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A GROUP OF parents with inpatient children in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin are holding a candlelight vigil on Monday evening to highlight the crisis of waiting times for beds in the hospital.
Hazel Robinson, a parent of 15-year-old Gypsy Robinson, who has Cystic Fibrosis, initiated plans for the vigil after her daughter was recently left waiting over a week to secure a bed in the hospital after she contracted influenza.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Robinson explained that she has faced similar situations on numerous occasions through the years with the hospital when Gypsy has needed to be admitted for treatment.
TheJournal.ie contactedOur Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin for comment regarding Gypsy’s case. However, the hospital said in a statement that it does not discuss individual patient cases as it respects patient confidentiality.
Most recently, on Monday 29 January, Gypsy’s condition deteriorated significantly – which they later discovered was as a result of a case of influenza – and they made the decision to travel to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin to seek treatment.
Upon arrival, the Robinson family were informed that there were no beds immediately available to admit Gypsy for treatment. They were informed that they could either head home and be placed on a waiting list for a bed or attend A&E because they would eventually be admitted there.
However, as Gypsy is a Cystic Fibrosis patient, she contracts illnesses easier than most people, and A&E isn’t a safe option, her mother said.
“You don’t know what’s going to happen in A&E, you’re going to be subjected to every sort of flu, the Aussie flu, I’m terrified of her getting that. That can literally kill my child,” Robinson told TheJournal.ie.
Robinson said that in these situations previously, Gypsy has been left waiting up to 10 days for a call to say a bed was available at Crumlin. As her condition was deteriorating, Robinson said that they couldn’t risk potentially waiting that long.
They made contact with Cavan General Hospital, where she was admitted. Cavan, however, does not have the specialist facilities to treat a minor with Cystic Fibrosis. Gypsy remained on the waiting list for admission to Crumlin during this time.
Gypsy and her mother Hazel Robinson Hazel Robinson
Hazel Robinson
Last Friday night, Robinson told TheJournal.ie that Gypsy began coughing up blood.
“We knew this wasn’t good and she needed specialised care. On Saturday there was a bit more blood and Sunday… it was just horrible. There was about 300ml of blood. All of us were in an uproar. We were all terrified. She needed to get to Crumlin,” Robinson said.
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On the Monday morning, Robinson said doctors from Cavan hospital contacted Crumlin to inform its doctors of Gypsy’s deteriorating condition. She said that Gypsy was eventually transferred to Crumlin on Tuesday evening via ambulance and admitted as an inpatient.
Speaking of how Gypsy has dealt with the recent ordeal, Robinson said: “She’s just mentally fed up.”
In its statement to TheJournal.ie, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin said that it is in contact with the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland on an ongoing basis in relation to development of facilities and the challenges in accommodating all needs of patients.
It said: “CF patients who have specific multi-drug resistant organisms cannot be admitted to the [hospital's] CF Unit for infection control reasons. This is based on international best practice.
“Hospital bed management and the clinical teams work closely daily to ensure the correct patient is placed in the most appropriate bed available for their needs.”
Despite her complaints about the delays in securing a bed, Robinson thanked the hospital staff for their dedication throughout the years, and instead focused her frustration towards the government.
“[The hospital staff] are fantastic, they’re so good. I’m 100% positive that they are as frustrated with the situation as we are because it has to be very frustrating for doctors, consultants and nurses,” Robinson said.
A new pediatric trolley watch, launched by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation last month, revealed that 73 children spent time on trolleys in emergency departments across Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, the National Children’s Hospital Tallaght and the Children’s University Hospital Temple Street in the first two weeks of 2018.
As a result of the ongoing frustration Robinson has faced, she has teamed up with a number of other parents in similar situations to hold a candlelight vigil in “support for those suffering through our health system” on Monday evening.
“I really want to be able to highlight that we aren’t numbers. You look at the telly and see X amount of people are sitting on trolleys, we’re not numbers, we’re actual human beings,” Robinson said.
I want to highlight the fact that I don’t think anybody in this country who has a chronic illness should have to risk themselves going through A&E. I think they should be able to get a bed in a timely fashion.
In the statement on the event page, the organisers said: “We are asking for your support. Please don’t let us stand alone. Show you care for our elderly, our patients, parents, nurses and staff. If you can please come along, please do.”
The vigil is taking place outside Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin on Monday at 6pm.
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@Paul Gallagher: I think people are annoyed by Tony because he seems to be smarter than the contributors taking him on. He doesn’t feel the need to insult you guys either, despite the insults getting flung at him which seems to get your guard up. Fair play to Tony.
@Paul Gallagher: or in the pub. Regardless Tony is undoubtedly an employee of TheJournal. For entertainment alone he deserves every penny of the wage they pay him and every thumbs up from his work colleagues in Meath, or wherever they are based these days.
Thanks Meekus. It is really decent of you to defend me but I don’t want you to make yourself personally unpopular.
My views are different. These views infuriate those who hold an orthodox perspective.
