Archive for August 2009

Pharmacists accuse HSE over contingency plan

August 1, 2009 Donegal News & Sport, Leitrim News & Sport, Sligo News & Sport No comments

 

Irish Pharmacy Union

Irish Pharmacy Union

 

Liz Hoctor, President of the Irish Pharmacy Union  IPU has accused the HSE of failing to meet its legal responsibility to patients, particularly in places like Donegal.

“The Minister assured the Dail that there would be a workable contingency plan which would ensure that all patients have access to the medicine they need including those who cannot afford them.

“It is clear that the HSE has failed in this regard and it is now incumbent on them to admit that there are areas of this country without adequate pharmacy cover. The HSE and the Minister should recognise this dangerous situation immediately as ultimately responsibility for patients and their care rests with the Minister,” she claimed.

The IPU believes that under the HSE contingency plan pharmacy cover in areas such as Waterford, Wexford, Cavan, Donegal, Kerry, Connemara and Mayo will be totally insufficient to meet patient demand and that this could lead to dangerous situations.

Liz Hoctor pointed out that the IPU had raised many of their concerns with the HSE but had not received any response.

“The HSE says it is setting up a dozen dispensaries around the country. Will they all be open tomorrow?

Will there be sufficient staff?

Will they have a full range of medicines?

What are their opening hours?

What after hours services will be provided?

Will they be able to deliver medicines to patients/Collect medicines from surgeries?

Will their help line be open on a twenty four hour basis?

Do they have the necessary equipment such as computer systems, refrigeration facilities, security systems?

Have they been licensed?

Will their staff have the knowledge and experience to spot mistakes in prescriptions?

Will they provide monitored dosage systems to patients?

 

These are some of the questions we raised with the HSE on behalf of our patients but as usual we received no response.’

She said she deeply regretted any worry or distress caused to patients who will be adversely affected by the current situation. She knew the decision by pharmacists to withdraw from these schemes was taken with the utmost reluctance.

Pharmacy War – Day 1

August 1, 2009 Donegal News & Sport, Leitrim News & Sport, Sligo News & Sport No comments
Pharmacy War - Day 1

Pharmacy War - Day 1

The HSE say that 100 pharmacies have withdrawn ther termination notices to serve medicines under thye State Drug scheme and that nationally over 1,100 continue to provide services.

In the ongoing battle with pharmacists, they issued another statement this afternoon. 

In it they say that over 100 pharmacies, in addition to the 200 received earlier this week, had withdrawn their termination notices and will continue to fill prescriptions under the State Drug Scheme.

“Reports from every HSE base around the country indicate that there is no significant extra burden being placed on participating pharmacies due to the withdrawal of 500 pharmacies from the State Drug Schemes. The HSE’s alternative dispensing facilities are also fully operational today and in compliance with all regulations, ” they say. 

They say that it’s the patient’s choice as to which pharmacy they go to for their medicines under the State Drugs Schemes and every pharmacy is contractually obliged to accept patients under the Schemes.

 ”The HSE has received reports that a small number of participating pharmacies are refusing to fill State Drug Scheme prescriptions for new clients. Participating pharmacies who refuse to fill a State Drugs Scheme prescription are in breach of their contract with the HSE.

“This refusal could also raise professional practice concerns and the HSE will be taking this matter up both with individual pharmacies and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland as required.”

 The HSE’s Infoline has received modest number of calls from the public (circa 60) by lunchtime today, they added.

The HSE Info Line is 1850 24 1850, which is open from 8am until 8pm today.

Golf stars of the future compete at Connaught Open Golf event

August 1, 2009 Irish News & Sport No comments
M O'Sullivan (Secretary of GUI Connaught, Kieran Lynch Skibbereen (Winner of Connaught U18 Boys Open), Eugene Carroll (Captain Castle Dargan Golf Club)

M O'Sullivan (Secretary of GUI Connaught, Kieran Lynch Skibbereen (Winner of Connaught U18 Boys Open), Eugene Carroll (Captain Castle Dargan Golf Club)

Castle Dargan Golf Club in Sligo played host to the 2009 Connaught Boys Amateur Open Championship from the 27th to the 29th July, a highlight on the Irish golfing calendar.

 

150 competitors, representing clubs from across the country took part in the competition which was held amidst testing weather conditions.

 The boys with handicaps of 5 or better battled it out for two rounds of superb golf on Monday and Tuesday with the top 39 players progressing to the final day.

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The competition was eventually won outright by one stroke by Kieran Lynch from Skibbereen with two time winner and defending champion from County Sligo Golf Club Michael Durkan taking second place.

The championship course at Castle Dargan proved a test for the young golfers and stands testament to its place in the Top 100 golf courses in Ireland.

Terrible Five death crash tragedy recalled at Inquest

August 1, 2009 Donegal News & Sport No comments
The deaths of the five young people were reaclled at yesterday's Inquest

The deaths of the five young people were recalled at yesterday's Inquest

The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of five young people, who were coming home from a night out at a Donegal nightclub in Redcastle, only to be killed by a drink driver coming in the opposite direction and in the wrong lane, was recalled yesterday at Letterkenny Coroners Court.

