Caroline Boyd

Social Work Team Leader in Tusla. Views are my own.

[RTÉ News @rtenews]

Levels of cocaine and ketamine use among drug users in Ireland are higher than most other countries in Europe, according to new research

https://t.co/B8lDsP3i5n

[RTÉ News @rtenews]

Over half of convicted criminals reoffended within three years of being released from prison, according to the latest figures released by the Central Statistics Office

https://t.co/p9v0cjUlPV

[gript @griptmedia]

15-year-old activist Cara Darmody is staging a 50-hour protest outside Leinster House. With 22k children facing a 2+ year wait for HSE assessments, she's calling out government law-breaking and demanding an emergency international recruitment plan for therapists.

[gript @griptmedia]

A Bill to allow people to find out if a partner has previous convictions for serious domestic violence offences has passed the final stages at Leinster House, to be named after Jennifer Poole, who was murdered in 2021:

https://t.co/XpZysc4G62

[TheJournal.ie @thejournal_ie]

Counselling notes in court cases: Recent changes are welcome, but survivors shouldn't have to choose between healing and justice...

https://t.co/LuQO4mowO7

[NewstalkFM @NewstalkFM]

The sister of a disabled man said he felt “humiliated” and she cried after Ryanair denied them boarding because of the size of his wheelchair.

https://t.co/WyNxOu679d

[Care Champions Ireland @CareChampions2]

Heartbreaking to hear of yet another grieving family today as the HSE and St. Stephen’s Hospital in Cork issue an unreserved apology and a settlement over the tragic, preventable loss of a vulnerable husband and father. Despite being admitted under an active, severe suicide threat, having crashed his car just hours prior, the hospital admitted him to a single room with no suicide watch, relying entirely on his verbal promise that he would not self-harm. While the HSE has promised robust staff training and systemic reforms following this devastating failure, no apology or settlement can ever mend a shattered home or replace a life that should have been protected. Our sincerest condolences to this man's family and may he rest in peace.

#HSE #AnotherApology #MentalHealth #Brokensystem #StStephensHospital #Cork

https://t.co/AxA1Pomuii

[Katiesfighttokeepwalking @Katiesfight24]

Another week has gone by, and still nothing from the HSE.

No decision.
No update.
Not even an acknowledgement.

Katie is still living in pain while emails go unanswered and decisions are delayed. The HSE sent her to Dr Paley for a second opinion, and he confirmed that she needs surgery and that he can help her.

Yet we are still waiting.

This is exactly why we are fundraising.

We cannot depend on the HSE anymore. We cannot keep putting Katie’s future in the hands of a system that continues to delay while her condition deteriorates.

Katie has already waited nearly 16 years for proper intervention. She cannot afford to lose more time.

To the HSE, this may be another file sitting on a desk. To me, this is my daughter’s life.

Every donation and every share brings us one step closer to getting Katie to Florida for the surgery she desperately needs.

Please help us get her there.

Katie’s GoFundMe:
https://t.co/NXZrcZB4DJ

[Care Champions Ireland @CareChampions2]

Another devastating reminder of why we must always listen to family instincts when it comes to medical emergencies. 💔

Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has issued a formal apology in the High Court to the family of a four-year-old girl who tragically died of meningococcal sepsis, after her mother’s repeated warnings about meningitis were dismissed by medical staff.

The young girl's mother discovered a rash and repeatedly raised concerns that her daughter had meningitis. She was dismissed, and the child was instead diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection.

Medical experts stated there were multiple "amber and red flags" pointing to sepsis, but standard protocol was not followed.

The girl’s condition rapidly deteriorated. By the time attempts were made to treat the meningitis at another hospital, it was too late. She passed away just hours after her initial admission.

In a letter signed by CHI Chief Executive Lucy Nugent, the healthcare group expressed profound regret:

"Children's Health Ireland would like to sincerely apologise for the failures in the care provided to her and to confirm that it is committed to learning from her death."

May this little girl rest in peace and our condolences to her heartbroken family

#SepsisAwareness #Meningitis #PatientSafety #CHI #Apology

https://t.co/Je8DjKUIYx

[Philip Nolan @philipnolan1]

This still hasn’t been located. Someone not on Twitter/X may have it. The place is crawling with Dubs and other visitors, so ask any of your pals if they have it — they may not know who lost it, or how to get it back. Contact Geraldine if it’s found, and please RT. Thank you.

