Gardaí keep open mind on cause of factory blaze

By Sean O’Riordan

Friday, January 27, 2012

Gardaí say they’re keeping “an open mind” on how a fire started at a former factory in Co Cork.

It took fire brigade crews from three different stations several hours to put out the fire at the former Seafield Technological Textiles factory in Youghal, only for it to re-ignite yesterday.

According to gardaí, smoke was spotted pouring out of the building, which is close to Perks amusements, on the Cork Road, at around 1pm on Wednesday.

The emergency services were alerted by a passerby and local fire crews were joined by units from Ardmore and Midleton.

Part of the building was extensively gutted and an asbestos roof caved in.

The fire brigade crews remained at the scene for six hours to continue damping down operations.

However, they were tasked again to the scene yesterday morning after the fire re-ignited.

A garda spokesman said they were awaiting a full report from forensic experts who examined the scene and were trying to determine how the fire was started.

Read more: http://www.examiner.ie

YOUGHAL HOSPITAL FACING BED CLOSURES – Writes Christy Parker

YOUGHAL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL faces bed closures in the coming months due to a reduction in its 2012 budget and an embargo on staff recruitment. Three staff members who are due to retire next month will not be replaced, either permanently or through agency recruitment. This will bring to six the number of non-replaced staff retirements in the past twelve months, inevitability leading to a loss of beds as the roster becomes unsustainable.

The cut backs fall under the terms of the National Service Plan published yesterday, which entails a €750m reduction in funding for services nationally

As yet the number of likely bed closures is uncertain and the hospital was unable to comment. However Cllr Barbara Murray, who represents Cork County Council on the Primary and Community Care Committee of HSE South, says “there is talk of eight beds being closed, but nothing is set in stone as yet.” As bad as prospects now, further retirements or staff losses may well arise in the coming years or even months, placing yet further pressure on the care centre to maintain bed spaces.

The hospital currently employs 58 full and part-time staff working on ‘whole-time equivalent’ rotas. They manage 38 beds, comprising 30 continuing care, four respite, two convalescent and two hospice units. “There is a constant demand for beds and a waiting list for admittance,” according to. “Any bed closures or reduction in service will have a serious impact on the local community, for whom the hospital provides a crucial service.”

It is understood that a meeting between the HSE and hospital representatives failed to alter the HSE stance, while further meetings are likely. Cllr Murray says she also hopes to meet with Mr. Ger Reiney, the HSE’s Local Area Manager to discuss the situation in the coming weeks. Cllr Murray adds that up to three times as many beds may close in Midleton.

A spokesman for HSE South says it expects “an increase in the numbers of staff retiring due to a change in pension entitlements after February 2012. We are reviewing the impact on each community hospital of such retirements or departures. The HSE will be unable to continue to replace these staff using agency staff and has prepared a number of contingency plans designed to maintain safe staffing levels and to minimise the impact on patient services.” The spokesman concludes, “Regional Service Plan will follow and we should be able to issue figures and procedures by the end of the January

Related Article: HSE spent €1.43m to hold TB man

 

Christmas Eve – By Christy Parker

Bated breath, eyes open wide, anticipation wells inside

On the night that culminates past the ‘father of all waits’

