Latest news with #CoFermanagh
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Co Fermanagh runner receives open heart surgery days after completing half marathon
Co Fermanagh man Gareth Reihill (51) was diagnosed with a heart condition at the age of 25, coming after a routine GP appointment revealed the man had a heart murmur. The murmur is a congenital valve problem, meaning the aortic valve only has two flaps of skin, also called leaflets to help control blood flow, instead of the usual three. Also known as a biscupid aortic valve, it is the most common congenital heart defect and is estimated to affect around 2% of the population, often going undiagnosed. However many diagnosed with the condition live a healthy life with treatment. As previous scans had been normal, last year Gareth flew out to Spain to complete the Torremolinos half-marathon with his Enniskillen running club. However, just two days later, the Fermanagh man's cardiologist delivered the life-changing news that his condition had progressed from mild to severe. 'I ran the Torremolinos half marathon on Sunday and was told I needed open heart surgery on the Tuesday,' said Gareth, who described his shock at the news. 'My cardiologist said we needed to intervene before more damage was done to the heart muscle. 'It was time for open heart surgery.' In July 2024, the avid runner underwent surgery at the Royal Victoria Hospital, where his aortic valve was replaced with a mechanical one. Despite the prospect of a life-changing surgery, he remained calm. 'I remember when I was being pushed down to the theatre I was at ease. I don't know why,' said Gareth. 'I thought I'd be petrified, but I wasn't,' he added. 'The doctors were so confident and reassuring.' News Catch Up - Thursday 5 June Gareth was told that had he not proceeded with the surgery, he would have faced congestive heart failure within three years. Despite not being able to run during his three-month recovery from the surgery, Gareth explained he found immense support in his local running club. 'The club was amazing throughout my journey,' he said. Almost one year after the open heart surgery, he has continued running, completing 10k and half marathons since, including returning to the Torremolinos half marathon this year. 'I was 50 years old when I had the operation and I was delighted with the result… I feel great now.' Fearghal Mckinney, head of British Heart Foundation NI said: 'Gareth's story is very powerful and we're grateful to him for sharing his journey of his heart condition from his open heart surgery back to health.' 'We would encourage people to sign up to the annual Enniskillen 10k and help fund our lifesaving research, so we can give people more time with their loved ones.' Enniskillen Running Club, have decided this year to support the British heart foundation in their annual 10k event which takes place on Saturday 14th June. The 10k is open to runners and walkers over the age of 15, registration closes on Wednesday 11th June.
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Belfast Telegraph
Who wears the trousers? Kids have their say at Stormont over proposed new school uniform Bill
Education Minister Paul Givan tabled the legislation earlier this year, saying it would 'provide the necessary powers to make a difference in terms of affordability of school uniforms'. The Bill intends to make existing non-statutory guidance on school uniforms legally binding for all grant-aided and independent primary and post-primary schools, ensuring 'affordability, comfort, and sustainability are central considerations in school uniform policies'. Additionally, it seeks to extend eligibility for the uniform grant to pupils at independent schools, 'promoting greater equity in financial support across different school types'. Pupils Rory Brown, Brooke Ewing, Nadia Mackiewicz and James Magill, who are also members of the youth assembly, gave their perspectives to the education committee yesterday. Concerns over the cost difference between boys' and girls' uniforms were aired, and they called for girls to have the choice of wearing trousers. 'In many schools, trousers are not an option for girls,' said James, who added that the youth assembly backed an amendment from Claire Sugden MLA to 'allow for flexibility' in the issue of female pupils wearing trousers. 'We also would like to know how the rights of disabled and trans students will be included in the Bill.' Ms Sugden's amendment says: 'Guidelines... must include provision requiring all schools to offer every pupil the option of wearing shorts of a specific style or styles as part of school uniform for all sporting or leisure activities or occasions, and trousers of a specific style or styles as part of school uniform on all other occasions.' James told the committee: 'There was also discussion about those who are allowed to wear trousers, that they have to go and request it either from staff or their parents or the principal. 'It's an uncomfortable experience and sets pupils apart — offering a choice by default should be included in the Bill.' Two Co Fermanagh schoolgirls are currently campaigning for legislation to force schools to offer a choice between skirts and trousers. Rhea Donnell and Astrid Knox, who succeeded in getting Enniskillen Integrated Primary School to allow girls to wear trousers, told the BBC it was 'weird and unfair' that some schools still enforce skirts. Yesterday, Brooke raised an example from her own school in relation to uniform policies. She told MLAs: 'We have navy leggings for PE, so a lot of girls decided to wear their own navy leggings, because they weren't comfortable wearing the school-issued leggings, and the school kicked up a fuss about it and just said: 'We'll, you're not doing PE then'.' She also pointed out the Bill does not contain details over guidelines on various issues, including suppliers and how often they would be reviewed, and a price cap on uniforms for each stage of school life 'It's the view of the youth assembly that all school children, regardless of age but where a uniform is required, be included in this Bill,' she added. Rory said there should be a clause in the Bill meaning any breach of the guidelines will not result in a pupil 'being isolated or suspended'. He explained: 'It's almost like a negative points system: your tie is too long or your tie is too short. 'It feels really nit-picky, as if we have to be perfect all the time. 'It is not a great feeling to have in school. 'Also, pupils being sent home for issues like their hairstyle or uniform breaches is extreme, and puts them at a disadvantage for a small issue.'