[RTÉ News @rtenews]

The parents of an 11-year-old girl whose life expectancy has been shortened after uncertified spinal springs were inserted during surgery at Temple Street Hospital have said she was used as "a guinea pig" in efforts to treat the curvature of her spine https://t.co/zFJA66bcb7

[Caroline Boyd @Carolin27095358]

@GarNob I like this weather but dare I say it , an occasional shower of rain at night time to water the grass and keep animals happy would be great. 🤣🤣🤣🤣😎😎

[TheJournal.ie @thejournal_ie]

A woman who waived her anonymity to name a Defence Forces member who sexually assaulted her as a child said she hopes her decision will encourage other victims to come forward.

Ella Hewson was 14 when she was sexually assaulted at a sleepover.
https://t.co/H2qiRdvowD

[Dr Tom Clonan @TomClonan]

Standing with the best of us -Beautiful young Irish Citizens with Friedrich’s Ataxia @AtaxiaFI & their families -Proud to stand with @MaryLouMcDonald & @niamhnih to demand immediate approval of #Skyclaris for all Citizens with this cruel condition -Govt Cruelly Delaying Approval

[RTÉ News @rtenews]

The legislation ensures killers who take the life of their child's other parent will no longer be able to automatically keep guardianship rights

https://t.co/2sb3869BrQ

[Care Champions Ireland @CareChampions2]

Yet again, patients in Ireland are being failed by bureaucracy. 💔

The HSE has deferred its decision on reimbursing Skyclarys, the only approved, life-changing treatment for Friedreich’s ataxia, for another four weeks.

It is a devastating, shameful blow to families who are quite literally running out of time.

For those living with relentless, progressive conditions, time is not abstract. Every single day of delay means a permanent loss of physical function that no future decision can ever restore.

Real Lives, Real Heartbreak: Families like Craig Coady's are fighting desperately for their children. Craig tragically lost his 13-year-old son Rory to this condition last year, and is now fighting for his 16-year-old son, Paudie. How much more must these families endure before they get the support they deserve?

Irish patients with rare diseases should not have to wait longer than patients in other European countries for life-saving medicine.

Scrutinizing evidence is important, but a deferral cannot become an endless holding pattern.

No more stalling. No more excuses. Patients cannot wait! 🕒

#PatientsCantWait #Skyclarys #FriedreichsAtaxia #HSE #AccessToMedicines #RareDisease #CraigCoady #PaudieCoady

https://t.co/d2SS9VA0FQ

[Gareth Noble @GarNob]

Really delighted to catch up again with the inspirational young disability campaigner Cara Carmody outside the Dail this evening. Another overnight campaign outside our nation’s parliament to highlight the disgraceful and ongoing breaches of law by HSE in progressing assessments of need

[Katiesfighttokeepwalking @Katiesfight24]

Another week begins.

Will the HSE finally contact us this week?

Will we finally get a decision about funding Katie’s surgery in Florida, or will they continue to dangle the carrot and leave us clinging to hope while Katie’s condition gets worse?

Every Monday starts the same way — checking emails, waiting for the phone to ring and hoping that this will be the week someone finally takes responsibility.

The HSE has the quotes. They have the medical reports. They know how urgent this is.

I really wish I had the money myself to just bring Katie to Florida.

Then I wouldn’t have to keep begging, chasing emails or waiting for the HSE to decide whether my daughter gets the surgery she needs.

If I had the money, Katie would already be on her way to the surgeon who says he can help her.

But I don’t have €400,000.

Katie has already waited nearly 16 years. She should not have to wait another week.

That is why I have to keep asking people to donate and share. I hate having to do it, but I hate watching my daughter suffer even more.

Please help us get Katie to Florida.

https://t.co/NXZrcZB4DJ

[The Fostering Network @fosteringnet]

The new draft fostering standards for England aim to ensure foster carers are recognised, trusted and valued. 💡

Our latest blog explains the key proposals, from recognising carers as equal partners to strengthening delegated authority.

Read more ⬇️

https://t.co/yWkAvB2UCv

[Dr Tom Clonan @TomClonan]

In Seanad Éireann, I raised (yet again) Grave Concerns on Child Protection -Risk of Predatory Paedophilia -In HSE West North West -HSE dragging their heels on Protected Disclosures from Concerned, Courageous Clinicians -Compulsory Reporting Should NEVER be Resisted by Management