Visions of a laden sleigh crossing moonbeams on its way

Induce each hour to tease and test young brittle minds that cannot rest

And who, propelled on shoeless feet, hasten toothpaste across teeth

Lest that wise man knowing why, should see them sleepless and pass by

So scrambled sheets secure and tell the all-seeing eye that all is well

Where palms pressed hard by little fingers authenticate the wait that lingers

Like a song whose chorus when, it finishes starts up again

Is that a noise upon the roof? Could it be a reindeer’s hoof?…

If you’re awake he’ll turn and go, so shut those eyes that he won’t know

But angels gliding by your bed wrap you in sleep and dreams instead

Of morning time that will shed light on the magic of that night

In coloured packages of paper that cannot wait a second later

For young hands that tear in fear that they might somehow disappear

Before the joys so wound and bound inside the packages are found

Meeting friends from far away, home for Christmas, not to stay

Noisy bar in beer-gut scrudge, with precious little scope to budge

Brain engaged in one last push to somehow win that counter rush

Then laden with the liquid force, squeeze back to rejoin the discourse

Now sprouting through intoxication wings of wild imagination

And answering the clarion call of bonhomie and alcohol

Soars you past the stifling clouds of mediocrity and crowds

To the rightful place where you belong: upon the throne of chat and song

An erstwhile Queen amongst your peers in the War of Lending Ears

Your voice is resonant in glory through every charge of joke and story

But the battles not being lost, impose on you that loathsome cost

Of wilting balance, muscles weary, vessels swollen, red eyes bleary

Yet, one more round -make it a double- in this rosy Christmas bubble

Not quite ready to be burst while there remains this ego thirst

Until you cross the beer-strewn floor towards the night and your front door,

Remembering in lurching pause, tonight Mum, you are Santa Claus.

 

“Christmas Eve” taken from  ‘Don’t Step In The Poems’ by Christy Parker available at Alan Prim’s Bookshop, 6 South Main St, Youghal. Co. Cork. Phone: +353 (024)92781

SAVE YOUGHAL AMBULANCE PROTEST ILLUSTRATES REALITY
By Christy Parker   

The Save Youghal Ambulance Group’s latest protest against the HSE ‘s proposed changes to the east Cork ambulance service included dramatic simulations of a fatal car accident and a resuscitation scene.

Those attending last Saturday’s demonstration adjacent to the Community Hospital, witnessed the surreal replication of a young man, his leg askew and near severed, ‘blood’ pouring from his head while his female passenger lay motionless and bloodied in the wreckage of their grey Vauxhall.  Paramedics fought desperately to resuscitate a third occupant on the grass verge while a blue blanket covering all but a hand and protruding shoes of a fourth unfortunate indicated that any medical assistance would sadly come too late.

A placard towering over the wrecked car asked, “Will we die waiting?” in reference to the HSE’s planned reconfiguration of the ambulance service. Other placards haunting the grisly scene touted sentiments such as, “HSE makes Cuts –We Bleed” and “Employee of the Year –the Grim Reaper.”

Sinn Féin TD for East Cork Sandra McLellan, Youghal Mayor Eoin Coyne and Youghal Town Councillors Michelle Hennessy, Eoin Flanagan, Mary Linehan-Foley, Michael Beecher and Tara O’Connell, who is also Chairwoman of the Save Youghal Ambulance group, were amongst those who braved the icy midday wind.

The protest comes as the HSE’s prepares to begin implementing changes to the Cork & Kerry ambulance system in east and north Cork early in 2012. The plans include replacing overnight on-call paramedics and Youghal’s fixed base ambulance with a ‘roaming’ first responder paramedic car and a non-emergency vehicle, along with 33% reduction in ambulances in the Cork/Kerry region.

Critics fear emergency ambulances will have long distances to travel and are also unhappy with the Executive’s plans to man rural first responder vehicles with volunteers trained in defibrillator use, a cost-reducing measure that would also reach  HIQA targets for responding to cardiac incidents.

United message

Labour Minister of State for Research and Innovation, Seán Sherlock’s has called for the plans to be postponed, labelling them dangerous to the public as matters stand. Deputy Sherlock says there are many details yet to be adequately processed, “particularly in relation to rural communities,” adding that changes “should be phased in on a trial basis first.”

Meanwhile Deputy McLellan said Saturday’s protest “sends a strong, clear message of ‘hands off our ambulance’ to the government, Health Minister Dr. James O’Reilly and the HSE.” The TD added, “From the first meeting in the Walter Raleigh last summer, we all agreed that this would be a non-political campaign, that everyone would work together, GP’s committee members, politicians and the public and we have to keep that work going.”

Mayor Coyne described the simulations as “a sign of what could become a reality if the cuts are made to our ambulance service. The mayor said he was not particularly in favour of on-call as it stands but would want 24-hour on duty service ideally.

Cllr O’Connell described on -call as “a separate issue within the ambulance service, involving unions and funding and so on. We are simply citizens fighting to keep our ambulance.”

