“We know that being physically active has many benefits – but we also have a situation here where people are really loving the social aspect to the class and they’re feeling better and more motivated,” according to Caroline Kelleher, Health Promotion and Improvement Officer with Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, speaking about ‘Movewell’, a new strength-building class for adults with specific chronic diseases.
Mary Kennedy, from Castleknock, Dublin, was 61 when she did her first BowelScreen test. Even though she was told she had cancer after her screening, she feels lucky because it was found at an early stage, when her treatment was easier. Mary says she’s incredibly thankful that BowelScreen is available to people aged 59 to 69 and wants everyone to know about it.
Portiuncula University Hospital (PUH) and Community Healthcare West (Galway, Mayo and Roscommon) have recently introduced a new Communication Passport (‘Getting to know what matters to me’) for people living with dementia.
“Michael was still talking to us an hour before he died so we had a lovely time, which sounds strange, but we were all there and everybody was so nice,” according to Colette Mulrooney from Birr Co Offaly speaking as she highlighted the importance of the care provided to her husband Michael Mulrooney in the HSE Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore during his final days.
A group of volunteers on Arranmore Island off the coast of Co Donegal recently received Emergency First Responder Certificates at a special presentation held on the island. The event also marked the delivery of a new ambulance vehicle to replace an older vehicle. Emergency First Responder Group leader John McCafferty and his team of volunteers received their certificates from John Joe McGowan, HSE National Ambulance Service (NAS) General Manager Operations - West.
“This is a very important day for Travellers across the region. Working together we can make a difference, and this report is just the first step in many years of hard work and partnership working, which is critical to the successful implementation of this document," according to Breda O’Donoghue, Co-Chair of the Cork/Kerry Traveller Health Unit, speaking at the launch of an ambitious plan to reduce the health inequalities and challenges faced by the Travelling community.
An intensive 5-day HSE Infection Prevention and Control Link Practitioner Programme for staff at private nursing homes and disability service organisations was recently completed in the South East. The ability to identify and manage infection prevention and control risk is a key priority for the HSE Quality, Safety and Improvement Team in South East Community Healthcare. A total of 24 private nursing homes in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford, along with four disability care organisations, completed the programme in recent weeks.
Merlin Park University Hospital has introduced a new pathway offering some dialysis patients an alternative to surgery for the insertion of catheters. The new option will reduce waiting times and allow more people to avail of treatment at home following the implanting of peritoneal dialysis catheters.
Three outstanding nurses/midwives from Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) have been acknowledged for the meaningful difference they make in their patients' lives. At a ceremony in the hospital in recent weeks, Ann Browne, Anne McLaughlin and Brenda Sandilands received DAISY awards after being nominated by co-workers and patients. While the DAISY award is a new initiative in LUH, the programme has been running for a number of years after being established by the DAISY Foundation, an international not-for-profit organisation.
“At no stage in my life did anyone ever mention the signs and symptoms of sepsis – and I really wish I had known them,” according to Aisling O’Rourke, whose father, John, passed away from sepsis in November 2020. Aisling is now sharing her story to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of the condition, encouraging people to ask ‘could it be sepsis?’
“We are very conscious that the last four decades of the provision of care and services for older people in the South East – in Cashel and at St Anthony’s, Clonmel - have seen us maintain our excellent reputation,” according to Denise Flynn, HSE Director of Nursing at Cashel Residential Older People Services.
“Progress is not linear. Even for a relatively simple project like mine, there were plenty of bumps in the road. However, if you engage a great team from the start, the support is there to help you navigate the inevitable challenges,” according to Siobhan Power, Clinical Specialist Dietitian at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH).
"It is fantastic that we have now reached the point where we can open the doors of our brand new Ballyshannon Community Hospital to our residents,” according to Donna Reid, Person in Charge, Ballyshannon Community Hospital, speaking this week as the facility opened. “This is such a great facility for the provision of older person services in our community. I am so looking forward to welcoming our residents and their families into the new hospital enabling us to provide them the very best care."
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly recently turned the sod on a new €14 million, 12-bedded, single-roomed, in-patient unit at North West Hospice, Sligo.
“It is important that people know who can reach out to and where they can go for information and support,” according to Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association, as she officially launched a new HSE directory of services with information to assist Older People in Laois/Offaly live well at home.
