and thanks for choosing The Nintel Noon Show. It's greatly appreciated. OK, let's get to some of your comments coming in so far this morning. It's not just doctors and nurses. It's the admin staff who are under severe pressure with not enough staff and getting blamed by doctors for problems that are not theirs. Indeed, listen, thank you for the insight there. It's not the voice you often hear, so I do appreciate it. Greg Letter, Kenny E.D. is like a war zone hospital. Just people lined up everywhere. My daughter waited 13 hours to just see a doctor to begin with and spent 26 hours waiting in a wheelchair and then was admitted to a bed in a corridor. I stood for 23 of those 26 hours because there wasn't a spare seat as there was only enough for patients. Traumatic experience for the people of Donegal. And that is a horrendously traumatic experience there. A caller says it's not just the E.D. The oncology department is also a shambles. I'm decided to withdraw treatment because I'm not gonna cope with the strain it takes on me mentally. A different doctor every week. It's chaos and it's awful. I feel like a pin caution. It's so terrible. I'm now choosing to stop treatment rather than to suffer on like this. Well, that's a very difficult text to read to be honest with you. I can't imagine what it must have been like to write but it's a listener who's withdrawing treatment presumably for cancer because they can't cope with the strain it takes on them mentally. A different doctor every week. They feel like a pin cushion. So they're actually stopping treatment rather than continuing as they see it as they feel it of course to suffer on like this. I'm really sorry to hear them to read that. As part of the research as to where the money is going in the hospital. Has anyone looked into what was the budget is what is being spent on? How much is being spent on travel and subsidies for staff and why is it not being spent in more crucial areas? Ask the listener there. My mom was in last year and done a 20 hour, 28 hour sit on a hard chair. And so when I was in a few weeks ago with my father I thought it's just the same if not worse. Sadly my father passed away just two days after he was sent home. I don't believe it was in any way linked at all but it's tough to see people who need immediate attention having to go through the drill of waiting that long. And I think that's a really fair text and I'm sorry for your loss but I think it's really fair to point out that you don't believe that that impacted on your father's passing but still very stressful for all of you nonetheless. Okay, we want you to keep them coming into us please. 08 660 25,000 WhatsApps and texts to this number. There is a push on at the moment we're at a tipping point according to consultants on nearing it. You've heard from 78 GPs. You'll hear from consultants later. We want to hear from you the public as to your experiences, your opinions on Lederkenny University Hospital. 07 491 25,000 if you wish to speak to Donna Marie. It's time for NCBI Bingo on Highland Radio. It's Monday the 16th of October. You're playing on the green sheet. The reference number is S6. It's game number 42. The numbers are 89, 45. 87, 34, 62, 68, 88, 75, 21, and finally 63. Phone your claim tonight. 104833 before eight tonight. Leave in your name, contact number and the name of the shop where you purchased your book and we'll call you back the next working day. Get all your NCBI Bingo information at HighlandRadio.com. Are the signs of aging creeping up on you? Are you not happy with the way you look or feel? At Lederkenny Medics Private Clinic, we're here to help you offering Botox anti-wrinkle injections, derma fillers, skin bio-injections, Botox treatment for grinding and clenching teeth, hyperhydrosis that aids excessive sweating. Let our doctors help bring back your confidence and look after what is important to you to see what real results really look like. Book your immediate appointment with no waiting times at LederkennyMedics.ie. Lederkenny Medics, we listen if you want to talk. Hi, Paddy here at Shea and Connolly Cars in Donegal Town. Are you looking to upgrade your car? With Shea and Connolly Cars, you'll find mix and models for every budget. Great finance options and we also accept trade-ins. Check out SheaAndConnollyCars.com or call into us at Shea and Connolly Cars from Lanhur Road, Donegal Town. At Donegal Denture Clinic, we customise, personalise and tailor your dentures to suit you. Call us for a free consultation on 9-1-25-25-3. Find us at Balli Rain, Lederkenny, beside Rossum College. Medical cards, welcome. For all your denture needs, call Donegal Denture Clinic on 9-1-25-25-3 online at DonegalDentureClinic.ie. OK, you're very welcome back to the programme now. The Polestar roundabout lights are coming in to effect from tomorrow. It's all, I presume, it is designed to help traffic move more freely. So let's try and get an understanding of how it will work, how long it might take to be really effective and so on and so forth. Damien McDermott is senior engineer with the Donegal National Road's Office, and he joins us now. Good morning to you. How are you doing, Greg? Good to have you on board. OK, I mean, it seems pretty obvious, but why were these traffic lights there? And why was it deemed that this was the solution going forward? Well, when it comes to deeming the traffic flows and how you've cut those such as you have in Lederkenny at the Polestar, roundabouts are a good solution, but singleised junctions are the most efficient solution and the most robust and reliable solution for ensuring traffic is safe. It's also a safer solution for pedestrians and cyclists in an urban area. So it's a natural progression. If you look around the country, you look at the likes of Gaulry or Dublin of East Paces, you'll see that the progression from normal junctions to roundabout junctions then on to singleised junctions in that order. And so that's the natural progression here as well. Obviously, we involve serious problems with traffic flows in Lederkenny. This is not a solution to all those traffic flows. It should give us some better reliability and I suppose consistency in how junctions are used. Obviously, look, we need things like the TNT to remove the city traffic and move traffic volumes from our town centre. Otherwise, you know, really, there's only so much we can do. Yeah, that's what you say. You can put in the infrastructure, but there's a, I don't know what the percentage is, but a significant percentage is driver responsibility to adhere to the lights to understand lanes right of ways and all that kind of basic stuff. I mean, we have our role to play in this as well. Before we sort of get into the nitty gritties of it, where are people likely to see less congestion as a result? You know, so say, for instance, coming in on the four lanes sometimes, it can be backed out right as far as the roundabout there at the bottom of Lergy Bragg and other people will experience traffic issues in other areas. So, you know, will this, do you think this will speed up people's commute? No, I mean, to be fair, you have to look at it. We're not moving in traffic. So the same volumes that they have before are going to be there now. So we have those massive volumes of time, which does occur basically in the remission rolls of that to carry on the poles out. There are still going to be there. The best example I would give would be McLeod's quarter in Sturrola, where there was no lights for a long period of time. And what you had there was your times where people just couldn't get out to the junction, where you might feel like you could never get out there because it was reliable on people's judgments coming out at the junction, excuse me. And as such, when we put the lights in there, although you still have significant cues in battle theory and obviously a bypass that needed there, you know that when you get you going to come in from the left of Kenny's side, you know that if you may have to wait a few phases, you may be in a fairly long queue, but you know you're going to get out of the junction. And that's what we're providing here. There's not going to reduce the traffic volumes. It's not going to even reduce traffic shoes in place, but you should know that you're not going to get stuck in this in a queue that you should be able to or where one leg get to get to get stuck or queued up. Other legs will still be able to perform. OK, not every leg will get will get blocked up. So it's really just managing the flows as opposed to reducing them. So, you know, we would hope to see that when you have major flows coming in one direction, for example, it was coming in from the remelchin roadside side, that the other legs would would not have a knock on backup effect on them or less so. All right. It tends to even out the flow, but you may actually have some slower traffic coming in from other legs to allow the mental road to move a bit quicker. So it does. It should balance things out as well at the junction. So much. How complex is this junction in terms of, you know, you've got traffic lights at four entrants, you've got traffic lights actually on the roundabout and you actually also have pedestrian crossings. I presume it's not unprecedented. But how complex is that to calibrate? It's a fairly fair example. It's complex in so far as that you're dealing with the traffic crossings, but there are sensors out the road that deal with that. It can only it's only it only do so much. It's not it's not going to be a free thinking roundabout that it can actually adjust very rapidly. But it should be able to sense how where the traffic bombs are building up and to deal with them is so much efficiently. And it will be also tied into other workers. This is my phase one of an overall traffic management of the four in road is one element of that. And then obviously we're going to be working to next year. Hope to put the value rain roundabouts and valuing junction and the creamy junction. And both of those will likely be seen like as well. And they'll be tied into this system as well so that that doesn't extend the ability of the system to adjust them because it will be linked into more junctions. So just so we don't have an understanding and manage expectations, because you know yourself, I'm sure, Damian, there's going to be a lot of interest in these lights. Are the majority of people going to see no difference? Are the majority of people going to see, you know, things moving a bit clearly for them? Are more people, if they have a certain roots, is it possible that they might see further delays because to balance all the traffic out? I mean, help us manage our expectations here. Yeah, I think what you'll see is you're right, but you know that when you approach the junction from any side that you know, you may have to wait, but you are going to get to the junction. And that when you get to the junction, you're not taking a chance at how you get out there. I think that's a lot of people have have concern with trying to get out on the on the roundabout, as is the moment, you know, taking that chance, pulling out in front of what is often fairly fast moving traffic on the roundabout. But you should be simple for the people. Must be simpler and safer for people to get across there. And it should be more reliable. You should hope unless it's only set for those extraordinary periods where we get extraordinary tailbacks. The rest of the time, it should be a fairly simple. So you