I’m relaxed about these attacks on me, many of them highly personalised.
It is perfectly natural and to be expected that the viewpoint which challenges the cost consensus will be strongly attacked. The person who expresses such divergent views will equally be attacked, if not more so.
@Meekus: Like your style , Although I hope Tony knows I don’t ”hate” him , or anyone else on here . I might not agree with a few comments , but we are all entitled to our opinions . And judging by Tonys’ prolific commenting , he’s not too bothered or put off , which is the way it should be .
@Meekus: it attracts bigots of all sorts Meekus. But that’s life. Tolerate those that are intolerant and lead by example. Bigots should be outed and shamed. You’ll find plenty of them on the Journal. Call them out on it.
@Tony Daly: like everything it takes time, things like this just further the cap some might not accept. Like women in job rolls most now would not question but some at the beginning did.
Gay people according to this article and the others that theJournal have posted seem to be suffering more than Yazidis or Christians in the Middle East.
@Pharmyco: well if bakers can be forced to write a message they disagree with then surely the pride parade can be forced to accept an entrant they disagree with…or is it only one group get to impose their opinions, views and beliefs on others?
@Beachmaster: Vehemently opposed to the RCC and it’s continuing role in our education, hospitals, sport etc. – notwithstanding their now acknowledged paedophilia, blankly denied for decades.
@Paul Foot: Jez, if it’s for that I would reckon you will have a full time job being opposed to everything from the past that still exists! What next, the milky bar kid!
@Tony Daly: interesting comments Tony in light of your intolerance of Catholics, the institutional RC church and those that believe that terminating life in the womb should be illegal. You should be more tolerant Tony and practice what you preach. Live and let live bud.
@Sean @114: I am tolerant of Catholics. I am a Catholic. I consider the institutional Roman Catholic Church to be an evil, pernicious and toxic agency, partly but not only because of its judgmentalism and hatred towards those people who happen to be gay because they are gay.
I oppose those who seek to impose compulsory incubation and forced birth on women, which I consider an abberation if the Roman Catholic Church caused by ideological adherence to irrational dogma.
On the overall nature of your comment, I recofnisevhow you conflate and confuse separate and different comment.
I see no need to be tolerant of the dogmatically intolerant who hosted fear, hate and prejudice.
@Tony Daly: ”I see no need to be tolerant of the dogmatically intolerant who hosted fear, hate and prejudice.”
I hope you remember that paragraph the next time you defend Islamic ideology . You seem to flip and flop on your intolerance .
@Sean @114: I mean oppose. They are entitled to their view, a view which they made into a Constitutional imperative, a view with which I adamantly disagree, but a view which they are entitled to express.
@Tony Daly: you didn’t answer the question directly Tony. Are you tolerant of them? Your narrative to date (many hundreds of posts) would strongly suggest no but I would be interested to receive a Yes or No answer.
@Sean @114: I am tolerant of their right to expression so long as these views are not an incitement to hate. I disagree with expressions of prejudice. That does not mean that expressions of prejudice should be banned. In that sense, I am tolerant, however firm my disagreement with such prejudiced views.
@Tony Daly: ok so you are half tolerant. A simple yes or no would have done but I will point you back to your previous comment Tony, practice what you preach bud.
@Minom Pnom: Gay Pride and Gay Liberation is now acceptable to corporate sponsorship but that does not detract from the value of and need for Gay Pride and Gay Liberation.
its about time the gays move on they got what then wanted they want to be equal yet they have the money making racket Pride remember it was Gay Pride for the hotels, bars with their flags every where why! they making themselves different, i heard today that a group representing gays didn’t like the work queer on some t shirts, yet they use that name sometimes to each other or worse, it seem they dont want to be equal but different! well girls/boys or what ever your having you are!!, there are more important things going on in this country, wait for the pink mist now!!
@Tony Daly: no it doesn’t it time to cop on and move on you got your so called right, I had to put with gay propaganda ie corporate responsibility for a week in my work I have no interest in gays or their life style if I want to be a proud straight I would be told to go back to work not a hope!
@Tony Daly: typical bull if you think about its your the lot with a chip, nothing is right for you, there a plenty of gays who just get on and don’t want this crap, its a typical answer for a liberal who want things their way if you don’t like it your racist or homophobic! so much for free speech.
So trolls like Tony Daly get to spam an article with 20+ comments but my single popular comment is deleted because it goes against the Journal narrative. Censorship alive and well. I expect this comment to last 10mins if it’s posted at all. Never mind I’m deleting this pathetic app. They won’t make money off my clicks anymore and the SJW can live in their little safe spaces all protected by mummy
@Tony Daly: wow Tony you really are a sad man living on the Journal all day commenting 20 times on every article for external validation. Enjoy your echo chamber.
