Galway Advertiser 2003/2003_05_15/GA_15052003_E1_008.pdf 

Extracted text

25 Prints FREE

Yourfirst25 Images printed absolutely FREE w e you buy hn a y of our Digital Cameras n
(j^Hour Service

F A H Y F O T O
13 Hitui St Oalway wv.rahvfoio.com

' G i v e go-ahead to brain surgery unit, minister' urges million dollar donor
BY M A R Y O ' C O N N O R

The Galway Advertiser
http://www.galwayadvertiser.ie Email: classified@galwayadvertiser.ie news@galwayadvertiser.ie production@galwayadvertiser.ie

"PLEASE SAY 'yes' to a brain surgery unit for Galway" is the impassioned PLEA TO Minister FOR HEALTH MICHEAL MARTIN FROM AN AMERICAN WOMAN who committed $ 1 million dollars to the project more than three years AGO. New Yorker Patricia O'Dwyer - the widow of lawyer Paul O'Dwyer who set up the O'Dwyer Cheshire Home in Bohola in 1976 - was here this week to advance the campaign for a neurosurgery unit for the west. Almost 13,000 people - 900 in the west sustain traumatic brain injuries each year in Ireland. Patients from this region are sent to Dublin or Cork because no facility exists here. Many must wail hours or days for vital surgery. These delays do not just apply to accident victims but to patients with brain tumours, strokes or other disorders. O'Dwyer, who is backing the Wesiern Neurosurgery Campaign's drive to get a neurosurgery unit for UCHG. says these delays are at worst, putting patients' lives at risk or adversely affecting their health outcomes. She says it is embarrassing that the Government continues to stall on the Galway project, declining to make a commitment to this vital service while a $1 million donation is waiting in American for it. "This money is not going to be there forever. It's hard to believe that the Irish Government is reluctant to accept it. My late husband, who came from Co Mayo, had the same problem 30 years ago when he tried to give his family home to them. He built the O'Dwyer Cheshire home in Bohola. Now, years later I'm having the same difficulty trying lo get the Government to accept another financial gift." She is accusing the Government of hiding behind Comhairle na nOspideal. the hospital planning authority. "We've done everything we're supposed to do. We are now waiting on Comhairle. I met the minister in December 2(H)! and explained everything to him. both Ihe commitment of funds and equipment. He asked me lo pul it all in writing which I did." She met Department of Health officials in December 2002 and they informed her that the unit had to be a priority with the Western Health Board. She says it is and it sent a very strong submission to this effect. "On March 2, Comhairle na nOspideal met the WHB and the Western Neurosurgery Campaign committee. We are still waiting on Comhairle's decision." O'Dwyer says the neurosurgery campaign also has the support of one of the world's top brain surgeons. Professor Patrick Kelly, whose mother comes from Salthill. The chairman of the department of neurosurgery at New York University School of Medicine, he wants to donate a $3 million Gamma laser knife to the Galway unit. This non-invasive "miracle instrument" is used to treat tumours, trauma and other neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, explains O'Dwyer. "There is only one of these in England and none in Ireland. One is ready and waiting for Galway if the unit opens." She says providing a brain surgery unit would not be very costly for the Government. "The Department of Health has already committed itself to a radiotherapy unit and cardiac surgery at UCHG. There are a lot of services already there that the neurosurgery unit could use." Pam Fleming, the chairperson of the Western Neurosurgery Campaign and the mother of 26year-old Sammy who became brain injured after a fall from his bicycle six years ago, says it is essential thai neurosurgery facilities are available here to ensure head injury patients get the best possible chance of recovery. "If you need brain surgery and don't get it within two hours, you will die or the disability you will suffer will be far greater than need be. It can take up to seven hours to get a patient from Galway to Dublin for brain surgery. Timing is of the essence and at present, patients from the western seaboard are at a complete disadvantage." There is a need for long-term care lo be provided here too. says Fleming who lives in Kinvara. "Survival from a traumatic brain injury is made possible because the health care system has invested in and supported acute care advances. However, survivors face enormous challenges, made more difficult by the lack of appropriate community support services. Those who need full-time care often end up in nursing homes, hospitals or psychiatric institutions. People with brain injury arc entitled lo a continuum of care and a good quality of life."

Open Learning B . A . Degree in Training and Education CERTIFICATE. D I P L O M A & DEGREE OPTIONS
Applications a r e invited for a o n e - y e a r m o d u l a r O p e n course leading t o a Certificate in Training Learning Open a n d Education.

Successful Certificate participants m a y p r o c e e d t o further Learning courses leading t o a Diploma Training a n d Education. These courses a r e aimed at teachers, trainers,

a n d B . A . D e g r e e in

educational industrial, adults to

consultants, h u m a n resource specialists a n d t h o s e practicing o r planning This a career Open a s trainers Learning in t h e e d u c a t i o n a l , programme enables commercial, voluntary a n d community sector. flexible u n d e r t a k e r e c o g n i s e d university c o u r s e s t o d e g r e e level t h r o u g h the medium of self-instructional support. texts, w o r k s h o p s , continuous assessment a n d tutor

A n Information T h e Alexander

E v e n i n g will

b e held

from

5 3 0 p m t o 8 . 0 0 p m o n Wednesday. Anderson Boardroom, in N U I Galway.

2 1 s tM a y , i n Room A 1 1 4

Palmist & Crystal Ball Reading

M A D A M E MARTA
contact: Education, House, She been has featured on Radio in many newspaper articles and Television.

Chinaman Takeaway
Oranmore
BALLYBRIT

M a r i a h a s ( r a v e l l e d i h e w o r l d a n d w a s b o r n w i t h h e r gift For further information please The .Administrator, Si Bollard Galway. + 3 5 3 - 9 1 - 5 2 8 9 0 5 of fortune telling, that g o e s back in h e r family for m a n y centuries. M a r i a c a n read y o u r past, present a n d future. and has W i l h h e r n a t u r a l a b i l i t y s h e is h e r e l o

Heneghan's Nurseries,
Monivea Road HAVE A WIDE SELECTION OF FLOWERING PL LNTS FOR WINDOW BOXES W D HANGING BASKETS Open 9AM-lpm Monday-Fridav

Certificate i n T r a i n i n g O p e n Learning Westside, Centre,

STAND UP SUNBED Tan up in 3-6 nuns 770099 Special Offers 10 sessions 6 0

Ph 792211

help and advise others on love, health a n d career.

T e t - + 3 5 3 - 9 1 - 5 2 8 6 5 1 ; Eajru Email: Website:

mfo@openUarningcentre.ccm wvtw.opentearningcentre.com

O N E O FT H E T O P C L A I R V O Y A N T S AND PALMISTS IN EUROPE
v

Closing d a t e for receipt of applications: Friday, 3 0 t h M a y , 2 0 0 3 .

a^S*

Appointment only: 087 7609801 Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill 22nd May

[fjhinatown
Ph. 528844

The Success

story

of the decade.

Door 2 Door Lootlet Delivery Service
P r o m o t i n g y o u r b u s i n e s s
33 years growing with

i s o u r b u s i n e s s
Galway

T H E MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF GETTING YOUR MESSAGE INTO THE HANDS OF EVERYONE IN GALWAY

Galway

Advertiser

Leaflet

Promotion

- A Successful

Promotion

Contact Gerry D o l a n o n 091 5 3 0 9 2 0