Awards for public health teams

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

The virtual presentation of the HSE Excellence Award 2021 to public health staff in recognition of their work during the health services response to COVID-19 finally took place recently.

Marie Keating, National HR Lead for Public Health, welcomed over 40 staff from the eight Departments of Public Health, the National Immunisation Office, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Office of the National Clinical Director of Health Protection to the virtual event.

Ms Keating said that having worked with all of the Public Health teams since the start of the pandemic, she knew first-hand the significant challenges they have overcome, the innovative solutions that have been put in place and the personal sacrifices that many staff had made in terms of their own family life.

She acknowledged also the staff who worked with Public Health teams either through redeployment, retired staff, agency, other government departments and the Defence Forces. “On behalf of National HR, I want to commend you on the exemplary demonstration and commitment to public service shown by all of our public health staff,” she said.

Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer, then proudly presented the HSE Excellence Award in recognition of the significant contribution made by Public Health staff throughout the course of the pandemic.

“I wish to acknowledge your considerable and unique contributions to our health service over these past two years. Hundreds of hard-working staff in every region, including doctors, nurses, surveillance teams, operations and administrative staff, have played a unique role throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Public Health’s work is on-going in this pandemic; however, as we look towards recovery it is important that we reflect and acknowledge the successes and challenges we have all faced over the past two years,” he said.

“There have been many examples of great leadership within our Public Health teams who have guided us through this pandemic. Our Public Health leaders have: • Led and informed the public throughout great uncertainty and fear • Built support for essential public health measures • Provided guidance, expertise, and support to keep our schools open; • Used intelligence to intervene in a timely manner to break chains of transmission; • Developed clear, effective and evidence-based guidance to prevent disease spread in various settings and contexts; and • Provided information and reassurance to support informed consent and acceptance of vaccines.

“This leadership at all levels will enable us to recover from this pandemic and deliver the fundamental reforms that will bring our Public Health service to where it ought to be – strengthened and aligned with international best practice.”

Directors of Public Health then accepted the awards on behalf of their teams and each thanked their teams individually.

On accepting the Award on behalf of the Public Health Department, Mid West, Dr Mai Mannix, Director of Public Health, said, “I want to thank all of the staff for their extraordinary work and sacrifice over the last two years of the pandemic. All of our staff including administrative staff, contact tracing, surveillance, nursing and medical have gone above and beyond the call of duty and I am both very proud and very lucky to have such wonderful colleagues.

“In addition, I want to acknowledge all those staff who were redeployed or returned from retirement to support us also – your help was invaluable. The pace and the volume of work, fast changing guidance and policy direction and constant training and upskilling of staff were very challenging but we overcame all of those challenges!

“There were many things that kept us going during this period including support from the public, camaraderie, coffee, cake, kindness to each other and to the public and a sense of humour.

“One example of kindness was one evening in the first wave, there were positive COVID cases in a local direct provision centre. The affected people had to isolate in their rooms and the staff in public health became aware that the cases were unable to get any food that evening. One of Public Health staff went off at the end of her long shift, paid herself for takeaway food and dropped the food to the cases in the direct provision centre. This is just one of many examples of kindness throughout the pandemic.”

Dr Fionnuala Cooney and the team from CHO7 Department of Public Health East.

Department of Public Health East: Daragh McMenemy, Love Oweh, Margaret Brennan, Mary Ward, Elizabeth Oki, Michelle Connolly, Sarah Murray, Dearbhail O’Flynn, Grace Ezeokonkwo.

Department of Public Health North West: Emir McCann, Senior Staff Nurse; Dr Aidan Ryan, Specialist in public health medicine; Liz Comerford, Clinical Nurse Manager; Mette Jensen, Surveillance Officer.

The Department of Public Health Midlands: Stephen Malone, Jodie Fogarty, Orla Dunne, Anne Pardy, Edel Evans, Mary Hayden, Dr Una Fallon, Patricia Carney, Laura Smith, Therese Masterson, Niamh Kelly, Carmel McGreal, Sarah Hensey.

Department of Health South East – Front: Dr Carmel Mullaney, Director of Public Health; and Dr Sarah Doyle, Specialist in Public Health Medicine. Back: Mags Murphy, Daniel Canty, Sandra Whelan, Carol Concannon, Lorraine Ryan, Bríd Murphy, Sarah Cripps, Kathleen Brennan, Patricia Vaughan, Mick Kavanagh.

Department of Public Health West: Damien Walker, Business Manager; Kate Gerrard, CNM II; Dr Kathleen McDonnell, SpR; Julie Silke, General Manager; Monika Stockenstorm, Administration; Patricia Opeoluwa, Surveillance Assistant; Dr Mary Jordan, SMO (holding award); Emma Duddy, Administration; Marion Commane, A/Director of Nursing; Laura Murphy, Administration; Padraig McMahon, Surveillance Assistant. Joan Gallagher, Programme Manager, National Health Protection, HSE HPSC; and Dr Lorraine Doherty, National Clinical Director, Health Protection.

Accepting the award on behalf of Department of Public Health South is Dr Anne Sheahan, A/ Director.

Displaying the Excellence Award Certificate is Dr Bernadette O’Keefe and her colleagues from Public Health North East. Pictured are Dr Augustine Pereira, Director of Public Health North East; Dr Elaine Brabazon, Senior Surveillance Scientist; Dr Bernadette O’Keefe, Public Health Specialist; Helen Reilly, Staff Officer; Ita Cole, Staff Officer. Front: Jacquie Duignan, Covid Care Tracker/Section Officer; and Sharon Dowling, Administration Team.