HSE Health Matters Winter 2023

MATTERS WI N TE R 2 0 2 3

Winning Smiles Excellence awards showcase our many talents

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Bravery award for Ben Talking Point: Dementia in the community Bus gives insight into life with dementia Communications passport Singing for the brain Hot Topic: Vaping What is.. Sepsis Spotlight on: Children and young people disability services Hot Topic: STI home testing Spotlight on: out-of-hospital cardiac arrest Health equality Talking Point: Keeping well this winter Hot Topic: Antibiotic resistance Health literacy Spotlight on: Traveller mental health Innovative healthcare Your Opinion Counts: Staff survey results A Day in the Life: Clinical Innovation Specialist Health Service Excellence Awards Enhanced Community Care conference Mobile x-ray service Integrated information for GPs Frailty at the Front Door project Care pathway for cardiac patients Collaboration project Wexford fire sees health services respond in unison to emergency Emergency Call Takers in focus Talking Point: the Climate Crisis Cycling without age Spotlight on: Respite services Spotlight on: Patient engagement Meet the Team: Pain medicine department News part 1 Pilot midwifery service

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Spotlight on: Aid for Sudan Awards and accolades Spotlight on: Screening Boxing Clever for recovery State-of-the-art radiation oncology centre in Galway Community Recovery project Best practice handbook for HCSAs Clinical audit training survey Partnership will aid innovation in Irish healthcare New podcast on formalities of grief Make Every Contact Count helping smoke cessation efforts Thousands more endoscopies to take place in TUH Open Disclosure week Eye test scheme will cut wait lists Training and support service launches stories of recovery booklet World Patient Day in Letterkenny Kerry palliative care services News part 2 First Model of Care for Integrated Cardiac Rehabilitation ADHD Assessment Hub opens National Simulation Office Funding for children's disability services Integrated Community Case Management System HSE HSPC data hub Innovative technology support for heart failure patients Community Team Values in Action CARU supports end-of-life care Mentorship programme to help implement change under Assisted Decision-Making Act Events Health and wellbeing Way to Unwind

Welcome to the latest edition of Health Matters.

As the festive season is now upon us, it is time to reflect on all the great work that has been done across the health service this past year to make things better for our patients, service users and their families, as well as our colleagues.

2024 will continue to be a time of change as we move towards the implementation of the Health Regions.

This major transition will provide the structures to allow us to deliver more integrated care closer to patients’ homes. So much is already being done up and down the country to facilitate this. Many of the initiatives and projects that we showcase in this edition have the goal of integrated care at its heart.

Many of these projects are among the entries for this year’s Health Service Excellence Awards. We reveal the winners in this year’s awards, which again generated huge interest.

The awards are an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the innovation that is happening in teams and settings all across our health service every day.

But it also gives staff a chance to see what other teams around the country are doing and has led to much shared learning.

In this edition, we again look at the HSE’s role in tackling climate change and see what great work is being done to reduce the health service’s carbon footprint and make sustainability a key part of what we do.

One of our Hot Topics is vaping and we take a close look at the facts and figures around the rise in e-cigarettes in young people and what parents need to know to protect their children from the dangers.

A sincere thanks to all those who have sent in contributions to this edition.

Happy Christmas and a prosperous new year to all our readers.

Joanne Weston Meet the team

Editor

HSE Head of Internal Communications: Emma Finn Internal Communications Team: Yvonne Costello, Ann McLoone, Amy O'Neill, Frances Plunkett, Shane Larkin, Paddy Crosse, Emily Torsney Ashville Media Group Editor: Joanne Weston Art Director: Áine Duffy Creative Director:Jane Matthews Published by Ashville Media, Unit 55 Park West Road, Park West Industrial Estate, Dublin 12, D12 X9F9. Tel: (01) 432 2200 ISSN: 0332-4400 All rights reserved. Every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this magazine is accurate. The publishers cannot, however, accept responsibility for errors or omissions. Reproduction by any means in whole or in part without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. © Ashville Media Group 2023.

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Feature

SuperBen Ben the hero as he dials 999 to save mum

A five-year-old became one of the youngest ever recipients of a bravery award recently after he called an ambulance to his home when his mum was experiencing a medical emergency.

Ben Holland, from Killaloe, Co Clare, called 999 when mum Jennie lost consciousness while they were home alone. Jennie has Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) which causes her to feel dizzy and faint.

“It was a Saturday evening. I had been feeling very off that day. When I took my blood pressure in the morning it was quite low. I started to feel much better after resting and at 8pm I said to him, ‘we better start getting ready for bed’ and when I stood up to go, I lost consciousness and I hit the floor,” she explained.

Above: NAS’s Keith Mullane and Daniel New present Ben Holland with his bravery medal. Also pictured is Ben’s mum Jenni Kiely and dad Joe.

“Ben couldn’t wake me so he grabbed my phone. We previously showed him how to do an emergency call because back in June I ended up in resus and my heart rate was so high that they were worried that I was going to have a cardiac arrest.”

The youngster immediately jumped into action and phoned an ambulance for his mother, which arrived just 12 minutes later.

He told the ambulance operator to ring the place his father worked and “ask for Joe, they’d get his daddy”, as he did not know his father’s number when asked, Jennie said.

“They asked him would he go next door to the neighbour and ask for help, and he said, ‘I’m not allowed outside when it’s dark because I’m only a small child’.

“They asked if this happened before and he said ‘yeah, she faints all the time, she has very low blood pressure and she has POTS’. So, they knew what they were coming to. When they got there, Ben let them into the house and explained what happened, and they started to do an ECG on me to check my heart and blood pressure. Everything was fine, thanks to Ben.” To celebrate Ben’s heroic actions, the National Ambulance Service visited his school, St Michael’s in Killaloe, to present the senior infant with a medal of bravery.HM

Right: Daniel New, NAS; Ben Holland; and Keith Mullane, NAS Assistant Chief Mid West.

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Talking Point

Talking point

Dementia Creating dementia-inclusive communities across the country With more than 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland, and this figure set to double by 2045, many of us are and will be affected by dementia.

The majority of people with dementia live in the community, and want to continue doing so. We all have a role in ensuring that they can stay socially active and engaged to support their health and wellbeing.

Dementia: Understand Together aims to create an Ireland that embraces and includes people living with dementia, and displays solidarity with them and their loved ones. Our colleagues and champions across the country are working hard to make that dementia culture change happen. HM

In Cork…

Colleagues and champions from the Bantry Dementia Alliance team (pictured right) have organised information events and awareness training, and mobilised groups and businesses to create a Dementia Inclusive Bantry. At a recent information evening, they handed out the new dementia inclusive community symbol to organisations, making Bantry one of the first dementia inclusive towns in Ireland.

Staff supporting North Cork Dementia Alliance held a ‘Cork GAA Afternoon of Memories’ event where guests were invited to relive great sporting moments with Hurler Fergal McCormack in an interview with Kevin Quaid, chair of the Irish Dementia Working Group at Mallow GAA Club. Their regular walking groups are also keeping people fit and socially active. HM To keep up to date with their latest activity, search ‘Cork Dementia Services’ on Facebook.

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In Kerry…

As part of their work with older people in the community, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare staff are proud members of Dementia Friendly Tralee and have worked with Kerry GAA to develop the first of its kind ‘Dementia Inclusive GAA Communities’ guide for clubs and members across the county. This new guide has practical information and advice about dementia, how to use inclusive communication and tips to help make clubs and spaces more accessible.

The team have also been working with businesses, services and groups in nearby town, Listowel, to share their learnings, provide awareness training and help them shape their own community initiative, Dementia Inclusive Listowel, following the positive experiences in Tralee. HM

You can download the guide at: www. kerrygaa.ie/wp-content/ uploads/2023/09/ Dementia-InclusiveGAA-Communities_ WEB-1-1.pdf

Standing: Joe Wallace, Austin Stack Park Steward; Gavin White, Kerry Senior Football Team; John O’Leany, Kerry GAA Planning and Training Officer; Éamonn O’Sullivan, Secretary, Austin Stack Park Committee; Mike Flavin, Austin Stack Park Steward; Maurice O’Mahony, CC Delegate, Kerry GAA; Barry Dan O’Sullivan, Kerry Senior Football Team; Der Brosnan, Chairperson, Fitzgerald Stadium Committee.

In Wexford…

Wexford Dementia Alliance helped develop Age Friendly Wexford’s new Directory of Services for Older People, which was launched at St John’s Community Hospital, Enniscorthy. The directory provides information on essential services available for older adults in the county, including HSE and other public services, community and voluntary organisations and community based older adult social groups. Our staff as Alliance members organise awareness events in towns across Wexford, provide training for businesses and other organisations and offer advice on the issues that affect people with dementia and their families at regular Dementia Cafés. HM You can view the directory at: https://www.hse.ie/eng/ services/list/1/lho/wexford/older-people/wexford-directoryof-services-2023.pdf

Staff and partners at the launch of the directory with Minister Butler

In Tipperary…

The Living Well with Dementia in South TIpperary project marked 10 years of service with the launch of a report with staff and guests at the Memory Technology Library at Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel.

These are just some of the exciting initiatives and events that have happened recently, we know that there are many more. The Understand Together campaign team would love to hear from any staff member, service or group about their plans to support people with dementia and their loved ones in their local area. As well as offering advice and support on how to create a dementia inclusive community, the team can provide promotional materials and highlight your activities on social media and through their e-newsletter updates. Information on dementia awareness training is also available. HM Sign up at www.understandtogether. ie/get-involved or email the team at understandtogether@hse.ie

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Feature

Bus gives insight into realities of dementia The Virtual Dementia Bus Tour visits Tipperary

To mark World Mental Health Day the staff of Haywood Lodge, part of South Tipperary Mental Health Services, took part in training intended to give staff first-hand experience of what life is like for residents living with dementia. Dementia describes a range of conditions that cause damage to the brain and can affect memory, thinking, language and the ability to carry out everyday tasks.

Haywood Lodge provides specialist Psychiatry of Later Life and Rehabilitation and Recovery care in a community residential setting. As a service, they recognise the specialist skill-set required to care for people with dementia. A news article about the Virtual Dementia Bus Tour coming to Ireland earlier in the year caught the eye of the Haywood Nurse Managers who felt that the immersive nature of the training would enhance understanding of the difficulties experienced by residents.

During the experience staff had their vision, touch and sound distorted, to simulate the experience of dementia. The training showed how difficult and deflating it can be to undertake simple daily tasks while experiencing sensory overload. ‘Disorientated, frustrated and overwhelmed’ were the general emotions shared afterwards. Some staff even experienced

‘Disorientated, frustrated and overwhelmed’ were the general emotions shared afterwards.

Some staff even experienced anger. anger. Overall staff found the experience deeply meaningful and very worthwhile.

Assistant Director of Nursing, Lisa Grant, and Clinical Nurse Manager 3, Kate Beaton, shared the experience. Afterwards Lisa said, “The experience will support our team in the care and treatment of our residents by raising awareness, showing solidarity and offering support to people with dementia, their family and friends. The focus of the immersive experience was to understand, respect and value the people and families we serve."

Kate reflected on how frustrating it was as an ‘able-bodied person with a healthy brain’ to feel so disorientated within moments of entering the bus and beginning the simplest of tasks.

This experience has provided the staff with a better insight into how small changes in the way they practice, in the way they interact with residents, and in the way they organise the care environment can have a huge effect on the quality of life of the residents. HM

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Feature

Getting to know what matters to me Communications passport gives dementia patients their voice back Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) and Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo have unveiled the new ‘Getting to know what matters to me’ communication passport for people living with dementia.

This document supports a person who is receiving professional care, who cannot easily share information about themselves and who may have specific needs or preferences.

The person along with their family or carers are invited to record information in the communication passport, for example; likes and dislikes, their background, the important people or places in the person's life and their normal routines and abilities.

It helps hospital staff to get to know and better understand the person in their care and how best to respond to their needs.

It is kept at the patient’s bedside so it is readily accessible to all staff.

The Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner (RANP) Service for Older Person Care in LUH decided to introduce the communications passport as a quality improvement initiative.

Interdisciplinary colleagues from LUH and community services reviewed national and international document versions and adapted one document for use, county-wide.

The nurse practitioners also met with a person living with dementia who felt very strongly that ‘it was really needed’ and expressed that we ‘need the voice of the person clearly documented’.

Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner (RANP) Graceann O’Donnell explained, “One example of how the document worked well was when staff reported that one of their patients with dementia was declining

to get up in the morning or eat breakfast.

When the family completed the ‘Getting to know what matters to me’ document it was evident that the gentleman ‘never got up before 12’ and ‘never liked porridge’.

This information informed staff to leave care till later in the morning and provide an alternative breakfast choice.”

“These are very simple, yet very effective ways to improve the person’s hospital care experience and prevent further distress,” added fellow RANP Olivia Harte. HM

Graceann O'Donnell, RANP; Olivia Harte RANP, Older Person Care, LUH; and Dr Anne Drake Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Safety, LUH.

"It helps hospital staff to get to know and better understand the person in their care and how best to respond to their needs. It is kept at the patient’s bedside so it is readily accessible to all staff."

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Feature

Singing for the brain Singing ‘boosts our minds and our bodies’

“Singing for the Brain is one of the most uplifting initiatives I have ever seen and I am so thrilled we could bring everybody together for the first time for a funfilled musical jamboree.”

Principal community worker in the Community Work Department at Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, Sorcha Ní Chrualaoich, was in awe of the resilience of Singing for the Brain participants as they came together during the pandemic to share their love of song – and, at times, dance.

The groups couldn’t wait to seize the opportunity to meet each other in person for a big sing-song.

A Cork Kerry Community Healthcare project, Singing for the Brain held its first

summer jamboree in Cork city and over 150 people from eight in-person and online groups gathered together to share their love of music and singing.

Musical Director Fiona Flavin and Singing for the Brain musical facilitators led the Summer Jamboree as participants joined together to enjoy a wide repertoire of songs.

Fiona spoke of the many benefits that singing bring to people, especially those living with dementia.

“The musical and singing aspect of the programme is instrumental in improving brain health. Hidden in the musical fun are activities to help stimulate our bodies and improve our memory.

“The social side of the project is equally as important, I love to meet and chat with the participants”

The social side of the project is equally as important - I love to meet and chat with the participants.

Our doors are always open, we welcome anyone who is interested, so please - do give it a try, no singing experience is necessary,” she said.

The Singing for the Brain initiative began in Mallow in 2015, as the HSE-supported North Cork Dementia Alliance looked to develop a group singing session that was sociable and enjoyable, particularly for those living with dementia, but not dementia-specific. HM

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Hot Topic It is hard to know exactly what vapes contain.

E-cigarettes are consumer products and are not regulated in the same way as a drug or medical device.

Some vapes that claim they have no nicotine have been found to contain nicotine.

Some vapes for sale in Ireland have also been found to contain more nicotine than is advertised on the packaging.

• Nicotine • Volatile organic compounds (usually human-made chemicals that are used and produced in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals) • Ultrafine particles • Cancer-causing chemicals • Heavy metals, such as nickel, tin and lead • Flavouring, such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease.

E-cigarettes are electronic devices that produce an aerosol by heating a liquid. This e-liquid usually contains nicotine, which is an addictive drug found in regular cigarettes and other tobacco products. The e-liquid used in e-cigarettes also contains flavourings and other chemicals. Users breathe this aerosol into their lungs. This is commonly referred to as ‘vaping’.

The Health Research Board (HRB) found that young people who do not smoke and who start vaping are three to five times more likely to start smoking than those who don’t start vaping. This is an extremely worrying finding.

We have made huge inroads to protect children from the harms caused by smoking, and vaping jeopardises these important public health gains.

The HRB examined the harms caused by vaping and found it leads to burns and injuries, acute effects on the heart and lungs, and contained chemicals known to cause cancer. There are particular harms for young people.

Nicotine is highly addictive and affects the developing brain leading to problems with concentration, impulse control and mood. More recently, some well-conducted studies have shown how, for young people with asthma, a very common condition in this group, vaping worsens lung health and leads to exacerbations.

The number of people who vape has increased significantly in Ireland in recent years. For example, in 2015, 10% of 16-year olds used e-cigarettes but by 2019 this had increased to 18%.

We expect to see a further increase in the use of e-cigarettes as new data becomes available. This is concerning as the longer term health effects of vaping are uncertain at this time.

The HSE provides safe, effective and clinically sound stop smoking services, which are free and easy to access across the country. See www.quit.ie HEALTH MATTERS WINTER 2023 | 7

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What is...

What is...

SEPSIS

What exactly is sepsis and how do we prevent it?

“I will always wonder would dad have suffered less if I had known the signs? I want every house in Ireland to know what to look out for; for families to know to call 999 if they suspect sepsis, to ask their doctors ‘could it be sepsis?’

World Sepsis Day events

Many events and initiatives took place across our health service to mark World Sepsis Day in September.

These included public awareness stands, staff education sessions, providing sepsis leaflets and lighting up of public buildings.

Patient advocates share the importance of knowing the signs of sepsis, having lost loved ones to sepsis.

Early recognition of the signs and symptoms of sepsis can make a significant difference in patient outcomes.

Sepsis is a life-threatening illness that damages organs and kills one in five people who develop it. 13,000 people were treated for sepsis in acute public hospitals in 2021.

Sepsis can develop when your body has an extreme reaction to an infection, and your immune system doesn’t respond to the infection the way it should. But this does not mean every infection will develop in to sepsis. Early recognition of the signs and symptoms of sepsis can make a significant difference in patient outcomes.

Raising awareness of the signs is a key priority for the National Sepsis Programme, using a multi-faceted approach among both health and social care professionals and the public to achieve this. Sepsis education training is available on HSeLand and is mandatory for many healthcare professionals to improve the recognition and management of sepsis.

Throughout Sepsis Awareness Month in September, we had a number of activities to publicise sepsis risk, symptoms and what action people should take to respond to signs of this time-sensitive medical emergency. This included developing new patient information leaflets for GP surgeries and community pharmacies, media outreach and interviews, social media messaging and the 7th Sepsis Summit.

Patient advocates speak out Joe Hughes and Karen Phoenix lost their son, Seán, in 2018 as a result of sepsis.

They have since set up Lil’ Red’s Legacy Sepsis Awareness Campaign to increase public awareness of sepsis.

Seán’s parents said, “We knew absolutely nothing about sepsis before it stole our son's life. Seán was only 15 years old when he passed away. Sepsis is a time-critical medical emergency. It does not discriminate against age, gender or race. Sepsis deaths are preventable deaths. Early recognition and rapid treatment are the keys to surviving sepsis. Awareness is paramount.”

Joe and Karen shared their story with the media to raise awareness of the importance of knowing about sepsis, as did Aisling O’Rourke. Aisling lost her father, John, to sepsis in November 2020.

“I will always wonder would dad have suffered less if I had known the signs?

I want every house in Ireland to know what to look out for; for families to know to call 999 if they suspect sepsis, to ask their doctors ‘could it be sepsis?’ I want to use my voice and experience as a media professional to do what I can to prevent other families going through this awful trauma. My father was a passionate public

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What is...

servant and believed in public service; I would like his legacy to be that if anyone suspects sepsis they know to act immediately,” said Aisling.

Sepsis Summit The 7th Sepsis Summit took place in Dublin Castle on 19 September. The aim of the conference was to provide learning opportunities for all who attended, supporting better management and ultimately better patient outcomes for those who develop sepsis. This year’s summit had a global aspect, with international experts and family advocates amongst those presenting.

500 health and social care professionals attended the event, and key partners had a stand at the summit, including the Irish Sepsis Foundation and ‘Lil Red’s Legacy Sepsis Awareness Campaign'.

The summit heard from a range of speakers on the latest scientific research and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sepsis care. Topics covered included improving early recognition of paediatric sepsis, the role of technology in sepsis diagnosis, the importance of antimicrobial stewardship, and many more.

The summit also heard from Ciaran Staunton, originally from Mayo but living in New York. Ciaran and his wife Orlaith co-founded END SEPSIS, the legacy of Rory Staunton, after the loss of their son Rory in 2012. They have been instrumental in introducing mandatory sepsis protocols in New York State hospitals, known as Rory’s Regulations, which are now being adopted across the US.HM

At the 7th Sepsis Summit in September were: (L-R) Ronán O’Cathasaigh, Yvonne Young, Karen Holden Davis, Nuala Clarke, Sue Markey, Denise McCarthy, Lorna Quigley, Dr Michael O’Dwyer, Susan Keane.

Top: Ciaran Staunton, END SEPSIS, the legacy of Rory Staunton, addressing attendees at the Sepsis Summit. Above left: Ber Murphy, Declan McNamara, Rachel Kennedy, Yvonne Young and Majella Corkery. Above right: Julea Kristina Medrano and Denise McCarthy.