“We are well underway in Co Wexford to meeting the aim of ensuring that 80% of people living with chronic disease – be it respiratory, cardiovascular or diabetes – receive care in the community,” according to Wexford based Integrated Cardiovascular Specialist Nurse Liz Murphy, speaking at a recent Open Day event celebrating a six-month milestone in the development of cardiac care services in the county.
Launch of collaborative educational and training programme involving psychology services
“I am passionate about humanising the ICU experience for patients during what can be the most challenging times of their lives,” according to Nina Holden, a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH)
Surgical Prehabilitation is a way to prepare physically and mentally to meet the challenge of surgery.
Located on the grounds of St. Otteran’s Hospital, Grangemore is an approved Mental Health Commission (MHC) centre providing continuing mental health care and rehabilitation to 14 residents.
St Vincent's University Hospital is proud to be at the forefront of healthcare innovation through our modernised care pathways.
"The ease of accessing the x-ray unit at Errigal Hub is really beneficial for the patient’s experience,” according to Siobhan McGrory, HSE Radiology Services Manager
The aim of the service is to provide enhanced postnatal care, early signposting for additional services, breastfeeding support and reduce postnatal admission,” according to Karlene Kearns, Clinical Midwife Manager 2, Sligo University Hospital, as a new pilot service was recently launched by the Maternity Department at Sligo University Hospital (SUH).
“Working on this programme has been an immense privilege. It has personally allowed me to witness the remarkable transformation achieved by empowering our staff across 10 hospitals and 56 operating rooms. Their skill in identifying and driving improvements is exceptional,” according to Professor Mark Corrigan, Clinical Lead, South/South West Hospitals Group.
“This is the single most important change in our practice since we were established over 20 years ago,” according to Donegal based GP Dr Majella Grealish, commenting on iSIMPATHY, a HSE cross-border project reviewing patients’ use of multiple medicines (polypharmacy).
“The new IPATS (Irish Paediatric Acute Transport Service) Repatriation Service aims to provide care and support for children and families during a very stressful time. The service ensures they can keep a flow of children into and out of the specialist hospitals so that every child can get the most appropriate care when they need it most,” according to Anne McCabe, Director of Nursing, NASCCRS (Critical Care and Retrieval Service) and NEOC (National Emergency Operating Centre).
“Pamela is a great advertisement for being 100. It has been a pleasure to look after Pamela and we were delighted to be able to facilitate this occasion,” according to Barry Power, Director of Nursing, Waterford Residential Care Centre. Barry was addressing those gathered recently to celebrate the 100th birthday of Pamela Bankes, a resident at the centre.
“If you like working with people and supporting them towards achieving their own personal health goals, then physiotherapy would certainly be the profession for you,” according to Louise Galvin, a clinical specialist physiotherapist with the HSE Kerry Pathfinder Team.
“What I found most helpful with the HSE Quit service was the one-to-one chats I had with Miriam, my HSE Stop Smoking Advisor,” according to Pat O’Callaghan who smoked for more than 40 years. “Those chats gave me an accountability and purpose that the other programmes just didn’t really have.”
“This project demonstrates just how effective healthcare professionals are when working together collaboratively as part of a team, when planning and delivering care,” according to the HSE Excellence Awards Selection Panel in their assessment of one of the winning projects last year.
“The project team were energetic, enthusiastic and had significant pride in their work,” according to the HSE Excellence Awards Selection Panel in relation to a winning project where the team had undertaken “complex care coordination for paediatric patients with the rare condition 22q11 Deletion Syndrome. This involved integrating and coordinating medical, developmental and psychosocial services to ensure holistic care for the individual.”
A HSE app-based project that improves patient flow was a recent recipient of a HSE Excellence Award. Based in the north west, the project was praised by the Excellence Awards selection panel as for “delivering efficiencies for the health service, while improving patient flow.”
The Lavender Clinic, at University Maternity Hospital Limerick, was among the recent recipients of a HSE Excellence Award. The clinic is a screening, assessment and early intervention service for women at risk of experiencing post traumatic stress symptoms related to birth. It is a multidisciplinary team (MDT), collaborative clinic, facilitated by an advanced midwife practitioner (AMP), a consultant psychiatrist or registrar in psychiatry, an obstetric consultant and clinical specialist physiotherapist.
