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LEO VARADKAR GOT a break from Leinster House today, getting to spend some time with babies at Holles Street Maternity Hospital.
The Health Minister was officially opening the €6 million neonatal intensive care unit at the hospital this afternoon.
There he met with Deborah Larkin and Paul Nolan, whose son Oscar is getting to go home for the first time today.
Oscar was born on 21 December at 28 weeks, weighing just 980 grams (about 2 pounds).
His parents said they are delighted to be bringing their young son home, and have his bag packed and ready to go.
Oscar – who now weighs 2.25kg, just shy of five pounds – took his first photoshoot in his stride.
Pics: Órla Ryan/TheJournal.ie
Paul joked that there might be trouble that Varadkar got to pick him up, noting: “His grandparents didn’t even get to hold him yet!”
Varadkar defended the decision to spend €6 million on a hospital that will be moving to the St Vincent’s University Hospital campus, saying the nature of certain types of health care such as maternity mean “you can’t wait years” to make an investment.
I think it’s a really important development … Only 30 years ago, most of the children who would have gone into this unit would’ve died. Now, the vast majority of them survive and it’s important that we have as modern infrastructure as possible.
The visit was jam-packed, from hand-washing:
To ribbon-cutting:
Delayed discharges
The health minister was also asked about the issue of delayed hospital discharges, saying they result in a higher mortality rate.
I’m not aware of any specific case where anyone has lost their life as a result of a delayed discharge, but it’s documented internationally where treatment is delayed that that does impact in terms of increased morbidity and increased mortality.
On the subject of an upcoming bill on surrogacy, Varadkar said he was in favour of public funds eventually being used to support people who undergo IVF treatment.
“At the moment there are more pressing demands on the health service. It’s something that I would favour in principle, but there are many more urgent funding demands in the health service,” he said.
Meanwhile, not everyone is enamoured with the Health Minister today…
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It really is great to see some more enlightened (and realistic) thinking when it comes to things that impact people’s lives. Moving on from the dark ages of shutting up and getting on with it, especially when it comes to health issues and particularly those that affect women, which have historically been ignored or made light of by men
This is progress but only the beginning. The 4 day work week is a must.
It’s 2022, now that people are becoming slightly more enlightened about how mental health is as important as physical health, we can finally start to make some well needed changes.
Options to work from home, 4 day work week, more annual leave, mental health days off, less pressure to work while sick, options to work less in full time employment, etc. are all things that are long overdue.
@Tomo: 4 day week? GP clinics only open 4 days? Schools only open 4 days? Needs more thought.
@Tomo: I’m all for a 4 day week if I’m still guaranteed to make the same amount that I am at the moment
@sean o’dhubhghaill: how do shops, hotels, factories, hospitals etc. open 7 days per week at the moment with the current 5 day working week? Your comment gave me a good old chuckle, thanks for that
@sean o’dhubhghaill: What has that got to do with anything? Lots of businesses have people working 5 days yet remain open 7 days a week. It can easily be done for 4 days- we’re all just institutionalised into thinking it’s not. Who decided 5 days and 8 hour shifts are the perfect balance between working and life? I don’t see any balance. It’s skewed heavily in favour of work.
@NotMyIreland: Already, with a 5 day week, it can be VERY difficult to get a GP appointment. With a 4 day week it will be even worse. Or will the 4 datcweek only apply to some?
@sean o’dhubhghaill: 4 day week will only apply to the civil service as no one else is business will be able to afford it.
@Tomo:
4 day working week .. you will be paid less.
You will be working more than 8 hours a day.
If you are a salary worker you need to get things done so what you can do in 5 days you now have to do in 4=working longer days.
@Ciaran: No. Hours stay the same and your weekly earnings stay the same except you work 4 days instead of 5.
The 5 day work week is so arbitrary and stupid, it’s amazing that people have been indoctrinated and brainwashed into thinking “yep thats the perfect amount”.
@Tomo: So the employers will have to hire more people to cover the same opening hours? Labour costs up 25%? That would bust a lot of businesses I’d say.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: Supermarkets, Convenience stores, DIY stores, Fashion stores etc, let’s all jump on the bandwagon.
@Thomas O’ Donnell: Labour costs up 25%? Would it not be 20%? Maybe they could just hire more intelligent/productive people?
@Tomo: why not just have a 2 day week for full weeks pay? I mean if I had 5 days off my golf handicap would really improve and my mental health would too I’m sure.
@Pól Ó’hAodha: hello 12 hour days.
@Tomo: 4 day week my rearend :) work is the curse of the drinking classes!
This is amazing news for people like me with Endometriosis. Menstruation for me can be nothing short of debilitating and although Irish employers are becoming better, knowing you could take menstrual leave when you needed it would be so welcomed.
@Becca Laste: me too ! Crippled with adenomyosis ( endometriosis’ evil twin) every month,the pain is worse than childbirth
@Becca Laste: Fellow Endo sufferer here. It would be fantastic if we had this legislation in place. My last employer was useless with regard these issues and use to make a song and dance out of me being off sick.
Progress, about time, bravo
I wonder will it have a negative affect in the long term for hiring women.
@John Elliott: That’s exactly what I thought.
@John Elliott: Two people one man one female with the same qualifications going for a job, who’s more likely to be employed ? With this law I would say the male.
I can’t imagine how humankind has survived until now.
@lelookcoco: some have evolved. Not yourself. But some.
This will be good ….
It sounds like its actually more hassle than taking ordinary sick leave as you need a doctor to sign off on it even if you only need one day off while most work places (in Ireland anyway) only require a cert after 3 days.
About time. Hopefully it will spure on more nations to make this standard practice.
have your say