THE volunteer heroes who braved dangerous storm conditions to look after vulnerable people were celebrated.
HSE Mid West thanked members of the voluntary emergency services (VES) across the region for their support in ensuring vulnerable people in the community could continue to access essential health and social care services during two severe winter weather events.
The support of colleagues in the Defence Forces was also recognised for their assistance to the HSE during these events in January last year.
Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, and Galway Civil Defence, the Irish Coast Guard, the Irish Red Cross, and the Order of Malta were all lauded at a special event at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Limerick.
Statutory agencies such as the region’s three local authorities and An Garda SÃochána were also acknowledged for their ongoing support to the health service.
In January 2025, the HSE Mid West experienced two severe weather events, starting with an eight-day period of extreme cold and snow starting on January 3, followed by Storm Eowyn, a red level windstorm on January 24.
The HSE was forced to ground normal services and procedures, it said. However, with the support of the hero VESs and the Defence Forces, first responders provided transport to patients and staff into areas where critical services would otherwise not have been provided in the community.
During the protracted snow, these organisations assisted with the transportation of 201 priority patients and 479 staff in key frontline roles.
Volunteers and partners ensured care was delivered to vulnerable service users who required treatment in hospital (e.g dialysis) or in the community (intensive home support for older persons and mental health service users, antibiotics at home, etc).
House calls in the community ranged from newborn infant screening to supporting service users up to 100 years old.
During the severe weather events, HSE structures for crisis management were stood up by Regional Executive Officer Sandra Broderick. These included the Regional Crisis Management Team and the Severe Weather Transport Group (SWTG), who oversee exceptional requests for transport to ensure the most urgent services can continue to be delivered.
Maria Bridgeman, HSE Mid West’s integrated healthcare area manager of Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary, presented a plaque to representatives from each of the eight voluntary emergency services and partner organisations thanked on the night.