“The true reward of everyone’s collective efforts is reflected in the increased number of patients who have already benefited and will continue to benefit from the improvements driven by our staff every day,” according to Grace Reidy, Transforming Theatre Programme Lead, South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG). Grace was speaking as an operating theatre quality project recently won two major awards, adding that “the commitment demonstrated by everyone involved in the programme has been extraordinary.”
The HSE celebrated staff innovation at the annual Health Service Excellence Awards which took place in recent weeks. The awards are an opportunity to showcase and celebrate examples of the great work that happens every day across the health service. They aim to encourage and inspire health service staff to develop and improve care and services for patients.
“The success of any Sláintecare Healthy Communities Project is dependent on the level of trust and engagement between the community and the agencies seeking to provide services,” according to Mellany McLoone, Chief Officer Community Healthcare Organisation, Dublin North City and County, speaking at the recent launch of a project report.
“This year, the National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) report emphasises some major themes that are core to planning for cancer control,” according to Professor Deirdre Murray, Director of the National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI). “Life expectancy in Ireland is among the highest in Europe and we present the outcomes for cancer in older people, which will hopefully form a benchmark for policy makers and service planners in their work. Equally, we highlight the benefits of early diagnosis on cancer outcomes by cancer type and finally we report on cancers presenting as an emergency, both key indicators of cancer control.”
Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) has become the first hospital in the country to implement a new visiting policy for patients and their carers, based on ‘John’s Campaign’ that originated in the NHS and is designed to extend visiting rights for carers of patients in hospitals.
Ron Grainger set two world records at the World Transplant Games in Perth, Australia this year, winning gold in the 100m and 200m at the World Transplant Games in Perth. What is even more remarkable is that Ron was competing in the 70 -79 age category, 20 years after he received a kidney transplant. To mark this milestone Ron returned to the Vartry Renal Unit in Tallaght University Hospital to present the renal team with a special gift of one of his gold medals.
Almost 90% of the staff at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) came forward last year to get their flu vaccine, the highest percentage of staff in a hospital setting in the country. Speaking about the success, UHW Director of Nursing and Integration Orla Kavanagh credited it as a “result of a number of years of work.” Orla continued: “Staff uptake of the flu vaccine at UHW has been improving year on year, with last year’s campaign the result of an accumulation of efforts and trying different strategies.” The flu season typically begins early October and lasts until the end of April. For the team at UHW, however, it is not long after the flu season finishes before they begin working on the next.
“I find the whole service absolutely brilliant – it means I can be at home with my child and I don’t have to worry about getting someone to mind her. And usually a lot of the time, it’s my concerns and my worries and they really do calm me down,” according to Celine Garvey, a cancer patient commenting on the video-enabled patient care at Naas General Hospital.
“The team showed unbelievable compassion, respect, patience and understanding to my mum and her needs,” according to Ultan, whose mum Kathleen O’Sullivan was referred to the Frailty at the Front Door (FFD) service at Galway University Hospitals.
New research from a study launched recently highlights the importance of engaging with members of the Traveller community, using a partnership approach, in order to create a mental health service provision that fits the needs of this community.
“I am delighted that this new Radiation Oncology centre has now opened – it’s a great resource for the people of the West and North West of Ireland,” according to Dr Cormac Small, Consultant Radiation Oncologist at University Hospital Galway, adding that “the entire building has been designed not just for today’s needs but also for future needs.” University Hospital Galway and the Saolta Group recently announced the official opening of the state-of-the-art Saolta Radiation Oncology Centre. The newly built centre, which is opening on a phased basis, is equipped to the highest specification.
Mayo University Hospital (MUH) recently marked World Stroke Day by launching a book containing resources and supports for stroke patients and their families. The book, entitled ‘My Stroke Journey’, is a 67-page guide to all aspects of this life-threatening condition. It was developed by the multi-disciplinary stroke team in MUH in collaboration with patients.
Staff at Tallaght University Hospital have invented a new device that enables a kidney patient to access dialysis at home, which in turn has allowed them to return to work.
Sligo marathon runner Molua Donohoe’s life was saved by the combined CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) actions of his 18-year-old daughter Alannah, local Community First Responder Reece Cawley and RNLI volunteer Daryl Ewing.
