Latest news with #UHW
BreakingNews.ie
13-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Funeral of man who died in Waterford collision to be held on Tuesday as man remanded on bail
A funeral service for a father-of-four who died in a road collision in Co Waterford last week is to be held on Tuesday. Michael O'Sullivan (55) of Cullencastle, Tramore, died last Friday at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) as a result of injuries he sustained when the motorbike he was travelling on collided with a jeep. Advertisement The collision occurred in Tramore at 7.35pm in the Cullencastle area of Tramore. Mr O'Sullivan's Requiem Mass will be held at 10am at The Church of the Holy Cross, Tramore. A private cremation will take place on Wednesday, July. He is survived by his wife Lillian, his son Nicholas, his daughters Fiona, Heather and Rebecca; and his treasured grandchildren Mya, Maisie, Dolly, Frankie, Gustav, James, Katie and Finn. The O'Sullivan family thanked all the emergency services, medical carers and all the staff in UHW in funeral details on Meanwhile, a 67-year-old man was remanded on bail, charged with alleged dangerous driving causing death in relation to last Wednesday's crash. John Fitzgibbon, with an address in New York City, appeared before a special sitting of Waterford District Court on Friday night. Judge John Cheatle set bail at €10,000 cash to be presented to the court on Tuesday. Bail was granted on the guarantee that both Mr Fitzgibbon's Irish and his American passports be handed into the court. Mr Fitzgibbon was also ordered to reside in Co Waterford until the conclusion of court proceedings.
BreakingNews.ie
10-07-2025
- Climate
- BreakingNews.ie
Investigation into cause of gorse fire which resulted in homes evacuated in Waterford city
An investigation is underway by gardaí and fire services into the cause of an extensive gorse fire on the edge of Waterford City resulting in a number of homes having to be evacuated. Waterford Fire Service tackled the extensive fire in the Williamstown area close to the Deerpark estate on the Outer Ring Road at around 3.30pm on Wednesday. Advertisement Several houses were engulfed in smoke and were evacuated as firefighters attempted to bring the blaze under control. Flames of more than 20ft in height could be seen and came very close to at least 10 semi-detached homes. Fire units spent several hours at the scene and late last night continued to dampen down the area. There were traffic delays in the area as a result of the fire. In a statement garda said they and emergency services attended the scene of a fire at an outdoor location in the Williamstown area in Waterford. Advertisement Ambulance units from nearby University Hospital Waterford (UHW) also attended the scene. No injuries were reported. It is not yet clear what caused the fire to break out and if a previous fire along the same site two weeks ago are linked. A spokesperson for Waterford City and County Council confirmed that units of Waterford Fire Service responded to a gorse fire on rough ground in the Williamstown area on Wednesday evening. Crews from Waterford City, Tramore and Dunmore East attended the scene and immediately set about protecting surrounding property before extinguishing the fire. 'In consultation with An Garda Siochana a local road was closed for a period of time. The incident occurred in challenging conditions but was successfully managed thanks to the response and coordinated efforts of our fire personnel,' the spokesperson continued. The council reminded the public of the serious risk during hot weather posed by discarded smoking material, glass bottles or other items that could ignite dry vegetation, and to avoid lighting fires or barbecues in areas of open ground. 'Public vigilance plays a vital role in preventing wildfires and protecting our communities,' the council noted.