Dr Michael O’Dwyer, Catharina Healy, Ann Moran, Nora Twomey, Siobhan Scanlon, Claire Costigan, Dr Finn Coulter, Mary Doyle, Lorna Quigley, Professor Subrata Ghosh, Aine Blake, Denise McCarthy and Dr Eva Long.

For further information, see www.hse.ie/sepsis

Left: Aisling O’Rourke, Marie Goretti Glynn O’Rourke and Karen Davis outside Tullamore Town Hall on World Sepsis Day Above: Clonmel Parkrun for sepsis awareness month.

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Spotlight

Spotlight on

Disability Services for Children and Young People

Supports to enhance responses to children and young people with complex needs as a result of disability and their families were published in the HSE’s Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023 – 2026 for Disability Services for Children and Young People.

The roadmap is a targeted Service Improvement Programme to achieve a quality, accessible, equitable and timely service for these children and young people.

The Roadmap outlines actions required to improve integrated services between Disabilities, Primary Care, CAMHS and Tusla, CDNT Service Access, and the Department of Education. These actions will focus on improving service access and quality including Assessment of Need, Workforce retention and recruitment, communication and engagement with children and families, and staff engagement with Education and Support for Special Schools.

Bernard O’Regan, Head of Operations, Disability Services, HSE, said, “The HSE and its partner agencies are providing CDNT services for over 45,740 children at this time. The aim of Children’s Disability Services, provided by the HSE and its partner agencies, is for every child to have a childhood of inclusive experiences where they can have fun, learn, develop interested and skills, and form positive relationships with others in a range of different settings.”

The Roadmap has been approved by the HSE Board, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Minister Roderic O’Gorman, and Minister of State, Anne Rabbitte.HM

Joan Johnston – Manager COPD Support Ireland; Edel Quinn, Head of Service, Disability Services CHO1; Mary O’Gorman, Head of Service, Disability Services CHO8; Minister Roderic O’Gorman; Minister Anne Rabbitte; Mary O’Halloran, Head of Service, Disability Services CHO2; and Olive Hanley, Head of Service, Disability Services CHO9.

Implementation of the Roadmap for Service Improvement Actions will: • Ensure children are referred to the most appropriate service • Reduce the waiting time for children currently waitlisted for Children’s Disability Network Teams • Optimise use of voluntary and private disability service providers for assessments and interventions • Improve HSE’s legislative compliance for Assessment of Need as defined in the Disability Act • Improve outcomes for children and families and their experience of Children’s Disability Network Teams’ service • Enable teams to optimise service effectiveness and efficiencies, and opportunities to collaborate with community networks such as Children and Young People’s Services Committees • Improve staff retention on Children’s Disability Network Teams in the long-term as a good place to work

Progress reports on implementation of the Roadmap targets will be published quarterly on the HSE website.

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Hot Topic

STI Home Testing

The HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP) free national home STI testing service saw over 119,000 kits ordered by people aged 17 and over since its launch in October 2022.

Free home STI test kits can be ordered by visiting sexualwellbeing.ie. Test kits are delivered by post and users complete the tests at home and post the samples to the laboratory in the pre-paid envelope provided.

People receive their results by text or phone, and those who require further testing and treatment are referred to participating public STI clinics, ensuring a seamless individual experience.

IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE SERVICE • 119,197 home STI test kits were ordered • 71,744 (60%) test kits were returned to the lab • 99% of service users received their results within 72 hours • 7,249 (10%) users had a reactive result, the majority of these being chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

• The service is reaching people who may not attend a face-to-face service; 58.6% of users reported that they had never had an STI test before.

• Users rated the service highly, at 4.9/5.

Public STI clinics are now also able to direct patients requiring regular testing to the online platform freeing up clinic appointments.

Community organisations are also linking with the service as a way to improve access to testing among key population groups.

The HSE home STI testing service has also been shortlisted as a finalist in the Innovation in Healthcare and Medicine category, Irish Healthcare Awards 2023.

“The service has been well received, especially by young people, and is reducing barriers to testing, such as embarrassment, cost and time needed to travel to, and attend a face-to-face service. The service is reaching key population groups and individuals who may not attend a face-to-face service. Without the service, these individuals could have developed significant morbidity and contributed to onward transmission of STIs.” Professor Fiona Lyons, Clinical Lead for Sexual Health.

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29/11/2023 11:12

Spotlight

Spotlight on

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest Jonathan owes his life to quick reactions of local first responders Meath man Jonathan Doherty was in his early 40s and a regular runner. He was not a likely candidate for a cardiac arrest. But all that changed one sunny summer’s day in 2022.

And he is here to tell the tale thanks to the actions of local Community First Responders.

The father of two had just returned from a routine 5k run when he began experiencing arm pain.

“I had jumped in the shower and started getting pains in my left arm, I thought it was muscular from the run so just doing some light stretches. It wasn’t getting any better so I had to lie down and that’s when I knew something was up. I was getting heart palpitations and was sweating quite a lot. I called my wife Claire upstairs to tell her. She was very calm – or in total shock – and rang the ambulance,” Jonathan explained.

As luck would have it, a husband and wife team of first responders were Jonathan’s neighbours.

Jonathan Doherty with Community First Responders – and his lifesavers - Jonathan and Deirdre Roughneen.

“Jonathan and Deirdre [Roughneen] are 2km down the road and they got up to help straightaway. Jonathan delivered CPR and worked on me until the ambulance came. I really owe them my life,” he said.

Luck was certainly on Jonathan’s side as the husband and wife duo were just about to take advantage of the lovely June weather to go on a bike ride. Five more minutes and they wouldn’t have been able to take the call. The nearest other first responder was also unavailable at the time.

“We live in a very rural part of Meath and we had always wondered what would happen if we needed an ambulance quickly,

Since 2012, bystander CPR has increased from 60% to 85%.

like if the children had a choking incident. As it happens, the ambulance wasn’t able to get here for 45 minutes so I wouldn’t be here without the first responders and their CPR,” said Jonathan.

If someone suffers a cardiac arrest, their chances of survival double

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Spotlight

if it happens in front of a bystander who immediately rings 112/999 and starts CPR before an ambulance’s arrival. If not, every minute without CPR will reduce the chance of cardiac arrest survival by 7 to 10 %. It is essential that bystanders can recognise what is happening, call 112/999 for help, and begin CPR as soon as possible.

Jonathan is now back at work full-time. He explained that the recovery from the CPR was among the hardest things for him to recover from physically.

He is now training to become a first responder having benefited from it first-hand.

“It is something everyone should do,” he said. “We train in teams and work on three or four scenarios, like a child choking or an adult experiencing chest pains.

The situations obviously aren’t real but it helps to get you familiar with the procedures you need to go through and what a scene might look like. It is such a worthwhile thing to do.”

Robert Morton, Director of the HSE National Ambulance Service, said, “Out of hospital cardiac arrest survival is dependent on early recognition of an emergency, alerting the Emergency Medical Services, good quality CPR and early defibrillation.”HM

To ind out more about Community First Responder Groups in your area visit becomeacfr.ie

Nada reflects on good luck after husband’s cardiac arrest

Nada and Finn on the top of the Sugar Loaf Mountain recently.

Out enjoying a New Year’s Day, Nada Kanj and her husband Finn passed some of the defibrillators that Nada and her fellow Community First Responders in Shankill Ballybrack, Co Dublin were responsible for maintaining.

“Finn reminded me that I hadn’t done my checks on the defibrillators that week as it was my turn. He wouldn’t normally even mention them. But despite the fact that I was feeling a bit lazy, I opened each one up and made sure everything was in working order and we continued on our walk,” she explained.

Little did either of them know that less than 24 hours later, one of those same defibrillators would end up saving Finn’s life.

“The next day, 2 January 2023, I went back to work in Sandyford, and Finn was returning to Denmark for work. He had been commuting between our Dublin home and Denmark for six years at this point.

He said he would text me once he got on the bus to the airport that morning. By lunchtime, I hadn’t heard from him and thought it was very unusual. I just felt something was wrong and dumped my lunch without eating it and returned to my desk,” she said.

While she was at her desk and after a number of unanswered texts, her phone rang – it was Finn’s number.

“It was a garda calling on his phone. He explained that Finn had collapsed on the street with a cardiac arrest

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Spotlight

Nada and her husband Finn in St James’ Hospital soon after his cardiac arrest.

“Finn is in his mid-50s and was otherwise fit and healthy. He did have a very stressful job in Denmark and he has decided not to go back to it. We were very lucky – it was a miracle."

and that they were giving him CPR and would be taking him to St James’ Hospital. I raced out of the office and got in my car. I don’t know how I got there but I arrived at the scene seven minutes later and saw the ambulance there – I just screamed,” said Nada.

She phoned two of her friends from the Community First Reponders – Dave McCormack and Catherine Malone – but they were already on the scene helping Norwegian-born Finn.

Nada said that without a huge amount of lucky coincidences, Finn would not have made it.

“It was the day after New Year’s Day so there was hardly anyone around. The only two people on the street at the time were a doctor and a nurse. Liz, a nurse, had just moved to Shankill and was on her way to Costa to get something for her kids.

Hannah Marshall, the doctor, was only in Ireland for her

sister’s wedding and was on her way to the airport at the time. It was as if they were supposed to be there to help Finn and I couldn’t be more grateful,” she said.

Nada said that Finn had effectively died for two minutes before he was revived by the efforts of the pair and highlighted the need for as many people in the community to get the Community First Responder training as possible.

“Finn was lucky that the two people that came along had training in CPR. Others won’t be as lucky.

In situations like this, every second counts. That’s why I would encourage people to become a Community First Responder. I am originally from Lebanon and have been living here 18 years.

I became one because I felt like I wanted to give something back to the community,” she said.

Finn’s life has completely changed since his cardiac arrest. He spent a time in intensive care and then had to undergo a long and slow rehab. Nada noted that he did not have any of the warning signs of a cardiac arrest and believes it was his stressful job that was the main factor.

“Finn is in his mid-50s and was otherwise fit and healthy. He did have a very stressful job in Denmark and he has decided not to go back to it. We were very lucky – it was a miracle. Not many people get this lucky.

We will take time finding him something less stressful,” Nada said, adding that he is well on the road to recovery and has just climbed the Sugar Loaf Mountain.

“Money comes and goes but you only get one life.” HM

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Social Inclusion

Health equality Mobile unit helping to reach marginalised groups A new mobile health unit has become a Migrant mobile valuable addition to the hard work being health team done to provide healthcare services in the community for marginalised groups.

The Social Inclusion Team from CHO Dublin North City and County are "The team hope to provide prenatal responsible for providing equal access services to women residing in to healthcare services and supports for congregated settings who may find vulnerable people in the area, including it difficult to travel to the GP and Travellers, Roma and migrants. Services include LGBTQI+ sexual health, homeless hospital regularly once a week." services and addiction services.

The mobile health unit consists of a services to women residing in congregated consultation room and a waiting area. settings who may find it difficult to It is fitted with WiFi allowing the team travel to the GP and hospital regularly to provide virtual GP consultations with once a week. their sessional GP, with prescriptions sent The DNCC vaccination team will use directly to local pharmacies via healthmail. the van to provide services in settings The waiting area can hold up to four that have limited space and capacity for people. Privacy is provided through an invaccinations. They will provide health house sound system that allows the sound assessment and screening for those clients from the consultation room to be blocked who, for whatever reason, cannot access where necessary. It is envisaged that the services at Balseskin Refugee Centre. unit will be a one-stop-shop of services The mobile health unit will also provide and health promotion for clinical/public private space for vital peer support work. health and psychosocial services.

Part of the Social Inclusion team is the The team hope to provide prenatal Migrant Health team, which currently provides supports and services to over 8,500 migrants across 57 congregated Services provided include: accommodation settings for both • initial health assessment International Protection Applicants and • screening for blood-borne virus Ukrainian displaced people seeking • catch-up vaccinations temporary protection. The team is made (including COVID-19 and flu) up of three operational arms: two mobile • Medical card applications • GP triage phone line teams and the medical centre at Balseskin • interpretation services resourced by GP, nursing, admin supports • appointments to GP, dental and allied health professionals and and optical services supported by Section 39 agencies.

• transportation to and from GP The mobile teams rotate around all appointments • onward referral to hospital congregated settings weekly, providing and other primary care services vital healthcare directly to people at their accommodation. HM

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Talking Point

Talking point

Keeping well this winter

The HSE’s autumn/winter campaigns kicked-off in October and have been running over the last couple of months to highlight the best ways people can stay well at this time of year.

VACCINE CAMPAIGNS The ‘Top-up’ campaign encourages people to top up their immunity and get their recommended autumn/winter vaccines.

The ‘Children’s Flu Vaccine’ campaign aims to promote the free nasal flu vaccine to parents of all children aged 2 to 12. A flu vaccine is recommended for you if you’re 65 or over.

A COVID-19 autumn booster is recommended for you if you’re 50 or over.

Both vaccines are recommended for: • healthcare workers • anyone who is pregnant • anyone with a long-term health condition “It is safe to get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time. If you only get one of your vaccines, it is really important to make another appointment to get your second vaccine. The flu and COVID-19 viruses change every year. It's important to get the updated vaccines being offered now to top up your protection for the months ahead,” said Dr Lucy Jessop, Director of Public Health and National Immunisation Lead, National Immunisation Office.

As a healthcare worker, you can check to see if you can get your vaccines at work at www.hse.ie/staffclinics.

‘KEEPING WELL THIS WINTER’ CAMPAIGNS The ‘Thank you’ campaign returned to our screens this winter to encourage people with symptoms of flu, COVID-19 or other viruses to stay at home if they feel unwell.

It highlights the importance of looking after yourself if you’re sick.

A social media campaign promotes messages around keeping well this winter, practicing good self-care, avoiding falls and making sure you have the medication you need.

‘CARE WHEN YOU NEED IT’ CAMPAIGN The ‘Care When You Need It’ social media campaign is highlighting healthcare options available so that people consider all options of care such as a GP, out-ofhours GP service, pharmacy, injury unit or emergency department.

HSE injury units are promoted throughout winter, to make sure people know they can go to an injury units for injuries such as broken bones, sprains and minor burns. The campaign is live on local radio, digital audio and geo-targeted social media. HM

Visit hse.ie for more information about recommended vaccines and tips for keeping well this winter.

AT THE TIME OF WRITING

968K

Vaccines are also available from participating GPs and pharmacies.

PEOPLE IN IRELAND HAD RECEIVED THEIR FLU VACCINE AND 619K HAD RECEIVED THEIR COVID-19 VACCINE.

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Talking Point FLU FIGHTERS: WATERFORD’S 90% STAFF VACCINATION SUCCESS For the first time in four years, a new winner came out on top at the HSE’s annual Flu Vaccination Awards with University Hospital Waterford (UHW) taking the top prize. Their colleagues in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, who had held the winner’s title for the past four years, took second place this year and University Hospital Wexford claimed third.

Almost 90% of the staff at 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 win, Orla Kavanagh, Director of Nursing and Integration at UHW, credits last year’s uptake to the “result of a number of years of work.”

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, she said.

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.

To date, UHW has over 30 trained Peer Vaccinators.

Most important, said Ms Kavanagh, they have at least one Peer Vaccinator in each speciality or department in the hospital. This means Peer Vaccinators are known to their colleagues and can use opportunities like a

The team at University Hospital Waterford who won the flu vaccine award.

cup of coffee in the staff room to chat about getting the flu vaccine.

The flu vaccine is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Mobile vaccinators are also on hand to vaccinate staff.

Their team regularly monitors uptake data during the season to identify departments with the highest and lowest uptakes. They work very closely with the departments to come up with ideas to encourage uptake.

While being data driven is central to UHW’s campaign success, they

still like to have some fun.

They routinely organise incentives like draws and prizes, not so much to persuade people, but to keep the vaccine at the forefront of people’s minds. “It helps keep things light and fun, and it also works well.”

While UHW use many different strategies to drive uptake, their goal remains the same: protect staff, patients and their families. “Our patients are protected if our staff are protected. If staff don’t get the flu, they are not transmitting it to patients,” she said. HM

FLU AWARDS A RECOGNITION OF HARD WORK The National Immunisation Office (NIO) hosts the HSE Flu Vaccination Awards each year to celebrate the hospitals and long-term care facilities with the highest flu vaccine uptake in health and care workers for the previous flu season. It aims to recognise and award the hard work and dedication of flu teams across the country driving uptake.

This year, there were five winners in the long-term care facilities (less than 100 beds) category with Tearmanns Ward, St Camillus, Ivernia, Ard na nDeise, Beechwood Hostel and 40 Kerlogue Road taking the top prize. In second place was Cappahard Lodge and third was

The winners of the 2023 HSE Flu Vaccination Awards.

Kinsale Community Hospital.

In the long-term care facilities (more than 100 beds) category St Camillus and St Joseph’s Hospital claimed the first and second prize.

Ard na Gaoithe, Cope Foundation came first in the community setting category. Mount Carmel Community Hospital and Peacehaven Trust CLG came second and third, respectively. HM

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Hot Topic

Antibiotic resistance

We can help to slow down antibiotic resistance by:

Antibiotic resistance means that some antibiotics that used to work well for some infections, do not work anymore. It's a big problem.

There are strains of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. They're known as 'superbugs'.

A few things cause antibiotic resistance. They include the overuse of antibiotics. This is why antibiotics should not be used to treat some viral infections, including some chest and many ear infections.

Never take antibiotics when you do not need them. The more you use antibiotics to treat minor conditions, the more likely they will not work as well for more serious conditions.

Antibiotic resistance is caused by: • overuse of antibiotics - the more times a bacteria comes in to contact with an antibiotic the more likely it is that the bacteria will find ways to change itself and survive • bacteria growing, changing and spreading very fast - this means some antibiotics will no longer work properly for certain infections • antibiotics killing our 'good' bacteria as well as our 'bad' bacteria - this means superbugs can grow and take over

Superbugs are strains of bacteria that have developed resistance to many different types of antibiotics. They are becoming an increasing cause of disability and death across the world. MRSA and CPE are 2 kinds of superbugs.

• not asking for antibiotics to treat viral infections, including colds and flu • only taking antibiotics when your GP or prescriber thinks you need them • cleaning your hands regularly and keeping toilets clean - this makes it harder for superbugs to spread • Using antibiotics in the right way will help them remain effective

The spread of superbugs is a problem because: 1. They spread easily to others - in particular to people taking antibiotics 2. It can be hard to find a safe and effective antibiotic to fight a superbug infection 3. There is a risk that new superbugs may develop that cannot be treated by any existing antibiotics

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Feature

Health Literacy Your health, your voice Why is health literacy important?

Have you ever struggled to understand healthcare information or instructions?

Over 40% of people have had an experience as a patient, as an advocate for a child, or a parent or sibling where health literacy was a challenge.

It impacts patient safety in many ways.

It may be trying to understand how much medication to take and when, what to do following surgery or what services you may be entitled to.

How can we improve health literacy and in turn patient safety?

1.

What do I need to know now?

2.

What do I need to do next?

3.

What can I expect?

How will this help me?

We can improve health literacy by encouraging people to ask us key questions: 1. What do I need to know now?

2. What do I need to do next?

3. How will this help me?

The final question – how will this help me - is key because most of us need to understand why something is important and how it will benefit us before we act.

Where can you find resources to help?

You will find a patient leaflet, animated clip and poster via the QR code. There is also a spoken version of the leaflet that people can listen to.

The resources were developed by the HSE, working in collaboration with members of Patients for Patient Safety Ireland and the Department of Health as part of World Patient Safety Day 2023.

The theme this year was 'Engaging patients for patient safety'.

The World Health Organization is calling on us to ensure that patients are active partners in their own care, are engaged in co-designing safety strategies, are involved in policy formulation, and are represented in governance structures. HM

This poster was developed in a collaboration by the HSE, Patients for Patient Safety Ireland and the Department of Health. Thanks especially to UL Hospital Group and Naas General Hospital for content on which the material is based. For more information please see www.hse.ie/nqpsd.

How can I get involved?

• Take the lead and invite people to ask the questions above • Remind colleagues that while we often assume that health literacy is not a challenge for some - this is not the case. It can be a challenge for everyone depending on their circumstances or experiences • Make a difference by asking yourself ‘What would you like to know today?’

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Spotlight

Spotlight on

Traveller mental health A study that explores the views of Travellers on a range of improvements needed to promote mental wellbeing and reduce suicide has been launched.