pull up, you know, you'll get your single, you'll get your time to use the roundabout and you'll get to the junction safely. So I think that's the thing is it's all about reliability, safety and it should be easy to use. And there are, look, there are examples of this in Dublin and Cork. I think there's one in a couple in Derry as well. You know, they're not unusual junctions. And normally we just have a singleised junction itself, but in this case, we have to sing like the roundabout because we need that ability to turn back round again and go back down the four lane road. But look, I think it's all about reliability, knowing that you're going to get through this, but you don't have to worry about having to get out at the roundabout like you do at the moment. Yeah, sometimes you have people using the wrong lane to exit like their exit. That's going to be more difficult with the light system. I mean, it's going to be imperative, isn't it, that people are in the correct lane dependent where they want to go? Because sometimes you get three cars trying to go into, you know, one exit. So people need to have a look at the maps and familiarise themselves where they most often approach from, which lane to go into. Yeah, it should be the whole point of the signage and the lining approach in the roundabout should be very clear for people. Because obviously, if you know the place, that's one thing we should do with people who don't know the area. And I think as far as your right to a certain extent, people who are accustomed to doing what they normally do as opposed to looking at the signage and lining maybe. So probably we'd ask the locals, particularly, to pay attention to the signing and lining. I think people who are strange to the area tend to do that in much more detail and have less problems if they think that maybe locals will have. So yes, I would be with people in the top, maybe we just take a little more time to look at the signs, the lines and get themselves into a position and go into the roundabouts. Because the whole point of the roundabout, it tells you what to do. You need to follow the rules on us. If not, a normal roundabout. You say that like it's simple, Damian, but I'm convinced most people don't know how to use roundabouts, but hopefully this will be the catalyst for change. So it's going to take a while, presumably to calibrate. Did I read correctly? There's a two-week period to get things running as smoothly as possible because people will have one I-2 on other traffic lights being switched on. Absolutely. Look, I think the key thing here first is that it starts putting into operation tomorrow afternoon. They'll have a look and see how it operates, first of all. That might run through peak hour or not, depending on how it's running. And we'll keep treating the panel that the people who are in Stormlight as far as the experts on this will be there for a couple of weeks to ensure that because they want to see how it's operating, how your day is nice. And then there's obviously a Friday, it'll be a big period. You know, there'll be peak periods of flow as well to see how it's responding to that. But like themselves, the sensors have to sort of somewhat calibrate and see they're getting to sort of a routine with regard to the traffic problems that have come over them. And there may be sensors maybe in the wrong place to pick up traffic flows. So we may have to adjust that as well. So it's going to be an iterative process over the next four to six weeks, long with need-based to make sure to get optimum usage out with them, and make sure they're working the best for the public. Yeah, because, you know, when it's really, really busy, you'll get calls to programs like this saying, well, where are the guards directing traffic? You know, this is really permanent traffic management. This is really what a lot of the public are asking for, that hope that you will get out, that, you know, other motorists are going to be stopped to eventually allow you out. So we shouldn't then, as again, because it's important to manage expectations and I'm conscious that you're on now and you might not be on when people text in. This is not necessarily about all of a sudden, you know, everyone gets to work or school or wherever, 10 minutes quicker. This is about the management of the traffic is there to get it to move as freely as possible and to let people know that they are going to get out of junctions. Yes, that is essential, that's essential. And, you know, it's the first part of the process. We hope that all our other products, including the TNT, that those other traffic conditions can be improved as we go forward. But we have to give it what we have there at the moment and I think this is an important first step. And look, it's like important people, you know, you stop when you see the red, you know, as long as we don't have people, people have been the rules arose and being considered to other motorists who may be in the wrong lane and things are starting off. I think that's important and people generally are fairly good that way, I think. And actually, I think this is an important element of this, Damien. People up until now would be driving up towards the yields line, so to speak. You're going to be stopped much further back than that now. So I think that's where people might get a little bit confused or there could be some teething problems because instinctively, you drive up to that line. Now you are back and you're instructed by the lights as to when to go. Yes, absolutely, the lights are the key position that you have to look for. I mean, that's important for people. I think, in fairness, look, people are, I know people don't even go and see lights that much, but they have to see them when they go to Derryd. You have them in Tygo a lot, like, you know, so there should be no reason. I think the overhead lights are a good thing as well to give you an idea of where your lane is. I mean, there's plenty of signs there. So, yeah, that's the worry stuff that people may miss or go back to their old habits of stopping where they shouldn't. But look, I think there will be no people out there to ensure that doesn't happen. And we're trying, hopefully, there won't be any instances. I mean, I can imagine there might be a few durations starting off, potentially people breaking and doing the wrong thing. We'll just have to manage that as best we can. OK, and just one other thing, not looking to pick problems, but say, for instance, you get a 40-footer that is stopped in the middle of the roundabout, you know, with the lights that are actually on the roundabout, so to speak, is that roundabout big enough that allows all the traffic to navigate the roundabout in the lanes that they can progress in? Or have you any concern that the large vehicles... Well, we shouldn't have, because, I mean, the 40-footers are going round at the moment, Greg, so there should be no reason. I mean, it's the same lanes that they were using previously, so there should be no reason. Anytime you have a big lorry like that, and if it's not driven properly, it might go across lanes, so you have to be cautious of that. But the roundabout hasn't changed in size at the moment, so there shouldn't be a problem. No, it's OK. We shall see. We'll wait with mated breath. It's exciting, Damien. No problem at all, Greg. Take care of yourself, bye-bye. Damien McDermott there. He's a senior engineer with the Lonegall National Road's office, and we appreciate him coming on to talk to us. If you want to check out which lane you should be in and what have you, if you search Highland and Polestar in Google, the second story down is images of the new layout, so that might be helpful to you. And you heard from Damien there, unfortunately, there might be a few shunts as people panic and slam the brakes on, so no one wants to have to deal with that on the way to work or hospital or school, so just be extra cautious of that. Is the port roundabout big enough to be signalled? Those roundabouts are massive in comparison. Would the junction be better if signalled with no roundabout at the port, asks the caller. Greg, we won't need Christmas lights in Lederkenny this year as there's so many traffic lights in the town, they'll suffice. Absolutely crazy. Looking forward to seeing what's going to happen after lights are switched on at the Polestar. It could be this, listen and please, total mayhem. But again, to manage one's expectations, the traffic, there's not going to be any less traffic. I think it's going to be, you know, we are creatures of habit and when we leave the house for some, they might be able to leave a little later. For others, they might have to leave a little earlier. All the same cars, lorries, trucks, whatever they might be, all have to use those roads. This is about managing that. So we'll see, we'll see how it goes. I know you'll keep us updated. I've never sailed up to 50% of everything in store. All tiles, all wood flooring, all outdoor slabs, cladding and bathware, everything slashed in price. This sale is not to be missed. Right price tiles and wood flooring, biggest ever half price sale, extended until Sunday. It's a wedding day, the hump of the week. You've been really good, so why not treat yourself by stopping off at Kelly's Diner. 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Right, the need for foster parents is at an all-time high due to the increased demands of children's needs. That's the warning from Toosler. It's launched its national fostering week today. Ireland is one of the world leaders in foster care with almost 4,000 foster carers opening their homes to over 5,000 children amongst them. Rosie, who joins us on the programme now? Hi, Rosie. Good morning, Greg. How are you getting on? Oh, not too bad. Not too bad. I'd be better looking after the kids than I'll be at this interview. Well, I'll not let you keep you too long because it's important, Rosie. You've been fostering now for over 30 years, haven't you? Why would you encourage others to do so? And we reward and work. It's hard to explain. We started fostering over 30 years ago. We've had 46 fabulous children come to our doors. And yeah, it's gonna be hard work, but it's worth it. And if you make a difference in a child's life, if you can help parents be reunited with their children, there are so many things in fostering that make it so, so worthwhile. And I suppose, Rosie, it's like everything is in life. Life is not easy. There are good times and bad, but your experiences is that the good times, far outweigh the bad. Oh, they do the positives far outweigh the negatives in fostering. We have a great team of social workers and son-in-laws that really do support and care for us and see the children's needs. It makes the work so much easier. That's really important, Rosie, to have those supports that you're not left on your own. It is, you know, even when you come against challenges and things are not easy, you're guided, mentored through it. And if you work closely with your social workers, you have to work closely with teachers, sometimes doctors, hospitals, whatever, therapists, you will get through it. And every day is a learning day. Every day is a school day in fostering. Things are changing. We're being offered training, constant training in different aspects of childcare. And it's really, really interesting work, busy work, and that we do a lot of running and doing and throwing and now towards the, we're the golden oldies and we have two very special