
Life for this Cork boy (12) with cerebral palsy has been ‘transformed' by this vital charity
Alison Lynch says a Cork-based charity has transformed the life of her son, who lives with Cerebral Palsy
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A Cork mother says a Cork charity has played an instrumental role in helping her son with Cerebral Palsy navigate his life's major challenges into his teenage years,
Alison Lynch's son Oliver was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy after a complication during birth, flagged during an early cranial scan. Ironically, it was brother Reuben's scans that led the twins to receive the extra attention.

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Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
More than half of funded staff posts in endometriosis clinics unfilled, new figures show
More than half of the staff posts funded in clinics for endometriosis , a debilitating gynaecological condition , are currently unfilled, new figures show. Endometriosis is a chronic disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It affects about 10 per cent of women and girls of reproductive age globally. There is currently no cure for endometriosis and treatment is usually aimed at controlling symptoms, which include severe, life-affecting pain during periods, sexual intercourse, bowel movements and/or urination. It can also cause chronic pelvic pain, abdominal bloating, nausea, fatigue, and sometimes depression, anxiety, and infertility. The Government has established two supra-regional endometriosis centres at Tallaght University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), supported by regional endometriosis hubs in each of the six maternity networks. READ MORE According to staffing data obtained by Labour's health spokeswoman Marie Sherlock in response to a parliamentary question, of the 50.2 whole-time equivalents funded for these clinics, 24.6 of these roles are filled. Tallaght has the highest staffing numbers, with 11.6 funded posts, of which 9.6 are filled. In CUMH, there are 12.6 funded posts, of which three are currently filled. The National Maternity Hospital in Dublin has five funded posts, none of which are filled. Three of the five posts in both the Rotunda Hospital and University Hospital Galway are filled. The Coombe has staff in four of the six posts, while University Maternity Hospital Limerick has two of the five posts filled. Ms Sherlock said it takes women 'an average of seven years to receive a diagnosis' of endometriosis, describing the situations as 'utterly unacceptable'. 'In the meantime, women are left to suffer with debilitating pain, chronic fatigue, damage to internal organs, and fertility issues. The cost of this delay is enormous,' Ms Sherlock said. She said the revelation that only half of the hubs are properly staffed raises serious questions about the Government's commitment. 'How can these services be expected to deliver for women if they are not even adequately resourced?' she asked. A Health Service Executive (HSE) spokeswoman said funded posts include a range of consultants across various specialities, women's health physiotherapists, dietitians, psychologists, specialist nursing staff and healthcare assistants. 'Recruitment of the posts funded across services is ongoing to further develop endometriosis specialist services,' the spokeswoman said. 'It is not possible for the HSE to provide a definitive date as to when all posts will be filled given the nature of recruitment processes including availability of required skilled personnel in the employment market, [the] suite of employment checks that must be undertaken pre appointment, including Garda clearance, professional and academic qualification verification and reference checks, and leave notification of successful candidates to existing employers.' In March 2023, the department announced the development of the National Endometriosis Framework. The HSE said publication of the framework is pending further engagement with the Irish Medical Organisation on the role played by GPs in implementing the model of care.

Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
Woman who suffered six miscarriages says employers' response ranged from empathy to pressure to return to work
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She was working in retail at the time, and her doctor signed her off on sick leave. However, she said she had 'stress and anxiety' when getting calls from a company nurse, which left her 'feeling pressured into going back to work'. When she returned, she found it difficult to deal with the public while feeling as if 'at any moment a dam of tears could burst'. She sought a different role but was told 'basically ... to get on with it'. 'So that was what I felt I needed to do. Suck it up, be fine and get on with it.' [ Tribunal hears legal argument over whether recent miscarriage triggers maternity law protections Opens in new window ] Ms Duggan went on to work elsewhere in customer service and experienced varying levels of support during five more miscarriages. After her fourth miscarriage, tests discovered she had a genetic condition that resulted in a higher risk of miscarrying. Ms Duggan also said that after this fourth loss her workplace was 'supportive to a degree', but she was also given a written warning over an absence. However, her manager at the time of her fifth miscarriage was 'so supportive', she said. She got sick leave, and 'there was no pressure put on me to rush back'. She also experienced support after the loss of a sixth baby, with a manager 'checking in to see how I was doing without being invasive'. Her first son, Daithi, was born in 2009. She has two other children: Siofra (13) and Oisin (9). She said that over eight years 'we had six miscarriages – lost six little babies – and had three beautiful living children'. 'How your employer deals with you at one of the most difficult times in your life can have a huge impact on the healing process and the trauma that goes with it,' she said. Jennifer Duggan with her husband Padraig and children Dáithi, Siofra and Oisin The Miscarriage Association of Ireland offers peer-to-peer support for people experiencing pregnancy loss. Ms Duggan said legislating for miscarriage leave would mean 'one less thing people experiencing pregnancy loss have to worry about'. Proposed legislation first put forward by the Labour Party in 2021 would provide for up to 20 days of paid leave for women suffering early pregnancy loss. In January 2024, the then-government deferred any progression of the Bill for 12 months to allow more time to develop legislative proposals. Labour Party TD Marie Sherlock recently tabled a parliamentary question asking Minister for Children Norma Foley if she intends to take up the issues in Labour's Bill. In response, Ms Foley said she recognises 'the enormous, personal impact that pregnancy loss has on expectant parents'. Officials were said to be examining a study by University College Cork (UCC) academics that recommended 'a statutory right to paid leave' for pre-viability pregnancy loss. Ms Foley's department is also developing the next National Strategy for Women and Girls, due to be published by the end of June, which would be informed by the UCC research. The department is also to engage with the Department of Enterprise on the issues in Labour's Bill. [ Even the word 'miscarriage' seems to suggest the mother is somehow at fault Opens in new window ] Ms Sherlock said 'seeing is believing here in terms of the Government actually being serious about developing any legislative proposals'. She argued there has been 'no progress' since Labour first tabled its Bill in 2021. A Department of Children statement said the Government 'has committed to including provisions providing for leave for pregnancy loss' in a Bill 'which has been given priority drafting'. It said development of a new form of family leave requires 'very careful consideration around who would be entitled to the leave and how the leave would operate in practice'. 'It is important that any form of leave would be effective in addressing the needs of employees, while also be practical to implement,' it said. The department said 'any form of leave – even unpaid – can have significant costs for the exchequer and these must be fully identified'.


Irish Independent
7 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Dublin-based gynaecologist refused to refer woman who later developed cancer for mammogram as he thought ‘she was too young'
A Dublin-based gynaecologist has been found guilty of poor professional performance over refusing to refer a woman with an inverted nipple who later developed breast cancer for a mammogram because he believed she was too young for such a scan.