17 Traveller peer researchers were employed to collect data in 10 counties through a number of group discussions and individual interviews for the Traveller Mental Wellness Continuum: a qualitative peer research study of Travellers’ views.

It was developed by the HSE national network of Mental Health Service Coordinators for Travellers, in collaboration with the Health Promotion Research Centre in University of Galway.

The study was funded by the HSE National Office of Suicide Prevention and the HSE Mental Health Engagement and Recovery National Office.

The peer researchers played a key role in interpreting and analysing the data, as well as facilitating a more culturally accurate interpretation of the 87 study participants’ perspectives. Julie Duke, a member of the project steering group and HSE Traveller Peer Support Worker, spoke about the effectiveness of a community participatory research approach.

The research findings highlight the value of enabling good mental health and wellbeing for Travellers throughout their lives, by creating more supportive environments, improving living conditions, education, training and employment opportunities, curbing discrimination, celebrating Traveller culture, and improving access to culturally appropriate services.

The study findings provide an important basis for advancing the promotion of Traveller mental health and wellbeing as an urgent policy priority.

This includes developing a range of Traveller-led services that embrace mental health promotion, prevention, treatment and recovery.

Members of the national network of Mental Health Service Coordinators for Travellers, past and present. Standing: Peter O’Reilly (CHO6), Jacopo Villani (Mental Health Engagement and Recovery, formerly Coordinator in CHO2), Professor Margaret Barry (University of Galway), Ita Madden (CHO1), Colette Tuohy (CHO2), Cian OLonargain (CHO7).

Front row: Mo Foley (CHO3), Mary Byrne (CHO5), Doreen Carpenter (CHO9), Petra Daly (Kildare Traveller Action, formerly Coordinator in CHO8)’

The study findings provide an important basis for advancing the promotion of Traveller mental health and wellbeing as an urgent policy priority. This includes developing a range of Traveller-led services that embrace mental health promotion, prevention, treatment and recovery.

The research 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. Embedding an ethos of cultural safety and cultural humility and listening to Travellers’ ideas and suggestions help to improve services, and to create a more inclusive environment that strives towards recovery.HM

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Feature

Innovative Health Specially designed device enables patient to have dialysis at home Rona from Dublin began kidney dialysis in September 2021. While this lifepreserving treatment was vital for her health, it was also preventing her from continuing to work. This was because each of her three weekly dialysis sessions lasted between three and four hours at the hospital.

As Rona was keen to return to the workforce she asked the Renal Home Therapy Team at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) if she could join their home haemodialysis programme.

For people living with a chronic disease, home dialysis represents an enormous benefit to how they live their lives.

In general, patients no longer have to spend up to 16 hours away from home every week getting treatment. They can have their dialysis at a time that suits them and their schedule. Critically for Rona, it meant she could return to work.

The Renal Home Therapies team at TUH were keen to support her in this goal.

The hospital has special training rooms set aside in the Vartry Renal Unit where

patients are taught by specialist nurses, to operate the Home Haemodialysis machine for themselves.

Rona started her training in the Renal Unit but soon hit a bump in the road. She was finding it impossible to manage the different lines which carry the blood in and out of her body and into and out of the dialysis machine.

However, the TUH Renal Home Therapies team did not accept defeat. They engaged with Innovate Health, the hospital’s special innovation team, to see if a solution could be developed. After meeting

Right: Patient Rona and Innovate Health designer Alexander Fives.

Left: Renal Clinical Nurse Specialist Jen Young with Rona.

“I started off with a prototype model which Rona road tested. Working together we were able to iron out any pieces of the process that did not work."

with Rona to hear and see first-hand what the challenge was and what Rona needed, product designer Alexander Fives developed a clever solution to solve the problem.

“I started off with a prototype model which Rona road tested. Working together we were able to iron out any pieces of the process that did not work.

When we were both happy that we had a design that could work I set about making the device in a format that is longer lasting and also meets infection prevention control guidelines,” said Alexander.

Rona is now at home managing her dialysis independently around her work schedule. HM

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Staff Survey

Your Opinion Counts 2023 The latest HSE Your Opinion Counts Staff Survey has revealed some impressive scores for staff sentiment including increases in job satisfaction, sense of wellbeing and feeling of being trusted to do the job.

This year saw a 78% increase in the number of staff who completed the survey.

Over 23,000 took part and representation from our CHOs and hospitals almost doubled since 2021.

8/10 feel that satisfaction with the job, optimism about the future and communication with line managers have improved.

High scores in engagement, satisfaction, and optimism 91% of staff feel that their job makes a difference to patients and colleagues. Additionally, 61% of staff feel optimistic about their future, an increase on 2021 suggesting a stronger foundation of trust and confidence among staff as we restructure our services into 6 Health Regions.

Effective Line Management

BY WAY OF ACKNOWLEDGING STAFF FEEDBACK AND SAYING THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE SURVEY 2023 THERE WAS A DRAW FOR 6 PRIZES OF €300 EACH. THE HAPPY WINNERS HAVE ALL RECEIVED ONE4ALL GIFT VOUCHERS

The relationship between staff and their line managers has improved overall since 2021. 7 out of 10 staff have opportunities to give feedback to their line manager. More staff feel that line managers support

their efforts to improve services and listen to their ideas and suggestions (up 12.7 points from 2021).

Wellbeing at work

The scores relating to wellbeing and the workplace have increased across most areas since 2021. 8 out of 10 staff feel respected by colleagues and patients, and more of us know about the supports available if we’re experiencing difficulties.

An encouraging number of us feel the HSE shows a greater level of interest in our health and wellbeing (up 13.6 points from 2021) and promotes a healthy work/life balance for staff (up 12 points from 2021).

Survey results have been shared as widely as possible and we will continue to work on improving staff satisfaction and engagement. The National HR, Engagement and Culture team (Culture.HR@hse.ie) is available to support managers and staff across the HSE in developing action plans and associated staff engagement and culture activities.

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A day in the life

A Day in the Life...

Sinéad Gill Clinical Innovation Specialist and ICU Nurse Educator, Tallaght University Hospital

5.40am: The alarm goes off and I quickly silence it so as not to wake anyone else in the bed! I get ready downstairs as I swear my two kids have ultra-sonic hearing and although I’d love some morning cuddles, it’s too early for them to be awake.

7am: I arrive to work at TUH and drop my laptop into the Innovate Health office (a one-stop shop for all things innovation at the Hospital). They have recently appointed me as their Clinical Innovation Specialist.

This role, to my knowledge, is the first of its kind in terms of nursing in Ireland.

I combine it with my job educating and supporting nurses who work in our ICU. 10am: Our award-winning New Graduate Nurse in Critical Care Programme will be commencing again soon for its third year and so I work with my colleague Aine Dalton in preparing the curriculum. With 13 years of experience, I am quite passionate about critical care nursing and ensuring patients and their families receive the best possible care at their most vulnerable time.

12.30pm: I have lunch in the ICU and enjoy catching up with friends and discussing the new and exciting innovative projects that are under way.

1.30pm: I have my Clinical Innovation hat on now and I really like that no two days are the same. I enjoy the mix of activities and seeing real change happening for the benefit of patients and staff. This afternoon I co-ordinated a meeting with industry, clinicians, and our product designer to work through challenges as we partner to develop solutions.

My last meeting of the day is with our Digital Innovation

Liaison manager and we go through the digital projects in our pipeline. I am learning a lot about the digital side of healthcare.

4.30: I collect my kids from my parents and have a quick coffee and chat before heading home. I catch up with some of the neighbours on our lovely street, while the kids play for a bit.

6pm: Bedtime with the kids is my favourite as I can’t get enough of the cuddles.

If only it could be bottled!

It’s also when they spill their guts, filling me in on their day. For me, it is pure bliss and I feel blessed. HM

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Showcasing and Celebrating Excellence

The Health Service Excellence Awards is an opportunity to showcase and celebrate examples of the great work that happens every day across our health service. This is the seventh year of the awards which aim to promote shared learning for other teams through our awards success stories.

The 2023 award ceremony took place on Thursday 30 November in Farmleigh House in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

Bernard Gloster, HSE CEO, commended the winners. “The dedication and commitment to delivering high quality patient care is visibly demonstrated through this year’s entries submitted by staff around the country.

“Each project clearly reflects our

core values of care, compassion, trust and learning. Well done and thank you to all those short-listed as well as today’s winners. It is your work that helps pave the way to a brighter future for Ireland’s health service.”

Anne Marie Hoey, HSE National Director of HR, highlighted the positive outcomes achieved.

“As well as providing an opportunity to celebrate the great work of staff happening every day, the Excellence Awards is an important channel to share learnings with our colleagues across the health service,” she said.

“Through this pooling of knowledge and expertise, the projects inspire a sense of staff pride, teamwork and

“As well as providing an opportunity to celebrate the great work of staff happening every day, the Excellence Awards is an important channel to share learnings with our colleagues across the health service."

collaboration. This will positively impact the overall environment for our staff whilst improving outcomes for the people who rely on our care and support.”

Enda Moylan CNM3 and Team Lead, Crisis Resolution Team, CHO 1 was successful with colleagues in the Right Place, Right Time Sláintecare category for the Development of a Crisis Resolution Team (Mental Health) project.

Enda spoke about what winning this award meant to him and his CHO 1 colleagues.

“We are delighted to receive the recognition that this award brings to rural and mental health service provision,” he said.

Dr Elizabeth Gethins, Consultant Psychiatrist Crisis Resolution Team, Sligo Leitrim Mental Health Services, added, “Working on this project has been so rewarding for all of the team. We are providing a realistic alternative to admission or presentation to the Emergency Dept for people experiencing a mental health crisis. It is privilege to work intensively with people in their own homes, and feedback from service users and their loved ones has been very positive.

We are delighted to receive this award, and to have the recognition that this award brings both to mental health service provision, and to provision of services in a rural area. We look forward to enhancing the service further over the coming months and years.”

Children's Health Ireland and 22q Ireland won the Excellence award in the ‘Excellence in Quality and Patient Safety’ category for their project, Complex Care Coordination - Transferable Model of Care for Rare Disease.

Anne Lawlor, patient representative and parent, outlined the team involvement in the project.

“The whole beauty of this project is that it is co-produced.”

“On behalf of our families who have described their experiences with Wesley as 'life changing' I

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Excellence Awards "We see this project as a continuous workin-progress and the recognition that this award brings will provide us with the energy and enthusiasm to continue with that work.” can only say that collectively we are over the moon to receive this excellence award. We see this project as a continuous work-inprogress and the recognition that this award brings will provide us with the energy and enthusiasm to continue with that work.”

“It's the teamwork makes the dream work!”

University Maternity Hospital Limerick was this year’s winner in the ‘Improving Patient Experience’ category for the Lavender clinic initiative.

Maria Gibbons, Advanced Midwifery Practitioner, Specialist Perinatal Mental Health service/ Birth Trauma, University Maternity Hospital, Limerick, spoke about how the project came about.

“The Lavender clinic initiative came about from listening to our service users. The opportunity to be able to talk about their birth experience in a safe, protected space ensures that women and their partners will attend postnatal appointments and receive timely support, care and compassion from our integrated team of healthcare professionals.

We are very proud of our HSE excellence award which will guide us in future planning of womencentred care and hopefully inspire our colleagues to showcase the wonderful work they are also doing every day.”

Frank Morrison, Head of Older Persons Services, and Aislinn Gannon, General Manager, Digital Health – CH CDLMS, spoke about what makes their project ‘Transforming Health Care with Real Time Data on Bed Utilisation’ a success.

“The collaborative efforts invested in this project have proven exceptionally rewarding, with tangible outcomes that significantly enhance the efficiency and reliability of data collection and bed management processes within community services. The implemented solutions have successfully streamlined these operations, introducing a real-time element and accurate reporting.”

Mark Corrigan, Clinical Lead, Transforming Theatre Programme, SSWHG, who along with his team was awarded the Excellence award in the Innovation in Service Delivery category, spoke of his experience.

“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. With a wellstructured approach and effective processes, coupled with strong support from senior management, our perioperative teams are ideally positioned to both devise and implement these improvements."HM

“Working on this programme has been an immense privilege. It has personally allowed me to witness the remarkable transformation achieved by empowering our staff."

Watch videos and learn more about each of the winning projects on www. hse.ie/excellenceawards #HSEExcellenceAwards23

2023 Winners...

Area and location Category

Title of project

Older Person and Digital Health Team CHO1

Engaging a Digital Solution

Transforming Health Care with Real Time Data on Bed Utilisation

Children's Health Ireland & 22q Ireland

Excellence in Quality & Patient Safety

Complex Care Coordination Transferable Model of Care for Rare Disease Children's Health Ireland & 22q Ireland

Sligo Leitrim Mental Right Care Right Health Services Place Right Time Sláintecare

Development of a Crisis Resolution Team (Mental Health) in Sligo Leitrim Mental Health Services

University Maternity Improving Patient Hospital Limerick Experience

Development of a postnatal Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Clinic to support women following a traumatic birth experience: The Lavender Clinic

South/Southwest Hospital Group (SSWHG)

Innovation in Service Operationalising a Delivery Perioperative Initiative across the SSWHG

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Making progress on Sláintecare and integrated care

Enhanced Community Care Nine in 10 patients with chronic disease routinely managed close to home, conference hears

Far left: Sean O'Rourke, Marie Boyle, Aoidín Kiely, James Geoghegan, Bernard Gloster.

Top: Helena Butler, Sheila Mulcair, Gráinne Ryan and Anne Geary.

Left: Prof David Colin-Thomé, Dr Olywyn Finnegan and HSE CEO Bernard Gloster.

During the second national HSE Enhanced Community Care (ECC) Conference over 1,300 delegates, who joined online and in person, heard the HSE's ECC programme has led to a reduction in hospital attendances and admissions.

Delegates heard that 91% of patients with chronic diseases are effectively managed in general practice. Moreover, it highlighted how patients are now moving through the integrated pathways of the ECC programme.

This development underscores the ECC programme's commitment to promoting care closer to home, aligning with Sláintecare principles and delivering on the promise of reducing the necessity for acute hospital visits and admissions.

At the conference in Dublin Castle delegates heard from Bernard Gloster, CEO, HSE who emphasised the significant progress made by the ECC Programme in delivering timely and effective treatments, reducing unnecessary

referrals and hospital admissions and redefining healthcare delivery.

Dr Sarah O'Brien, National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead for Chronic Disease, brought delegates through key developments from the Integrated Care Programme for Chronic Disease.

Dr Sean O'Dowd, Consultant Neurologist and Clinical Lead, National Dementia Services, provided insights into the Dementia Model of Care, while Mari O'Donovan, ECC General Manager, discussed the digital enablement of healthcare systems. Pat Healy, National Director, Clinical Programme Implementation and Professional Development explored the flexing of the ECC Model, emphasising its adaptability and impact.

The conference culminated in an afternoon panel discussion, looking at the ECC Programme's impacts and outcomes, moderated by Sean O'Rourke.HM

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New community-based mobile X-ray service helps older patients avoid Emergency Department The HSE is expanding a free, national rapid response community based X-ray service for older patients in nursing homes, community facilities and in patients’ homes due to the success of a pilot project. This means patients can have X-rays taken in the nursing home where they are residents instead of having to go to the hospital.

The service is currently running in Dublin, Wicklow, Meath, Kildare, Louth, Cork, Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary and, since August, is offered in South Tipperary, Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford. It will be available nationwide in 2024 with Galway and the North West next in line to benefit from the service.

The mobile X-ray service provides all types of X-ray examinations including chest, hip/pelvis, knee, wrist and shoulder If an older patient has a fall, or requires a chest X-ray, the diagnostic team will arrive on-site. An X-ray examination will take place

Owner Anne Costello and staff members from Tara Care Centre, Bray Co Wicklow. The nursing home avails of the service.

Results show 4,452 hospital transfers were avoided for patients up to the end of July 2023.

in their own room in the nursing home or in the patient’s own home and a report is shared with the referring doctor within four hours.

Some 83% of nursing homes in Dublin, Cork and Limerick have used the service. Referrals to the service are triaged in conjunction with the nursing home and GP to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.

Over 600 GPs have referred to the service across more than 245 nursing homes. Results show 4,452 hospital transfers were avoided for patients up to the end of July 2023.

In June 2023, 383 patients were visited in nursing homes, community care facilities and private houses, of these 361 patients didn’t have to go to hospital. HM

Improving GP care for patients with integrated information Efficient healthcare delivery hinges on real-time access to patient and healthcare information. A key data element in delivering patient care is recording the correct GP and GP practice for each patient.

It relies heavily on immediate access to patient and healthcare data. One crucial aspect of providing patient care involves accurately documenting the correct GP and associated GP practice for each patient.

The GP holds a crucial position within the healthcare system. If the patient's GP is not accurately recorded in their medical records, it can impede the GP's access to the results of patient care in different healthcare settings.

Over the past year the Health Identifiers Service (HIDS) team in the HSE has been working to create a new ‘Doctors and Locations’ Application Programming Interface (API).

APIs serve as digital bridges, facilitating

communication between different applications.

They provide a secure and efficient means of sharing data across the organisation.

The impact of this API cannot be underestimated.

The API records 1,716 GP practices as well as 5,395 active GPs. This data is updated twice per week.

Speaking following the rollout of the new GP API, Maria McCann, Director of Identity Management Services in the HSE, described the progress as ‘having real patient impact’ and encouraged other healthcare providers to engage with their work.

“We are delighted to support any of our colleagues in the health system, who feel this API and information would be beneficial in their service. Sharing of information across the HSE to support patient care and improve efficiencies is why we do what we do. Please do reach out if you want to learn more,” she said. HM

For more information on requesting and utilising the Doctors and Locations API, please contact health.directory@hse.ie. The HIDS team is readily available to provide API Consumer Guidelines, FAQs, and application forms, offering support throughout the process.

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Making progress on Sláintecare and integrated care

Frailty in patients Frailty at the Front Door service provides individualised interventions The Frailty at the Front Door team at Portiuncula University Hospital: Lisa O’Looney, Senior Physiotherapist; Maria Lennon, Senior Occupational Therapist; Karen Hurley, Assistant Staff Officer; Dr Shabahat Ali, Geriatric Medical Registrar; Kelley McCarthy, Clinical Nurse Specialist; and Stella Hannon, Therapy Assistant.

Portiuncula University Hospital’s Frailty at the Front Door service was introduced to provide a holistic assessment and intervention to patients over 75 presenting with frailty to the Emergency Department.

The service identifies and assesses patients presenting with frailty and provides individualised interventions. Many people present to the service following a fall or with changes in their ability to complete everyday tasks. Early comprehensive assessment can improve their healthcare outcomes and experience and can support their further recovery at home.

It commenced in September 2021 as part of the Enhanced Community Care programme (ECC) to improve and expand community health services and reduce pressure on hospital services. This year the Frailty at the Front Door team has supported discharge directly home in 55% of older people assessed by referring them to community services, in keeping with the Sláintecare vision of providing the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

The Frailty at the Front Door team consists of a clinical nurse specialist, senior occupational therapist, senior physiotherapist, geriatric medical registrar, therapy assistant and assistant staff officer.

Lisa O’Looney, Senior Physiotherapist on the team, said, “Studies have shown that older adults are those most likely to visit a GP and to require inpatient hospital beds.

For many frail older adults, a hospital stay may result in a loss of independence and a need for extra assistance on discharge.”HM

"This year the Frailty at the Front Door team has supported discharge directly home in 55% of older people assessed by referring them to community services, in keeping with the Sláintecare vision of providing the right care, in the right place, at the right time."

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Dr Susan Connolly with her team and patient Noel Ridge at the Galway City Hub.

New care pathway providing vital supports For cardiac patients Work carried out by the Galway City Integrated Care Hub has resulted in 300 cardiac patients being removed from the Galway University Hospitals wait list through a range of initiatives including list validation, a chest pain initiative, setting up of appointments at the hub instead of the hospital and the redirection of GUH hospital heart failure wait list to the hub.

The Enhanced Community Care (ECC) pathway for cardiology has been up and running since March 2023 in the west of Ireland under the joint governance of the Saolta University Health Care Group and

Community Healthcare West.

“The ECC programme has been absolutely transformational for the care of patients with chronic cardiovascular disease. We have seen 298 new patients in the hub and had 1,300 clinical contacts since we started,” said Dr Susan Connolly, Cardiologist with GUH, who also leads the cardiology service at the hub.

Through the work of the ECC programme, patients are being treated for their chronic heart disease closer to home. This is proving life-changing for those now availing of the community-based service.

Noel Ridge, a patient at the Galway Integrated Care Hub, where services are provided in an integrated fashion between GPs, practice nurses, community specialist teams and hospital specialist teams, shared how his experience has positively impacted his life.