All three speakers are equally united in welcoming first responders “if fully trained to advanced paramedic standards,” as Deputy McLellan put it, “but only in addition to the present ambulance service and not instead of. A rapid respond vehicle manned by a paramedic is not the same as an ambulance manned by an advanced. Obviously we want to be sure that everybody gets the correct proper training to reach advanced paramedic levels,” she concluded.

Local protestor Bernard Leamy, perhaps illustrated the essence of the campaign most poignantly of all as he recalled a recent and first-hand experience. “My son Shane, who is 21, was taken very ill last Saturday and we had to call the Youghal ambulance at 2.45 am. It arrived within 15 minutes. Under the HSE changes it might take an hour to arrive but last week, thanks to the Youghal ambulance, he was in hospital within that hour.”

Meeting

Meanwhile, last week the HSE agreed to meet a delegation consisting of Youghal doctor Declan Matthews, Dr Bertie Daly of Newmarket, North Cork  and Cllr O’Connell to discuss their concerns. The meeting will be held in Naas on Tuesday Dec 20th. “The HSE is not au fait with the demands and conditions pertinent to rural areas and we will be stressing that this untested system could cost lives,” says the councillor.

Related Video:

Strength In Numbers Appeal For Save Youghal Ambulance Protest. – By Christy Parker

THE SAVE YOUGHAL AMBULANCE CAMPAIGN continues on Saturday next (17th December 2011) with a major demonstration against the proposed alteration to ambulance services in the east Cork region. The protest is scheduled for the Community Hospital, beginning at noon and organisers are appealing for a large turnout. .

In recent weeks The HSE has reaffirmed its intention to introduce immense changes to the ambulance system across Cork and Kerry, beginning with east and north Cork early in 2012. The plans are centred on replacing on-call paramedics overnight and a fixed-base daytime ambulance service with a first responder paramedic car, backed up in some rural areas, such as east Cork, by ‘roaming’ ambulance response crews. These crews may well have to travel lengthy distances when summoned.

Roaming

The roaming vehicles will comprise six ambulances removed from the 18-strong fleet that presently serves Cork and Kerry. The HSE claims that deploying these vehicles will cost less than 50% of the €200,000 it apparently costs to operate a ‘normal’ ambulance.

It has now also emerged that the first response vehicles –which will not be allowed to transport patients- will be largely crewed by “hundreds of volunteers”  trained in CPR and related care practices. The Executive believes this manoeuvre will enable the new system to meet Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) requirements for responding to call-outs.

Throughout, the HSE insists that the quality of service will not decline and, on the contrary, will improve at a reduced cost. Even without the HSE’s legacy of mistakes and failings, very many people remain sceptical of this view. Youghal GP’s have said it looks promising on paper but they remain unconvinced of its viability in practice as it currently stands.

Postponement call

Labour Minister of State for Research and Innovation, Seán Sherlock, has called for the plans to be postponed, labelling them dangerous to the public as matters stand. Deputy Sherlock, who is also chairman of Mallow Hospital Action Committee, echoes the view that there are many details yet to be adequately processed, “particularly in relation to rural communities.” He adds, “It should be phased in on a trial basis first.”

Next Saturday’s protest marks the fourth public show of rejection against the proposals, following a public meeting and two street protest marches last August. Save Youghal Ambulance spokeswoman and Youghal Labour Town Councillor Tara O’Connell strongly urges the people of east Cork and indeed west Waterford also, to unite in strength on Saturday.

Enactments

The demonstration will include enactment of accident scenes and CPR demonstrations by way of exemplifying the crucial role of ambulance response times and procedure and the heavy demand on energy and stamina that a volunteer can encounter when administering CPR while an ambulance is en route. She encourages those attending Saturday’s event to bring banners and placards. A loud voice would also contribute towards conveying the message of rejection.

Save Youghal Ambulance Protest Demonstration is scheduled from noon to 2 pm at Youghal Community Hospital, Cork Hill.