little men. And yeah, we have a lot of running, but they're an absolute joy. Rosie, is one of the more difficult elements of it? You know, building bonds with children, really, with the aim, of course, to returning them to their families. Is that one of the more difficult parts or perhaps it's not difficult at all? No, it's bonding with children. Again, you get so, we do get training and we get training and attachment. And after a while, you get fairly good at it and that, you know, there's special tips and ways of creating bonds. That you just get more used to it and you don't expect any child to come to your door and to be your best friend from the minute they arrive. You do have to work on it. And what is your, what do you think the greatest is patience? One of the greatest, one of the greatest sort of... Yeah, you have to be patient. You have to be willing to work on it. One of the greatest sort of... You have to be patient. You have to be willing to learn and to love kids. You have to. And a couple must work together on it if it's a couple. But we have single foster parents and they're doing brilliant work. They're doing fabulous work. But a couple need to want to do it together and my goodness, it is just so, so rewarding and when you see children progress from no self-esteem and then become the confident little people that you want them to be. Must feel like it sounds like a gift, actually, to be able to have that power to impact on people's lives in such a positive way, Rosie. Well, it's a privilege. To be really, really honest about it, it's a privilege. We have two children at the moment and it's an absolute privilege to have them in the house. And I can say, even the most difficult cases we've had, we've learned a lot from them. We've grown as people because of the challenges and no, it's so worth it. If anybody out there is thinking about it, go to an information night. Find out more about it because it is very, very doable. OK, and I think, Justin, I'll not hold you, but I think you said in a chat with Donna Marie that it's been a life-changing experience fostering for you and your hobby. Absolutely. It's the one thing that I'm very grateful for that I did fall into by accident sort of, but it's something we both love and we've got more from than we could ever explain in words. That's lovely, Rosie. Listen, thanks so much for your time. I know you're keen to get back to your boys. Thank you very much indeed. That's Rosie there. If you want more information, there's going to be awareness campaigns across the country, and I'm sure across this region as well, and if there's any details of any open nights or any information nights, of course, we'll bring them to you, but that's Rosie's story. She is a foster carer for over 30 years, and you heard from herself there, so rewarding and a privilege, and it could be something you could be involved into. 08, 6, 60, 25,000, WhatsApps and texts to that number. We'll give us a call on 07491-25,000. What a disaster. The traffic was on Saturday. Part of the town was shut down, of course, for a show. Total gridlock, thanks to the lower main street being shut off, had my elderly mother and baby in the car, had an appointment down lower main street from my mother, couldn't get her home via lower main street and ended up trapped in the circle round by the Radisson baby screaming in the car. Absolute nightmare. How did the motor show get planning to shut off the main thoroughfare on the busiest day in town? Any time that you host events, significant events, of course, it's going to inconvenience some people. Right, OK. Mary T. Sweeney is chair of the Hospital Action Campaign and also Aintu Rep, of course, and Mary T. An interesting intervention from 11 consultants, one of which we'll hear from after 11, between they and the GPs about the work of groups like yours and DACC and what have you. I think we're getting to a point here and you'll muted there, Mary T. I think we're getting to a point whereby, you know, people are going to have to start listening to us. 100% and for me, one of the greatest things is to hear the consultants and the GPs finally taking action because they are who are needed to underpin this, to give it credibility. As in the group that we have formed, it was across the community, people that were retired having had years of experience in the hospital and they're the people we need to target. The people, not just the patients that have the first-hand experience, we need the internal staff to have the confidence to put information forward to a team that will take it on board. The reality is, why do we need a better hospital? Because I want a better hospital for me and my family and my community. And what's happening because we are letting things slip is in the hospital area that we're in, we looked for questions to get answers to what's happening with adverse incidents. And to me, these are the accidental incidents that can lead to death in circumstances. And in the area we're in, the HSE won't give us a breakdown specifically for Lederkenny Hospital, but in this area, CHO Area 1, which is Cavan-Munnan and Donegal, there's 50,911 adverse incidents recorded, which is the highest out of every area. We're not allowed the figures specifically for Lederkenny Hospital, but the reality is that there was over 3,000... 3,000 people have died in that area directly resulting from those adverse incidents. So we need the people to come together, the consultants, the doctors and the staff. Then we look at the figures, where the management figures, 26 million spent in three years on agency staff because we're not creating full-time jobs. If people haven't permanent jobs, they have no ownership of the hospital. And you know when you teach in a class, you own that class. When you work in a community and an award, you own that award. You feel that the award reflects you and you want to reflect well in your award when you work after your patients. If we keep having you know transient staff and transient people, that's something that really needs to be addressed. I feel that it's not just agency staff and the lure of the higher money being paid to agency staff has to be addressed. Yeah, but the thing too though, Mary T, it doesn't matter whether it's a car, a house, a business, whatever it is, the amount of money you put into that will determine its quality. And we, it's impossible to square the circle that we have the sixth busiest hospital behind Cork, Limerick, Galway, our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and the matter in Dublin. So after those five big hospitals, we are sixth. And then you look at the funding, the annual budget, millions of euro, and 179,939. Well, well down, but it's about 7000 euro per patient actually effectively. We're second bottom of the pile. I can't make any sense. You know, less than 7000 euro per person, yet it's the sixth busiest hospital, only saying Luke's and Kilkenny's behind us in terms of funding. If you do, this is what I'm saying. It's not just about funding, Greg, if you do not look after your team and have a permanency to your team that are going to speak out when somebody needs to speak out. And they're going to stand up for their unit, for their ward, for their department that they're working in and that team spirit, they must be respected and they must be supported from the doctors to the housekeeping staff. The team spirit must be developed and fostered. And to start doing that, we need to find out what the team are saying is wrong internally. The team can't come from one sector of the hospital internally and there's structures from external structures that need to be addressed. We need to address the fact, is the teaching hospital the best way for us to go? Has that impacted on us? Is it because there's so many transient staff? Should that be reviewed and how it's delivered? Anything, any organization should have an external review and audit. We had a review and audit planned. The Scottish team were to come over. That never happened, Greg. We need independence in this. We need somebody coming in with experience to come in and talk openly, and we must have a very secure whistleblowers in that sense, that they can talk frankly and honestly to a team coming in that need to examine from the inside out, not from the outside in. One thing that's worrying in terms of getting information out is that we're actually going backwards because many and most people will not be aware, as part of the new consultants contract, they're forbidden from speaking out publicly. So we have had, I don't know if you'd necessarily label them as whistleblowers in the sense that you've mentioned, but we've actually been lucky in that we've had consultants that would speak out, that would shine a light on the situation. Now going forward, if they've signed this new consultants contract, that would actually be a breach of their contract. So why are they trying to shut them up? This is the question that you need to ask the established politicians who are sitting on the seal to group, why they have not spoke out about this? Why the politicians are the people best capable of stopping that from coming into the contract? That's a backwards step in my opinion. It takes an awful lot to get consultants to speak out, as you know, Greg, and many is the time I've heard them myself on your show, and I find them, I think they're extremely brave to do that. But we do need expertise and we do need that ability that people internally can speak out that you don't have to go to a journalist. Or a politician out the back door. There should be a, you know, we need a complete review from the inside out of what's going on here. And it's not a matter of pointing fingers at a personal, at a person individually. I'm not looking to name and shame or anybody in any department or warder across the hospital group. But if we don't start being realistic about this, we're never going to fix it. And all we're doing is throwing good money after bad, and it's just the services is getting weaker and weaker, you know. Yeah. Okay. We'll see where we go from here. Thank you very much for your time this morning. We just want to say we want to back the doctors and the consultants. We'd be delighted to get the opportunity to work with them. And one of the other figures that is frightening to mention is the amount of the millions that are spent in the adverse cases that are coming out through the hospital. And it's those adverse incidents where people are actually ending up dying. And the millions that are being spent on those cases, 2.4 billion has been spent in the last five years on adverse cases. Well, there's another story in that because much of that money is actually spent trying to discourage and frustrate any claims against before often an agreement is reached on the steps of the courts. An awful lot of that money is... That didn't include the legal piece. Just 20% goes on top of that for legal piece. Right, okay. Mary T, thanks very much indeed. Mary T, Sweeney of Angthu and also a member of the chair of actually the hospital action group. The HSC have released a response to our coverage. Ladrikena University Hospital. I can't read it all because it's incredibly long-winded. I don't understand it's a very complex situation so it's going to be long-winded. We'll reproduce this entire statement on our website, of course. Ladrikena University Hospital and the Seattle Group acknowledge the challenges facing the hospital and are taking all