Inishturk nurse to be in situ soon

Inishturk nurse to be in situ soon


Islanders have had no resident nurse since last September

Áine Ryan

THE HSE West has said that the islanders of Inishturk, which is nine miles off the coastline, will soon have a resident nurse. It confirmed to The Mayo News yesterday that the nurse, is presently undergoing a ‘pre-employment process’ and, moreover, that any delay in appointing a replacement for the longtime resident nurse, who retired last September was caused by  ‘a considerable challenge in finding a suitably qualified candidate’.
“Whilst awaiting the new nurse to take up her permanent position, residents have been advised to contact their GP directly if they have any health issues. In addition, arrangements have been made for the nurse from the adjacent Clare Island, to visit weekly,” the statement explained.  It also confirmed there had been no budgetary reduction in the service to the island.
However, the statement did not address a question asked by The Mayo News about a precise date for the appointed Public Health Nurse to take up her position.
Last week islander, Bríd Heanue-Whelan, who is five months pregnant, highlighted islanders’ concerns about the lack of a resident nurse in an Irish Independent article.
“All we want is a locum nurse in place until the position is filled. At the moment we have absolutely no cover,” said Ms Heanue-Whelan.
“Nobody can predict when anybody is going to have a fall or get sick. Everybody deserves healthcare. I have two young boys and they were sick before Christmas. I had no way of getting antibiotics for either kid unless I went to the mainland to get it,” she continued.
Reportedly, the island has had only three visits by a locum nurse since September.  Indeed, the first call-out for the new Clifden all-weather RNLI Lifeboat was just two days before Christmas when a nonagenarian islander became ill. The swift action of the crew meant that the GP, who serves both Inishturk and Inishbofin,  Dr CiarΡn McLoughlin, treated the man at home obviating the need for him to be transferred to hospital by helicopter.   
Meanwhile, ComhdhΡil OileΡin na hÉireann, the Irish Islands Federation, has called on the Health Service Executive (HSE) West to reinstate a basic medical service for the community of 58 residents. They claim it is part of a wider issue relating to cutbacks in healthcare for offshore islands, an issue about which it has been seeking an urgent meeting with HSE West for several months.