The author states that the Stonewall was instigated predominantly by transwomen of colour. This is factually untrue. There is no recording of that weekend but the most meticulously researched account of the riots was written by David Carter in his 1990s book ‘Stonewall: the riot that sparked a revolution’. He interviewed hundreds of people who attended (or claimed to attend) that event. Backed up by the photographic evidence it was actually poor working class white men – with a good number of lesbians, drag queens and people of colour – who were the instigators.
This narrative that it was the trans community that started it is not backed by any evidence – it is only recently that this is gaining currency and is driven by a trans agenda not based on fact or evidence.
In London – the deadline for participation was advertised well in advance. It was widely known. The fact that no bi groups submitted on time is surely not the fault of LondoN Pride. Why did no bi group submit on time?
Since the gay and lesbian movement has welcomed every sexual minority into its fold there has occurred this sinister erasure of gay men and lesbians from the movement.
Pride does need to return to its roots. Trans people and ‘queer’ people (queer remains a homophobic hate slur irrespective of whether millennials have decided to reclaim it) have decided that gay people and lesbians are no longer welcome in the movement that they started.
This is unacceptable.
Gender identity and sexual orientation are separate issues. It is time to separate them.
@Meekus: in fairness, he knows that what he says will make him popular. That is what Ed Byrne wants and needs. I’m happy to let him play to the gallery.
@Tony Daly: indeed they are and ALL should celebrate it. Why categorise the day based on sexual orientation(s) when it could be a Freedom for All day? We should all celebrate liberty. Rename this liberty day. Be gone with the separatist rainbow flags, let’s all march under the same banner as a show of solidarity between the various shades of sexual orientation Let’s be one!
@Sean @114: suppressed, oppressed and discriminated against minorities are entitled to keep up the movement for liberation and acceptance. It is a combination of freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. It has my full support. Visibility promotes acceptance. Stonewall deserves to be celebrated and memorialised.
@Tony Daly: I suppose the premise is that all of these afflictions apply to the LGBTQ community only. The fact is that they apply to many outside of it and on that basis alone there could be a LGBTQ-like march everyday for different sections of society yet these people just get on with life.
@Sean @114: I don’t think that the LGBTQ community would seek to assert a monopoly of disadvantage and discrimination. There are other disadvantaged communities. In time, they too will start to achieve parity of esteem.
@Tony Daly: I just don’t think they feel such a strong and insatiable need to express victimhood Tony and there is no commercial driver either. Pride is the summer St Patricks day.
Why does the gay politicos feel the need to justify there lifestyle by constantly promoting the gay propaganda machine.Two million people did not vote for gay marriage . The politicos in the gay community should re visit their history and see the result of promoting the gay lifestyle and how it ends. The silent majority become radicalised by a right wing leader, transgender toilets promote homophobia. The easiest way to radicalise the Muslim youth, is by promoting homosexuality, for many it remains a despicable act. Extremists on both sides will find common ground , so the next time you promote transgender toilet spare a taught for the one that’s fastening his suicide belt, and ask yourself , why.
@michael k: you seek to demonise and scapegoat a valid and legitimate sexual orientations and gender identities by offering them as the root cause of and provocation Jihadist terrorist attacks. That is shameful.
@Tony Daly:
It’s 2017, all civilized societies have recognized gay rights, particularly Ireland which the recently became the first country globally to afford same sex marriage as a constitutional right, the highest office in the land is held by a gay man, gay people are free to do as they please in any aspect of life in a modern democracy without fear of hindrance with the full weight of the law behind them yet staggeringly the argument for Pride still presents itself as a noble one seeking to break down societal barriers of exclusion.
It’s not convincing.
San Francisco is probably the most gay friendly city on the planet yet the gay community still celebrate Gay Pride as if they were an oppressed grouping. Seems an irrational stance on the face of it.
Maybe the real and pertinent question around Gay Pride now is ‘Is it time to abandon it?’.
You highlighted a differentiation between marches for ‘true love and pride’ and marches based on triumphalism.
Given that the gay community now enjoy full equality as citizens here and abroad one could argue that Gay Pride without any specific political goals left to achieve has merely become another triumphalist march occupying the public square.
I have noticed a philosophical divide emerging between older gay groups who put themselves on the front line in an era when being gay was actually an oppressive experience not a merely a question of which costume to don at this year’s festival and the modern gay youth who are the inheritors of that political effort. The older ones often even harken back to that era and the existential vitality experienced in the struggle.
The youth merely ask ‘Here we are now – entertain us’
@Tommy Browne: the people didn’t put our gay leader in it was his party did, also only for the people who left this country during the worst recession only to come back for gay marriage it would not have past, the same people who fecked off again and left the rest of us to get this country back to recovery
Will there be Muslim men and women participating in the parade. Hopefully, yes, Go and enjoy yourselves! Lose that
Irrelevant religion, and for once, be true to yourself and those around you.
Do not label yourself. You are worth more than that.
Nb. Be careful when travelling to Muslim countries; keep your sexuality to yourselves. You have NO rights there.
‘Go Pride’
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