available steps to address these. The last 18 months have seen a very significant increase in demand to our services and infrastructure. The hospital has seen a 10% increase in ED attendance from January to August 2023 versus the same period in 2022. The hospital and group are working on a range of investments and development projects for RUH. We acknowledge that a number of our consultants have raised concerns in this regard and we will continue to work with them to address our services. An extension to the ED is being progressed in conjunction with the HSC estates. The Development Control Plan for the site which is currently being updated will provide for the longer-term capacity requirements for the emergency department and will incorporate an enhanced medical assessment unit, surgical assessment unit and a segregated pediatric emergency area. So if that is one of the calls that's being made it'll incorporate an enhanced medical assessment unit and surgical assessment unit. RUH is also increasing staff within the ED. Three new consultants have been appointed to the ED since June, one of whom has already joined the team. RUH has also secured approval for a further eight nurses and a healthcare assistant for the emergency department. SEALTA has undertaken a bed capacity analysis for its hospitals across the region so identified a bed capacity requirement of 91 additional beds at RUH by 2030. The Development Control Plan for the hospital will provide an enhanced medical assessment of its needs and will also address the requirement to replace multi-walled accommodation with single rooms and the interim bed capacity remains under continuous review. Works underway across the group in RUH to address challenges to the radiology services they say. A review of clinical workforce is already underway in RUH and enhancements of the medical NCHD rotors and enhanced AMAU support for the medical rotor existing processes to optimize patient length of stay. There's also significant work taking place to progress discharges and treat patients in the community. This works includes liaising with community based healthcare professionals about delayed transfers of care from RUH and working with the community intervention teams which apparently is from previous conversations is producing some results. Letter County University Hospital is working closely with both community healthcare patients and the National Ambient Service to ensure all available care options are utilized and patients are directed to and provided with the proper care pathway and as I say it goes into many pages. The frailty at the front door service is also in place in the EED. This team assesses patients over the age of 75 with the aim to identify patients in need of frailty support and other assessments. Does anyone out there had the experience of the frailty at the front door service because I'm hearing from over 75s who are sitting for 12 hours. Let us know if you found that and as I say it goes on and on and on. Incredibly complex document and I don't know I'll have to go through it off air. I'm not sure if it's alphabet soup or if it's addressing the concerns of consultants. We might forward that on to the consultants just before we speak to them a little later on to see if that's addressing directly any of the concerns that they may have. OK. Want to live a more sustainable lifestyle but not too sure how to start. Join me, Donna Marie Doherty every Tuesday at half past 12 for its hours to protect to learn all the tips and tricks. Ours to protect is funded by Commission Le Mans with a television licence fee under the partnership between Highland Radio and the independent broadcasters of Ireland. Check out hours to protect.ie for more info. 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Are you making the most of your smart meter with the smart everyday plan from SSC Airtricity you can enjoy benefits like an hourly overview of your energy consumption a simple flat 24 hour rate and an end to estimated electricity bills switch to SSC Airtricity today and you'll get up to 20% off selected plans simply go to SSCAirtricity.com to take advantage of this exclusive online offer SSC Airtricity this is Generation Green EAB1862 0.5% exclusive online offer rates valid from the first 10-22 for details on T's and C's, rates, exit fees standing charges and renewable energy see SSCAirtricity.com shortcut your way to delicious dinners with Dunstores Cook at home range our sweet chili Irish sirloin just needs a quick stir fry the spicy Piri Piri half chicken is ready to roast and hearty tomato and basil Irish meatballs go straight in the oven easy, delicious and you can mix and match and you're ready to go plus with our 5 of 25 grocery voucher you save even more Dunstores always better value terms of additions apply voucher can be used to next store grocery shop of 25 euro or more at Carzone we're serious about buying and selling cars we know nothing about garden furniture gym equipment or guinea pigs but if you want a car we're your people we're Ireland's trusted motoring marketplace but i.e. a serious site for serious buyers Highland Radio Weather updates with Ireland West Airport where you can now fly daily to London Heathrow with Air Lingus and connect via Heathrow to over 80 destinations worldwide including Boston New York and more today mostly dry with sunny spells and just isolated showers cool with highest temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees winds like to moderate Audrey's with us Audrey I'm sorry I haven't seen you that long good morning to you good morning how are you I'm okay Audrey what was your experience of the health service well I'm currently on the way to Dublin to attend the matter of private for cardiac care because I got misdiagnosed in Leicester Kenny on multiple locations and didn't get the care or support that I needed so I have to commute I live two miles from Leicester Kenny hospital so I drove past the hospital this morning and so last September I wasn't feeling well I went to my doctor and I was experiencing palpitations dizziness fainting episodes went over to my doctor and she acted fast my heart rate was down in the 30s quite low and she wanted an ambulance call straight away to get me over to Leicester Kenny General to have cardiac review carried out and when I got there I was told that there was no cardiac team and the no consultant the consultant was on I think on annual leave but there was no consultant in place to cover his leave and over the next 35 or 6 hours I seen you know number of nurses taking bloods I had an ECG but there was no cardiac team that came to see me in the end up I seen a consultant he had read my notes from the doctor he was aware of the situation he went through family history my father has cardiac issues and has since passed away and he said that he doesn't think it's cardiac related he thinks maybe possibly chronic fatigue syndrome or possibly Lyme's disease now I've never been bitten by a tick you know so I felt very deflated I was given a prescription for month supply of antibiotics for Lyme's disease and went on my merry way home those feelings very well before you move on what was your GP's reaction to this because they thought you were so sick the hospital when you told them that you were sent home with antibiotics were they shocked or did you have that conversation with them they laughed they said I can't believe that Audrey I'm so sorry and she said what do you want to do and I said I'll have to go to Dublin I said I can't go back there she persisted that it was cardiac and only for her you know she's just fantastic so she sent off the referral letter to Dublin I'm originally from Dublin so sent off the referral to Dublin I was waiting obviously with Covid and everything last year things were backed up so I had to wait some time for an appointment I do have private medical insurance thank god so I was able to kind of get in there but in the meantime I had another episode at the house whereby I was in an outer consciousness my husband called an ambulance to the house he couldn't move me the ambulance came again my heart rate was down in the low parties and there was erratic arrhythmia behaviour I wasn't making much sense at all sat in the ambulance outside for I think three hours before I got into A&E then when I got into A&E I again didn't see any cardiac team I wasn't admitted I seen some junior doctors and again a consultant came in to me and asked me do I stress or worry about my health and then you know possibly a hypochondria it's all in your head basically and maybe go home and practice mindfulness and you know meditation so I again just said right just get me out of here my heart rate at that time was still below 60 beats which is the normal beats still showing bradycardic so it was up around 51 still not feeling great but when they said they're just charging the emergency I just went home I knew I was going to be attending Dublin so long story short I've had fantastic care in Dublin I was diagnosed with after multiple testing MRI CAT scans, CT scans ECHOs, halter monitors over a period of months up in Dine at Dublin I have a condition called bradycardia which is a lower than average heart rate which can cause fainting and whatever possibly long term I'll probably have to get a pacemaker fitted like my father did I also had an enlarged heart which was causing a left ventricle lower percentage a rate and also I have an arrhythmia so it was causing erratic palpitations and whatever putting undue stress on my heart as well as being bradycardic low so I've had a procedure in Dublin called nablation and I'm currently on the way down that was last February and since then I've been up and down to Dublin seeing my team unfortunately the procedure wasn't successful so I will have to have another one done and they're keeping a close eye on you they burn the valves or something yes it's either a hot or cold treatment so because we're just up against 11 you're spending you haven't spent a lot of time away from your family and spending an absolute fortune as well for what really you'd expected to do for locally I live two miles from the hospital I drove past it this morning I have family outstopping after my children while I travel to Dublin the cost of accommodation in Dublin the cost of travelling to Dublin the inconvenience of being away for another three days again and this is going to be ongoing you know this is going to be something I have to attend every couple of months in Dublin and again have my procedure in Dublin and then have my husband come down with me and then drive me home after having a procedure not feeling well in the car you know it's just terrific I live two miles from the hospital but again if anything was to happen I wouldn't actually attend the hospital I would get my husband to put me in the car and drive me to Dublin rather than call another ambulance to the hospital listen thanks a lot everything goes well for you with your help it sounds like you're on a long journey literally and of course from a health perspective but thank you very much for your time Audrey okay thank you take care safe onward journey thank you very much for that all the stories that matter across the north west it's Greg Hughes on the 90 noon show on Highland Radio alright it's 11 o'clock time for a news update thank you Greg good morning the south hospital group says 91 new beds will be required at Kenney University Hospital by 2030 and it's continually reviewing the