“I've had three heart attacks and been in the hospital nine times in the last 18 months. But I've come through it,” he said.

“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. If I don't feel well, I can call the hub right away and explain what's happening. Overall, visiting the hub is much more convenient as it is closer to home and appointments are scheduled at specific times, which reduces a lot of stress."HM

Collaboration

New service aims to keep low-acuity patients out of Emergency Department

A NEW collaboration between UL Hospitals Group and the National Ambulance Service will see definitive care provided in the community to patients who call 999/112 - and reduce the number of ambulances bringing patients directly to the Emergency Department.

The Alternative Pre-Hospital Pathway (APP) involves specialist emergency medicine doctors and NAS personnel responding to low-acuity ambulance calls.

This service commenced in Limerick and is initially operating from 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday. The APP team responds in a NAS vehicle to appropriate calls within a 45-minute radius of the ambulance centre in Limerick city.

Providing definitive care to patients at the first point of contact is a key aim of Irish healthcare delivery as described in the Sláintecare report. The APP team will respond to low-acuity ambulance

calls in the community; provide that definitive care directly; or refer on to the appropriate community or specialist service.

Where the APP team is the nearest available resource, they may also be despatched to care for or assist pre-hospital colleagues in caring for, critically unwell patients in the community.

The Emergency Department at UHL receives more emergency ambulances than any other hospital in the country and the APP service will, where appropriate, reduce the number of ambulance conveyances to the hospital. This will both improve patient experience and free up valuable emergency ambulance resources for critically ill or injured patients.

The APP team comprises an emergency medicine specialist registrar (SpR) or registrar and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic in a NAS response vehicle. HM HEALTH MATTERS WINTER 2023 | 29

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Feature

Wexford fire Entire health service unites to support staff and patients following emergency

The extent of the damage.

“Whole electrical systems needed replacing.

Ventilation to Endoscopy and our Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) stopped working.

Piped oxygen and vacuum required reinstatement and the main plant room suffered extensive damage and needed to be reconstructed with all plant and equipment replaced.”

Shortly before 4pm on Wednesday, 1 March 2023, the fire alarm sounded in Wexford General Hospital (WGH). After a quick investigation, it was evident that a serious fire had broken out. Speaking of her experience on the day, Hospital Manager Linda O’Leary said, “I remember seeing smoke out in the car park and ringing maintenance. They weren’t sure what was causing the smoke. As the fire started outside the hospital building, it didn’t set off any alarms. So, the fire was able to build before any alarm was raised.”

Once the seriousness of the situation became apparent, a horizontal evacuation was implemented, which means that patients were moved away from the area of danger.

However, after conversations with Wexford Fire Service, it became clear that the situation was becoming extremely dangerous due to the fire’s proximity to multiple flammable gas pipelines.

Shortly after 6pm, a major incident was declared, and a full evacuation of the hospital was ordered. “Nothing can prepare you for that moment. You can prepare and train for an evacuation. However, to take such a serious decision that you know will impact not only one hospital, but the entire

“The priority was clear.

From the healthcare system, public and everywhere else, we had to open the ED as quickly as possible.” national system, was daunting,” she said.

In the immediate aftermath of the outbreak of the fire, it became clear very quickly that the National Ambulance Service (NAS), other hospitals across the country, and the community healthcare system, were ready to help WGH through the challenge of evacuating an entire hospital.

During the evacuation, WGH transferred 98 patients to hospitals across the country, including University Hospital Waterford (UHW), St Luke's General Hospital, Carlow/ Kilkenny (SLGH), St Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH), Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH), CHI, National Maternity Hospital (NMH), Beaumont and Cork University Hospital (CUH). At the same time, WGH discharged 91 patients.

Smaller hospitals also took a bigger burden.

Community hospitals like Gorey District Hospital and St John’s Hospital both took

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Feature patients on the night of the fire.

WGH staff also took the opportunity to attend the hospitals where patients were sent, to help and assist. 29 patients remained on site in WGH after the transfers.

“Our staff were amazing; I can’t think of the words to do them justice. They helped protect not only each other but every patient in the hospital that night. We had staff coming to work in the middle of the night to help. I cannot think of another industry where that would happen,” says Linda.

Wexford Fire Service had the fire under control after a short period, however, the damage was immense. The ED and large parts of the hospital were closed.

Once the safety of patients and staff was guaranteed, hospital management and the HSE began the process of rebuilding the affected parts of the hospital.

Linda outlines some of the damage.

“Whole electrical systems needed replacing. Ventilation to Endoscopy and our Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) stopped working. Piped oxygen and vacuum required reinstatement and the main plant room suffered extensive damage and needed to be reconstructed with all plant and equipment replaced.”

Despite all the damage and obstacles which existed, 53 adult medical beds and 29 obstetric beds were made available almost immediately after the fire. An additional 38 adult beds and 5 ICU beds were opened only a few days after the fire.

“We were so lucky to be able to reopen the Maternity Unit two days after the fire.

This gave a huge lift, not only to staff and expectant mothers, but to the wider public.

It was a signal that the hospital would reopen fully,” said Linda.

The hospital was in a position to open an Acute Medical Assessment Unit (AMAU) on Wednesday 15 March and an Injury Unit (IU) the following Thursday. Temporary modular on-call accommodation, a modular Endoscopy Unit and office accommodation were provided on site to maintain service function.

Despite all the damage and obstacles which existed, 53 adult medical beds and 29 obstetric beds were made available almost immediately after the fire. An additional 38 adult beds and 5 ICU beds were opened only a few days after the fire.

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patients remained on site in WGH after the transfers

Hospital Clinical Lead Obada Yousif and Hospital Manager Linda O’Leary at the scene of the blaze in March.

Within Wexford, there was one service that people were highly concerned about, and that was the Emergency Department (ED).

“The priority was clear. From the healthcare system, public and everywhere else, we had to open the ED as quickly as possible,” explained Linda.

Reopening of the ED was a big ask.

Although the physical building where the ED is located was fine and untouched by the fire, the beds in the background were not there to allow patients to be admitted.

After discussions with HSE Estates, the Ireland East Hospital Group (IEHG) and the team in WGH, a phased timeline of reopening was proposed. “The reopening plan was extremely ambitious, but we knew it was critical to get the ED open.

Staff and morale around the county had been affected. Travelling to other EDs in other counties didn’t sit right with the public of Wexford.”

The assigned contractor worked day and night so damaged wards could be reinstated. That meant from 25 July the hospital was in a position to reopen the ED. “Although it was a happy day, we didn’t do big celebrations. It’s worth noting we’re still in recovery to this day. Our library, study area and overnight accommodation for staff are not rebuilt. The ED was a massive moment for us on the journey.

However, the journey to a fully reinstated hospital continues,” she said.

Perhaps the legacy of the fire in WGH will be the fact that so many arms of the health service came together to help at a time of crisis. Ambulances, including NAS, private and voluntary providers, lined up outside the hospital, from all over the country, to help transport patients safely.

Help was also forthcoming from local business. The hospital was supported for weeks and months with different services and offers from businesses across Wexford.

Food, transport, storage, accommodation, the people and businesses of Wexford were 100% behind the hospital’s recovery.

Linda finished by saying, “I can’t thank the wider healthcare community enough.

All aspects of healthcare provision in this country came to help us at our most vulnerable time. The greatest compliment I can give those people and my own staff is not one patient suffered any injury or event of any kind during the fire and evacuation.

That is a huge achievement and a reflection on our staff and their expertise.” HM

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Profile

Crucial role

Emergency medical controllers play vital role in the National Ambulance Service

The first voice you will hear in an emergency is that of the emergency medical controllers (call takers) whose job it is to deal with your needs.

Four Emergency medical controllers have spoken about this vital work in the National Ambulance Service (NAS).

These key members of the ambulance service operate in a communications command and control centre environment. Their task is to control efficiently and effectively the emergency ambulance, intermediate care and first responder services for service users and to cater for the communications needs of the health service.

Emergency medical controllers are crucial in delivering the response required to emergencies within an established set of performance indicator response times. They play a lead part in improving communication within and externally to the service, by performing their duties in line with our ethos of customer/client service. They also very important to the operation of alternative referral pathways.

Kevin Shields (44) from Letterkenny, Co Donegal worked in sales before applying to become an emergency call taker in 2019. He then became an emergency medical dispatcher in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“I always had an interest in the ambulance service and at one stage I thought about being a paramedic. I live in Letterkenny beside the hospital and the fire station so I’ve always been interested in the emergency services,” he said.

Kevin previously worked as a kitchen designer and a sales representative. He saw the advertisement for emergency call taker and said to himself, “You do it now or you never do it”.

Kevin recently qualified as an aeromedical/ critical care dispatcher.

His role is to match paramedics to assignments and he could be dealing with many calls at a time. He also liaises with hospitals around the country.

“It is a very busy environment at times but is a very rewarding and satisfying job getting the appropriate resource to someone who needs it depending on their clinical condition,” he said.

Emergency Medical Controller Sayeh Mohammedi at work in the NAS National Emergency Operations Centre in Dublin

Michelle McCabe had a grown up family and worked in a variety of jobs before she applied to join the National Ambulance Service as an Emergency Call Taker. From Dundalk, Michelle (47) was an Order of Malta volunteer and had worked in a vaccination centre before filling in the application form for an emergency call taker post.

Michelle qualified as an emergency medical technician six years ago and had also worked for private ambulance companies. She has three grown up children.

“I started my emergency call taker training in January 2023 and I had a mentor while training who listens in on how you deal with calls. At

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Profile

the end of my training I did an exam. I am working as a full time emergency call taker now for eight months and loving it. It’s a job you can do at any age once you have the ability and the interest,” she said.

Michelle said it is like being part of a big family.

“Everyone looks after you. I’ve made some great friends and I really enjoy the challenge of the work.”

Sayeh Mohammedi (22) is a newly qualified emergency call taker with NAS. From Coolock in Dublin, Sayeh completed her training earlier this year and has been working as an emergency call taker for three months.

“I absolutely love it. It’s tiring and challenging but I look forward to coming into work.”

Sayeh completed eight weeks training, starting in May 2023.

“You do four weeks in the classroom and four weeks with a mentor and then have to complete an exam. Once training is completed a supervisor will listen in during your exam. You just don’t know what’s going to come through when you hear the bleep. I was very nervous at first but the training is good and you learn little techniques and specific ways to take a call.”

Before joining the ambulance service Sayeh worked as a call taker in a bank.

“It’s a completely different job to working for a bank. You could be dealing with life threatening calls.”

Hugh Grainger was motivated to join the NAS after his neighbour had a fall and he wished he could have done more for them.

That was several years ago and Hugh (27) now trains other emergency call takers at the Control Room in the National Emergency Operations Centre in Tallaght.

From Clontarf in Dublin, he says the job is tough and challenging but he loves it.

Above left: Emergency Medical Controllers Kevin Shields and Michelle McCabe at work in the NAS National Emergency Operations Centre in Dublin Above right: Emergency Medical Controllers Sayeh Mohammedi and Hugh Grainger at work in the NAS National Emergency Operations Centre in Dublin

"I am working as a full time emergency call taker now for eight months and loving it. It’s a job you can do at any age once you have the ability and the interest.”

“I love the human aspect. No day is the same and every day is a challenge,” he said.

Hugh loves cooking and photography and was involved in Civil Defence. One skill he has acquired as part of the job is being good at map reading. “It’s important as you can get calls from any county in the country.”

He joined the service at 20 years of age and says many young people are joining. “There’s no limitations. I had the Leaving Certificate and anyone like that can do it.” HM

Right: Emergency Medical Controller Hugh Grainger at work in the NAS National Emergency Operations Centre in Dublin

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Talking Point

The Climate Crisis

Talking point

We’re taking climate action

We all have a significant role to play to become a more sustainable health care provider and help tackle the climate crisis by dealing with the growing health impacts of climate change and by curbing our own emissions.

The HSE Climate Action Strategy was published in June this year. The strategy builds on existing work within the HSE, including the already established Capital and Estates Climate Action and Sustainability Office, the Energy Teams in place across the country and recent publication of HSE’s Infrastructure Decarbonisation Roadmap and plans.

Staff information includes social media, internal communications, information resources, follow-on webinars and a staff poster being placed in HSE buildings.

The campaign will be continued in 2024.

It is now time for us to implement the Climate Action Strategy, and work both individually and together to tackle climate challenges in our local environments dayto-day. HM

IN NOVEMBER, AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN WAS INTRODUCED TO GIVE STAFF INFORMATION ON: • the six priority areas the health service is committed to taking climate action in, • how staff can help by taking simple actions that can be carried out in each of the priority areas and • by reading more information at hse.ie/ climateandhealth

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Talking point

Sustainability embedded in Children’s Hospital Design

Callers

Water Stewardship Programme Set to improve water quality and reduce water wastage

University Hospital Kerry (UHK) is one of the largest consumers of water in the county, with over 180,000 litres of water flowing throughout the hospital every day.

You can be forgiven thinking that the majority of this is used for domestic purposes like drinking, washing, cooking and flushing the toilet, but a large portion of it is used on site to carry out

Paul de Freine, Head of Capital and Estates, HSE; Bernard Gloster, CEO, HSE; Niall Gleeson, CEO, Uisce Éireann; Christine Crawford, Uisce Éireann.

Sustainability is embedded in the design of the new children’s hospital. The hospital has received a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) Excellent Rating in Design and is one of only a small number of hospitals in the world to have achieved such a rating.

BREEAM is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for master planning

projects, infrastructure and buildings. The new children’s hospital is also designed to meet the Building Energy Rating A3 standard.

The new hospital’s location also makes it one of the best served by public transport – six bus routes pass through the hospital campus; there are three Luas stops close by; and Heuston Train Station is also in close proximity.HM

life changing medical procedures like dialysis, surgery and oncology.

HSE Capital and Estates collaborate with Uisce Éireann and their education partners 20fifty Partners in the launch of the ‘Acute Hospitals Water Stewardship Programme’, bringing valuable sustainability practices to hospitals across Ireland; and its first stop was at UHK. As part of the pilot project, hospitals in Cavan, Louth, Tullamore and Kerry will go through a pilot programme that will support acute hospital facilities with strategic water risk resilience and management training across the four pillars of Water Stewardship; quantity, quality, environment and governance, to enable these facilities reduce water consumption on-site and mitigate against critical water-related risks.

In addition to the core water efficiency and monitoring regimes

and identifying areas where ‘quick wins’ can be achieved, the programme will lead to the identification of Water Stewardship actions and initiatives requiring strategic planning and investment for the HSE and Uisce Éireann in areas such as: supply backup and storage, mains upgrades and flushing, leakage programmes, pressure management, and wastewater treatment.

This project will also assist in the delivery of some of the strategic objectives in terms of water management in the recently published HSE Climate Action Strategy 2023-2050.

The long-term vision for this initiative is to use the learning from the pilot as the programme extends to other hospitals and Uisce Eireann have given assurances of their commitment to extending and funding this programme to other acute hospitals in 2024.HM

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Talking Point Empowering a Greener Tomorrow: St Ita's Hospital leads the way

St Ita's Hospital hosted an engaging and enlightening Energy and Environmental Awareness Day in an effort to prioritise sustainability and energy efficiency among staff.

It was organised by the hospital’s Climate Crew (pictured above) and supported by the Regional Capital and Estates Energy Officer, Kevin Hazlett.

Aidan McKenna, Maintenance Foreman and Climate Crew Member, outlined that the event aimed to educate and inspire all about the

importance of conserving energy and making environmentally conscious choices in healthcare.

Attendees had the opportunity to learn about the hospital's energysaving initiatives, such as the installation of 120 kW of solar PV in Knockamann. In 2023, the solar PV will generate 28% of the total electricity demand of the campus.

The canteen’s introduction of keep cups has cut the usage of disposable cups by a massive 50%.

“Small actions have huge impacts,” explained Wendy McMahon, Catering Manager and Climate Crew Member. The Seascapes Restaurant recently introduced keep cups and through this measure alone the usage of disposable cups have reduced by a massive 50%.

Tracy Lanigan, Operations Manager and Climate Crew member, outlined that through their persistent hard work, the St Ita’s campus have reduced their electricity consumption by 38% and gas consumption by 39%. Shenna McDonald, the Climate Crew Chairperson, called on all staff members who would like to contribute to creating a better and greener work environment to come and join the Climate Crew.HM

For further information contact Kevin Hazlett (kevin.hazlett@ hse.ie). Alternatively, you can find your Regional Energy Officer: https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/healthbusinessservices/ national-health-sustainability-office/designing-the-builtenvironment/estates-energy-bureau/

Clinical Chemistry Goes Green at Tallaght University Hospital Congratulations to the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory team (pictured right) at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) who have just received a Bronze level certification from My Green Lab, the notfor-profit organisation endorsed by the United Nations.

The My Green Lab certification is regarded as the gold standard for laboratory sustainability best practices around the world and funded and supported by Science Foundation Ireland for all research laboratories in the country. The TUH Clinical Chemistry laboratory is, to our knowledge, only the third clinical/hospital laboratory in Ireland to be certified by My Green Lab. The certification award is a result of a

concerted effort by the whole laboratory team, from lab aides, and scientists to consultants, to make sustainability a mainstay of their everyday work practices across several categories (energy, waste, infrastructure, plug load, cold storage, large equipment use, recycling and waste reduction, water use, procurement and resource management, travel).

The certification provides the team with the tools to implement tried-and-true methods rooted in science to dramatically reduce the environmental impact of laboratories without disrupting the critical work under way.HM

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Feature

Cycling without age Kerry’s older persons enjoy cycling again - thanks to Killarney initiative “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, commenting on the success of the Killarney Cycling Without Age project.

HSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) and Killarney Cycling Club have joined together on an exciting new initiative for the residents of Killarney Community Hospital and St Columbanus Home. Cycling Without Age helps older persons and those with mobility issues to regain the experience of being out on a bike and to gain better access to explore their local community – with hospital and care home residents now enjoying trips through Killarney town and the jewel that is Killarney National Park.

The electric-assisted trishaw was bought

by Killarney Cycling Club, with the help of CKCH and Kerry County Council. It was then donated to Killarney Community Hospitals to ensure residents of the community hospital and care homes could regain the experience of being out on a bike in their local community. Noel O’Connell, project co-ordinator for Killarney Cycling Without Age described the experience of piloting the residents around Killarney as being very satisfying and enjoyable.

“The residents love being out on the bike and meeting people. The model of trishaw we use is called a CHAT and it certainly encourages conversations whenever we are out in the National Park or in town,” he said.

“Weather can be an issue but the bike has a waterproof blanket cover and canopy, which help. The bike is used every week and will only increase, with a number of new volunteer ‘pilots’ who have been trained to

Bike driver Noel O’Connell from Killarney takes Mary Flynn and Brendan Moriarty from St Columbanus out for a spin.

“The residents love being out on the bike and meeting people. The model of trishaw we use is called a CHAT and it certainly encourages conversations whenever we are out in the National Park or in town."

Breda Delves, Sarah Maher and Ann Marie O’Donnell, staff members from St Columbanus, have a go on the bikes.

cycle around Killarney town and National Park. The staff at St Columbanus are very supportive of the scheme. Residents are always encouraged to give it a try and for the most part, they can’t wait to go again!”

The trishaw runs from Killarney Community Hospital and St Columbanus Home, and plans to develop the scheme for other care homes are being researched. HM

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Spotlight

Spotlight on

Respite Services Alternative respite centre ‘build’s on people’s strengths and weaknesses’

New respite service to support children with autism A new service development which aims to enhance the range of respite service offered to children with autism across HSE Community Healthcare Organisation Dublin North City and County was opened recently.

The Willows: St Paul’s Alternative Respite Service offers access to a garden, play area and quiet space and is ideal for supporting children and families with varying needs.

The official opening by Minister Anne Rabbitte was attended by a large group of families and representatives from St Paul’s, the Department of Health and the HSE. This new children’s respite service was developed by St Paul’s in partnership with CHO DNCC over the past months.

A benefit of the Willows is that it is open after school, on the weekends and during school holiday time. The Willows is available for children aged five to 18 with a diagnosis of autism, who live in Dublin North City and County. Respite care in a new and stimulating environment can be hugely beneficial for the child and family.

The Willows respite for children provides a change of scene and a wealth of new experiences that are incredibly important for a child or young person’s health and wellbeing.HM

Laura Reilly, aged 11, from Balbriggan, is just one of the children that will benefit from the new Sánas Alternative Respite Centre in the Dublin town.