THE Minister of State for research and Innovation, Seán Sherlock, has said the HSE’s imminent ambulance changes for Cork and Kerry must be postponed.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, after senior health service officials revealed controversial plans to drastically alter how care is delivered by next month, the Labour TD said the move was dangerous to the public.

Read more: Click Here

A major protest is planned for Saturday next at Youghal Community Hospital. The protest is against the HSE’s proposed “reconfiguration” of the East Cork Ambulance Service. Beginning at midday on Saturday at the Community Hospital, continuing until 2 pm, the protest will feature demonstrations of real life accident scenes and it will show how CPR can be administered, showing how long a patient might last . Members of the public will have an opportunity to voice their concerns about the proposed changes at this protest. Banners and placards are encouraged at the demonstration at Youghal Community Hospital this Saturday from midday.

THE HEALTH Service Executive yesterday moved to reassure people that proposed changes in ambulance arrangements in Cork and Kerry will lead to a better service for the public. This came amid fears reorganisation will lead to a downgrading in some areas.Robert Morton, director of the HSE National Ambulance Service, said the move from the system of on-duty and on-call to a system where staff will be rostered solely on an on-duty basis will result in an improved service.

Click here for more on this story

YOUGHAL SEWERAGE SCHEME  PROGRESS REPORT – By Christy Parker

Youghal Town Clerk Liam Ryan provided the November town council meeting with a progress report on the long-awaited Youghal Sewerage Scheme. There isn’t, in lay man terms, anything immensely significant to report, with the final assessment in the 11-point synopsis the most telling factor, ie “Subject to funding….”

The report runs as follows:

1.Finance:

The scheme is included in the Water Services Investment Programme 2010-12, with the marginal capital cost calculated as 32%. Should tenders be returned at the budget estimate of €18m, Cork County Council will be asked provide €5.76m.

2. Planning

Youghal Town Council has granted planning permission for the pumping stations and same is not required for the waste water treatment plant.

3. Land Acquisition:

Cork County Council has purchased the site for the Waste Water Treatment Plant, with agreement made regarding land for an access road to the plant. Contracts are presently being prepared.

4. Foreshore Licence:

Cork County Council has applied to the Dept. Of Environment, Community and Local Government for a

Foreshore Licence for the proposed main outfall.

5. Waste Water Discharge Licence:

Cork County Council has applied to the EPA for a Wastewater Discharge Licence, with additional information returned as sought.

6. Archaeology and Ecology:

There were no adverse findings following an Appropriate Assessment for the Waste Water Treatment Plant site and the discharge to the Blackwater. Archaeological monitoring of the Investigations contracts did not record anything of significance.

7. Investigations Contracts/Surveys:

All Investigation Contracts and Surveys required for the design have been completed, while a preconstruction condition survey will be procured to access the condition of building close to sewer routes.

8. Design:

Design is now complete, with elements of the scheme revised to provide cost savings.

9. Contract Documents:

Comments have been received from the Dept. of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Contract documents have been revised to incorporate design and comments returned.

10. Construction Procurement:

Pre-qualification of Contractor to Tender has commenced.

11. Construction:

Subject to funding and approvals, commencement is anticipated for mid-2012.

MYSTERY surrounds the outbreak of a fire in the disused Seafield Fabrics factory in the Youghal strand area yesterday (November 8th 2011). The alarm was raised at about noon when dense smoke was seen emanating from the rear of the plant. Report: Christy Parker | Photos: Warren Tivy

Two units of Youghal fire brigade under Chief Station Officer Ger Gleeson assisted by one unit from Ardmore under Chief Station Officer Pat Hennessy attended the scene and soon brought the situation under control.

Fire fighters had to force an entry to treat the fire, which caused damage to the asbestos roof. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) are to be informed amidst expectations that the roof will now have to be dismantled and removed.

A fire service spokesman said there is no danger to public health.  The site is currently the subject of a planning application from Aldi supermarket chain. (CLICK HERE for more on that story)

[Related video] Click on video below to see the Youghal Firefighters chip pan fire safety demonstration.

[Related video] Click on video below to see the Youghal Emergency Service’s demonstration in action