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Rachel Blackmore's retirement
Sir, – Would I be alone in losing interest in Irish horse racing after the recent retirement of Rachael Blackmore? I would eagerly scan the runners and riders to see if 'herself' was on board and then making a mental note to see how she did in the results section the following day. As an retiree with no background in horseracing I avidly read the sports pages but they are a little less interesting now that she has gone. I suspect there are a few like me. – Yours, etc, IAIN KENNEDY, READ MORE Co Fermanagh.
The Independent
14-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Elderly douple died after Covid ‘taken into house by carers'
A Northern Ireland woman whose parents succumbed to Covid -19 within a month of each other believes care workers inadvertently brought the virus into their home. Testifying before the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, Hazel Gray shared her heartbreaking experience, stating the infection was spread by "people doing their jobs", caring for vulnerable individuals like her parents. The inquiry's seventh module is currently scrutinising the effectiveness of test, trace, and isolate protocols implemented during the pandemic. Ms Gray described the enduring trauma of being unable to be with her parents in their final moments, saying they simply "disappeared." Her testimony underscores the devastating personal toll of the pandemic and raises questions about the safety measures in place to protect vulnerable individuals receiving in-home care. Ms Gray's parents, George and Violet Little, from Co Fermanagh, died in December 2020 and January 2021. They were 80 and 78 years old. Ms Gray, a member of the Northern Ireland Covid Bereaved Families for Justice group, told the inquiry on Tuesday that people in the region had presumed that 'things were being done' to prevent the spread of Covid. She said: 'Only when it came to my own doorstep did I realise that what I presumed was not happening at all. 'People who were working with vulnerable people – carers coming to my mother – were actually not being tested, nor were other healthcare workers. 'To me, it seemed to be a total lack of common sense; this was nine months into the pandemic. 'These people were actually spreading a virus and nothing was being done to counteract that.' The inquiry heard that Ms Gray's parents lived in a rural area and depended on carers who went to their house four times a day to move Mrs Little, who used a wheelchair. Counsel to the inquiry Sophie Cartwright asked Ms Gray if she was confident Covid was taken into her parents' house by the carers. Ms Gray said when her father first tested positive for the virus, she took a test herself. She said: 'I immediately went and had a test and I was negative, so I knew that it wasn't me that had passed the virus to them. 'My mum, we got her a postal test. Hers came back positive as well and then mine was positive. 'I am fairly confident I didn't bring the virus to them and nobody else would have been in the house other than the carers.' She said she spoke to the carers' manager and asked when they had been tested. She told the inquiry: 'His answer was, it wasn't the hospital trust policy to actually test carers who were going into the homes of vulnerable people. 'That was the shocking realisation that this was what was happening in the country – carers were going into the homes of people who were not tested.' Ms Gray said she sent a text message to then-health minister Robin Swann about the situation and he responded that he would look into it. She told the inquiry that her father died first, in December 2020, while her mother was in hospital. She said: 'I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like for my mother, knowing that my father had passed away and nobody was there with her to comfort her. 'They said on the day of my father's funeral she watched the clock.' Ms Gray also raised concerns about paramedics who attended to both her father and mother while wearing 'basic PPE '. She said: 'When I asked them did they get tested, they said no, who would do their jobs if they were going to be tested and come back positive? 'It was this attitude – 'If we don't get tested we won't know whether we are positive or not'. 'This virus was being spread by people who were doing their jobs and caring for people who were already sick. 'The process to me just did not make sense.' Ms Gray said she was not able to be with either of her parents when they died because of Covid restrictions. She said: 'If it had been an animal, a vet would encourage the animal's owner to be there with them to the very end. 'I, twice, didn't get that opportunity and so many people have had similar experiences. 'The trauma of not being there for your parents' last breaths will stay with me forever. 'My parents disappeared, I never saw them again.' Ms Gray added: 'My parents' lives were cut short. Their experience was horrendous – for me, for them, for the whole country. 'All those who were lost, their lives must not have meant nothing, they cannot have died in vain. 'We must have changes in this country that people never have to experience this kind of trauma over a virus again.'