Irish Independent
30-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Preparations under way for 24 hour cardiac care services for Waterford and south east
In March of 2025, provision for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute heart attacks at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) was extended and the current opening hours are now 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. In a statement to the Irish Independent, a HSE spokesperson said: 'In line with recommendations made in the report of the National Review of Adult Specialist Cardiac Services in Ireland, published in April 2025, preparations are under way by the HSE to provide this service on a 24/7 basis at UHW. 'The HSE Dublin and South East health region will continue to work on all of the necessary preparations and looks forward to delivering its commitment to having a 24/7 PCI intervention service in place at UHW,' added the HSE spokesperson. Waterford TD Conor McGuinness has said that 'almost ten years after standing outside University Hospital Waterford with a billboard promising 24/7 cardia care, the Government is still failing to deliver this core demand for the people of Waterford and the south east.' Speaking in the Dáil on Friday, June 27, the Sinn Féin TD said that while there has been a slow increase in cardiac service provision at UHW, the region is still a long way off the 24/7 care that was promised. 'Almost ten years ago the Taoiseach stood outside UHW with a billboard promising 24/7 cardiac care for Waterford and the South East. Ten years on, people are still waiting,' said Deputy McGuinness. 'Cabinet approval for the second Cath Lab was announced two months ago – but since then, nothing. No detailed plan. No timeline. No staffing strategy. Announcements are cheap, and it's delivery that matters.' 'We've already lost years waiting for that announcement and for that go-ahead. Without urgent action, lives remain at risk in Waterford and across the wider region.' Deputy McGuinness added, 'I asked the Taoiseach whether recruitment has been completed and when we will see a full implementation plan – with timelines, staffing targets and a clear, guaranteed delivery of 24/7 cardiac care at UHW. He wouldn't give an answer: no plan, no timeline, no confirmation. The people of the south east deserve better.'
Wales Online
05-06-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Cricket star's daughter Bethan James would 'have likely survived' if medics had acted differently, inquest told
Cricket star's daughter Bethan James would 'have likely survived' if medics had acted differently, inquest told An expert witness said Bethan's cardiac arrest could have been avoided, and that she could have survived if it had been. Bethan is the daughter of former Glamorgan and England cricketer Steve James Bethan, who died in 2020 aged 21, was the daughter of Glamorgan and England cricket star Steve James A seriously unwell 21-year-old woman would have 'likely survived' if medics had acted appropriately sooner, an expert witness has told the coroner overseeing the inquest into her death. Bethan James, the daughter of former Glamorgan and England cricketer Steve James, died on February 8, 2020, just a few hours after being admitted to the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff. The ongoing inquest into her death, which began on Tuesday, June 3, at Pontypridd Coroner's Court, heard that she died of sepsis and pneumonia. Her illness was complicated by the immune suppressing effects of Crohn's disease, it was heard. Budding journalist Bethan's dad, Steve, a highly respected sports journalist himself, was away covering Wales' Six Nations match in Ireland when his daughter was taken seriously ill. Heartbreakingly, due to weather delays, he was unable to get home and see her before she died. During the third day of the inquest on Thursday, June 5, coroner Patricia Morgan heard evidence from Dr Duncan Thomas who treated Bethan at hospital. Article continues below He said he was surprised by how quickly her condition worsened when she was brought into UHW, and expressed 'frustration' that Ms James had not been brought to the resuscitation area – used for treating the most seriously ill patients – earlier. However, he did not believe there was anything that could have been done to save her. Dr Thomas said: 'I was, I think it's fair to say, astounded at how quickly Bethan was deteriorating. 'The rate of Bethan's deterioration was not something I had previously observed in someone of her age group, and, in my career, I have only ever seen it one more time.' While Dr Thomas said the hospital should have received a 'pre-alert' from paramedics bringing Bethan to UHW, he did not believe it would have saved her life, with damage to multiple organs already present before she arrived. 'It's my belief that, unfortunately, Bethan would have died,' he said. 'Bethan's presentation and rate of deterioration were incredibly atypical of someone of her age group.' Bethan James pictured celebrating her 21st birthday Dr Thomas said Ms James' death had a 'profound' impact on him and other staff at the hospital, adding: 'I wish there was something I could have done'. However, the inquest later heard from expert witness Dr Chris Danbury: an intensive care consultant at University Hospital Southampton and an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Southampton Medical School. He disagreed with evidence heard earlier on Thursday, stating his view was that Bethan's cardiac arrest could have been avoided. Ms Morgan asked him: 'Is it your evidence that if [Bethan] had been taken into the resus area [straight away] then a cardiac arrest could have been avoided?' Dr Danbury replied: 'Yes. That's based on my experience. We have seen patients like