Rape crisis service opens in Tallaght

As reported in the Irish Times
A rise in the number of sexual assaults has led the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) to expand its counselling services to Tallaght.

The DRCC says the number of people accompanied by its volunteers to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit at the Rotunda hospital doubled between 2001 and 2006.

"For a long time the DRCC has been aware that a service was needed to respond to the needs of west Dublin, Wicklow and parts of Kildare," the centre said.

The Tallaght service, which is support by Tallaght hospital, will be manned by two therapists, and appointments can be made through a 24-hour helpline on 1800 778888.

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Christmas 2007 in aid National Childrens Hospital Tallaght

Corporate Christmas Campaign
Christmas is a very special time, especially for young children. Supporting our Christmas Campaign means you will be helping sick children get better, not just at Christmas, but all year round.
This year we have a number of options for you:
Packs of Cards Individual packs available for purchase. Each pack contains 10 cards (5 different designs), these are available at €7.50 per pack (p&p is additional at cost). To place an order simply call us or email info@thenationalchildrenshospital.ie.

Corporate Christmas E-Card
We had a huge number of requests from companies last year looking for an alternative to the Christmas Card and so this year we are launching an E-Card. This card can be sent to all your clients, suppliers and staff, wishing them a Happy Christmas and letting them know that you have made a donation to The National Children's Hospital, Tallaght. You will also get a message to put up on your website.
This option means you can continue to send Christmas Greetings in a more cost effective manner and one that is environmentally friendly too!

Corporate Christmas Gift
We know that companies send Gifts and so this year we have something a bit different for you to send. Instead of sending a typical Christmas Gift make a donation to the hospital and we will send out a Christmas Tree Decorative Bauble to your clients, letting them know that you have made a donation to us.

Christmas Wrapping Stickers
Maybe you still need to send out gifts, well why not look at wrapping them for the Hospital? We are selling stickers this year to say that you chose to wrap your gift in aid of the hospital.

Full detail, prices and images will be up on this page shortly, drop us an email if you would like more information. info@thenationalchildrenshospital.ie

Public Meeting to Save Tallaght Hospital: Labour

The Dublin South West Labour Party has organised a public meeting to highlight public fears as to the future of children’s healthcare in Tallaght Hospital. The meeting will take place: 8pm, Monday March 26 Plaza Hotel, Tallaght.

Labour Leader Pat Rabbitte TD said: “For as long as the Government decision of last summer stands, the only future facing Tallaght Children’s Hospital is ‘death by a thousand cuts,’ to quote Prof Ian Graham, Vice Chairman of Tallaght Hospital.

“When in the Dail on February 27 I asked the Taoiseach if there had been any change in the Government’s decision to relocate Crumlin and Tallaght to the Mater site, he replied: ‘The Deputy asked me whether there is a change in the position and I said there is not’.

“No amount of spinning can hide the formal Government decision.

“As the Government scrambles for a face-saving formula to get them past the General Election, the Taoiseach told me in the Dail that ‘there has been no review of the decision of last summer’. This means that the Government is proceeding to build the new hospital on the site of the Mater. This decision involves the relocation of both Tallaght and Crumlin to the North inner city.

“As a result, Tallaght will be left with a casualty station, or Urgent Care Centre, but no beds. It will be little more than a glorified clinic. This centre will care for children only in limited cases and where the length of the stay is less than 24 hours. It will be staffed by consultants and other staff rotating out from the National Children’s Hospital. However consultants say this is unworkable.

“Tallaght will lose its specialised staff and parents will be asked to travel in today’s congested traffic to the northside.

“It is dishonest of Fianna Fail to pretend that the Mater decision can be implemented and that everything remains more or less the same. We need honest answers Government instead of cynical misrepresentation of their own decision. We then need a commonsense solution in the interests of local families.

“This meeting will provide people with an opportunity to express their concerns over the future of health services for their children.”

Hayes calls for Hospital to be saved

Following on from Minster of State, Conor Lenihan's, letter to constituents stating that there is "no question of downgrading the [Tallaght] Hospital", Senator Brian Hayes has circulated a leaflet detailing the "Case for the National Childrens' Hospital". Read more on www.brianhayes.ie

Christmas Gift Wrapping Shop

From December 9th -22nd a Christmas Gift Wrapping Shop will be open from 9am until 6pm each day (9pm on Thursdays and the week before Christmas) in the Stephens Green Shopping Centre.

The centre is donating the space to The National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, and they are looking for over 700 volunteers to help them Wrap! [More information]

"No question" of Hospital downgrade, Children's closure: Lenihan

Minister of State, Conor Lenihan, TD (FF), has said there is "no question" of a downgrade to Tallaght Hospital and that reports to the contrary by the Labour party are "misrepresenting the situation." Mr Lenihan made his remarks in a letter to constituents in the Dublin South-West area.

(To view larger version of image, please click on it.)