It is among several new respite facilities which have opened over the past few years. HSE Community Healthcare Organisation Dublin North City and County (CHO DNCC) Disability Services worked closely with Sánas to design and deliver this bespoke day respite.

Sánas provides support services for people with intellectual disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder and acquired brain injuries. Their team is passionate about providing a person-centred service that builds on people's strengths and interests.

Since the opening of the first Sánas alternative respite service in Finglas in 2022, Sánas has grown to support 100 children in Finglas and 83 in Balbriggan. James Magrane, CEO, Sánas, and his team aim to support as many children and families as they can. The Sánas centre design for Alternative Respite provides and enables all children with disabilities to engage in peer and solo activities. It also focuses on support for children who may sometimes feel challenged by the presence of other persons to feel safe in their own space.

“We are really inspired by the strength of our service users and their families and our purpose is to allow both the individual and family access to respite to enhance their quality of life,” said the Sánas CEO. This alternative respite focuses on the needs of children and their family. This flexible approach can take the form of innovative supports, and eases pressure on families.

The individualised plans for each child designed with their family allows them to enhance their daily independent living and social interaction skills, while also providing recreation.HM Laura Reilly, who attends Sánas joined by Minister of State, Joe O'Brien; James Magrane, CEO Sánas; and Mellany McLoone, Chief Officer, at the official opening.

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Spotlight

Spotlight on

Patient engagement Two new dedicated patient-centred roles launched in Mayo Mayo University Hospital (MUH) has announced two new roles within the hospital aimed at improving patient engagement and providing support to patients and their families.

The new appointments are part of a strategic focus on emphasising the value of the voice of patients in their own care as well as in the planning and delivery of care across the hospital.

Ciara McLaughlin has been appointed as Patient Engagement and Partnership Co-ordinator and Lorraine Cooney has taken up the role of the Patient Advice and Liaison Service Co-ordinator.

Engagement is essential to the delivery of patientcentred care and MUH has an active patient and family engagement forum since 2016. The advisors work with staff on operational committees, quality improvement initiatives and the development of new services for the benefit of patients.

Ciara is responsible for facilitating patient engagement through training and supporting staff, assisting the hospital volunteers and co-

ordinating the patient and family engagement forum.

“I am delighted to take up this post with MUH and to be part of a dynamic and committed team of staff, volunteers and patient advisors who are all working towards a common goal of making our hospital a better place,” she said.

“We have developed some excellent projects in partnership with our patient advisors including a new patient information booklet, the Wellness Walkway, and purposeful visiting. All of these projects have been codesigned with our patient advisors who have shared their perspectives and lived experience of using hospital services. I am really looking forward to building on this work and would encourage

anyone who has interest in becoming a patient advisor to get in touch.”

The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) Coordinator acts as the main contact between patients, their families, carers and the hospital. PALS provide a confidential and impartial liaison service offering patients support and advice, responding to their concerns and passing on feedback within the hospital.

“I am passionate about making each patient encounter as positive as possible, by championing effective communication and ensuring the patient’s voice is heard, either directly or through a nominated individual,” said new PALS Co-ordinator Lorraine.HM

MUH Patient and Family Engagement team

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Meet the team

Department of Pain Medicine Fiona Irwin, Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Department of Pain Medicine, UL Hospitals Group, gives an insight into the work of the Pain Medicine Department.

The aim of the Pain Medicine Department is to provide timely, safe, patient-centred care, which has been greatly improved by the addition of the Pain Management Centre at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital.

I work at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital.

I joined the team in September 2017 when the service was based mostly in UHL. My prior experience was varied, including rheumatology, orthopaedics and vascular and I’d also worked in pain interventions

as a staff nurse. I had a particular interest in pain as I’d noticed in the course of my work the impact that pain had on people’s quality of life.

When I joined the team, I was halfway through a Masters in Pain Management in UCD which I completed within my first year as a CNS, which gave me a very strong knowledge base in this field.

With the growth of the Pain Management service, our team has expanded and we now have one pain consultant Prof Harmon,

"I had a particular interest in pain as I’d noticed in the course of my work the impact that pain had on people’s quality of life."

five clinical nurse specialists (CNS), one candidate advanced nurse practitioner (cANP), one clinical specialist physiotherapist, one music therapist and one clinical psychologist, who all work within the pain medicine department, which includes a procedure unit, outpatients department in UHL. My day starts at 7.45am.

Thursday is a busy day as it is one of our Pain Education Days. These occur monthly and are delivered by a multi-disciplinary team and facilitated by my colleague

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Meet the team

Avril Enright and me.

These meetings help people living with enduring pain through self-management and peer support. Feedback from attendees has been extremely positive.

Our work in the service is varied. As a group of CNSs with diverse clinical backgrounds, we’re able to provide each other with support and work collaboratively. My CNS colleague Mike Griffin rings me to discuss a patient he is reviewing in UHL. Another CNS colleague, Yvonne Murphy is working in the injection suite with Prof Harmon. She assists with procedures and undertakes therapeutic walks with patients, an intervention that demonstrates the services and supports available from the entire team. The walks also allow patients individual time to discuss any concerns. During one of these therapeutic walks, Yvonne stops by to show the patient the room where patient education sessions are held, and I discuss enrolling the patient for the next available session.

CNS Orla Sheahan is also in UHL today, undertaking some ward-based education sessions with staff nurses.

Both patient and staff education forms a large component of our roles as pain impacts patients of all specialities. Orla’s work in UHL today also helps promote our important role as advocates for appropriate pain relief for patients.

In the afternoon, I meet with Ann Marie Kiernan, our candidate advanced nurse practitioner, to discuss a

"My most memorable moments have been when many patients return a number of months after a Pain Education Day and tell us of the event’s lifechanging impact, and the sense of regaining control over the pain they had lived under."

patient who is receiving therapy for neuropathic pain. Also known as nerve pain or neuralgia, neuropathic pain occurs when a health condition affects the nerves that carry sensations to the brain.

This is a fantastic service, providing these patients with a range of alternatives to oral medicine treatment.

Katie Fitzpatrick, our music therapist, and Roisin Hosie, our clinical specialist physiotherapist, collaborate on appointments for joint patients who may have difficulties accessing services.

When patients finish at the Education Day after 3pm, I go to the Pain Theatre to enquire if any help is needed. Everything is under control, so Avril and I begin to return calls to patients who have rang with clinical queries. This may often be a case of contacting a GP, scheduling an emergency appointment or offering advice to the patient or family member.

This particularly busy day finishes up at 6pm.

The unit’s Clinical Nurse Manager, Carmel Duhig, closely liaises with the care of all of our patients in Croom, and is a great resource for help with everything related to the day ward process.

The service is supported by a wonderful team of staff nurses, multi-task attendants and clerical team members who all contribute to ensure the smooth running of the service.

My favourite part of being a CNS in Pain Management is listening closely to the patient’s description of how pain is impacting on their lives, in the knowledge of the difference our work can make to the lives of patients living with pain. My most memorable moments have been when many patients return a number of months after a Pain Education Day and tell us of the event’s life-changing impact, and the sense of regaining control over the pain they had lived under. As a nurse, the basic principles of patient care and being a supportive presence to our patients are always to the fore during my working day.

An important goal for our department is to provide a full six-week schedule for patients, and as a team we are all working towards having this in place early in 2024. As a team we are aiming to develop a Pain Management Programme which will be a full six week schedule for patients and is the ultimate goal for our department. It is hoped that this will be up and running early in 2024. HM

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News

Baby Bookworms in training as Coombe hosts Read-A-Thon The Coombe Hospital hosted its first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Babies With Books Read-A-Thon, with support from Friends of the Coombe who have teamed up with Children’s Books Ireland. Its aim was to encourage parents and families in NICU to read to their premature babies as a way of boosting brain development and creating a deepened baby-parent bond.

Families and babies taking part will each receive a book kindly donated by Friends of the Coombe and Children’s Books Ireland to read for the duration of the Read-A-Thon.

Each baby will receive a certificate of participation to commemorate the special occasion and will be able to keep their donated book for life.

Professor Michael O’Connell, Master of The Coombe Hospital, said, “Research shows that reading to babies early in their developmental stages has proven benefits, with links to cognitive development and stronger brain connections. Premature babies develop most while in NICU and we feel it is important to highlight the benefits of reading to not only encourage growth, but also nurture a closer bond between parents and their babies with the sound of a calming and familiar voice.”

Breastfeeding group brings mums together

Sarah Summerly, Ennis, Co Clare, met Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey and Barry Nash when the Limerick hurlers paid a visit to the Children’s Ark at UHL with the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

Esther Akhile and Professor Michael O’Connell, Master of The Coombe Hospital, as The Coombe hosts its first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Babies With Books Read-A-Thon, with support from Friends of the Coombe and Children’s Books Ireland.

Claremorris Breastfeeding Support Group commenced in July 2022 in Claremorris Primary Care Centre, Co Mayo after the COVID pandemic.

Pauline O'Connor, who facilitates the weekly group, was honoured with a 'Water Wipes Ireland' award in 2022 for her exceptional care in her role as a Public Health

Victorious Limerick hurlers pay surprise visit to Children’s Ark at UHL All-Ireland hurling champions, Limerick, kept a special appointment en route to their homecoming reception in the Treaty City at the Children’s Ark at University Hospital Limerick.

The Limerick hurlers have been frequent visitors to the paediatric unit, and the anticipation for their arrival was particularly keen amid local celebrations of their historic fourth successive All Ireland title.

Captain of the winning team, Cian Lynch, joined by hurlers Tom Morrissey and Barry Nash, and victorious manager John Kiely, proudly displayed the Liam MacCarthy Cup and mingled with staff and patients in bright sunshine at a special lunchtime gathering in the playground of the paediatric unit.

Nurse. She generously used her prize money to set up the Breastfeeding Support Group.

Pauline explained, “The breastfeeding group provides support to mums and I am there to give advice when needed. Maternity leave can be isolating. The Claremorris group provides a safe and informal forum for mothers and babies.”

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News

Generous donation helps shape Tuam’s new Nursing Unit Tánaiste Micheál Martin officially opened the Joe and Helen O’Toole Community Nursing Unit in Tuam, Co Galway recently.

This impressive €25 million, 50-bedroom facility stands as a remarkable testament to the O’Toole family's dedication to their community.

The O’Toole’s, were known locally for their ownership of Tuam’s SuperValu supermarket and drapery store. They played a pivotal role in making this project a reality by contributing a significant €7 million.

One of the unit’s standout features is its rooftop garden, offering residents and visitors a serene place to relax and enjoy the surrounding natural beauty. This rooftop retreat is expected to be a cherished spot for all. Additionally, the facility includes a dedicated dementia wing, complete with a spacious, sensory garden.

This exceptional act of philanthropy by the O’Toole family underscores the difference individuals can make in their communities, and the Joe and Helen O’Toole Community Nursing Unit will undoubtedly stand as a beacon of care and compassion for years to come.

These groups are an opportunity for mums-to-be, new and experienced mums to come together to share advice, experience, socialise, build new friendships in their local area and it gives mums an opportunity to speak with a breastfeeding expert.

A new mum, who has been attending the group with her

Darren McCormack, Project Manager, HSE West Capital and Estates Department; Chris Kane, Manager, Galway University Hospitals; David Coen, Cystic Fibrosis Patient; Mary Lane Heneghan, Cystic Fibrosis Galway; Philip Watt, CEO, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland;and Ann Cosgrove, Chief Operations Officer, Saolta University Health Care Group.

Mary Lardner, representing Joe and Helen O’Toole; Sini Varghese, Director of Nursing, Aras Mhuire CNU; Tánaiste Micheál Martin, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence; Caroline Fahy, Clinical Nurse Manager 1, Aras Mhuire CNU; Mary Butler, Minister for Mental Health and Older People.

Work underway on new Adult Cystic Fibrosis Outpatient Department Work has begun on the new Adult Cystic Outpatient Department at Merlin Park University Hospital in Galway.

Once complete, the Adult CF OPD will have sufficient capacity, design features and specification to allow for best practices in cystic fibrosis treatment.

The new build will minimise cross-infection and enable the Merlin Park University Hospital CF multidisciplinary professional team to provide long-term, recurrent support for ambulatory patients.

Ann Cosgrove, Chief Operating Officer for the Saolta University Health Care Group, welcomed the progress. “The new CF Outpatient Department will improve facilities and services for patients with cystic fibrosis in our region. We are delighted to see this important development progress and look forward to opening the doors of the new unit in 2024.

baby, said, “It’s amazing and brilliant! I have been coming for six months. The support is invaluable, tea, chats, practical advice. It is lovely to watch the babies grow together. It’s the reassurance you get.”

Pauline O'Connor, Public Health Nurse, with 15 mums and their babies at the Claremorris Breastfeeding Group.

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Feature

Enhanced Maternity New pilot midwifery service will enhance postnatal care

At the launch in PUH were Mairead Hannon, Staff Midwife; Vanessa Joyce, Staff Midwife; Deirdre Naughton, Director of Midwifery; Diane Fitzgerald, Staff Midwife; and Rebecca Colohan, Clinical Midwife Manager.

A new pilot service, which will further enhance midwifery care, has been launched by the Maternity Department at Portiuncula University Hospital. The pilot will offer postnatal clinic appointments to all women on day five and day 10 after their baby is born.

This is in addition to the service currently being provided by GPs and Public Health Nursing.

Women will be invited to attend a clinic depending on where they live. Each appointment will consist of a 45-minute consultation with a midwife who will carry out a full mother and baby check.

Referrals and follow-up care will be provided as clinically required.

In addition, a midwife is available two hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide postnatal support over the phone to the women.

“The aim of the service is to provide enhanced postnatal care, early

"The aim of the service is to provide enhanced postnatal care, early signposting for additional services, breastfeeding support and reduce postnatal admission."

signposting for additional services, breastfeeding support and reduce postnatal admission,” said Rebecca Colohan, Clinical Midwife Manager 2, Portiuncula University Hospital.

“The idea for this service was developed following a patient engagement survey where feedback revealed the need for improved postnatal midwifery care. We were delighted to be selected as a pilot site by the HSE’s National Women and Infants Health Programme and secured funding for two additional midwives and part-time administrative support to roll out this pilot.”

Deirdre Naughton, Director of Midwifery at the hospital, added, “This service is a core component of the National Maternity Strategy’s Model of Care of establishing a community midwifery service, as an outreach service from the hospital. Working alongside our Public Health Nursing colleagues and GPs, it will assist us in providing women with integrated care as close to home as possible. We will be monitoring the success of the pilot closely and adapting it as required to meet the needs of the women using our service.” HM

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Spotlight

Spotlight on

Sudan Global Aid Ireland an enduring partner to Sudan during humanitarian crisis Ireland and Sudan share a collaborative medical relationship spanning over three decades.

Ireland has a rich history of training and working alongside Sudanese doctors, with Sudanese doctors constituting 4.9% of doctors within the HSE. Since April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by a severe humanitarian crisis.

This conflict, born out of a power struggle between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Army, has turned Sudan into a battleground. Tragically, it is the nation's 46 million civilians who are bearing the burden of this turmoil.

Many Sudanese doctors found themselves trapped in the conflict when it erupted.

They faced formidable challenges crossing borders and navigating perilous conditions to evacuate and return to their medical duties in Ireland. These dedicated professionals, along with numerous other Sudanese healthcare workers, continue to provide essential medical services on the frontlines of the Irish health service. Despite enduring almost unbearable stress and financial

The Sudan Medical Specialization Board (SMSB) on their visit to the HSE recently.

insecurity, they persistently strive to secure funds to evacuate and support their displaced families.

Several agreements exist between Ireland and Sudan to support this collaborative effort.

Through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between HSE and the Sudan Medical Specialization Board (SMSB), more than 80 Sudanese doctors have come to Ireland over the last seven years. They worked for two years, hoping to contribute to improving services and building capacity in Sudan's

healthcare system.

Additionally, through the MOU between HSE and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMO), Ireland has continued to support Sudan during the war by donating medical equipment worth €1m. This equipment is intended to bolster overburdened healthcare services in Sudan, which are strained due to the internal displacement of populations.

In these trying times, the enduring partnership between Ireland and Sudan is a testament to the resilience and commitment of healthcare professionals in both nations. They have continued to work together to alleviate suffering and strengthen the healthcare sector, emphasising the significance of international collaboration during times of crisis.HM

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Awards

Awards and accolades Staff past and present recognised with a day of celebration

Current staff from Ballina District Hospital with Gerry McCormack, General Manager, Older Person’s Services, HSE Community Healthcare West.

A wonderful day of celebration was held at Ballina District Hospital to recognise staff, both past and present.

Ballina District Hospital and the staff have been a central part of the community since its opening in 1936, providing employment and healthcare to the local area. The staff recognition day celebrated the contribution they have made to their community, and provided an opportunity for them to renew their relationships with colleagues past and present.

This chance to reconnect was particularly important in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a significant impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of staff.

The pandemic had resulted in some staff being unable to mark their retirements due to restrictions in place at the time. This day was a chance to thank them with a retirement roll of honour and wish them well in retirement.

Two staff members, Breda Moran and Phyllis Leneghan, received presentations and both spoke of their careers at the hospital with pride.

The day also included a moment for deceased members of staff and their families with Bishop John Fleming offering prayers and reflection.

Those attending observed a moment of silence.

The organising committee would like to thank all those who contributed in any way to the success of the day, providing of their time and services generously.HM

Five primary care centres receive award for tobacco free campus efforts Five Dublin North Primary Care Centres (PCC) were celebrated for their continuous quality improvement in the implementation of the HSE Tobacco Free Campus (TFC) policy recently.

The centres, in Balbriggan, Portmarnock, Coolock, Darndale and Tonlegee, were awarded bursaries of €3,000-€4,000 each in recognition of their implementation of the policy.

These bursaries will be used to further enhance the sites, such as signage players in waiting rooms to promote key tobacco-free and quit smoking messaging, health and wellbeing events for staff with a focus on smoking cessation, and health centre facility improvements.

Community Healthcare Network (CHN) Managers completed a selfaudit of the tobacco free status of each PCC in June 2022. Over an eight-month period, CHN managers implemented a number of measures to enhance the status of each centre as a tobacco free site. These included the display of signage, the facilitation of on-site smoking cessation clinics for staff and service users, the development of local tobacco-free policies for each Health Centre, education sessions for staff, and the establishment of a tobacco fee committee in the networks to ensure sustainable monitoring and evaluation of the implementation plan.

These five Primary Care Centres have improved their tobacco free status, enhancing the environment for both service users and staff. Each centre promotes tobacco free and quit smoking messaging to every service user and ensures we make every contact count.

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Awards Clinical scholarships awarded to fund nursing and midwifery research

Ian Carter, CEO RSCI Hospital Group (HG); Petrina Donnelly Director of Nursing and Midwifery RCSI HG; Clinical scholarship recipients Karen McGowan, Bernadette Conlon and Preethy Manoj; Paddy Clerkin, COO RCSI HG.

The RCSI Hospital Group awarded three clinical scholarships, each to the value of €5000, to registered nurses working in the direct provision of health care in its group.

These awards aim to: • Invest in and support nurse/midwife-led initiatives in healthcare delivery; • Strengthen and optimise the contribution of nurses and midwives in the delivery of patient safety and care • Support and enable nurses and midwives to maximise the full potential of their education, training and licence.

One of the scholarship recipients Karen McGowan, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) in Gynecology, was awarded a scholarship for the publication of a quality improvement initiative in Beaumont Hospital of a ‘Nurse-led Rapid Access Post-Menopausal Bleeding Service’.

Karen said, "This initiative is something I am very proud of and delighted to be in receipt of the RCSI Hospital Group scholarship...The scholarship will facilitate the publishing of the research into this area, and share what we have learned leading out on this service.”

Bernadette Conlon, an ANP in the Fracture Liaison Service in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and Louth County Hospital, received a scholarship for her innovation in secondary fracture prevention following a fragility fracture. Bernadette manages an intravenous bisphosphonate treatment pathway and this year initiated and developed a bespoke digital platform to refer, identify, treat and monitor patients in the Hospitals following a fragility fracture.

Preethy Manoj, a Clinical Nurse Manager in Connolly Hospital, was awarded a scholarship to support her research and presentation on findings on the ‘Association between Iron deficiency anaemia and ischaemic stroke with a focus on the incidence clinical presentation and treatment outcome in adults’.HM

St Vincent's celebrates its inaugural staff recognition awards The inaugural SVUH Staff Recognition Awards 2023 celebrated our exceptional staff's unwavering dedication and outstanding contributions. From patient care to innovation, nominees and winners alike demonstrated unparalleled commitment, compassion, and expertise. Their remarkable efforts continue to shape St. Vincent's University Hospital, making it a beacon of excellence in healthcare.

