Lorraine Dempsey

It was around this time 2 years ago that I got the call to say @carl_dempsey had died during Gaelforce West. There are no new memories to make with Carl, but he has left so many behind to remind us of his incredible lust for life. youtu.be/hE3HPvwUnWY?si…

You can be sure that enough red flags were waived to management before brave whistle-blowers considered using external forces. Resident left sitting on toilet when worker went on break as ‘RTÉ Investigates’ uncovers ‘distressing’ nursing home conditions independent.ie/irish-news/res…

@rgarbra84 Correct. There are still some educational support schemes that a diagnosis is required, but many others not longer. However, professional reports to support applications may still be sought.

@LorDempsey You need the diagnosis for home tuition.

You do not nor never needed an Assessment of Need to apply for social housing nor Domicillary Care Allowance. However, you do need evidence of disability for both confirmed by professional reports, as medical assesment form signed by GP is rarely enough. independent.ie/irish-news/pol…

@geturtrackerbk DCA is not a diagnosis based allowance. What they were looking for was any kind of report to indicate the level of care needs arising from a disability. For some children a report from a medical consultant is enough. For others, they may require reports from several therapists.

@LorDempsey You do indeed, we were denied the DCA until we had the AON which confirmed our Sons diagnosis.

Neither of these have been ever quoted before as a driver for parents to seek out an Assessment of Need, but more likely applying because there is a developmental delay and additional needs becoming apparent and they don't have thousands of € to pay for private assessments.

🟥🟥Happening today 🟥🟥 Public Accounts Committee: Engagement with @CHI_Ireland & the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board. Families are still paying the price for delays, dysfunction & ZERO accountability. Our children deserve better — not more spin. #ScoliosisCare #SpinaBifidaCare can’t wait @IkeOkafor16 @CeoHardiman @roinnslainte @CarrollJennifer @SimonHarrisTD @MichealMartinTD #PAC #HealthCareFail Lives are at stake Children are suffering Parents are exhausted

@SNAsSpeakOut Thanks Carol.

This is the best explanation of the process that has led to 15,000 children waiting for Assessments of Need. Please remember these students have a legal right to AONs. Thank you @LorDempsey

@LorDempsey “A copy and paste response” absolutely brilliant and factual. Children with disabilities are being failed every day but when they turn 18 they literally fall off a cliff. And we need to stop the cafe and bowling culture of day services, our adults deserve better!

🗣️ "The government and successive governments sat on their hands." — @LorDempsey says she is not hopeful there will be a resolution to the disability assessment backlog. #TonightVMTV

🗣️ "I've heard it all before." — @LorDempsey describes the plans to tackle the backlog as "political schizophrenia," with little real progress made. #TonightVMTV

Coming up on #TonightVMTV with @kierancuddihy live from 10pm: 🚨Assessment of Needs backlog hits 15,000. Is the State breaking its own law? 🚨 Is cash still king? WhatsApp 089-607-3767 to have your say🤳 @KeiraKeoghFG @1PaulLawless @LorDempsey @smsboland #TonightVMTV

@TarynDeVere Sorry to hear that but totally get it. Don't use the platform much anymore but wanted to show a friend your pandemic project of household products fashion. Its given me inspiration for my 50th fancy dress party outfit!

My lovely friend Michelle & her husband Declan had to fight for Leah’s right to an education, Leah passed away yesterday. It’s not okay for parents of children with life limiting conditions to have to fight for anything let alone EVERYTHING. 💔 @GarNob irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/peop…

Wheelchair user Niamh Ní Hoireabhaird speaking about beach accessibility independent.ie/irish-news/whe…

So things have gone from bad to worse recently for Harvey unfortunately. While we have been campaigning, while we have all been sharing his story, while we have been watching footage of Harvey struggling to breathe, while we have been watching him screaming in pain, @CHI_Ireland took it upon themselves to remove Harvey from the waiting list. Harvey was on the list since February 2022 and had been waiting over two years, and he was removed without our consent, or even us being informed. The only reason we even know is because I queried his status again. Where else in the world would you see a child with a curvature well over 100° actually taken *off* a surgical list. Spending years sitting on that list is bad enough but to go ahead and actually remove that little glimmer of hope we had is just inexcusable. They had no plan in place for Harvey, no scheduled follow up appointments, just him kicked off the list without even a curtesy call to let us know. As far as I can tell they gave zero consideration to his wellbeing in making that decision. We have been spending so much time trying to decide if we should put this out publicly but you have all been so supportive of us, and all the children waiting so far and it just felt too important to not share. Your support helps us fight for better, because we all know these children, and the children that will come after them deserve better. From our own experience, this new task force is nothing but a media spin between CHI and @SimonHarrisTD to make it seem like they’re making things better but this is the reality. Not only have things not got better for most of us, in some cases they’ve somehow got worse. They say that they’re improving communications with parents but I have asked David Moore (the lead of the task force) repeatedly for information like when Harvey was removed from the list and he is actively evading answering. Don’t let the media spin fool you, these children are continuing to be failed and CHI and this government are not only allowing it, they’re causing it.

@BrennanNoelle @carl_dempsey So glad I did it Noelle. Much lighter coming down the mountain.

@LorDempsey @carl_dempsey Ah Lorraine, a beautiful view. It must have been so hard for you, I hope it has helped in some way.

Today is the 3rd anniversary of life without @carl_dempsey and a significant one for me. I am finally ready to climb the mountain where he died in the Maamturks to see what he saw before he took his last breath on earth. Life is for living not just being.

@AlisonMcCallion @carl_dempsey It was the peace I needed.

Cathartic and challenging but I made it to the top and beyond and if this was the last thing you ever saw in life, what a life you lived. RIP @carl_dempsey