Pádraig Schäler

 

 

 

Bhí Pádraig Schäler díreach tar éis a staidéar bunchéime a chríochnú i gColáiste na Tríonóide nuair a thaisteal sé go Meiriceá don Samhradh.

I mí Meitheamh, leagadh é óna rothar agus é ag rothaíocht chuig a áit oibre i gCape Cod.

Tá sé i gcóma ó shin.

Chaith Pádraig cúpla sheachtain san oispidéal i gCape Cod agus ansin thóg a chlann é ar ais go dtí Oispidéal Beaumont i mBaile Átha Cliath.

Tar éis ceithre mí caite in Oispidéal Beaumont, bhog a chlann é go dtí ionad rehab néareolaíoch i Hamburg sa Ghearmáin toisc nach bhfuil an Stáit ábalta an cúram ceart a chur ar fáil dó anseo.

Agus é i mBeaumont, tuigim go raibh Pádraig ar an liosta i gcomhair ‘The National Rehabilitation Hospital’ (NRH) i nDún Laoghaire.

Dúradh le clann Pádraig go glacfaidh sé ní mí chun leaba a fháil dó. Tá seo deacar a chreidiúint.

Dúirt na dochtúirí sa Ghearmáin nach raibh seo oiriúnach ar chor ar bith agus go raibh ‘early intensive neuro-rehab’ de dhíth.  Dúirt siad go raibh a leithéid ‘grotesque’ agus ‘unethical’

Tá sé tagtha chun cinn nach bhfuil ach trí leaba ar fáil do dhaoine le riocht Pádraig. Sin scanallach.

Chuir mo chomhghleacaí, Mary Lou McDonald, ceist ar an Aire Sláinte faoin easpa leapacha atá ar fáil, agus ar an méid ama a ghlacann sé leaba  a fháil.

Sa fhreagra a bhfuair sí, leirítear nach bhfuil ach 11 comhairleoirí rehab sa Stáit. 11 comhairleoirí agus trí leapacha i stáit ina bhfuil 5 milliúin saoránaigh ann! Sin dochreidte agus caithfidh seo athrú.

Tá daoine le riocht néareolaíoch buartha faoin todhchaí agus tuigim cén fáth.

Tá an córas, mar atá sé, ina phraiseach agus tá géarghá ann é a fheabhsú.

Ta fadhb eile ann maidir le costasaí.

Bhí ar chlann Pádraig na costasaí suntasacha a íoc iad féin.

Tuigim go raibh costas de €12,000 d’aerárthach othar ó Bhaile Átha Cliath go dtí an Ghearmáin agus bhí ar chlann Padraig é sin a íoc. Costas ollmhór.

Cé go bhfuil sé mar dhulagas ag an HSE íoc as cóir leighis nach bhfuil ar fáil in Éirinn, dúradh le teaghlach Pádraig go raibh seans ann nach dtarlóidh sin agus nach íocfaidh siad as.

D’ardaigh mé seo leis an Taoiseach. Chomh maith le sin léirigh mé mo bhuairt i leith saoraidí neuro sa Chóras Sláinte.

Scríobh mé litir chuig an Taoiseach ina dhiaidh sin ag iarraidh ar níos mó sonraí a thabhairt dom i leith cás Phádraig. Táim ag fanacht ar fhreagra.

Ba chóir go mbeadh Pádraig anseo in Éirinn. Ta dualgas ag an stáit aire a thabhairt dá saoránaigh.  

‘Sé an rud atá de dhíth ná infheistíocht. Caithfidh don rialtas airgead a infheistiú i seirbhísí néareolaíoch.

Tá an airgead ar fáil. Tá sé ann, ach is ceist thosaíochta í.

Tuigim go bhfuil neart rudaí ar siúl ag cairde Phádraig chun airgid a bhailiú. Chuala mé go bhfuil snámh eagraithe acu i ngach condae le cósta thar dhá lá. Beidh sin ar siúil an deireadh seachtaine seo. Fair play dóibh agus d’achan duine atá ag glacadh páirte.

Má tá sibh ag iarraidh tuilleadh eolais, tabhair cuairt ar an suíomh www.caringforpadraig.org.

 

Pádraig Schäler

Pádraig Schäler, is aged 23. He had just completed his undergraduate degree studies at Trinity College Dublin when he travelled to America for the summer.

In June last year, he was knocked off his bike while cycling to work in Cape Cod, suffering serious injuries. He has been in a coma ever since.

After a few weeks spent in a hospital in Cape Cod, Pádraig’s parents brought him home to Ireland and to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where he was immediately placed on a waiting list for ‘The National Rehabilitation Hospital’ (NRH) in Dún Laoghaire.

Four months later his family moved him again, this time to a hospital in Hamburg, Germany. They felt that they had no other option, because this State could not provide the timely medical intervention needed for Pádraig’s condition. Instead, they were told that it would be 9 months before treatment at the NRH would even begin.

When asked for their opinion on this long delay, German doctors were appalled at such a prospect, stating that what Pádraig needed was ‘early intensive neuro-rehab’. They went so far as to say that the proposed delay was ‘grotesque’ and ‘unethical’.

It has emerged that there are only three beds available in the State for people with Pádraig’s condition. That is truly scandalous.

My colleague, Mary Lou McDonald, put a question to the Minister for Health about this lack of provision and about the length of time it takes to secure a bed. In response, the Minister’s Department confirmed that there are only 11 rehab consultants in this State.

11 consultants and 3 beds in a State with 5 million citizens! It is unbelievable and needs to be changed.

Padraig with his sister Maria

The families of people with neurological conditions are worried about their future and I can understand why. The system as it stands is a mess. It is crucial that it is changed and improved.

There’s another issue in relation to costs. Pádraig’s family have been left to carry the financial burden, paying €12,000 for an air ambulance from Dublin to Germany. A huge ask for any family.

Although the HSE has an obligation to pay for treatment not available in this State, Pádraig’s family were informed that there is a good chance that this will not happen in their case.

I raised Pádraig’s case with the Taoiseach seeking more information. I also raised my concerns in relation to the lack of neurological facilities within the Health Service. I am still waiting for a response.

The fact is that the State has a responsibility to look after its citizens and Pádraig, an Irish citizen, should be cared for here in Ireland.

What is needed is investment. The Government must invest money into neurological services. The money is there, but it’s a matter of priorities.

I understand that Pádraig’s friends have been tireless in their fundraising efforts to help ease the financial burden on his family. As part of such efforts, a sponsored swim event has been organised in every county with a coastline, to take place over two days this weekend. Fair play to all involved.

If you want further information, take a look at the website www.caringforpadraig.org