Ire: Ambulance Service Strikes

Ok, its kinda a big deal. When an integral part of our primary response teams within the Health network decides it is going on strike, you can be guaranteed that there will be a few more unnecessary deaths within the country because they will not be able to get to an appropriate Hospital in time. SIPTU has served strike notice on the HSE this afternoon. According to the RTE report, it "represents 1200 emergency ambulance personnel" but also admits that if this strike action goes ahead "some 999 services may be affected if the action goes ahead.". The dispute is centered around new contracts for three private ambulance services for "non-emergency patients" signed last December. SIPTU claim its part of a further privatization lesson in the Health service.

Now speaking as someone who has had to avail of an Ambulance service on more than one occasion-most notably last year when I was brought out of the car crash on a spinal board, I can honestly say I was very grateful for the oxygen to calm me down before I got the real drugs! The possibility of 1200 Ambulance drivers going on strike across the country is kind of worrying!

Personally whilst I can see both sides of the argument, and I am tending to go down the SIPTU route and believe that overall it this will probably contribute to the further privatization of the Health service. That argument about the use of Public lands for Private Hospitals otherwise known as "Co-Location" is however, for another day. Whilst some public services can be found in the marketplace, the provision of the Ambulance service is not one which I welcome being privatized. We had a very similar Air Ambulance service up until the mid 1990s. We now only have 3-4 major bases which are operated by the Irish Coastguard now. The rest of the stations are manned by Private operators between a specified time.

Despite the HSE's assertations that this is for non-emergency patients, I don't believe them. If they were serious about their patient tactics, they would have not gone behind the backs of Unions in these talks and would have actually dealt with these issues, instead of having a now plausible situation of 1200 Ambulance drivers going on Strike. I hope that I will not need an ambulance over the course of that strike but unfortunately we know that somebody will. Hopefully it won't be too late for them.

• RTE News.

EQUAL-L: Inclusion Ireland Parents Seminar 2007

New developments have emerged in the area of Decision Making Capacity both in Ireland and internationally. Inclusion Ireland is fortunate to have secured the services of Dr. Michael Bach, Vice-President of the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL), who will travel from Canada to provide a keynote address on the current debate in Legal & Decision Making Capacity comparing supported decision making with that of guardianship and substitute decision making - laws presently being considered here in Ireland.

The other topic for debate will be the Long Stay Health Charges that are causing much confusion and concern to service users, families and service providers

Inclusion Ireland Parents� Seminar 2007

Radisson SAS Hotel, Athlone, Co Westmeath

Saturday 3rd November 2007

_______________________________________________

Programme

09.30am - Registration

10.15am - Welcome: Kevin Doyle - Chair, Inclusion Ireland Parents� Committee

10.20am - Official Opening

Session 1: �Supported Decision Making�

10.30am - International Perspective: Prof. Michael Bach, CACL

11.30am - Irish Perspective: M�ir�n McCartney, Solicitor

12.00pm - Open Forum & Questions & Answers: Chaired by Teresa Blake � Barrister at Law

12.45pm - Lunch

Session 2: �Long Stay Health Charges�

2.00pm - Service Provider Perspective: Wally Freyne, Director of Services, Daughters of Charity Services, Dublin & National Federation of Voluntary Bodies Rep

2.25pm � HSE Perspective: Seamus Mc Nulty Assistant National Director, Responsibility for Mental Health and Disabilities.

2.45pm - Parent Perspective: Frank Hyland, Chairperson St Raphael�s P & F

3.10pm - Health Charges Repayment Scheme: Pat Marron, General Manager

3.15pm - Open Forum & Questions & Answers: Chaired by Mary O�Rourke TD for Longford-Westmeath

4.20pm - Closing Remarks: Finula Garrahy, Inclusion Ireland Chairperson

To Book: http://www.inclusionireland.ie/parent_seminar_07_application.asp


Source: EQUAL-L List

The HSE & My Woes!

This effin country is deplorable some times!
CHRIST ABOVE! because im not 23 on the first of January I cant be access on my own income or LACK THEREOF for any type of Local authority grant AND NOW they tell me that I cannot get a MEDICAL CARD because I was not 23 on the first of January & I will have to use my parents income which will put me over the Fricken threshhold. Honestly this system is not fair! I have been earning my own way & paying my own way since I was 17 and I can't be assessed on my own income! and now when I look for a little bit of help from this god forsaken country, they say no, you have to be 23 on the first of January! Am I right to be annoyed, I think so! I am really really pissed off about this, and the annoying thing is there is sweet eff all I can do about the whole f*cken process!


ARGGGGGGGGGGHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH


/rant!