The awards received an impressive 140 nominations across eight categories, highlighting the widespread recognition of exceptional staff contributions.

Exceptional Patient Experience Award: Barbara Whyte, Nursing, Palliative Care. Barbara's enduring dedication to compassionate care & team-building over two decades makes her an invaluable asset to SVUH and palliative care services.

Clinical Area Innovation Award: Sinead Jordan, Nursing, Neurology. Sinead's outstanding efforts in addressing a critical need within the MS patient care landscape truly stand out.

Non-Clinical Area Innovation Award: Stephen Smyth, Portering, Pharmacy. Stephen's blend of experience, organisational expertise, and dedication to continuous quality improvement shines bright.

Coaching, Mentoring, Research, Education and Training Award: Oonagh Griffin, Nutrition and Dietetics. Oonagh's expertise as a Dietitian, mentor, researcher, and teacher are extraordinary.

Excellence in Leadership Award: Nigel Salter, Emergency Department. Nigel's approachability, openness to ideas, and high standards for patient care are truly exemplary.

Best Team Award: Liver Cancer Team. Their dedication to supporting warriors, celebrating survivors, honouring the taken, and standing with families truly embodies the spirit of compassionate care.

Quality Improvement Award: Sandra Baldwin, Tissue Establishment, Blood Bank. Sandra's leadership as the Tissue Establishment Quality Manager has elevated SVUH’s Stem Cell Transplant service to unprecedented heights.

Unsung Hero Award: Deirdre McCarthy, Clinical Administration, AMU. Deirdre's unwavering dedication, positivity, and exceptional work ethic make her a true Unsung Hero.

Special Recognition Award: Donal Murphy.

Donal's exceptional leadership, approachability, and ability to value every team member have set him apart.

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Spotlight

Spotlight on

Screening One-time HPV cervical screening test for older women who missed out Women who just missed out on HPV cervical screening when it was introduced in March 2020, are being given an opportunity to book one free HPV cervical screening test under CervicalCheck, the national cervical screening programme.

Until 2020, cervical screening was offered to women up to the age of 60. When HPV cervical screening was introduced in March 2020, the age eligibility for CervicalCheck was extended to 65. Women who had their last cervical screening by 2020 under the previous age range (up to age 60), did not have a CervicalCheck HPV screening under the new age range (up to 65).

Some women in this age range contacted the programme to request a CervicalCheck HPV screening test. Following a review of the evidence, we are offering women in this age group a HPV test.

In October and November this year, around 80,000

women in this age group were invited to book their tests. Their invite came with a new leaflet which contained specific information on screening for postmenopausal women. We also contacted GPs, general practice nurses, and colposcopy doctors and nurses with information about the initiative, asking them to support women in this age group to choose screening.

Margaret Moran from Kildare, was one of the women who made contacted the programme about wanting HPV screening.

“I am delighted that a free CervicalCheck HPV test is now being offered to women who may not have had one previously, due to their age.

I will be encouraging all my friends and family members who are invited to take up the offer of the test. I’ll be heading to my local GP practice where I have always gone to get my screenings,” she said.HM

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Spotlight BowelScreen now available to 59-year-olds BowelScreen, the national bowel cancer screening programme, is now available to 59-year-olds. Previously, BowelScreen was available to people aged 60 to 69.

The age range will further expand over time to include people aged 55 to 74.

Research shows that screening people at a younger age enables more bowel cancers to be detected at an earlier stage, when treatment is likely to be more effective. Having reviewed the evidence, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) recommended that bowel cancer screening in Ireland should be available to those aged 55 to 74. This is part of our commitment in Ireland’s National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 and in the Programme for Government.

Bowel screening aims to detect signs of bowel cancer at an early stage, where there are no symptoms. It is the second most common invasive cancer diagnosed in men, and third most common invasive cancer diagnosed in women, in Ireland.

Every year around 3,000 people have precancerous growths (known as polyps) removed through BowelScreen. These are all potential cancers prevented.

You need to be on the bowel screening register before you’re offered a home screening test. You’ll be sent a test to your home. Please take a sample of your poo and send it back in the freepost envelope provided.

More information is available at hse.ie/bowelscreen

Dr Patha Basu of the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer presents data on Ireland’s HPV vaccination, HPV screening and treatment for screened-positive women

WHO report ‘a gift to the world from Ireland’ Irish and international experts and academics gathered in July to discuss and launch a new report on best practice recommendations for cervical screening programmes globally. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) joined the HSE, along with representatives from the Department of Health and other stakeholders at an event to launch the IARC report, Recommendations of Best Practices in Cervical Screening Programmes.

Publication of the report follows the completion of the CervScreen Project, a two-year collaboration between IARC, the HSE and the Department of Health. Its recommendations focus on the audit of cervical cancers, along with the legal and ethical framework of cervical screening, communications, and workforce competencies.

Since the establishment of CervicalCheck in 2008 up to March 2020, 64,000+ pre-cancers (CIN) have been detected and treated in Ireland. On a conservative estimate, said Dr Partha Basu of IARC, that equates to the prevention of thousands of cervical cancers.

Hailing the report as a valuable global resource to support cervical cancer elimination, Dr Basu described it as “a gift to the world from Ireland”.

Since the establishment of CervicalCheck in 2008 up to March 2020, 64,000+ pre-cancers (CIN) have been detected and treated in Ireland.

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Spotlight

10 years of free eye screening for people with diabetes

Gordon Hynes

The Diabetic RetinaScreen programme marked ten years of service to people with diabetes on World Sight Day, 12 October.

Over 800,000 free retinopathy screening tests have been provided to people with diabetes since the retina screening programme began on 11 March 2013, and its participant numbers have doubled during this time.

Around 230,000 people who have diabetes in Ireland come for retinopathy screening regularly.

Approximately one in 20 people with diabetes are at risk of developing vision loss due to retinopathy.

A 2023 national survey found that just under one in four people who have diabetes, or have a spouse or child with diabetes, report that they know very little or nothing about diabetic retinopathy. Everyone who has diabetes, or who has a family member with diabetes, is encouraged to find out more about diabetic retinopathy at hse.ie/diabeticretinascreen, or to talk to their GP or diabetes nurse.

Patient advocate Gordon Hynes, who supported World Sight Day, started attending diabetic retina screening after he had a car accident, two years after his diabetes diagnosis. The car accident was caused by low blood sugar and Gordon said, “The car accident was the best thing that happened to me. It enabled me to get a team around me. I got a dietitian, a nutritionist, diabetic nurses and a specialist.”

Gordon encouraged people with diabetes to attend for screening. “It’s a must-do. You have to know what’s going on. Your eyes could start to deteriorate quicker than they should. You have to be on top of it and you do that through screening.”HM

“It’s a must-do. You have to know what’s going on. Your eyes could start to deteriorate quicker than they should. You have to be on top of it and you do that through screening.”

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29/11/2023 13:36

Feature

Boxing Clever Thinking outside the box(ing) to aid addiction recovery “I have watched people come in with their head down; no confidence, no self-esteem, no self-worth and within a matter of weeks are up warming up the group and encouraging others on the programme.

With the right supports, anything is possible.”

Very proud Boxing Clever co-ordinator Mark Wright is reflecting on the completion of a pilot programme in Cork that uses an integrated health, fitness and educational programme for people who are currently in addiction and looking to reduce their usage - with the goal to become drug and alcohol free. The programme is also for people who are in recovery.

Boxing Clever's mission is to provide a safe place for people to get fit and Recovery Academy Cofurther their education, as well as providing structure, Ordinator Mark Wright taking a routine and a social aspect selfie with the boxing coach for marginalised and from West Cork stigmatised people. It was Development, first implemented and Mark Gafney and some of the researched in Ballymun Youth Action Project, Dublin. participants from the Boxing Clever Boxing Clever is one of Programme including the initiatives funded and supported by the Recovery Cornelius Horgan, Stephen Academy, which was Cummins, Andrew Maher, initiated by Cork Kerry Thomas Community Healthcare’s MacCarty, Social Inclusion team in Richard Leahy, Shane Buckley, 2019. The overall aim of Dylan Carroll and the Recovery Academy is James Murphy.

to raise awareness of and promote recovery, conduct research, provide support for people in recovery and their families and advocate on policy.

The Recovery Academy is committed to give those in recovery a voice, empowering them to serve as role models in their communities, act as visons of hope and champion the concept of sustained recovery.

“I first heard about Boxing Clever through the manager of the secondary addiction treatment centre

(Teach Mhuire), where I was a resident at the time,” said Shane Buckley, aged 36 “My mental health has improved dramatically and it's no coincidence that this coincided with my time on this programme.

The benefit to my addiction recovery has been immense, meeting new people and developing friendships has been a major help and I have made new contacts in various services because of my participation in this programme.” HM

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29/11/2023 13:38

Feature

Patients no longer travel to Dublin for treatment New state-of-the-art Saolta Radiation Oncology Centre opens at University Hospital Galway

At the official opening of the Radiation Oncology Centre were Tony Canavan, CEO, Saolta University Health Care Group; Marie Burns, Director of Nursing, GUH; Dr Cormac Small, Consultant Radiation Oncologist, UHG; Chris Kane, General Manager, GUH; Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health TD; Ann Cosgrove, Chief Operating Officer, Saolta University Health Care Group; Dr Joe Martin, Consultant Radiation Oncologist, UHG; and Dr Pat Nash, Chief Clinical Director, Saolta University Health Care Group.

A new Radiology Oncology Centre, which opened in UHG on a phased basis equipped to the highest specification, will provide advanced radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients all across the West and North West.

The unit is the largest infrastructure development in the history of UHG. The newly built 8,000sqm radiotherapy unit will lead to an increase in capacity for radiotherapy treatments. The new technology also significantly increases the ability to accurately target and treat tumours.

Building of the 8,000sqm facility commenced in 2020 on the site of the former acute mental health unit at the hospital with an overall project budget of €70.7m. The new three-storey building includes six radiotherapy treatment vaults using the most

advanced linear accelerator technology. These provide improved imaging and allowing greater precision and accuracy in targeting disease.

These machines can deliver stereotactic radiotherapy treatment which is a highly focused technique delivering ultra-precise treatment to tumours. This advancement will ensure that patients will no longer have to travel to Dublin for this treatment.

Three of the linear accelerators are currently operational with one more coming on stream on a phased basis.

The remaining two vaults will allow for future expansion.

A new brachytherapy suite has been built containing a state of the art surgical theatre and treatment rooms, along with

a new superficial suite for skin treatments. The centre also includes a new radiation oncology outpatient suite with 12 clinic rooms and facilities for patient review and support.

The new centre will welcome the installation of the country’s first MRI-RT simulator next year.

This is a MRI scanner specifically for the needs of Radiation Oncology patients. It allows better soft tissue definition and again improves the precision in targeting the disease.

The hospital has secured increased staffing allocation for the department, with the number of radiation therapists due to rise from 25 to 46. While recruitment to these posts and others remains an ongoing challenge, they will be continuing to prioritise filling all vacant posts. HM

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29/11/2023 13:38

Feature

Community Recovery Unique mental health project empowers people to take active role in their recovery HSE Community Healthcare East’s Mental Health Service has opened a unique Recovery Village project in Wicklow that aims to put service users, and their families and carers, at the centre of service delivery.

This pilot project has been developed in partnership with the ARCHES Recovery College and was launched via an open day for the public on World Mental Health Day. The new Recovery Village will offer courses, talks, peer support and social events to promote mental health recovery, personal growth and wellbeing. The project uses an approach known as Recovery Education which involves the delivery of educational modules and courses on mental health recovery in community or HSE settings.

Martina Queally, Chief Officer, HSE Community Healthcare East, explained, “Our Community Mental Health team are passionate about this unique project.

Our hope is that this new service will have a positive impact in the Wicklow community by empowering people to take an active role in their own mental health recovery, or the recovery of others.

People who want to avail of this service will receive expert knowledge about

Dr Donal O’Keeffe, HSE Community Healthcare East (CH East) Recovery Co-ordinator; Ellen Conalty, CH East Clinical Nurse Manager II and Recovery Village Lead; Charlie Burke, Chairperson Mental Health Wicklow; Ronan Murray, CH East Director of Nursing - Assistant; and Andrea Koenigstorfer, CH East Area Lead for Mental Health Engagement.

different coping strategies and ways of making sense of psychological distress in a way that allows them to experience belonging, meaning and empowerment.”

Ellen Conalty, HSE Community Healthcare East Clinical Nurse Manager II and Recovery Village Lead, added, “The Recovery Village is delivered using a Recovery Education approach.

This means the lived experience of our service users is combined with our professional experience, and working together, we develop knowledge and understanding. Ultimately,

this approach gives our service users, family members and carers more opportunities to achieve maximum recovery outcomes.”

The service will offer a combination of therapeutic activities such as horticulture, yoga, self-compassion courses, creative writing courses, fitness classes, music appreciation and more. These activities are developed in collaboration with local community partners Woodlands for Health, the National Learning Network, and Wicklow Local Sports Partnership.HM

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29/11/2023 13:39

Better ways of working

Making our services better A look at some of the many initiatives taking place across the HSE

Only 50% of survey respondents had formal clinical audit training

Best practice handbook for HCSAs unveiled A new handbook ‘Best Practice Guidance for Health Care Support Assistants’ has been developed and launched for all HCSAs working in the community.

The information and practical advice outlined will enable HCSAs to create a caring and dignified environment, where a person-centred approach to care can be fostered. This handbook will prove to be invaluable to HCSAs in their work to support people to live well at home.

It also aids the standardisation in home support practice across Cork and Kerry.

The new handbook was developed after the Home Support Service’s (HSS) Policy, Procedure, Protocols and Guidelines (PPPG) Development and Education Subgroup identified the need for a point of reference for HCSAs working in the community.

Their analysis showed that policy, procedure, protocol and guideline documentation was inconsistent.

Cork Kerry Community Healthcare Home Support Manager, Sharon Rennie, said, “We have worked hard to create a clear and comprehensive ‘best practice’ guide for our large network of HCSAs. The sub-group met regularly to analyse the information that is imperative for HCSAs and we then collaborated with our colleagues in different areas to ensure that the guide would be as comprehensive as possible.”

The handbook was launched in the Workhouse at St Finbarr’s Hospital in Cork to a sizable gathering of Cork Kerry Community Healthcare staff. General Manager Non-Residential Services for Older Persons, Eileen O'Leary (now retired) supported the publication and sanctioned the funding. HM The handbook is available to all HCSAs through their line manager and it is also distributed to new staff at induction.

Further information is available form Sharon.rennie@hse.ie and the handbook is also available

The HSE National Centre for Clinical Audit (NCCA) promotes clinical audit as an essential quality and patient safety tool in Irish healthcare. It recently conducted a survey exploring the experiences of healthcare professionals in clinical audit.

“As the HSE NCCA leads on the implementation of best practice in clinical audit across the healthcare landscape, this survey was essential to understanding the experiences of those involved in clinical audit at a local level,” said Karen Reynolds, Co-Lead of the HSE NCCA. The survey yielded 238 responses from healthcare professionals of varying clinical backgrounds. The survey showed that whilst 88% of respondents had previous involvement in a clinical audit, only 50% had received formal clinical audit training, illustrating a clear requirement for provision of clinical audit training within the HSE. Free, CPD accredited training is available from the HSE NCCA. Findings from this survey will inform the development of the HSE NCCA’s training and education strategy for 2024. Furthermore, 76% of respondents identified that the provision of a clinical audit toolkit would make them more likely to be involved in clinical audit, whilst 59% sought further advice on governance, GDPR and other procedures for clinical audit. The HSE NCCA will launch a Clinical Audit Toolkit in the coming weeks, which will be followed soon after by a Data Protection and GDPR FAQ document. HM To read the survey report and explore the HSE NCCA’s training opportunities and growing clinical audit resources, visit http://www2.healthservice.hse. ie/organisation/ncca/

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29/11/2023 18:03

Better ways of working

A new innovative partnership Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH) have announced a new partnership to facilitate innovation in healthcare in Ireland and improve patient care.

The HIHI national team located in Cork, Dublin and Galway and the Mater Hospital will work together to deliver key programmes and activities to support the healthcare innovation ecosystem in Ireland. Projects will include working with clinical innovators at the hospital to create viable products and to develop pre-commercial prototypes and market ready products.

The HIHI partnership facilitates access to the healthcare system through academic partners in its host institutions nationally in University College Cork (UCC), Munster Technological University (MTU), University of Galway (NUIG), Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and the academic institution’s respective hospital groups namely the South/South West Hospital Group, the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group and the Saolta Healthcare Group. HIHI is delighted to welcome the Mater to this innovative network and marks the expansion of HIHI’s clinical and academic sites in Ireland.

The experience HIHI brings to this new partnership matches the innovative strides of the team at the Mater Hospital. In 2018, MMUH established the Pillar Centre for Transformative Healthcare offering a unique, flexible, interdisciplinary educational space for education, clinical research and healthcare innovation.HM

Dr Seamus Morris, Consultant Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon and Director of Innovation at the Pillar Centre for Transformative Medicine in the Mater; Prof John R. Higgins, HIHI Principal Investigator, CEO South/South West Hospital Group and UCC Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Erin Daly Operations Manager, the Pillar Centre for Transformative Healthcare, Eccles Research Innovation Ltd and Directorate for Education, Research and Innovation; Dr Tanya Mulcahy, Director HIHI; Prof Brendan Kinsley, Clinical Director of the Pillar Centre for Transformative Healthcare; Dr Steven Griffin, Manager HIHI Galway.

Latest podcast examines formalities of grief Last year in Ireland, over 7,000 post mortem examinations were performed.

Whether the death was expected or unexpected, it can be difficult for families as they navigate both the grieving process and the formalities of this time.

In the latest episode of Walk and Talk Improvement, ‘Bearing Witness: Through Life and Death’, we explore the impact of patient partnership on the development of the HSE National Clinical Guidelines for Post Mortem Examination Services.

Hosted by Juanita Guidera, Programme Manager - Staff Engagement for Quality, National Quality and Patient Safety Directorate, we explore the role of patient partners on the development of the guidelines, why patient partners become involved in this work and what you can do as a leader to create meaningful engagement. HM We want to hear from you and share your ideas for improving our health service. Contact sheema.lughmani@ hse.ie to get involved in Walk and Talk Improvement: Ideas for Safe Quality Care.

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29/11/2023 13:40

Better ways of working Great smoking cessation intervention work The Making Every Contact Count (MECC) programme aims to encourage all healthcare professionals to support patients as part of routine care in making lifestyle changes. Smoking cessation is a key part of the MECC training programme and here are some examples of what different areas are doing: Quit Mid-West First QUIT service to Launch MECC Implementation Two key stakeholders - the tobacco and MECC health promotion and improvement team - worked together on the development of an implementation plan, which went live in October 2022. As part of the planning process, the team consulted with Stop Smoking Advisors (SSA), who engaged and supported the roll out, which was critical in achieving a successful implementation. Some quality assurance practices include embedding MECC into monthly supervision and SSA staff induction for MECC implementation.

Dublin South Kildare and West Wicklow Smoking Cessation Service In January 2023, the service became a MECC implementation site, with all 10 SSAs trained in, and delivering brief interventions as part of their daily work with clients. A locally developed ‘Smart Survey’ provided the SSAs with a simple tool to record these brief interventions, including the duration and type of each MECC brief intervention.

Over a three-month period, 73 brief interventions were delivered as part of 63 individual client sessions.

Tipperary University Hospital Clonmel Physiotherapy Department Physiotherapists completed MECC training in March 2023, aimed at promoting behaviour changes with every patient contact. In addition to the intensive stop smoking support service, physiotherapists used MECC brief interventions to promote free NRT available to smokers. One in-patient reported that despite having a history of respiratory disease and multiple hospital admissions, her last admission was the first time anyone asked her about smoking. This brief intervention resulted in the client attending a face-to-face behavioural support programme.HM

Tipperary University Hospital physiotherapists pictured receiving the MECC award: Darragh Byrne, Louise Murphy, Angela O'Donovan, Rachel Thompson, Barbara Long, Karl Roche, and Lijomon Joseph.

For further information, see www.makingeverycontactcount.ie

Thousands more endoscopies to be carried out in TUH There are plans to carry out an additional 4,300 endoscopy procedures a year at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH). These will take place in the newly opened Colm O’Móráin Centre for Digestive Diseases. The new development, which is located within the hospital, represents an overall investment of over €1.7m.

