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A MESSAG E F RO M O UR ED I TO R Welcome to Health Matters and hope is certainly the theme of this latest edition. We have had many false dawns over the last two years but it is hard not to feel that we have finally emerged through that long dark tunnel of the COVID-19 pandemic and out into the daylight once again. The days are getting longer and brighter and the easing of so many restrictions mean that we can finally smile – and see others smile again. It has been an unprecedented two years, particularly for staff up and down the health service. We speak to staff from around the country who share with us the highs and lows of the pandemic, what they missed the most and what they are looking forward to doing now that much of the country returns to a renewed sense of normality. It has been the collective effort of people that has brought us to this point – we have done all that has been asked of us – wore masks, kept our distance and availed of the COVID vaccines for ourselves and our loved ones. Now is the time to enjoy the results of all those efforts. The team at Mallow Community Vaccination Centre give us a unique insight into their time on the vaccination frontline, noting how the whole experience will live long in the hearts and minds of those who experienced this ‘history in the making’. Staff at the Cavan-based HSE Vaccination Centre donned superhero costumes in recent months to create a more inviting space and welcoming experience for children attending. The centre, like so many others, was decorated in an appropriately child-friendly manner and among the superheroes and characters in attendance were Action Man, Spiderman and Snow White. COVID certainly hasn’t disappeared but we hope that we can all enjoy a bright spring and summer ahead. A sincere thanks to all those who have sent in contributions to this edition and I hope you find plenty of interesting reading in it.
Joanne Weston
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Message from Paul Reid Our COVID experience - staff look back at last two years Inside the children’s vaccination centres Reflections from a team of vaccinators High-support residence opens Information system for cancer treatment Car donation to island primary care team Staff pay programme Specialist menopause clinic opens Celebration of midwifery Medication safety award First National Nursing Home Experience Survey Overseas training scholarships Total bed management at TUH World AIDS Day celebrated UL Group surgeon gives prestigious presentation COVID memorial bench unveiled Staff helping out in multilingual messaging Kerry Integrated Care Martin bows out of nursing career Return to Nursing Day in the life of a community nurse Caoimhe tells us her quit story New National Clinical Guidelines to help people give up smoking Boy hailed a hero after father’s cliff fall St Luke’s long service awards Bye bye Bonnie New visitor app in UL Group Awards for public health teams Pathfinder keeping elderly out of hospital CHI video on managing allergies Get up, get dressed, get moving Mental health resources for young people Demo rooms at new children’s hospital Perinatal mental healthcare explored at conference New sanctuary of care Nurse-led care in oncologyhaematology clinic Mentorship programme at CUH Triage clinic cuts waiting list National Service Plan Childhood vaccines Specialist mental health service marks 20 years Health Passport gets new app ICF in Limerick opens eyes to new patient-centred model of care
46 Medicines initiative supporting patients 48 Urology clinic cuts visits from four to one 49 Digital initiative to prevent future cardiac arrests 50 Dementia advisers in every county 51 Sporting memories boost for people with dementia 52 Keeping track of the COVID-19 vaccine 53 Ground-breaking COVID research 54 Your Opinion Counts staff survey 55 Support and understanding for the bereaved 56 Data privacy is everyone’s responsibility 57 Be cyber security aware 58 Online health appointments using video 59 Innovation at Tallaght 59 Portlaoise rolls out Respirasense initiative 60 CxIO team brings insights of clinical work to IT team 62 Spark Ignite competition supports innovation on frontline 63 Cervical cancer prevention week marked 64 Teen pregnancy study reports major decline in numbers 65 Sexual wellbeing campaign hits TV screens 66 Nursing home expert panel 67 Trust and confidence in the HSE 68 Change practices 70 National Estates Information System 70 Patient safety is everyone’s business 71 Introduction to Human Factors 72 Reduce your risk of injury at your workstation 73 EU4Health programme 74 New recruitment operating model for HSE 75 Healthy Ireland report 76 Musicians on call 77 Keynotes choir 77 Local podcasts hit the airwaves 78 Menopause and Me webinar a huge success 79 Living Well helping patients manage long-term conditions 80 Get yourself summer ready
Editor
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