situation in a statement this morning sales acknowledges the concerns of consultants who wrote to the health minister at the weekend the group says ED attendances are up 10% year on year and they're working to progress an extension to the facility extra medical and nursing staff they say are also coming on stream in the emergency department you can read that sales statement in full at highlandradio.com well the decision of 11 consultants at the hospital to write to the health minister about the crisis there has been welcomed by GPs in the county 78 of whom signed their own letter to the minister last week expressing concerns the letter from the consultants expresses serious concerns about the operations of the ED and its impact on patient outcomes the consultants add the condition of the hospitals services many of which are under extreme pressure has been repeatedly brought to the attention of local hospital management Svelta, department of health and various health ministers over the past number of years and there's more on that on the show of course with Greg over the course of the next hour other news and in the show and councillor is predicting that within a matter of months families with homes affected by defective blocks will be moving into hotels while their homes are being rebuilt councillor Jack Murray says there is a serious shortage of housing in the peninsula and in Bunkrana in particular he says it's got to the point where rent prices are now double what they were just a few years ago and that's severely affecting anyone who had hoped for a deposit the tonnage that says the government has been in contact with 40 Irish citizens currently in Gaza Bihul Martin says arrangements are being made to evacuate them if they want to leave Israel continues to prepare for a ground operation into northern Gaza following a surprise attack by Hamas aid could get into Gaza if the raffa border crossing into Egypt opens it was expected to open this morning but Hamas says there is no truth to those reports and almost three quarters of Irish businesses have offered at least one cyber attack over the course of the past year the Hisox cyber readiness report also found businesses in Ireland are more likely than any other country surveyed to pay a ransom just over half of Irish businesses say their annual bill for cyber attacks was under 10,000 euro well there are the headlines back with news in full excuse me back with headlines again at 12 noon and of course updates on our website islandradio.com thank you very much indeed Donald back after the break we'll hold on to your handlebars letter Kenny LK Bikes Christmas Club is now open Santa's one stop shop for kids bikes and e-scooters secure your gifts with a small deposit and enjoy easy online payments later make this Christmas unforgettable with LK Bikes visit us today in store or online at LKBikes.com at screw fix you can click and collect over 10,000 trade products in as little as one minute so whether it's sockets and swords or radiators in Roscommon when you need it yesterday just click at screwfix.ie collect at your local store 7 days a week season sees applied for the screwfix.ie for full details more and more 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so do Nissan's prices the price of the Nissan Leaf has been reduced by 5000 euro plus you can get a great finance deal for a limited time only there has never been a better time to go electric with a price drop of 5000 euro and an unbeatable finance deal the Nissan Leaf is Ireland's best value EV to find out more contact your local Nissan dealer or visit Nissan.ie terms and conditions apply Nissan innovation that excites and supercharger mail all packed into a tasty baguette if you're looking to renew your car insurance we have some of the hang on a second there's more to this ad I forgot to mention the cheese that's the limited edition zinger chicken fillet more a delicious baguette with a zinger fillet hash brown cheese burger dressing and supercharger mail exclusively at KFC and lettuce it also has lettuce available till November 12th at participating restaurants only so very exciting isn't it okay we will have Brendan Deveney joining us in the not too distant future so stay tuned for that gonna look back on the weekend's GE action with an eye of course on the the deal debate podcast we're just waiting for consultant Mr Michael Sugru to join us he's just not joining at the moment so I'm just holding off to try and keep those plates spinning so stay where you are Greg never had the frailty help at the front door when my elderly parent over 90 years had to sit in the ED for 20 hours it doesn't exist and I'm a retired member of staff it did tweak my interest that statement we have just come out of hospital me and my elderly mother there was no front door care again that has been my experience pity we didn't have a politician in Donegal like Mary T everything she said is spot on can't believe they're going to stop consultants speaking out indeed and that came from a former consultant he warned us of that the selections coming up so Mary T Sweeney will be standing in those who that's your thing Greg good to hear Betty on she still hasn't lost her passion for our hospital brings back the memories of when we brought an estimated 15,000 people onto the streets and RT reported it as 6000 probably needs to happen again PS thousands are used for private transportation and sending patients from the ED and home on discharge when they have no home in the early hours etc okay we will go to Michael he might have been we'll come back to him a little later on because as I say they're all incredibly busy aren't they so he'll come with us come on with us in a second right we have Brendan Davani now looking forward to the DL debate reflecting on the weekend's action good morning Brent how are you getting on I don't think you can catch it across I'm hopeful I can't right now I suppose we'll start with the most recent match yesterday 30 years since I went with this magnitude for downings a big result disappointment for Mallon but big result for downings yeah do you know what this time maybe I'm getting a bit mellow as the years go on but yeah you really for the losers in this because it would have meant so much over the weekend the either side the one obviously Mallon who were a senior team for many a year looking to get back to where they believe they belong it's 22 years since as well they were in it in an intermediate the side of it was 30 years for downings and they made it count it was a remarkable story Greg and he think that they just won the junior title in 2021 so brilliant rise to fame for them both of them are operating in division one this year and our two clubs on up and up Mallon last season you know at a very poor championship they didn't want a game so they really come on to this one with a bit between the teeth I know Michael Byrne down there really nice lad and created a real club focus and listen they were right much in it Greg who comes down the wire in these games 11-9 but downings a better side in the day and I'd have to say Kevin Cougie Gellar of course what a top guy is pure GA man and I'm sure they had a big big night in downings last night fully deserved I'd say it'll probably run into weeks if the truth be told and Mallon you feel for them too there was just a snapshot kick right at the death of that game that looked like it was just going to settle it they'd have won by a point so it'll be heartbreak for them Junior final also at the weekend Yeah indeed and I suppose the downing boys can over celebrate they're playing Ballet Hayes of Kevin and Ulster that's the next upflin but yeah Narasa Greg again great backstories to this match Stech and Boner of course the legend of Donegal football to go over the team and as soon as his name was linked with it you think right this is championship time and he got together a great squad there and they were shooting the lights out at times in this championship and Maville unbelievable back story to them Greg with Pat McLaughlin who was soccer manager and it takes on Johnny Quigg I'll handle them Johnny I'm going to play with Johnny at Van Harp's brilliant soccer player coach going to play with Derry City and some of them glory years and that so the two had stick over the team and Quigg there's an interview up in the Highlands side there from last week so in words you know he said the wife I'm going down to manage Maville and he was like Maville self think I'm going to manage a Gaelic to him she was like you know I'm a Gaelic so anyway the two boys stick over Maville and there they are in the final they were a point up with what a minute to go I just felt for them in the game you know we have game management they're a front foot attacking type team and they ended up sitting very deep in the second half I don't think it suited them there probably was a moment in the game where the big midfielder government through there was a goal opportunity on if they hadn't been a couple of points up they might have had enough but there was a bit of extra I think craft and Gael with Narassa particularly with the Oshin Coffield in particular I thought it was first class unfortunately we've less time this week than we normally do there was plenty of other action at the weekend which you'll touch on of course with an eye forward as well because the big one Guidor versus Neve Conlon you're going to have a great team in situ you're doing the show live from Highland Motors is that right? That's it we're going across Highland Motors of course a great sponsors of our sport and shows we're going to do it in their studio with professors up from Guidor Jungle Day, Gary McDade and Brandon Collins coming along so it should be a great show we're going to preview we'll obviously discuss the games from the weekend and then look forward to the big one the crunch senior final Greg so listen there'll be an exciting time ahead and I'm looking forward to the show everybody tune in if you can or listen back or head on radio.com Just after seven thanks so much Brendan really do appreciate it that's Brendan Daveney looking forward to the DL debate we're joined on the program now by Mr Michael Sue Gruh Consultant Surgeon at Lederkenny University Hospital Michael thank you for your time today I really do appreciate it greatly I just would like to say that it's difficult for me to come and talk about this in the open I find it personally distressing and I can understand how other people would have difficulty coming forward and speaking about it so having been here for 16 years and loving the hospital and the patients of the Northwest this is a difficult moment for me Greg We appreciate it and I can understand exactly why you might feel like that but why now then what point have we come to that you and ten of your colleagues from within the hospital have had to issue this public after this public statement of great significance Well we've been thinking about this for some time a lot of thought has gone into this and discussion and wondering can we improve the situation but the sad thing is for the patients we're here to try and improve patient care the sad thing for the patients of the Northwest currently is that their access to patients patient care is difficult the problems are starting in the emergency department but continue throughout the spectrum of the hospital the consultants who signed this are very senior consultants our soul and heart is in the Donegal region and we want