TUH has been able to open this new unit by repurposing space which became free after day surgeries were moved into a brand new surgical facility, the Reeves Day Surgery Centre (RDSC), just opposite the hospital in Tallaght called. The new Colm O’Móráin Centre for Digestive Diseases within the hospital will encompass the Endoscopy and Gastroenterology Departments.

Lucy Nugent, CEO of TUH, explained, “The newly opened Colm O’Móráin Centre for Digestive Disease will consist of two new procedure rooms and a post procedure scope wash room.

This will significantly increase our capacity to perform both oesophageal endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures. This is a very welcome development and will have a very positive impact on waiting times for patients.” HM Pictured above: Fiona Delaney, CNM; Dr Sarah O’Connell, Consultant Gastroenterologist; Professor Colm O’Móráin; Dr. Niall Breslin, Consultant Gastroenterologist; Professor Barbara Ryan, Consultant Gastroenterologist; John Kelly, Deputy CEO of TUH, and Professor Anthony O’Connor, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Clinical Lead of the Department of Gastroenterology at TUH.

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29/11/2023 18:04

Better ways of working Open Disclosure Week sees an uptake in training Open Disclosure Themed Week was celebrated recently, which saw people right across HSE services come together to recognise the importance of providing opportunities for patients and service users to actively partner staff in the open disclosure and incident management process.

People across services delivered a range of activities promoting the understanding that when patients are treated as partners in their care, significant gains are made in patient safety, patient satisfaction and health outcomes.

Open disclosure leads in services across the country were ambitious and creative in their approach to delivering this. The role of the Open Disclosure Lead is a voluntary one, performed by an individual in addition to their full-time job.

During the week the leads engage with people in services who have a range of understanding about Open Disclosure and must meet them with the right level of information. Equally, engagement with patients and the public, as well as staff, is an important part of the week. Many services geared activities and information resources specifically for this audience, to draw them into the aim of the week- to elevate their voices through open disclosure.

In the lead up to and during the week there was a significant increase in the uptake of open disclosure training, both online and face-to-face.

The staff in the National Incident Management Team and National Open Disclosure Office would like to sincerely thank all of the Open Disclosure area leads, site leads, managers and staff and all who engaged in promoting Open Disclosure during this week and we look forward to future similar events. HM

Eye test scheme will cut paediatric waiting list 800 children are eligible for treatment under a pilot Community Ophthalmology service in Sligo and Leitrim. Sligo Leitrim Primary Care commenced the roll-out of the Over 9s High Street OPTOMS Scheme.

The scheme was approved for funding as part of the Waiting List Initiative scheme following a full validation of the paediatric waiting list for ophthalmology services.

Approximately 800 children were identified as being eligible for the scheme from this validation process.

This included children from the ages of 9 to 12 years.

The validation process was led by Dr Annmarie Mongan, Paediatric Consultant Ophthalmologist at Sligo University Hospital and her team, where all individual cases were triaged to determine suitability for discharge to the new scheme.

The scheme entitles all those eligible to an eye test at a High Street Opticians of their choice in the Sligo Leitrim area. The cost of the eye tests under this scheme is covered by the HSE. The scheme has enabled the Integrated Ophthalmology service in Sligo Leitrim to reduce the paediatric waiting list considerably and also allows for the development of other services. For example, the Ophthalmology Service in Sligo and Leitrim recently held their first Additional Needs Clinic in the Community Ophthalmology Department based at Nazareth House Community Care complex. They hope to be able to roll out further initiatives in 2024.

Des Kavanagh, Business Manager, Ophthalmology Sligo/Leitrim and Donegal, said, “We are looking forward to the positive impact it will have on our paediatric waiting list and hopefully we can secure funding to allow us to roll the scheme out in Donegal Community Ophthalmology in 2024.” HM Pictured above: Des Kavanagh, Business Manager, Community Ophthalmology Donegal Sligo/Leitrim with Caitlin McCann, Assistant Staff Officer, Community Ophthalmology Sligo/Leitrim, and Andrea Novian, Over 9s High Street Optom Scheme Admin Support.

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Better ways of working

Training and Support Service launches stories of recovery booklet A new booklet depicting 10 personal recovery stories was launched in Letterkenny recently.

HSE Ascain Training and Support Service (formerly Worklink North West) provides person-centred training programmes and one-to-one support to people who are in recovery from mental ill health/illness at its centres in Letterkenny, Dungloe, Carndonagh and its outreach locations in Buncrana and Moville.

The service aims to help educate and support

those attending to become more self-aware of who they are and what they want to do in their life; to help them find their voice and make the choices and decisions that are important to them while also assisting them to set and achieve their own personal goals.

The purpose of the event was to showcase the great achievements of the service users who have been a part of the Ascain Training and Support Service.

“Today is a celebration of the attainment of

small and large, short term and long term goals. Each individual is on their own personal journey with their own hopes and goals, all of which contributes to their own personal recovery story,” said Gemma McLoone, Manager Ascain Training and Support Service.

Speaking on their own journey of recovery at the launch, one service user said, “I never had a passport, was never on a plane and was never outside Donegal.

There’s no stopping me now!” HM

Top: Rosemary Hannigan, Business Manager, HSE Mental Health Services, CH CDLMS; Gemma McLoone, Ascain Manager; Aggie Boylan with guest speaker Nikki Bradley who spoke at the event.

Above: Ascain Training and Support Service guest speaker Nikki Bradley with service users who spoke of their mental health experiences: Neil O'Donnell, Maria McGrory, Ciaran Bowden, Dympnha Brolly, and Helen Reese-Doherty.

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29/11/2023 13:43

Better ways of working

An evaluation report of the Kerry Specialist Palliative Care Service (KSPCS) was launched recently and identified the many strengths of the model.

The report was carried out by the International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC) and commissioned by the HSE/Cork Kerry Community Healthcare.

World Patient Safety Day marked at Letterkenny University Hospital Anne Drake, Director of Nursing; Martina Porter, Quality and Patient Safety Manager and Sean Murphy, Hospital Manager at the Launch of LUH Patient Safety Bedside Poster.

The Quality and Patient Safety team in Letterkenny University Hospital developed an important initiative to help patients become active partners in their own healthcare as part of World Patient Safety Day. The theme for this year was ‘Engaging patients for patient safety’, in recognition of the crucial role patients, families and caregivers play in the safety of health care. Evidence shows that when patients are treated as partners in their care it results in improved safety, patient satisfaction and health outcomes. By becoming active members of the health care team, patients can contribute to the safety of their care and that of the health care system as a whole.

The LUH team have developed a handy bedside resource which gives patients access to lots of information about how to stay well; how to give feedback about their care and how to get involved as a patient experience volunteer at the hospital.

The poster will be displayed at the patient’s bedside and contains QR codes which link to helpful information on themes such as falls prevention, pressure ulcer prevention, infection prevention and control advice, smoking cessation advice, medication safety advice, discharge planning, safekeeping of property and how to give feedback and suggestions to the service.HM

It found that the KSPCS model had: • a strong sense of local ownership • alignment with national policy • service delivery and design following best practice in integrated palliative care • clear and consistent leadership with clear goal • a consistent theme of the value of connected local leadership that adheres to a national clinical blueprint, with support from the HSE The launch was cohosted by Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and the Kerry Hospice Foundation.

Chief Officer of Cork Kerry Community Healthcare Tess O’Donovan said, “The report highlights the importance of strong community support for the service, with an innovative approach to funding and partnership with the Kerry Hospice Foundation leading to a locally-owned service that is still integrated into the national health system.” HM

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News

First patients treated with state-of-the-art equipment A new high-specification videofluoroscopy service has been introduced in Mayo University Hospital. Michael Browne from Ballina, Co Mayo was the first patient to be treated with the new state-of-the-art diagnostic technology at the hospital.

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.

The videofluoroscopy service is led by the Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Department and is delivered in close collaboration with the Radiology Service at MUH. Videofluoroscopy is a specialised x-ray that shows what happens when you eat and drink. It is a detailed examination of the swallow and is considered the ‘gold standard’ for the assessment of swallowing difficulties, which is known as dysphagia.

Karen Waardenburg, Senior Speech and Language Therapist in MUH, said, “The new technology in MUH will be used by the Speech and Language team to guide the management and treatment of patients with swallowing difficulties and means we can develop personalised strategies to help each patient to better manage their condition." HM

Forensic Pastoral Care Team launched

Karen Waardenburg, Senior Speech and Language Therapist; Ciara Burns, Radiographer; Michael Browne, patient and Patricia McHugh, Senior Speech and Language Therapist.

Siobhan Glynn, Meath Foundation; Manon Van Alphen, Technology Enhanced Learning Manager, CLD; Kate Muldowney, Senior Dietitian; Mary Hickey, Quality Improvement; Sinéad Feehan, Dietitian Manager; and Tom Martin, Educational Technologist, CLD.

The National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS) was delighted to host the launch of the Forensic Pastoral Care Team.

The team consists of staff from various multidisciplinary teams and religious or spiritual backgrounds, and will provide spiritual care and emotional support to patients, staff and families.

The team took the opportunity to promote stroke awareness in association with the Irish Heart Foundation and showcased the success stories of staff acting FAST in cardiac emergencies.

Unique nutrition course for doctors available A nutrition eLearning course for doctors, the first of its kind in Ireland, has been launched by the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH).

The dietitians at TUH have years of experience in delivering nutrition education to doctors. They designed this module to ensure that doctors are able to identify the signs of malnutrition and the components of good nutritional care.

Currently, there is no requirement for health professionals, other than dietitians, to receive education and training in nutritional care. Whilst this module is designed primarily for doctors, it is relevant to all healthcare practitioners.

The module was written by Kate Muldowney, Senior Dietitian in Critical Care, with Sinead Feehan, Dietitian Manager.

The module is currently available for all health professionals to complete on the HSeLanD online platform. This project was generously supported by the Meath Foundation. HM

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29/11/2023 13:44

News

Funding granted for OT programme for younger dementia patients The Harbour Friends programme was developed in response to an identified and growing need for age-appropriate group interventions for individuals who are under 65 and have a diagnosis of dementia.

The need was identified by occupational therapists working in the Memory Harbour, Clonskeagh who prioritised the need of the younger onset client group.

To do this, the team adopted a collaborative approach with their current clients and invited them to co-create a programme that would work for their needs. They partnered with colleagues in Health Promotion and Improvement to enable them to complete a pilot and evaluate the results.

The pilot results showed an impact on the group member’s wellbeing, mood and brain health. Family members were grateful to know the person affected was linked in with an appropriate group and were gaining a benefit from same. Group sessions that focused on occupation and well-being provided much needed relief, some fun and peer support to the clients.

They are continuing to collaborate with partners and have planned their next group of sessions. They received HSE Spark Seed funding recently to ensure they can share the model with other occupational therapy services.HM

Mural brings the fun to hospital checks Artist Chelsea Canavan with Bronagh Cahill, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare; Kylie and Ella McCarthy, Ennis; Jake Hennessy, Hospital, Co Limerick; and Bionca Oleszczuk, Ennis, Co Clare, at the Paediatric Outpatients Clinic, UHL. Photo: Brendan Gleeson

Gillian Dullea and Catherine Daly, Senior Primary Care Occupational Therapists, Memory Harbour, Clonskeagh.

A new mural was unveiled in the nurses’ station of the paediatric outpatients department in University Hospital Limerick. The mural was painted by Limerick artist Chelsea Canavan, much to the delight of families, patients and hospital staff.

Chelsea works with Helium Arts in University Hospital Limerick as part of the outpatients programme - ‘Create While You Wait’.

‘Create While You Wait’ supports children and young people, aged six to 18 years, managing lifelong health conditions, to access creative activities in outpatient clinics while they wait to see the doctor and nurse. These conditions can require regular visits to hospital outpatient clinic appointments.

“The mural is colourful and fun and it links with some of the activities we do in the waiting room.

For example, the squirrels playing catch with the acorns represent the playfulness of our interactions with the children, the rainbow represents the colour and imagination in the activities we do and the bees buzzing around represent the hive of creativity in the waiting room,” said Chelsea. HM

“The mural is colourful and fun and it links with some of the activities we do in the waiting room."

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Updates

Changes and updates HSE launches Ireland's first Model of Care for Integrated Cardiac Rehabilitation

“It’s given me hope, it’s given me a feeling I can get back to what I was. I never thought I would say exercise is fun but we have our moments but it just encourages each and every one of us and we support each other."

Cardiovascular disease, which includes heart attacks, heart failure, stroke and other circulatory diseases, remains a leading cause of death in Ireland. It is responsible for at least 9,000 deaths and 25,000 hospital admissions each year. It is estimated that approximately 90,000 people in Ireland live with heart failure alone, with an estimated 10,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

Cardiac rehabilitation has demonstrated to consistently reduce cardiovascular illness, hospital admissions and death.

It also increase a patient’s quality of life. Yet, 40% of eligible patients are waiting at least three months, highlighting the limited access to cardiac rehabilitation care.

The top priority for Ireland's first-ever Model of Care for Integrated Cardiac Rehabilitation is ensuring that people have access to timely, high-quality cardiac rehabilitation care.

At the heart of this model is a person-centred approach that empowers patients. The model emphasises individualised goal setting. Aligned to Sláintecare, it aims to deliver cardiac rehabilitation services as close to home as possible, and advocates for the integration of cardiac rehabilitation services across hospital and community settings.

Ann Keady (pictured left), a patient from Newcastle in Galway, shared her journey through cardiovascular disease.

After experiencing a heart attack in October 2022 and receiving treatment at University Hospital Galway, Ann faced not only physical but also mental challenges in her recovery.

"When I came back out of hospital that’s when things kind of hit me mentally and physically...You have a fear of going up the stairs, you feel every pain you get afterwards, you feel you’re having a heart attack,” Ann said.

However, Ann's life took a positive turn when she learned about the local cardiac rehabilitation service. Initially apprehensive, she decided to give it a try. Ann's experience with cardiac rehab has been transformative.

“It’s given me hope, it’s given me a feeling I can get back to what I was. I never thought I would say exercise is fun but we have our moments but it just encourages each and every one of us and we support each other,” she added.HM

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29/11/2023 13:48

Updates

ADHD assessment hub will treat children on CAMHS wait list A CAMHS Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Assessment (ADHD) Hub has been established in Cork and operates out of the Primary Care Centre.

The hub is being developed in response to a recommendation of the Maskey Report and aims to provide an ADHD assessment service for children who are currently on existing CAMHS teams’ waiting lists.

This service will initially support children and young people in Cork and Kerry who have been waiting lengthy periods for an ADHD assessment. The service will be governed by the Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) CAMHS Management Team.

Head of Mental Health Services at CKCH Julie O'Neill said, “One of the recommendations in the Maskey Report referred to the need to develop a standardised pathway of care for the management of young people with ADHD, or suspected ADHD. “Many of the children and young people on CAMHS waiting lists are those awaiting ADHD assessment and families told us that they would prefer to have their child assessed and know how to help them - rather than sit on long waiting lists.

“So, we sought funding to develop an ADHD assessment hub that would be available to all ten of the CAMHS teams in Cork and Kerry. The hub is intended to support 120 children over a six-month period. It will work very closely with the CAMHS teams and will support children and families until they have stabilised on their medication, or their discharge, whichever is soonest.”

This new ADHD service will initially see the children who have been waiting longest on the lists of the community CAMHS teams. The initial priority will be to see those children waiting more than two years. This team will support the existing teams by providing assessments and initial interventions before transferring children back to their local CAMHS. CKCH is committed to implementing all 35 of the recommendations of the Maskey Report, with 29 completed and intensive work under way on the six remaining recommendations.

This progress is thanks to the fact that all staff are committed to completing this work.HM

Unlocking the power of the multidisciplinary meeting in Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) Cancer Care To address the unique needs of adolescents and young adults with cancer, a new national multi-disciplinary meeting (MDM) for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Services has been established. This national meeting aims to ensure that every young person diagnosed with cancer in Ireland can access the specialised care they require.

Adolescents and young adults with cancer find themselves straddling the divide between paediatric and adult oncology. Ranging from 13 to 24 years, they experience a distinct set of physical, emotional, and psycho-social challenges. These challenges include a lack of equitable access to specialised, age-appropriate treatment centres with developmentallyappropriate multidisciplinary care, limited access to clinical trials and difficulties accessing relevant psychosocial supports. As a result, AYA cancer patients may experience increased long-term and quality-of-life challenges. Challenges persist in the effort to improve survival rates.

Set up by the National AYA Cancer Service Network, the AYA Cancer MDM creates a platform where experts from a wide variety of disciplines come together to discuss and address the unique challenges faced by AYA cancer patients. Consultant attendees include those with special interests in AYA cancer, along with consultants from paediatric and adult medicine backgrounds in oncology, haematology, radiotherapy and other related disciplines.

A wide range of allied health professionals are also involved, including psychology and psycho-oncology experts, social workers, clinical nurse specialists, physiotherapists and other professionals with expertise and interests in AYA. Supports offered are tailored according to patient need, including referrals to dedicated AYA health professionals, relevant community support services, and linking with other governmental and HSE supports.

Referrals are encouraged for all AYA patients with a cancer diagnosis and are welcome at any stage of the treatment pathway, including transition and survivorship.HM

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Updates

Leading healthcare transformation through simulation A new chapter in healthcare innovation commenced on 12 October 2023, with the launch of the HSE National Simulation Office (NSO).

It represents a pivotal moment in healthcare, underlining the commitment to leveraging the potential of simulation to enhance healthcare practices and, in turn, improve the overall healthcare landscape.

As the healthcare industry evolves, embracing innovation and cutting-edge practices like simulation is no longer a nice to have but a must have approach to delivering the best possible care to those our patients.

The NSO will be headed up by Professor Dara Byrne who has been appointed as the National Clinical Lead for Simulation.

This launch event saw the gathering of stakeholders from all healthcare professions in the areas of quality and patient safety, education and innovation in healthcare with each group outlining how healthcare simulation can support their strategic goals and bringing their expertise and knowledge of their areas

to the conversation around next steps.

It is widely agreed that simulation is of significant value to healthcare organisations as an educational intervention to directly improve patient performance in the individual and in the interprofessional team.

Simulation is also used diagnostic tool to look at the healthcare systems and organisation in which the individuals and teams work.

The vision of the NSO is to transform healthcare through simulation, enabling all healthcare providers to deliver improved, safe, and patient-centered care that meets the evolving needs of healthcare organisations. Looking to the future, simulation technology and methodologies will continue to advance, offering exciting opportunities for innovation and research within healthcare. The NSO will support the utilisation of simulation for studying new treatments, testing novel technologies, and evaluating care delivery models, thereby introducing evidence-based practices and driving continuous improvement in healthcare.HM

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29/11/2023 13:49

Updates

Supporting people with non-cognitive symptoms of dementia The National Clinical Guideline No 21 on ‘Appropriate prescribing of psychotropic medication for noncognitive symptoms in people with dementia’ guides people on the appropriate use of psychotropic medication for non-cognitive symptoms being experienced by people living with dementia.

A sister document ‘Non-cognitive symptoms of dementia: Non-pharmacological interventions for healthcare and social care practitioners’ was published by the HSE National Dementia Services in 2019.

The Implementation Programme for NCG No 21 commenced in 2022. The key objectives of the implementation programme are to: • raise awareness of the risks of psychotropic medications for people with dementia, and to raise awareness of NCG No 21 as a key resource to guide clinical decision-making.

• develop a multi-component education programme to encompass facilitator education and an eLearning programme of education.

• provide education to relevant staff in acute hospitals, mental health settings, residential settings for older people, and community settings on the content of NCG No 21.

• develop, pilot and disseminate an audit tool and audit manual to assess compliance among doctors, nurses and pharmacists, and provide training on use of this audit tool as part of the education and training package.

• undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of NCG No 21 to assess the reach of the education and training package.

A HSeLanD module, ‘Support pathways for people with non-cognitive symptoms of dementia’ was launched in December 2022.

A facilitator programme of education is currently being rolled out across the country by the Implementation Programme team. The team are working with staff locally to develop Local Implementation Teams and build a network of Local Facilitators. HM

To become involved with your Local Implementation Team or to become a Local Facilitator, please contact your local Dementia Quality Improvement ADON, or your Local Implementation Team for NCG no. 21. Alternatively, please contact the Implementation Programme Lead, Dr Mairéad Bracken-Scally Mairead.brackenscally@hse.ie

HSE fund to strengthen children’s disability services The HSE is strengthening services for children with a disability currently waitlisted for Children’s Disability Network Team services.