“It’s a must- do; your eyes could start to deteriorate quicker than they should. You have to be on top of it and you do that through screening,” according to Gordon Hynes, speaking in relation to the importance of attending Diabetic RetinaScreen – the free, national screening programme that helps find and treat serious eye disease in people with diabetes.
A new high specification videofluoroscopy service has been introduced at Mayo University Hospital (MUH). The investment in this new equipment and software will improve patient outcomes at the hospital by providing high quality diagnostic imagery to guide the management and treatment of patients with swallowing difficulties.
Chief Executive of North Doc Medical Services, Liam Quinn, is providing a reminder for people on how the service operates. Liam explains that they “run the GP out of hours services for Edoc in South Dublin and Ddoc in North Dublin. We represent the GPs when they are closed, on an out of hours basis. If someone urgently needs a GP they come to us.”
Black and white was the theme for the afternoon in St John's Community Hospital, Sligo recently, when residents of St John’s Hospital welcomed the Sligo GAA under 20s Connaught Champions and All Ireland finalists to a celebration of the GAA. Among the start attractions was the JJ Fahy Cup that was on hand to be admired, held and photographed.
“I consider myself incredibly lucky that I had my breast screening mammogram when I did,” according to Angela Walton from Ballyleague, Co Roscommon, who was diagnosed with breast cancer following the routine mammogram at her first screening with BreastCheck in March 2023.
"I know from my own personal experience that positive changes can happen when you get the chance to work in real partnership with HSE staff and teams. It can be a ‘win win’ for everybody but especially for patients, families and communities,” according to Anne Lawlor, Chair HSE Patient Forum and long-time active patient advocate and founder of 22q11 charity Ireland.
“It’s given me hope, it’s given me a feeling I can get back to what I was,” according to Ann Keady, a patient from Newcastle in Galway, who recently reflected her positive experience of cardiac rehabilitation as part of her recent journey through cardiac disease.
The HSE, in collaboration with St James’s Hospital, is introducing Nalox-Home, a new pilot initiative designed to save lives and promote harm reduction among people who use drugs.
A service designed to reduce unnecessary Emergency Department attendance for older people is now being provided in nine different areas across the country.
"The support I receive at the hub provides great comfort because I'm not waiting for hospital appointments that are months or a year apart,” according to Noel Ridge, a patient at the Galway Integrated Care Hub. “I've had three heart attacks and been in the hospital nine times in the last 18 months. But I've come through it.”
“Breastfeeding creates these intimate moments with your baby that I can’t even explain - it’s just a really lovely connection,” according to Laura Tighe, mum to twins Neasa and Cullan, born in Sligo University Hospital at 37 weeks and five days
Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) will be hosting a number of health-related talks during October as part of Health Awareness Month. The first talk in the series will look at ‘how to eat well and exercise during the menopause’.
“Our residents are really enjoying this new initiative – you can see their delighted smiles as they get to experience being out and about with the wind in their hair,” according to Breda Delves, Director of Nursing at Killarney Community Hospitals, HSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, commenting on the success of the ‘Killarney Cycling Without Age’ project.
Portiuncula University Hospital has officially opened a new designated room in the Maternity Unit for bereaved families. The Willow Suite has been designed to provide a protected and comfortable space for parents and their families who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss
“We know patients have a better experience if they are actively involved in their own care,” according to Kara Madden, Chair, Patients for Patient Safety Ireland. Kara was speaking ahead of World Patient Safety Day on Sunday, 17 September.
“More people die of sepsis than stroke, yet not many people have any idea of the signs, so we need to be more aware,” according to Aisling O’Rourke whose 67-year-old dad John died from sepsis in November 2020. “When my dad had a stroke in 2018, I knew what it was because I had grown up seeing the ads showing you the signs.”
Mayo University Hospital was honoured to host Dame Elizabeth Anionwu in recent weeks as she carried out a tree planting ceremony to recognise the contribution of Irish nurses over the last 75 years in the UK National Health Service. The ceremony was an opportunity to celebrate the legacy and heritage of the nursing community locally and internationally with a special focus on Irish nurses and their contribution to the NHS.
A new community-based mobile X-ray service helps older patients avoid Emergency Departments. It improves quality of care and outcomes by bringing X-ray services directly to older people in the community.