 

Gavin Duffy (21), Charlene O’Connor (21), Darren Quinn (21), Rochelle Peoples (22), all from Buncrana, and David Steel (23) from Quigley’s Point, died instantly on October 8th, 2005, when the black Peugeot car in which they were travelling was hit by a blue Mazda car driven by Brendan Henderson of Seven Oaks, Derry.

 

Henderson was later jailed for four years for causing the deaths. A blood sample taken from him in Derry’s Altnagelvin hospital showed that he was more than twice over the alcohol legal limit.

 

On the other hand Coroner Dr John Madden said that young Gavin Duffy, who had been driving the car in which the fatalities occurred, was “as sober as a judge and no blame could be attached to him or the four passengers.”

 

It was recalled at the inquest that Dr Justus Breur pronounced all five dead at the scene.

 

The coroner, Dr Madden said cause of death was due to multiple injuries in a road traffic accident and that “death would have been instantaneous such was the ferocity and severity of the injuries they all suffered.”

 

The jury brought in a verdict of death due to injuries sustained in a road traffic accident.

 

Extending his sincere sympathy to the families of the five victims, Dr Madden said the deaths had in Donegal “touched the population in a way that was totally different”.

Mayo solidier died unlawfully – Inquest

August 1, 2009 Sligo News & Sport No comments

 

Robert McKibben, the Irish man who was killed in Afghanistan

Robert McKibben, the Irish man who was killed in Afghanistan

An Irish man who was serving in the British Army, but who was killed while travelling in an armoured vehicle in Afghanistan was unlawfully killed, an inquest decided yesterday.

 

Robert McKibben (32) from Westport in County Mayo was killed along with another soldier, Neil Dunstan in the same incident which took place in November 2008.

 

The armoured vehicle they were travelling in, was hit by an explosive device in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.

 

The Inquest was held in Wiltshire, England.

 

Mr McKibben had joined the Royal Marines at the age of 27 after completing his training. He was a member of J Company 42 Commando.

 

He had also been a member before that of the Irish Reserve Defence Force, the FCA. He left Westport when he was 18.

Donegal soccer leagues & Brian McCormick Cup

August 1, 2009 Irish News & Sport No comments
Brian McCormick soccer fixtures

Brian McCormick soccer fixtures

All Donegal League clubs are reminded to complete registration forms correctly. A new photograph will be required for each player. All parts of the form must be completed, date of birth, address and previous clubs.

Any player under 18 must have the consent part of the form completed by a parent or guardian and must supply a copy of their long birth cert. All registrations must be sent to the Registrar by registered post and include the appropriate fee €10 for adults, €5 for youth players. Any youth player already registered with the Donegal Youth League does not have to pay a second registration fee.

The transfer window remains open to the end of September. All transfers including the €30 fee should be sent to the Registrar. Regrading letters should be sent to the League Secretary.

Please note new contact numbers for executive members

 

Secretary                               Nigel Ferry  0879964188

Fixtures Secretary                   Christina O’Donnell   0872969877

Registrar/Discipline             Terry Leyden  0879961409

Referee Appointments            Jimmy Haughey  0879001786

PRO                                        George Mc Mullin 0872910834

 

Brian McCormick Sports Cup

 

Donegal Town Area

Round One            Sunday August 23rd 2pm

A              Letterbarrow Celtic             v            St Catherine’s

B            Drumbar FC Bye

C         Eany Celtic              V            Dunkineely Celtic

D            Donegal Town            V            Copany Rovers

 

Round Two Wednesday August 26th 6 – 30pm

 

(i)         A            v            C

(ii)        D            v            B

 

Round Three Sunday August 30th 2pm

 

            (i)            v            (ii)

 

 

Lifford Area

 

Round One            Sunday August 23rd 2pm

A         Deele Harps              v            Lifford Celtic

B            Ballybofey united            v            Raphoe Town

C            Curragh Athletic            v            Cappry Rovers

D            Drumoghill FC            v            Castlefinn Celtic

 

Round Two Wednesday August 26th 6 – 30pm

(i)         A            v            C

(ii)        D            v            B

 

Round Three Sunday August 30th 2pm

            (i)            v            (ii)

 

Gweedore  Area

 

Round One            Sunday August 23rd 2pm

A              Glenree United            v            Gweedore Celtic

B            Dunlewey Celtic            v            Gweedore United

C            Keadue Rovers            v            Arranmore United

D            Glenea United            v            Cranford United

 

Round Two Wednesday August 26th 6 – 30pm

 

(i)         A            v            C

(ii)        D            v            B

 

Round Three Sunday August 30th 2pm

 

            (i)            v            (ii)

 

 

Letterkenny/Milford  Area

 

Round One            Sunday August 23rd 2pm

A              Bonagee United            v            Rathmullan Celtic

B         Milford United  Bye

C            Kerrykeel 71 Club            v            Lagan Harps

D            Whitestrand United            v            Rathmullan Celtic

 

Round Two Wednesday August 26th 6 – 30pm

 

(i)         A            v            C

(ii)        D            v            B

 

Round Three Sunday August 30th 2pm

 

            (i)            v            (ii)

Semi Finals

Donegal Town Area             v            Letterkenny Area

Lifford Area                            v            Gweedore Area