Galway Bay FM News Archives
‘Bends’ chamber closure leaves Navy in the lurch
Date Published: 09-Jun-2011
By CIARAN TIERNEY
A state-of-the-art €1 million recompression unit at University Hospital Galway (UHG) has been closed for an indefinite period, forcing the Naval Service on standby to treat divers suffering from “the bends” over successive Bank Holiday weekends.
The Irish Coast Guard was forced to put the Naval Service on standby in case any divers got into difficulties throughout last weekend, because of the unavailability of the only hospital-based facility of its kind in the Republic.
Staffing and funding issues are understood to be responsible for the closure of the recompression chamber, or national hyperbaric unit, at UHG even though it only opened for the first time at the turn of the year.
HSE West have declined to comment on the closure throughout this week and any divers in difficulties would have been forced to seek treatment at the inferior Naval Service chamber at Haulbowline, Co. Cork, which has only limited facilities.
Otherwise, scuba divers with suspected cases of decompression sickness would be forced to seek treatment in Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, or Plymouth in the United Kingdom.
Since the first chamber opened in Galway in 1976, a team of trained volunteers have backed up medical staff at UHG. That facility was closed down in 2008 and replaced by the state-of-the-art unit just this year.
“The problem is that this is the national chamber, but the funding for it does not come nationally,” said Dr Noel Flynn of UHG last week. “We are relying on a lot of goodwill here and we really do need to be independently financed. The National Hyperbaric Chamber should not come out of the hospital funding.”
For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
Galway has a population of young people which is more than twice the national average.
According to information gathered by the Central Statistics Office, Galway’s population of 20 to 24 year olds is more than twice the national average.
The number of 25-34 year olds in Galway is also more than the norm nationally, with the two main colleges thought to be the main reason.
However immigration in Galway is much higher than in other areas at 19.4 percent, compared to the national average of 12 percent.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A city councillor is encouraging people to donate goods directly to charity shops.
It follows allegations of thefts from clothes banks in Galway and across the country in recent months.
However, cameras are in place at some clothes banks and surveillance is carried out by local authorities.
Speaking on Galway Talks, Councillor Neil McNeilis said the problem of theft from clothes banks is widespread.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A park ‘n’ ride scheme from Carnmore into Galway city could become a permanent service if there is public demand.
That’s according to the Chief Executive of Galway Chamber of Commerce, Michael Coyle.
The pilot scheme will begin at 7.20 next Monday morning, May 13th.
Motorists will be able to park cars at the airport carpark in Carnmore and avail of a bus transfer to Forster Street in the city.
Buses will depart every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes at offpeak times throughout the day, at a cost of 2 euro per journey.
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