The Annual Conference hosted by the National Acute Medicine Programme (NAMP) on October 24th 2017 at the Royal College of Physicians Ireland (RCPI) was a resounding success. The conference was themed Transforming the Delivery of Acute Medicine, and was held in the RCPI. Throughout the day there was an array of presentations on varied topics from the strategic developments in Acute Medicine such as the Acute Floor Model and the Geriatric EMergency Services (GEMS).

This event also captured the roll out of registered Advanced Nurse Practitioners in Acute Medicine to provide evidence-based clinical care initiatives such as the ambulatory care pathways, chest pain assessment strategies, national deteriorating patient recognition and response programme that are ongoing across Acute Medical services nationally. 

The illuminating key note speech was delivered by Ms Allison Williams who spoke about the transformation of healthcare services that she oversaw in her role as Chief Executive Officer of Cwm Taf University Health Board in Wales. Ms Williams shared the key lessons learned from implementing such a major process and the behavioural change which led to phenomenal impact and improvements across all services within her healthcare region.

The Minister for Health Simon Harris TD joined the NAMP team on the day to speak about the important initiatives in Acute Medicine and their alignment to priorities of the Department of Health for the evolving health service stating the programme contributes to the “aim to ensure that we use the immense skill and capacity within our public health system, to achieve the best outcomes for patients”.

Minister Harris was also delighted to launch National Quality Assurance and Improvement System (NQAIS) Clinical which he described as “an important lever for change and quality improvement in the care delivered to patients in our hospitals.” Minister Harris continued to say the “importance of this initiative should not be under-estimated... providing information and feedback directly to clinical teams involved can improve and enhance clinical performance”.

The Minister concluded his speech congratulating the work of Acute Medicine Programme, HSE Health Intelligence and the work of all National Clinical Programme and HSE Directorates contributing to the roll out of NQAIS Clinical.

Presentations

Emer Ahern- Frailty at the Front Door

Allison Williams- Times Now: Acute Medicine in Wales

Avilene Casey - National Deteriorating Patient Recognition & Response (EWS) Improvement Programme

Catherine McGorrigan - Chest pain pathways and the AMAU

Dr Vida Hamilton- Sepsis Management- a quality indicator for acute care

Mary Savage- The Ambulatory DVT Pathway

Jennifer Willis - The Role of the Therapist in Acute Medicine

Ciaran Browne - Acute Floor Information System (AFIS)

The National Acute Medicine Programme Conference, 'Right Care, Every Time: Pursuing Excellence in Acute Medicine' took place on Tuesday, September 18th 2018 at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI). The conference theme focused on ensuring Acute Medical patients receive safe, high quality care in the most appropriate environment. The conference affords the clinical programme the opportunity to bring healthcare professionals, working across all disciplines allied to Acute Medicine, together to provide them with an update on developments and current evidence-based thinking that will help to support and inform their clinical practice and improve the delivery and quality of patient care in Acute Medicine in Ireland.

Dr Daniel Beckett, Chair SAM Scotland, Scottish Govt. specialty advisor for Acute & General Medicine, National Clinical Lead, Whole Systems Patient Flow Project, Scotland delivered an illuminating presentation on Acute Medicine from the Scottish perspective talking about essential actions, patient flow and realistic medicine. Ian Setchfield & Oliver Phipps: Acute Care Nurse Consultants & Advanced Practice leads East Kent NHS Foundation Trust spoke about the history of advanced clinical practice and its implementation into urgent care setting in the NHS. Dr Sara Burke, Health Policy Analyst, Trinity College, Dublin updated the audience on SlainteCare, whilst Alison Enright, HSCP Development Manager, Health & Social Care Professions Office presented a paper on the Discharge to Assess Model which focuses on bringing healthcare to the home.  Eimir Hurley HRB PhD Scholar in Population Health & Health Science who presented the data which was collated and analysed to inform the development of the Framework for Ambulatory Care on the Acute Floor, a report recently shared by the National Acute Medicine Programme. Professor Paul Ridgway, Consultant Upper GI, HPB & General Surgeon & National Clinical Advisor Acute Surgery Programme spoke about the collaborate work that is ongoing across the relevant national clinical programmes to ensure the Acute Floor Model for Ireland is implemented and is successful and sustainable. Emily Bury, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, AMU, SVUH outlined the bespoke Virtual Clinic telemedicine system developed in the Acute Medical unit in SVUH. Finally Dr Brian Carey gave an illuminating presentation on the management of Syncope in Acute Medicine patients.  

_{Dr Orlaith O’Reilly, Dr Sara Burke, Health Policy Analyst Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, TCD, Mr Gerry Kelleher, RCSI, Prof Frank Keane, Prof Garry Courtney, Co Clinical Lead-National Acute Medicine Programme.}

_{Ms Emily Bury, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, St Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin, Mr Richard Walsh, Director Nursing for NAMP, Prof Mary Horgan, President RCPI, Mr Ian Setchfield, Acute Care Nurse Consultant, Hon. Senior Lecturer (Advanced Practice) & Advanced Practice Lead. East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Yvonne Smyth, Co Clinical Lead-National Acute Medicine Programme, Dr Daniel Beckett, Consultant Acute Physician Specialty Lead for Acute Medicine, Forth Valley Royal Hospital. Chair, SAM Scotland. CMO (Scotland) specialty adviser for acute and General Medicine, National clinical lead, whole systems patient flow project Scottish Government, Dr Sara Burke, Health policy analyst post-doctoral research fellow, TCD, Prof Garry Courtney, Co Clinical Lead-National Acute Medicine Programme, Ms Eimir Hurley, Bsc (Pharm) MBiostat. PhD Scholar in Health Services Research. Centre for Health Policy & Management, TCD, Dr Brian Carey, Consultant Geriatrician and Acute Medicine Physician, Bantry General Hospital, Mr Oliver Phipps, Acute Care Nurse Consultant, Hon. Senior Lecturer (Advanced Practice) & Advanced Practice Lead, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.}

_{Prof Garry Courtney, Co Clinical Lead-National Acute Medicine, Programme, Ms Christina Donnellan, Prof Frank Murray, Director HSE-NDTP, Consultant in Hepatology & Gastroenterology, Dr Yvonne Smyth, Co Clinical Lead-National Acute Medicine Programme, Mr Leo Kearns CEO, RCPI.}

_{Dr Yvonne Smyth, Co Clinical Lead-National Acute Medicine Programme, Dr Brian Carey, Consultant Geriatrician and Acute Medicine Physician, Bantry General Hospital, Mr Ian Setchfield, Acute Care Nurse Consultant, Hon. Senior Lecturer (Advanced Practice) & Advanced Practice Lead. East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Ms Alison Enright, HSCP Development Manager, Health & Social Care, Professions Office, Ms Emily Bury, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, St Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin, Dr Vida Hamilton, NCAGL, Prof Garry Courtney, Co Clinical Lead-National Acute Medicine, Programme.}