HSE Health Matters Winter 2021

Page 28

TABLET LOAN SCHEME A VIRTUAL LIFELINE TO COMMUNITY Technology enables service users get to stay connected to their service, their friends and their community from home

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ike so many parts of the health service, new ways of working during the pandemic required a reimagining of adult day services programmes and the ways in which they can be offered. The introduction of a Digital Tablet Loan Scheme across EVE’s 20 mental health and disability services proved to be a lifeline for many service users keen to stay connected to their service, their friends and community from home. EVE is a HSE programme whose primary ethos is to provide community-based recovery-orientated programmes for adults who experience mental health difficulties, intellectual difficulties, Asperger’s Syndrome, and physical and sensory disabilities. It operates through a network of Vocational, HUB and Clubhouse services in 20 locations across the HSE Community Healthcare Organisations in Dun Laoghaire and Dublin South East (CHO6), Dublin South, Kildare and West Wicklow (CHO7) and Dublin North City and County and Wicklow (CHO9). Through their dedicated tablet scheme, tablets were purchased by EVE and offered to those who did not have access to technology or could not afford to buy their own devices. Services like EVE’s Suaimhneas Clubhouse in Raheny were quick to see the advantages of offering their members this online connection to both their programmes and opportunities in the wider community. Suaimhneas is one of EVE’s seven Clubhouses that supports members with mental health difficulties in their recovery journey to live full and productive lives in the community. Eddie, a member, explained,“I have been a member of Suaimhneas for many years and they have always done what they can to help me, but I couldn’t believe it when Suaimhneas were able to lend me a Samsung Tablet. My luck was in. Because of COVID-19, many of the club’s activities are

26 | HEALTH MATTERS WINTER 2021

LEFT: Eddie, EVE club member, with his tablet. RIGHT: Catherine, EVE club member, with her tablet.

now remote, and my college is on Zoom. “With the tablet, I can link in with the members and staff of Suaimhneas over WebEx, and I can also Zoom into my college course. On my course, the tutor talks about computers. My world is now fantastic with the tablet. In the evenings, when Suaimhneas is closed and my college is finished, I can log on to YouTube and listen to music and watch videos. Happy days!” he said. Whilst adapting to using virtual technology was a challenge for both staff and members demanding a lot of training and support, feedback suggests that the benefits justify the effort. As another member, Catherine, describes it, “The loan of the tables from Suaimhneas Clubhouse was a lifesaver for me during the pandemic and continues to be a tremendous help. It is such a marvellous link with Clubhouse staff and members. Communication is the lifeline for me and my mental health.” Claire Brennan, Suaimhneas Manager, identified that with virtual access to House Meetings, scheduled morning coffee n’ chat sessions and online courses, Catherine has been able to ‘contribute to the work ordered day of the Clubhouse, continuing to be an

active, valued member’. “Online social activities on bank holidays and in the evenings like quizzes and bingo also emerged as a popular new feature of services over the past months which we hope will continue,” she said. According to Margaret Webb, General Manager, EVE, “As restrictions lift and members of Suaimhneas Clubhouse enjoy attending onsite again, virtual programmes and services continue. By offering services in a more flexible way, people now have greater access to social, educational and employment opportunities and addressed concerns over social isolation. “In time, we plan to expand our online offering by creating an online community HUB for those who enjoy and value the online experience. Building confidence, skills and capacity in digital technology takes time but for EVE services, this could emerge as one of the very positive service bonus from the pandemic.” Margaret added, “We would like to say thanks also to all those in CHOs Dublin South, Kildare, West Wicklow and Dublin North City and County (Day Opportunities) for their financial support for this initiative.”


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Articles inside

START to cut back the treats

6min
pages 82-84

Obesity – breaking the stigma

1min
page 80

New nutrition standards for staff and visitors

2min
page 81

Healthy Communities

6min
pages 78-79

NiSRP updates

4min
pages 74-75

CPD Certificate Programme in Organisation Development and Change

2min
page 72

National Framework for Governance, Management and Support of Research

4min
page 73

Woodlands for Health

3min
page 77

Sexual health update

2min
page 71

Severe weather planning

5min
pages 68-69

World Patient Safety Day

2min
page 70

Methadone COVID study

2min
page 66

Community Healthcare Networks progress

5min
pages 62-63

National Clinical Programme for Early Intervention Teams in Psychosis

3min
page 64

HSE award for chronic disease

4min
page 65

First call for proposals on changes to screening

2min
page 60

Adolescent young adult cancer care

2min
page 59

Cervical screening – Ruth’s story

5min
pages 56-57

BreastCheck campaign

3min
page 58

Marketing of breast milk substitutes

3min
page 55

Breastfeeding week celebrated

3min
page 54

Is blended care the new normal?

4min
pages 52-53

Continence care and training

2min
page 50

Infection prevention and control training

4min
pages 48-49

HSE aid for overseas

3min
page 47

Nenagh Heart Failure Support Unit

5min
pages 42-43

Project cuts wait times

4min
page 41

Rheum to Recover initiative

2min
page 45

Diabetic treatment for Donegal

2min
page 40

Virtual tour for young patients

3min
page 38

Song and dance a boost for dementia patients

3min
page 37

Dementia survey

3min
page 36

GP access to diagnostics extended

4min
page 39

Memory Resource Technology Rooms

5min
pages 34-35

COVID memorial in Tallaght

2min
page 31

Day care resumes for older people

3min
page 30

Community Intervention Team

3min
pages 26-27

Tablet loan scheme for service

3min
page 28

Quitters feel fantastic after lockdown

2min
page 29

Labour of love at the Coombe

2min
page 25

Vaccines protect mum and baby

2min
page 24

Flu vaccine awards

5min
pages 22-23

Get up, get dressed, get moving

5min
pages 20-21

COVID – telling our stories

5min
pages 18-19

CEO message

2min
page 3

Steps to Health Challenge

3min
page 11

Off-duty nurse saves wedding guest

6min
pages 6-7

Health Service Excellence Awards

11min
pages 8-10

Minister for Health praises healthcare staff

6min
pages 12-13

Patient Council makes appeal

3min
page 15

Frontline choir

6min
pages 4-5
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