this frequently. If you [act] aggressively when they come through the door you can avoid cardiac arrest.' He further explained: 'Resus is a safe place…I have no problem with her staying in resus until a bed came available at [the intensive care unit]. Resus is the place she should be safe until she gets stabilised and is safe to move elsewhere in the hospital.' Referring to Dr Danbury's pre-prepared report, Ms Morgan said: 'You say if she hadn't gone into cardiac arrest, in your view, she would have likely survived?' He responded: 'Yes.' Responding to Dr Thomas's description of Bethan's presentation of 'atypical', Dr Danbury said: '[It is] something I have seen before and no doubt I will see it again.' During the first day of the inquest on Tuesday it was heard how Bethan was 'dismissed' by a number of medics in the weeks that led up to her death. On Wednesday the coroner heard from the ambulance crew who tended to Bethan and brought her to UWH. The paramedics agreed that A&E should have been warned that Bethan was on her way. Speaking at the hearing on Tuesday, her heartbroken mother, Jane James, described Bethan as a 'caring' and 'beautiful' person who always put others before herself. Diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2019 at the age of 20, Bethan documented her experience of the condition through a vlog and had hopes of becoming a journalist. Mrs James said: 'As a person she never moaned, she never made a fuss. She was very caring. She was just beautiful. 'She put people before herself. She was more interested in other people and their stories and I think that's why she would have made a brilliant journalist.' The inquest continues. Article continues below
Wales Online
13-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Major plan for new University Hospital of Wales appears to have stalled
Major plan for new University Hospital of Wales appears to have stalled In 2021 the health board said work to build a new hospital could start this year but that appears to have been pushed back University Hospital of Wales in Heath, Cardiff (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Plans to replace the dilapidated main hospital for Wales appear to hang in the balance as neither the health board in charge nor Welsh Government can explain what progress has been made In 2021 the health board announced it wanted to start building a replacement for Wales' largest hospital. At that time it was said work could start in 2025 and be finished three years later but no details of whether it would be built at the existing site University Hospital of Wales (UHW) site in Cardiff or at another location were given. At that stage a £107m price tag was put on the plans to replace UHW, which was built between 1962 and 1971. The health board's then-chief executive of strategic planning Abigail Harris said: "The time is right to look at the facilities we need for the future." It was said then that Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, which runs UHW, had asked the Welsh Government for funding to draw up detailed plans to replace the hospital with a new one. University Hospital Llandough was also to be refurbished and extended. You can read the detail from the 2021 WalesOnline report here. Last week First Minister Eluned Morgan was asked for an update about the hospital's plans. Independent MS Rhys ab Owen asked what plans were being looked in terms of a new hospital. She was unable to answer. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. We then went to Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and the Welsh Government asking for any update and whether there are still plans for a new UHW to be built. Article continues below The Welsh Government responded: "Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is currently developing a plan for the future of both the University Hospital of Wales and University Hospital Llandough sites. Following this we will work with the health board about options and timelines." When we asked whether there had been progress, or agreement on the funding plan, or whether progress had been made for proposed changes at Llandough, or whether there were still plans for a new UHW to be built, we were directed to the health board. A health board spokesman failed to directly answer whether a new hospital was still being looked at or to offer any amended timetable for the original proposals from 2021 but said a condition survey about the hospital's condition was being carried out and "is expected to complete this year". That will, we were told, "help the health board identify options for estate development to support our clinical services plan including University Hospital of Wales and University Hospital Llandough". Their statement in full said: "We are aware that the modernisation and maintenance issues are indicative of a national NHS ageing estate. Colleagues within our capital and estates team provide continuous maintenance and repair works to the hospital infrastructure, prioritising the health and safety of patients and colleagues. This is done in conjunction with and supported by Welsh Government estates and capital colleagues. "The health board submitted a business case to Welsh Government in 2021 and has, with the support of Welsh Government, recently commissioned a condition survey to clarify estate priorities. The condition survey is expected to complete this year and will help the health board identify options for estate development to support our clinical services plan, including University Hospital of Wales and University Hospital Llandough. "Cardiff and Vale University Health Board continue to work proactively with Welsh Government on a number of business case developments which are intended to improve the site infrastructure." Article continues below
