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LIVELINE CALLBACK

Joe Duffy Image Name: Joe Duffy

Episode 2 TX Thursday 8th November, RTÉ One at 7pm

The third series of LIVELINE CALLBACK on RTÉ One continues following up on the some of the amazing stories and people who talk to Joe Duffy on his radio show.

VERSATIS PATCHES:

Catherine Carroll, 51, and family. The former basketball star from Mallow contacted Liveline when she had her Versatis pain patches withdrawn

Catherine Carroll from Mallow has been living with a degenerative back condition since the mid 1990’s.  She used to play basketball at national level, and was a keen all round sports player and coach.  Catherine’s condition has worsened steadily over the years to the point that the excruciating pain she suffers has left her bed-ridden, apart from the odd outing with a zimmer frame and assistance from her family.  Catherine was using the Versatis Pain Relief patches as part of her medical treatment programme.  These patches were available under the Drug Purchase Scheme.  However, last year, a new, second level of approval was introduced by the HSE in September 2017 for GPs who wished to continue prescribing the drug after three months of usage, and a significant decrease in availability occurred.  Claims that the patches had been withdrawn from the scheme were denied by HSE Director General Tony O’Brien at an Oireachtas Health Committee, but GPs have said that with the new system, it became almost impossible to get the patches for patients. However, Professor Michael Barry of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics has since confirmed that patients with neuropathic (nerve) pain can send an appeal, through their GP, for the patches.

Mallow native Catherine, who appealed for the patches through her GP had her request rejected – and that’s when she decided to contact Joe.  Liveline Callback travelled to Mallow in County Cork to find out what happened after Catherine spoke on Liveline….

RACISM IN IRELAND:

Derek Burnett with Natalie O’Donoghue and Caitriona Flynn in Limerick City.

British man Derek Burnett contacted Liveline in September 2018 to recount the racist abuse he’d experienced on each occasion he’d visited Ireland for work.

The latest and most upsetting experience happened in a restaurant in Limerick. A group of middle aged men on the table next to Derek uttered a litany of racist remarks – clearly directed towards Derek’s ethnicity.  But also sitting in the restaurant were two Limerick women Natalie O’Donoghue and Catriona Flynn. They were appalled by what they heard and stood up to the racist bullies and defended Derek.

Derek contacted Liveline to express his gratitude towards the two women and he travelled back to Limerick for Liveline Callback to thank them in person.

 

THE LIFESAVERS:

Undertaker, Adrian McEntaggart at his business premises in Dublin.

Adrian McEntaggart and his wife Grace were on their way to a night out when they noticed a man who had collapsed on the Dublin quays. At first, like most other passers-by, they hesitated to intervene as the man looked like he may have overdosed. But something made Adrian turn back and check if the man was actually still alive.

They rang the emergency services who promptly told them to start CPR. Adrian and Grace kept the man alive until the ambulance arrived to take over and bring him to hospital. When Adrian later told friends what had happened, they were amazed Adrian had saved a man’s life – as he is actually an undertaker who normally helps people into the afterlife.

Liveline Callback went to meet Adrian and find out more.