our patients to get a fair deal we want them treated in a timely fashion we accept Greg that in the Northwest we can't have certain services because it's not possible and we're not asking for that but we're just asking for our patients to get reasonable access a fair goal and to be appropriately funded so that we can actually provide a service that's safe Why do you believe the funding just short of 7,000 euro per patient at Lettikenny University Hospital which is the 6th busiest hospital in the country can there be any excuse for that no but we can try and make excuses for it and we recognize all the consultants recognize that it's a difficult time in health service delivery across different hospitals every hospital has a difficulty but the difficulties that we're facing are immense we're geographically isolated we don't have access of rail we don't have motorway access and it's very difficult for us we have to have a minimum standard so the reason the figures are so low for our funding is mind-boggling we are the 6th busiest hospital in the country on inpatient data so when people come and work here they are just find it so challenging this is basically the 14th rated funding so this is not fair it's not appropriate and it's time and this is why we followed up on the GP letter because the GPs took a stance 79 GPs said this is unacceptable and now you have 11 senior consultants saying it's unacceptable and there needs to be a mindset change to recognize that there is a problem until people recognize and it's called open disclosure there is a problem and we're saying along with our GP colleagues and reinforcing what they've said there is a problem and working with that and realizing there is a problem then you can start making solutions however you may decide I'm going to fudge the figures and say okay yes St James's hospital is a level 4 so therefore their patients are going to get more money and that's understandable because some of the complexity is greater but in black and white it doesn't fit another secretary is Dr Louise Moran who's a consultant and an ethicist I'm sure good morning to you Louise thank you for your time we heard from Mr Sugru the heartfelt upset really of having to have this conversation out in the open are those emotions that you share with Mr Sugru it is really difficult I think if there was an easy solution we would have we would have solved the problem already I think there are numerous people within this hospital that have tried for years to improve the service talking from individual consultants departments, the management have to be included in this have made loads of efforts with loads of projects but they are constantly failing because of lack of funding, lack of resources and a significantly inadequate number of beds the space in the hospital is not enough for the population of Donegal well just on that point Louise sorry to cut across you the HSE has released quite a lengthy statement too lengthy for me to go through while I'm on air but they recognise that an extra 91 additional beds are needed at LUH by 2013 and then they talk about development control plans and all this type of stuff when you hear that does that answer some of your concerns do you so to say right okay well they get it 91 beds by 2030 I'm sure they'll be delivered you know from your position when you hear that what does it say to you it says it's a little a little late there was not enough beds when I started here 11 and 12 years ago there have been loads of plans to talk about expansion of the hospital but nothing I understand a big department like the HSE moved slowly but it's extremely slowly but I think we're talking about the difference in funding and we're talking about model 4 hospitals having a much higher funding because of complexity and some of the people that are affected from the rural communities into Dublin but if you look at Sligo hospital they have significantly more funding and they're really on a per to us in terms of service it's double it's not far off double the funding yeah and it's not just the beds it's as well as it's the it's the services such as neurology there's no neurologist there's no E&T service they are they come and they visit and they do out patients there's no dermatology there's no rheumatology the people of Donny Ghoul with no infrastructure no travel infrastructure have to travel a furthest out of every single hospital in the country and it's just consistently poor so yes there's beds coming down the line yes there's little projects but there's been projects all along that are pulled the urology service had a great rapid assessment unit but then it had to be removed because we needed more inpatient beds because it isn't acceptable to leave patients on chairs in the emergency department so I mean I do feel for the management here they're stuck and I actually think that this problem is above their pay grades we need to be going to the government to the Ministry of Health and saying this is actually a hospital in crisis now and we need urgent help now and not in seven or eight years time so in their response Mr. Soogrew they say they're working on a range of investment and development projects and extension to the EDs being progress increasing staff at LUH works underway across the group and LUH to address challenges to the radiology services there's a significant work taking place to progress discharges and treat patients and they list that off and they talk of this meeting older people at the front door frail to the front door but we for no one's encountered that but apparently it's in place at the ED but Mr. Soogrew are they just re-enouncing stuff that you've heard at meetings and that or is there anything in this that speaks to you and says right they've heard our concerns and now there may be perhaps going to do something about it because listeners if I just read that they might go wow okay that was quick things are going to get better now so I'd like your assessment to that Michael if that's possible yes well these are commendable things that they have put forward but the reality is on a day-to-day basis there are patients some are potentially dying from inability to get timely care some are losing organs some are having adverse outcomes so this is a crisis that actually has to be addressed in the next four to eight weeks where there is a plan in action taken with set timelines so in terms of the services in the hospital we need to be able to have cardiology consults we need diabetes and we need to be able to get our patients in for their elective surgery so they're not being presenting as emergencies so no yes it's commendable but no it's not going to work and the management here have made efforts and they need now to be supported by the Department of Health and the HSC and the minister to say yes we recognize this is a rather unique problem and we are going to come and help you it is totally unacceptable for people not to be able to receive timely treatment so when we're on call we're down in the emergency department climbing over bodies trying to examine people I actually offered to examine a patient on the floor on my last on call I'm on call this week and it is barbaric it is inhumane undignified and it's not right for the people of the Northwest and people need to get up and stand up for their right as a human being to get appropriately dignified timely treatment not all treatment will ever be available in our hospital and we accept that Louise I mean incredibly strong but well thought out words it's clear that this is we're not speaking off the top of our heads here but you know it's a real eye opener Louise but obviously something that you're Dr Louise Moore and you're very familiar with yourself yeah and I can give you an example a lot of the the improvements that you've talked about are welcome we have heard about them but they're a long time coming and I'll give you an example within my area obviously we are the doctors that are running the intensive care unit the intensive care unit is a five bedded unit that was built when the catchment area for the hospital in the 80s was 50,000 people it's now 160,000 there was an inquiry and a coroner's inquest into an there's a coroner's inquest back in 2016 2017 and a report that let it only needed a 15 bedded critical care unit to cover a high dependency unit and an ICU and that was from an incident that happened in 2013 and here we are in 2023 and we have a five bedded intensive care unit and we got funded for one extra nurse but there's nowhere physically to put that patient so we have a small room off the surgical ward which accounts as as our sixth bed for intensive care but it's geographically distant and not a safe place to be in terms of intensive care nursing and there is an interim plan to put a 10 bedded critical care unit which has stalled because it needs HSE funding above the level that Sean Murphy is allowed to approve of a few hundred thousand and the HSE estates haven't replied and here we are going into another winter with a five bedded intensive care unit for a population that really needs a 15 bedded critical care unit that has been, that was highlighted in 2017 or 18, I might have the dates slightly wrong but highlighted a number of years ago that has not progressed and that is not from Sean Murphy not wanting to try, that is not from us, you know, pleading with sale to but even this is above sale to this is HSE estates and they are thinking about it, we haven't got the funding approved yet still and there are people on the wards enough to get out of ED who are deteriorating and can't be taken to a safe safe place to have the best care because it's not physically there OK, we're in a relatively mild October but we saw in August a situation Dr More and whereby there were no ambulances available because the patients couldn't be gotten off them and get them away so we're not even in winter yet how worried are you for winter, we heard Mr Sugru talking about something needed done within the next four to eight weeks but if this falls on death how concerned are you for the winter that lies ahead I am worried I am worried every winter people are stretched and it is affecting the morale in the hospital and the nurses work so hard and I think you'll find every patient that comes in is not critical of the nurses or the doctors they are working their best in a very difficult environment it's very hard for an emergency department to run when they only have one cubicle space left and then they have the corridors lined with patients sitting in chairs and I think I'm a slightly remote service because we only get called for the very sick patients in the emergency department or maybe to go and help put a line in but I have to walk past people to the resuscitation area and I feel terrible walking past them to go to a very sick patient and they're sitting lined up in chairs and there are probably patients in their 70s and 80s on drips for over 24 hours in a row and it's heart breaking to see and there's nothing that I can do and it's unfortunately only going to get worse what's your morale like Louise what's your morale like I'm sure you could ply your trade in many different places probably with the greater climate more money what's your morale like at the moment next question no please we have a really lovely department and we work with a lovely bunch of nurses in intensive care and theatres and we have a very active anaesthetic department we have a lot of senior trainees that come from