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Couple died after Covid ‘taken into house by carers', daughter tells inquiry
A woman whose parents died of Covid a month apart during the pandemic has told a public inquiry she believes the infection was taken into their house by carers. Hazel Gray, from Northern Ireland, told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that the virus was spread by 'people doing their jobs', caring for the vulnerable. She said the trauma of not being able to be with her parents when they died will stay with her forever, adding that her mother and father 'disappeared'. Module seven of the inquiry is examining test, trace and isolate policies adopted during the pandemic. Ms Gray's parents, George and Violet Little, from Co Fermanagh, died in December 2020 and January 2021. They were 80 and 78 years old. Ms Gray, a member of the Northern Ireland Covid Bereaved Families for Justice group, told the inquiry on Tuesday that people in the region had presumed that 'things were being done' to prevent the spread of Covid. She said: 'Only when it came to my own doorstep did I realise that what I presumed was not happening at all. ' People who were working with vulnerable people – carers coming to my mother – were actually not being tested, nor were other healthcare workers. 'To me, it seemed to be a total lack of common sense; this was nine months into the pandemic. 'These people were actually spreading a virus and nothing was being done to counteract that.' The inquiry heard that Ms Gray's parents lived in a rural area and depended on carers who went to their house four times a day to move Mrs Little, who used a wheelchair. Counsel to the inquiry Sophie Cartwright asked Ms Gray if she was confident Covid was taken into her parents' house by the carers. Ms Gray said when her father first tested positive for the virus, she took a test herself. She said: 'I immediately went and had a test and I was negative, so I knew that it wasn't me that had passed the virus to them. 'My mum, we got her a postal test. Hers came back positive as well and then mine was positive. 'I am fairly confident I didn't bring the virus to them and nobody else would have been in the house other than the carers.' She said she spoke to the carers' manager and asked when they had been tested. She told the inquiry: 'His answer was, it wasn't the hospital trust policy to actually test carers who were going into the homes of vulnerable people. 'That was the shocking realisation that this was what was happening in the country – carers were going into the homes of people who were not tested.' Ms Gray said she sent a text message to then-health minister Robin Swann about the situation and he responded that he would look into it. She told the inquiry that her father died first, in December 2020, while her mother was in hospital. She said: 'I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like for my mother, knowing that my father had passed away and nobody was there with her to comfort her. 'They said on the day of my father's funeral she watched the clock.' Ms Gray also raised concerns about paramedics who attended to both her father and mother while wearing 'basic PPE'. She said: 'When I asked them did they get tested, they said no, who would do their jobs if they were going to be tested and come back positive? 'It was this attitude – 'If we don't get tested we won't know whether we are positive or not'. 'This virus was being spread by people who were doing their jobs and caring for people who were already sick. 'The process to me just did not make sense.' Ms Gray said she was not able to be with either of her parents when they died because of Covid restrictions. She said: 'If it had been an animal, a vet would encourage the animal's owner to be there with them to the very end. 'I, twice, didn't get that opportunity and so many people have had similar experiences. 'The trauma of not being there for your parents' last breaths will stay with me forever. 'My parents disappeared, I never saw them again.' Ms Gray added: 'My parents' lives were cut short. Their experience was horrendous – for me, for them, for the whole country. 'All those who were lost, their lives must not have meant nothing, they cannot have died in vain. 'We must have changes in this country that people never have to experience this kind of trauma over a virus again.'
