Defence Forces deployed to transport hospital nurses

MEMBERS of the Defence Forces have been praised for getting nurses in outlying areas to work in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital during the height of the snow.

Meath TD and Minister for Employment Affairs & Social Protection Regina Doherty remarked: “Since the cold snap began, we were served by 10 members of the Defence Forces, equipped in six all-wheel drive vehicles.

‘ They transported dozens of nurses from around the county to their work at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

‘And they brought patients home from hospital, thereby keeping hospital beds open for incoming patients.

‘ They also performed a patient transfer for a Meath resident down to the Beacon hospital’.

She also said the Defence Forces assisted in the delivery of Meals on Wheels in Duleek and other areas.

Water issues

THERE were major fears in relation to the water supply on Friday after power was lost at the Staleen Water Treatment Plant.

Louth CC and Meath CC worked hard to beat the snows to get engineers into the complex.

The power outage stopped water production at the plant which serves Drogheda and East Meath. The Lourdes Hospital and other priority health care facilities were notified.

Meals on Wheels

Drogheda Rotary Club Meals on Wheels operated as normal during the snow with volunteers bringing in 4x4 vehicles to make sure delivers were carried out. As usual, the food was cooked in the Drogheda Homeless Aid and delivered from there.