the rest of the country here more so than the rest of the hospital with the morale within our department we are relatively shielded from the atrocities of our emergency department so I think the physicians are really really struggling they are working so hard and so many hours and they're difficulty filling their posts and I really want to give them a hand but I don't know how to but without the resources it's very very hard and there's one more thing the HSE has the hospital groups and within each hospital group every hospital is meant to have one for medicine one for perioperative but within sales they decided that they'd have a clinical director in Galway and associate clinical directors here so the clinicians here are not given the time they're given four hours a week whereas in Galway and every other hospital in the country they're given two full days a week to try and solve these problems so they're very much firefighting rather than being able to proactively go out and do things just to have this reduced non-recommended so finally and not both you're on call and incredibly busy so in ways that we can understand because what you issued was you know it's a medical document almost in terms of what's required so what has to happen as immediately midterm, medium term there has to be a recognition and a statement from the Department of Health and the HSE that the current level of support for this hospital and the plan is not adequate they have to listen to the GPs and the consultants who are saying enough is enough for our patients our patients deserve better we don't want them dying in the emergency department we don't want them dying in a recovery room waiting for an ICU bed there has to be a plan to encompass across medicine, surgery endocrine, urology, cardiology and particularly if we order an x-ray we should be able to get an x-ray we need more radiologists and it's not about the morale of the staff it's about patient care if you can provide good patient care you have a great morale what we're finding is because of the difficulties in providing basic clinical care Greg people don't want to work here and this is the challenge it's a challenge in recruitment and retention across consultant nursing allied health and this has to stop I want to be really clear and really fair on this program in terms of where responsibility lies not only in just my questions but in sort of reading out responses I presume you guys in management locally are on the same page if it were within we can't speak on this behalf but the hospital general manager to sign this can any of you talk to that is this an external problem as I say I just want to make sure that the tone of this is correct going forward it is very difficult Greg to sign a letter like I've just signed along with 10 or 11 colleagues it is one of the most difficult things I've had to do in my 30 years as a consultant to say there's a problem where I work everyone has had difficulty signing this letter I know there are consequences and we fear the consequences of this the management must be supported externally they're not empowered our local management are not empowered to solve this problem nor does it appear that the sale the group are it has to come from the department of health the HSE and the minister to say enough is enough and Dr Louise you don't face sanction for this do you or could you no I don't think we do face sanction but I think I think whilst the management are fully aware of the problems and they're working towards them I think they would rather they had been kept internal I think they would they are concerned that it would only add to the recruitment problem for Donnie Gore if they feel that a bunch of consultants are standing up and saying hang on a second our hospital is not great but actually I think it shows great that we have come together and say we want better for our patients we want our patients to have a better outcome to have a better experience in the hospital and that might not be popular with management for me to be sitting here and saying that but do I feel that I can thank hopefully not but no I don't think they will sanction me Dr Louise Moran thank you so much for your time and thanks for the great work that you do also the same to you Mr Michael Sugar we do appreciate it and we recognise how difficult this is for you hopefully it's a means to an end though and something positive comes from it but for now thank you so very much indeed and thank you for highlighting it and bringing it to the attention of the nation no problem thank you very much indeed that's what we try and do here on the Ninetal Noon Show 08 660 25000 WhatsApps and texts to that number will give us a call on 07491 25000 The Counties number one talk show The Ninetal Noon Show on Highland Radio Brian McCormick sports and leisure supporting you with the right footwear Hoka Trainers have you tried the Hoka sensation yet? 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So save 7,000 euro on your new electric Megane today. Visit your local dealer to find out more. T's and C's apply. See Renault Dahai. Now there is a new book just published on the 12th of October. John Hume, the persuader, its author is Stephen Walker and he joins us on the programme now. Stephen, thank you so very much for your time today. Nice to talk to you. Good to have you with us. A lot, a lot of work went into this and I suppose it had to be given the subject of the book. It had to get all of your, all of the skills that you've acquired over your career into this. Well, he's a big figure. He was a big figure in Irish history, a big figure in world history and he led many lives. And I started to think about writing this book when John Hume died back in 2020. Obviously as a journalist with the BBC over 30 odd years, I interviewed him in many places in London, in Belfast in Derry. I was well aware of his political career, but it was only when he died that I began to realise that there were many layers to John Hume. There was John Hume, the young man who was possibly going to be a priest. There was John Hume, the teacher. There was John Hume, the civil rights activist. There was even John Hume, the fish salesman, which I didn't know an awful lot about because he set up a smoked salmon co-operative in Derry. So there was a lot to look at and I spent quite some time talking to friends and family and particularly his family and without the help and support of his family, this would be a much lesser book and they have been very kind and patient to me, although I have to stress it is not an authorised biography. So you're absolutely right. There was an awful lot to look at. Yeah, and indeed and over 100 odd interviews. Many of them with John Hume himself and some that had here to fore gone unpublished. Talk to me a little bit about that. Well, what's quite interesting about that is that the publishers who have published this are Gill books down in Dublin and they had tried to do a memoir with John Hume 20 years ago back in 2002, 2003, and they commissioned a series of interviews. So when I was talking to the publishers about the possibility of publishing this book, they told me that they had these 25 unpublished interviews and that if I if we work together, then we could put those in the book and that's exactly what they've done. He sat down with a local journalist called Frank Darcy and over a period of time did a series of interviews that he was interviewed. John Hume's wife Pat was interviewed and Pat Hume is a central figure in the story of John Hume and she's a central figure in the book as well. And there was also an interview with John's brother Patsy. So that's really nice that I'm able to bring new material to the table that we haven't seen before. Some of those you interviewed would have been critics of John Hume. How did you strike their balance there to sort of tell the whole story from different perspectives, but at the same time for it not to come across that that you maybe went too far in trying to strike that if that makes sense. Well, I suppose I use my BBC training and I try to encompass all views as best I could. You know, I hope the book the book is balanced. I hope the book is fair. You know, and the family are not expecting a hagiography and I've made it very, very clear that this is not a hagiography. This is neither is it to use a tabloid term, a hatchet job. So I spoke to people, people within the party who were even critical of his party leadership. And there are people in the book that think John Hume was a brilliant political leader and a brilliant political strategist. But they have criticisms of the way that he ran the party. Likewise, there are others in other political parties who feel he should have done things differently. So there are people from the Unionist community who have concerns about the way that John Hume said certain things. And so I'd like to think what I'm trying to present is a rounded figure. And John Hume was a complex man. We are all complex. None of us are perfect. We all have many faults and idiosyncrasies. And I hope I've been able to get across some of John Hume's particular idiosyncrasies. I mean, you've been covering politics for 30 plus years across Northern Ireland and would have been very familiar with John Hume. Obviously, you learned about perhaps him selling fish. That was something new. But outside of that, maybe more on a personal level. Is there anything about Mr. Hume that you learned through this process that you're surprised you weren't aware of over the over the previous 30 years? Well, I think what struck me particularly was the level of networking that he did. His level of networking, which I was aware of, but I wasn't aware of to the extent of it. And over the years, he built up the most amazing network of contacts in Belfast, in Derry, in London, in Washington, and of course, in Europe. And very early on, he realized that if there was to be a solution to the troubles of Northern Ireland, it could not be solved in Northern Ireland alone. The people of Northern Ireland needed help. And the politicians of Northern Ireland needed help. And you couldn't look at Northern Ireland in isolation. And I think once you start to study the way that John Hume handled himself politically, you get a great sense of the networking that he did. And that led to him having enormous influence. You reached a point in the peace process, particularly when the Americans were involved. And obviously, the UK government would look at the Americans. And the Americans would often say, let's just pause. What does John Hume think? And to get that level of interest in the White House, in the office of the most powerful man in the world, gives you an indication of the kind of influence that John Hume had. For fascinating stuff. Now, most people would know the parts of John Hume's life. But then obviously, in the latter years, in the final years of his life, you know, we weren't as exposed to as much as we had been in the past. You give us a bit of an insight into those final years. A glimpse, I think, has described us into the final years of his life. Yes, obviously, he had dementia, and he wasn't able to remember some of the things, some of the key things he was involved in, the Hume Adams, the Good Friday agreement, the peace process. And he didn't really get the retirement that he probably should have deserved. What's interesting about the latter years of John Hume is that he was surrounded by a blanket of love. He was surrounded by a blanket of love by the people of Derry, because he used to go walking the streets of Derry, and Pat Hume didn't really worry about him, because she knew that somebody would offer him a lift home. Somebody would say, Oh, there's John Hume when they wind down the window and say, John, do you want to lift home when they take him home? Or if he was out having a cup of tea or a drink, someone would make sure he got home. So Pat Hume is on record as saying she found Derry to be a very dementia friendly city. So she was very, and I thought that was quite nice in the way that here was a city in a sense, saying thank you to a man who had looked after them and represented them and fought for them. And then in his final years, when he needed a bit of help and support, the favor was being returned. And I thought that was quite nice. And then in his later years, obviously, he was in a home very close to the border. And he was looked after very lovingly and caringly by the staff there. And the family were very pleased about the level of care he got. And one of his carers is Amy McCloskey. She is in the book, she talks for the first time about the love and care that John was given in the home. And the fact that even though large parts of his memory had gone, he was still able to sing. He was still able to sing in English, in Irish, and in French. So he was still able to to perform. And there are some nice moments towards the end of John Hume's life. And Amy McCloskey speaks about that in the book. Yeah, and I'm sure you really felt you've sort of talked on a little earlier. The desire maybe even pressured to get this right. And you're happy with that, obviously, I think, and it's been received. It's been received in a way that would tell you that you've got this right. Well, people will always criticise, you know, we're flawed and we're sorry. I say stay off Twitter, you'll be okay. So, you know, people will always have an opinion, people may dispute Oh, I think your interpretation is slightly wrong there or whatever. But I mean, I've tried to use as many sources as I can. I've spoken to family, I've spoken to friends, I've spoken to colleagues, I've spoken to political rivals. And I've had to do an awful lot of transcripts. Because as you know, very well, 100 interviews means 100 transcripts. I'm afraid that's a lot of trees. I'm sorry about that. But nonetheless, so there's a lot of people. So I've tried to make sure that that where I'm using sources, that they are properly sourced, that I'm based on what people exactly told me. But there are always going to be people that that may question certain things. Of course. And it's beautifully put together and very accessible. The way it's been laid out to for people to to read and enjoy. Stephen, it's available, presumably from all all the the the usual places. It is it's available, as they say, the cliche, all good book shops. It's available on the internet as well. But I'd love it if you went to your local bookstore, that would be brilliant. But it certainly is a bit widely interesting because John Hume was a regular at the likes of the McGill Summer School, he had a property in Moville. And so there'll be a lot of interest here right across the Northwest in Donegal. He was a he was a big fan of Donegal. And Donegal is a very important part of the John Hume story. Yep. Okay. Read all about it in John Hume, The Persuader. Stephen Walker, thank you so very much and congratulations on a great piece of work. I appreciate it. Thank you. Bye bye. Take care of yourself. Oh wait, 60, 25,000 WhatsApps and texts to that number. Okay, we're heading towards the end of the show. Stay where you are. The eagerly anticipated brand new production of the Broadway smash hit musical sister act is on its way to the board gosh energy theater in Dublin. 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All tiles, all wood flooring, all outdoor slabs, cladding and bathware, everything slashed in price. This sale is not to be missed. Right price tiles and wood flooring biggest ever half price sale extended until Sunday. We all need to top up now and again. If you're a pregnant, your flu and COVID-19 vaccines will give your immune system the top up it needs to help protect you in the months ahead. Both flu and COVID-19 can cause serious illness and pregnancy and your vaccines will help protect you and your baby. So put a vaccine appointment on your to do list or talk to your doctor or midwife. Visit hsc.ie for more information from the hsc. Highland radio weather updates with Ireland West airport where you can now fly daily to London Heathrow with their lingus and connect via Heathrow to over 80 destinations worldwide including Boston, New York and more. Okie doke today mostly dry with sunny spills and just isolated showers cool with highest temperatures today 10 to 12 degrees in a light to moderate east to south east wind. Lissia Ramsey is a teacher at ATU. Oh sorry a teacher with Maths Learning Centre and joins us on the program now. Lissia good morning. Hi good morning Greg how are you? I am good. Maths week started on Saturday October 14th continues until the 22nd of October. It's a celebration of maths. Maths is exciting if you're interested in it isn't it? Oh yeah of course it is very exciting and inspiring and this is maybe the point of maths week is try to change people's attitude towards mathematics so they get to like it and have more success with it also to make it available to all people of all backgrounds all ages and all of all that is. I presume people sort of go well why didn't I've learned that at school and I've never used it it's a waste of time but presumably when maths is not just about maths itself it helps us learn other things and retain other information I'm sure. Yeah it's it's quite like maybe the language of the universe but maybe that's a bit much but it is you know it's got a lot of practical uses it's used in almost everything you come across every trade that you do most professions will also use mathematics and all the STEM subjects are all underlined by mathematics you know. So what's coming up over the next week or up until the 22nd and how can people get involved? Okay well what we're doing at the Maths Learning Centre with the ATU is we're holding a series of maths workshops tomorrow Tuesday the 17th of October we are presenting them we're presenting a column Malkahi he is an Irish mathematician and he will be doing the workshops he is professor emeritus of Spellman College Atlanta USA and he's a recognized expert in recreational maths so he will bring maths to life in a very fun and exciting way he's like very like very he's an academic columnist a book author a blogger and he has puzzles in the New York Times but his main his main interests at the minute are math and magical card magic algebra number theory and geometry and he's worked with Maths Week for several years now. So we are delighted that he's coming. And is the space available Lucia or how can how could people sign up if there are? Unfortunately with us the space is it's fully booked and it has been for a while yeah we really need to build a capacity to take it take on more students especially national students you know we have four sessions going the two with the national schools are totally booked up the secondary school session is totally booked up and then the only session that has availability and that's because we just decided to try it on Friday is we're doing a surprise one hour for ATU students from half 10 to half 11 and lecture theatre one one or two and that that's it but next day is that Lucia tomorrow okay fantastic stuff so I mean it's a huge response like almost nine nine thousand seven hundred pupils have signed up in Donegal alone that's just in this county yeah yeah it's a massive this has been growing it's like the third highest next to like the young scientist of the year and Ireland's science week this is the next biggest thing brilliant okay and the maths learning centre are you on the web on the web if people want to check out what's going on there yeah we'll probably you'll be better off getting it through mathsweek.ie okay they have they have uh maths mathsweek news you know tv events schedules resources information activities everything brilliant okay Lucia thank you so much for that enjoy the rest of the maths week okay and thank you for having me it's our pleasure thank you very much indeed that's Lucia Ramsey their teacher with maths learning centre we're towards the end of the program here but let's uh read some of your comments and we've had hundreds so every time as I just literally read the first word of one every time so if we don't get to all of them today of course which we couldn't we'll carry them over to tomorrow there are people that the government should be listening to the government have failed us for years and now it's falling apart could we not be looking to use the old St Connell's campus in some capacity money is going to be wasted looking about a rail service in Donegal which will never happen anyway millions has already been wasted on the four lane project which in reality is two new footpaths two cycle lanes and a couple are sets of lights that's more to it than that but I take your point every time I hear about the health care in Donegal I'm outraged we're sending buses to Galway it's just so shocking that this is actually happening hi Greg thank you and sincere thanks to those wonderful consultants what do we as a people where in God's name are our politicians and all of this do we protest on foot dear God we did it for war for a few years but we need to support the doctors and consultants who were speaking up now what can we do well hold your fire because the GPs have said that if action is not seen to be taken place that they will lead protests and they will be part of protests and you will be able to vent your frustrations with your feet I don't think it should be underestimated to have two top consultants at Latter-Canary University Hospital coming out and particularly with Mr. Sue Grew some of the language he used to describe conditions at the hospital it's it doesn't happen very often it happened today here in the 9 till noon show I commend these doctors consultants for speaking up it's becoming impossible and incredibly challenging to their morale who wants to work in a place where it's becoming impossible to do your work patient care is paramount and we the people of the north west now need to get behind these doctors and nurses what's really going on with the crisis that the hospital asks the caller we just here we are the forgotten county etc in terms of funding but this excuse doesn't add up it's a strategic plan by the government they ask the funding is available but for some reason they just ain't given it to Donegal Hospital to sort out the mess it really is unbelievable the state of health care in Latter-Canary University Hospital is like a third world country well that's a big thrust to the conversation we've been having we've been highlighting on numerous occasions today and before the funding gap and it was interesting from Louise Dr Louise there Sligo is very very similar to Latter-Canary University Hospital but they get double the money per patient why is that and how can that be acceptable we'll continue with this topic and more of course when we return with the 9 till noon show tomorrow morning from 9 from me Greg Hughes and Donna Marie Daugherty researched and produced have a lovely Monday stay tuned