The HSE has called on disability service providers and community groups who can provide additional and innovative services, such as, but not limited to • recognised sensory programmes • evidence-based therapies • respite services - clubs, evening and weekend sessions, Saturday clubs, sports sessions • additional therapy sessions for service users, such as managing challenging behaviours

The HSE recognises the importance of additional supports for children with disabilities, especially when the supports they need may not be available currently. Additional services will be considered for funding if they meet some of the needs of children with disabilities and their families currently waitlisted for Children’s Disability Network Services provided by the HSE and its partner organisations. Organisations applying for funding must outline the benefit they expect to achieve.

Bernard O’Regan, Head of Operations, HSE Disability Services, said, “This fund is intended to improve access to the essential services that children and young people with a disability need. Funds will be distributed to organisations in 2023 and some proposals may be funded for up to three years.”HM

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Updates

Maurice Farnan

Integrated Community Case Management System will be a ‘game-changer’ In a strategic move towards optimising service user and staff experience, the HSE has announced the inception of the Integrated Community Case Management System (ICCMS).

This ground-breaking digital case management solution aims to seamlessly integrate across our diverse community services and connect with hospital and GP care.

“The ICCMS is a gamechanger,” said Maurice Farnan, Programme Director. “It's about making healthcare seamless and person-centred. It supports better information sharing, improved clinical and operational decision-making and more efficient ways of working.”

The ICCMS will be the core ICT system for all of community services with a single record for all service users, connecting services together and streamlining service user and staff experiences. The system

will transform the community healthcare landscape further supporting more personcentred care, routinely promoting independence and with greater efficiency.

The development of ICCMS to date reflects the collaborative ethos of our organisation. Many committed and skilled colleagues have already helped to get the programme to this point. It has strong endorsement from senior management, clinical and operational staff, as well as key external stakeholders.

Though details are still under development, the system will offer: • efficient referral and appointment management: simplifying the service user journey through our services.

• safety and quality improvement: supporting teams to identify, share and

manage risk and identify clinical variation.

• real-time dashboards: empowering clinical and operational teams with timely insights.

• enhanced communication tools: streamlining interactions between healthcare professionals and with service users.

The ICCMS system is currently being procured with the procurement phase of the programme due to conclude in 2024. It is anticipated that a phased implementation and go live will commence during 2025.

This is a significant programme of change with challenges to be expected along the way, however with the collective passion and expertise of all colleagues involved, we know that we are on the right path and are determined to see this essential system brought to life.HM

If you would like more information or would like to know how you can get involved as the programme evolves, please contact iccms@hse.ie

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Updates

New HSE-HPSC data hub to provide comprehensive overview of winter respiratory viruses

How to get the most out of payroll self-service HR & Payroll Self Service is continually being updated and improved, making it easier to access and get more information you need. NiSRP are delighted to announce the following recent updates: Password Reset and Login Process - This process is now more convenient with the introduction of receiving a text message to your mobile phone with your temporary password and verification code (if you sign in from a non-HSE device).

Above QR code will bring you to the page.

Leave Balances Report – Employees and Managers can now use this new feature to display their quotas and balances for specific leave types. Managers can view the leave balances for their direct employees which facilitates effective planning and managing of resources.

Follow QR code for report.

Travel Privilege Report – Managers now have the functionality to view travel documents submitted by their direct reports and also to view the travel document status, including the expiration dates. This provides enhanced compliance in accordance with the National Financial Regulations.

To get started on HR & Payroll Self Service go to www.hse.ie/ nisrp or follow QR code right.

View a recorded Employee and Manager Webinar: There are three training modules (Employees, Managers and Staff who Travel) on HSELand. Search for NiSRP on www.hseland.ie and enrol.

The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has launched a new Respiratory Virus Notification Data Hub to provide the latest data for COVID-19, influenza and RSV cases in Ireland. The hub also includes data on hospitalised cases, ICU cases, deaths and outbreaks in Ireland.

The Data Hub will tell the story of the winter virus season as it happens in Ireland, explained HPSC Director Dr Greg Martin.

“This is the first time that Irish respiratory virus data have been interactively available in a way that makes it easy to track several winter respiratory viruses and compare seasonal variations. It provides respiratory virus data in an up to date, dynamic and timely manner and tells us when the viruses circulate in the community, the severity of illness due to the viruses and which age groups and counties are most affected by the virus,” he said.

“The hub is an additional tool to be used in combination with HPSC’s existing outputs, which together will be used to inform and guide health service preparedness and response for winter resilience planning.”

Welcoming the new data hub, HSE National Director for Health Protection, Dr Éamonn O’Moore, said, “Information in this data hub will help inform HSE advice to the healthcare system and the wider public on how to manage the impact of changing levels of infection over the winter period and beyond. But it also reiterates the importance at this time of year of getting our population vaccinated against seasonal flu and COVID-19 to protect our most vulnerable people and the health system.”

The Respiratory Virus Data Hub has come about through collaboration between HPSC and People and Place Ltd. Other key stakeholders include laboratories and clinicians who notify respiratory virus cases and Departments of Public Health who manage the surveillance system at regional level. HM

The data hub will be updated weekly on Wednesdays and data can be downloaded from the hub if necessary available at: https://respiratoryvirus. hpsc.ie/

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Feature

Innovation UHG trials new innovative technology for patients with heart failure University Hospital Galway (UHG) has completed the final phase of an innovative clinical trial which reduces the hospitalisation rate for patients living with heart failure.

The trial which allows patients to be treated for heart failure from home has the potential to be a game changes in the treatment and monitoring of the condition.

The Cordella Pulmonary Artery Pressure Sensor detects changes in the health of patients with heart failure and securely transmits the information to the care team for review. If a change is detected, the team can then make changes to medications or other clinical interventions to prevent a heart failure flare-up requiring urgent hospitalisation.

“We conducted an internal

audit of all 37 patients in UHG who had the sensor placement, and were pleasantly surprised to see that hospitalisations for heart failure had decreased by 97%. This technology will improve patients' quality of life and keep them healthy in their own homes, and it has the potential to be a game changer in the treatment and monitoring of heart failure,” explained Prof Faisal Sharif, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at UHG and Director of Cardiovascular Research and Innovation Centre, University of Galway, who is the clinical trial's

Prof Faisal Sharif, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at UHG and Director of the Cardiovascular Research and Innovation Centre at the University of Galway, with patient Richard Power from Abbey, Loughrea, County Galway following the successful implantation of the Cordella Pulmonary Artery Pressure Sensor.

principal investigator.

One of the most important aspects of this therapy is that the patient uses a portable device on their chest that transmits their cardiac pressure to the hospital. With the use of this technology, the patient becomes actively involved in their care.

Patient Richard Power from Abbey, Loughrea, Co Galway, said, “Since the implant, I am very pleased with my life. Cordella wakes me at 8am every morning to do my readings. It takes just five minutes and it saves me driving 50km, three or four times a month, and I am very grateful for Dr Sharif and his staff for what they have done for me.” HM

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Feature

Community Support New team will support nursing homes to control outbreaks A new Community Support team (CST) has been established in Community Healthcare East to take over from the COVID Response Team, set up in 2020 to support the prevention, identification and management of COVID-19 outbreaks.

Its establishment is in line with recommendations made by the COVID-19 Nursing Home Expert Panel.

The COVID Response Team provided support and assistance to over 50 private nursing homes and six public/voluntary care units within the CH East catchment area.

Many of these nursing homes required intensive support during the initial and subsequent waves of infections as encountered during 2020 and 2021 in particular. The CST continues to support all nursing home facilities in CH East, both in terms of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) advice and support but also in terms of the preparation and review of COVID and IPC resilience plans Phase One of CST comprises general manager, director of nursing, CNMII Gerontology, admin support and access to Public Health Medicine Department and IPC resources.

The remit for phase one is to establish the team, development and signposting to available

Kunjal Sheth, Admin; Fionnuala Dore, Incoming Director of Nursing; Graham O’Brien, Older Persons Services COVID Response Team support; Kay Hand, Outgoing Director of Nursing; Clodagh Lawler, General Manage Community Support Team and Enhanced Community Care Programme ICPOP.

training and other resources. To provide support and guidance on COVID-19 outbreaks and respiratory infection prevention, preparedness planning and management and to enhanced support in outbreak situations through the mechanism of the Outbreak Control Team. The role of the CST is separate from the statutory functions and responsibilities carried out by the Regulator (HIQA) and for which the PIC and Provider are at all times responsible. Engagement with private providers will be through co-operation and will be dependent on the voluntary interaction of the individual provider.

However excellent links have been made via the

COVID Response Team and the Nursing Homes are delighted to have a support network to assist them.

CSTs will provide support to the overall home support services rather than individual service user cases. CST will assist the providers to build their capacity to effectively self-manage in terms of prevention, preparedness planning and effective outbreak management in the event of further COVID-19 surges, influenza and other respiratory infections.

As the remit of the CST evolve, as part of phase two implementation, there will be greater overall integration of older person residential care facilities into the local health social care system.HM HEALTH MATTERS WINTER 2023 | 69

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Values in action

Values in action

Putting our Values into Action to support staff health and wellbeing

Values in Action is about putting the values of care, compassion, trust and learning at the core of everything we do in the health service. As one of our Champions likes to say, “It’s for ourselves and it’s for our patients.”

Values in Action Champions are nominated by their peers to lead the social movement in their workplaces through living and spreading the 9 behaviours.

At the CH East Enhanced Community Care (ECC) Lunch and Learn are Colleen Fahey, Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer, Kirk St Lewis, A/ Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer; and Claire Beggs, Business Manager for Health and Wellbeing, CH East.

Values in Action Champion Claire Beggs was immediately drawn in by the passion and excitement shared by her colleagues about the movement.

Business Manager for Health and Wellbeing in Community Healthcare East (CH East), Claire was nominated by a colleague to become a Champion in April 2022. A few months later she was welcomed onto the CH East Values in Action project team and has never looked back.

The relationship between Values in Action and Staff Health and Wellbeing was recognised and a plan of action was formulated to connect the two. She began to work with her colleagues in Health Promotion and Improvement to bring together the Staff Health and Wellbeing (H&WB) Programme and Values in Action Together with colleagues Kirk St Lewis and Rosemary Scott, she created a Values in Action and Staff Health and Wellbeing workshop for staff. In the months that followed, they met with 150 people across five H&WB staff locations within the CHO. The workshops engaged staff in discussions around putting our Values in Action and raising awareness of all of the fantastic initiatives available to them through the Staff Health and Wellbeing programme.

Staff were encouraged by the open discussion around culture. A number of staff from these services have since become involved and now champion the Values in Action behaviours in their own workplaces. There is a heartening sense that staff are living the behaviours on these sites.HM

If you are curious about improving the culture in your own workplace; if you are interested in finding out how you can get involved with the Values in Action movement; or if you have a Values in Action story to share, feel free to email the ViA National Team at info.valuesinaction@hse.ie; and join the conversation on X @HSEvalues, using the hashtag #WeAreOurValues.

Smart Meetings Guidelines

In aligning the work with the 9 Values in Action Behaviours, the team developed a ViA ‘Smart Meetings Guideline’, bringing together the Healthy Ireland ‘Healthy Meetings Guidelines’ and the 9 Behaviours. The guideline includes a virtual meeting etiquette and tips for successful team meetings.

The SMART (Specific-MeasurableAchievable-Realistic-Timely) Meeting Guideline focuses on bringing the HSE values (Care, Compassion, Trust and Learning) into day-to-day work meetings in a very specific and measurable way using the SMART criteria. Meeting hosts can select one or two items; and focus on a specific area (such as A – Achievable), or a specific value (such as Care) and bring elements into their meeting as they wish.

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Values in action

Focusing on culture to enable change

Christine McGeough, Assistant Director of Midwifery, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital (OLOL) Drogheda; Grainne Milne, Director of Midwifery, OLOL; and Sinead Egan, Project Manager, National Values in Action team.

“If I was to do things differently in my career it would be to make culture a priority in the workplace. I see the importance of it now,” one nurse manager said at the recent Irish Association for the Directors of Nursing and Midwifery (IADNAM) Annual Conference.

At the conference, entitled ‘Healthcare at a Crossroads; Leadership, Integration and Consensus for the Future’, Margaret Stone from the National Engagement and Culture team presented on utilising a Values in Action approach in improving culture in the health service.

A consistent theme throughout was the importance of workplace culture as a key enabler in times of significant organisational change.

Margaret spoke about culture teams and their role in bringing culture change to a service area.

“Central to the Values in Action model, is that

Areas that have introduced culture change to their services are: • using the 9 behaviours to help to achieve their ‘deliverables’ – incorporating the behaviours into local service area processes, practices and policies such as induction, team meetings and communication processes • seeing improvements in staff and patient experience, with improved retention of staff • building individual and organisational capacity for change by embedding new skills and approaches to work, making change easier there is local ownership of culture in each area.

Enabling cross learning with culture teams in other service areas improves the overall culture of our health service. This improvement becomes visible through the actions that staff take every day,” she said.

She discussed how the core values of the organisation were translated into 9 visible and tangible behaviours and that practising and spreading these shape our culture.

The behaviours are spread through a grassroots approach. Values in Action is led by staff within the organisation who are identified by their peers; they spread the word, model the behaviours and establish a new ‘norm’ which forms the basis of the culture. HM HEALTH MATTERS WINTER 2023 | 71

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Feature

CARU

Programme aims to support and improve end-of-life care

The Caru Programme is an exciting new initiative of the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF), developed in partnership with the HSE and All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC), and proudly supported

by Kingspan.

The aim of the programme is to support and improve the delivery of compassionate, person-centred, palliative and end-of-life care to staff, residents, and family members in nursing homes. It is an evidence-based programme that will build on the nursing homes’ existing capability to enhance staff confidence with planning for and reviewing care given at end of life.

Dr Stephanie O’Keefe, National Director, Strategic Planning and Transformation, HSE, acknowledged the great work and experience that the partnership between IHF and AIIHPC brings to this programme. “The HSE as one of the lead funders of Caru, along with IHF and philanthropic funding, is pleased to be working in partnership with the IHF and AIIHPC to ensure that all nursing homes and their staff have the opportunity to participate in this high-

Dr Stephanie O’Keefe, National Director, Strategic Planning and Transformation, HSE; Jean Callanan, Chair, IHF; Maurice Dillon, National Lead for Palliative Care, Operations Planning; Siobhan Murphy, Director of Healthcare, IHF; Karen Charnley, Director of AIIHPC; Marty Whelan; Siobhan McArdle, ASG Department of Health; and Siobhán O’Dwyer, Global Head of Marketing and Public Affairs from the Kingspan Group.

quality continuous education programme over the next 5 years,” she said.

Caru is free to all nursing homes. It is delivered through a series of networking events, quality improvement workshops, webinars, and Project ECHO networks. Each CHO has a dedicated regional lead who liaises with the nursing homes and networks in the area to provide support and training. The networks provide a platform for staff to share knowledge and offer peer support to colleagues while giving the opportunity to engage with specialists and experts in the area of palliative, end-of-life and bereavement care.HM

For more information visit www.caru.ie, or call 01-6793188.

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Feature

ADM Mentorship Mentorship programme will help implement change under Assisted Decision-Making Act The Assisted DecisionMaking (Capacity) Act 2015 ensures each person’s right to make autonomous and independent decisions for as long as possible.

In response to feedback and consultations with staff, a 12-month Mentorship Programme specific to the Act has been established by the HSE National Office for Human Rights and Equality Policy, Strategy and Research.

This programme will support staff to move from theory to practice in implementing the changes required under the Act. Applications for the mentors and mentees in the programme were received through expressions of interest in May and June 2023. Participants were selected to participate in the programme based on them meeting specific knowledge, skills and attributes for each role. Applications were received from across the HSE and health and social care disciplines.

This ADM mentorship programme officially commenced in September 2023 with 46 mentors and over 500 mentees who will now work together for the coming 12 months. Each mentor has an average of 12 mentees in their set.

The programme officially kicked off with six

Grant Allott, Aileen Colley and Jacqueline Grogan, National Office for Human Rights and Equality Policy; Shem Romanowski; Cathy PearseCribben; and Caoimhe Gleeson, National Office for Human Rights and Equality Policy.

workshops for mentors and mentees taking place across the country in late September and early October.

Following these events, mentors will meet with their mentees on a monthly basis. The monthly mentorship meeting provides time and space to work through anonymised cases, themes and topics to engage participants to generate options and collaboratively problem solve, ensuring the principles of the Act and the rights of the person utilising the Act is kept foremost at all times.

The anonymised case

studies, which are the focus of the monthly sessions, will be written up and collated into a central repository ‘toolkit’ to support learning across and beyond the 2023 mentorship programme. It will be utilised by the National Office for Human Rights and Equality Policy for future training and policy development.

The mentees are also encouraged to share insights and new learning from their participation in the sessions with others across their teams/disciplines/ services, generating a better understanding of the Act and its implementation. HM

For further information on the HSE ADM Mentorship Programme, please contact adm.mentorship@hse.ie.

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Events

Events and functions HSE supports 30th European Congress of Obesity

NCHD Leads gather for autumn workshop National Lead NCHDs, Dr Daniel Creegan and Dr Seán Casey hosted their Lead NCHD autumn workshop. Dr Creegan and Dr Casey welcomed over 40 NCHD Leads from across the country to Dr Steevens' Hospital for this full-day event where they introduced their plans for the year and ideas regarding collaboration across sites for Quality Improvement initiatives.

This group represented a wide and disparate number of medical specialties, nationalities, grades and hospital sites.

A highlight from the day was an insightful and engaging talk from Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE, on the importance of leadership in healthcare.

He provided invaluable advice to doctors setting out in their careers in healthcare leadership.

The NCHD Leads also heard from Prof Brian Kinirons, Medical Director of NDTP, who outlined the NDTP strategy and the important role that Lead NCHDs across the country will play in the realisation of this strategy.

The afternoon session was dedicated to all things quality improvement.

NCHD Leads will undertake and deliver QI initiatives throughout their tenure. This event provided a collaborative space for them to brainstorm their projects, with direct support from QI experts.

Previous Lead NCHD Award Winners Dr Grace O’Dea and Dr Eleanor Jenkins kicked off the QI segment with presentations on their winning QI projects.

The next NCHD Lead workshop will be held in December and will include more speakers.

More details will be shared soon. HM

The European Congress of Obesity (ECO), the largest annual scientific congress on obesity in Europe, was held in Dublin this year. It is a must-attend event for healthcare professionals working in all aspects of obesity prevention, management, and research.

It was hosted by the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) and the Association for the Study of Obesity in Ireland (ASOI) and it attracted over 2,400 delegates from over 70 countries, representing a wide range of healthcare professions, including physicians, nurses, dietitians, physiotherapists, psychologists, and researchers.

The programme at ECO 2023 ran over four days, with an exceptional scientific programme, engaging teaching workshops, excellent poster sessions and a lively social programme, all with the aim of advancing the understanding of obesity and its complexities.

The scientific programme featured over 1,000 presentations on the latest advances in obesity research and practice. It included lectures, workshops, discussion sessions and poster presentations, covering a broad range of obesity-related topics and delivered by key opinion leaders and experts. There was a strong emphasis on interaction, networking, collaboration and sharing.

As a key sponsor of this event, HSE Health and Wellbeing is committed to supporting obesity research, and encourage learning and sharing best practice in obesity prevention and management. The Healthy Eating Active Living Programme and Obesity National Clinical Programmes had an information stand at the event and team members were proud to be involved in poster presentations, chairing sessions and presenting on the work of the programme. As well as sponsoring a prevention workshop at the congress, the HSE also promoted the congress to all healthcare professionals, and sponsored 19 healthcare professionals to attend via an application process. The allocated places were from individuals working all over Ireland, across disciplines and stakeholder groups. HM

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Events

Conference examines environmental influences on positive mental health

Galway Roscommon Mental Health Services (GRMHS) recently held their annual co-produced conference entitled 'Environmental Influences on Positive Mental Health'.

A large number of staff and service users attended the event, which also showcased poster presentations from nursing services staff and displays on recent quality projects completed within the service.

The conference was divided into two parts: the mental health benefits of the environment around us; and the environments of our workplaces.

The Resilience Handbook for Staff was launched by Charlie Meehan, Head of Mental Health Services, Community Healthcare West, a project completed by members of the GRMHS Steering group and now available for all staff. The handbook signposts staff to supports in their area and nationally.

Dr Brendan Dunford from the Burrenbeo Trust presented on the rich benefits of the Burren and nature for our mental health. He highlighted the restorative power of nature and the beauty that lies around us each day.

Annette Connolly, Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development Officer, delivered an overview on how Professional Development Planning and Performance Achievement Interviews can assist all staff to reach their goals and sustain their working in GRMHS. Gerry Farrell, psychotherapist and clinical supervisor, gave an engaging talk on how we as individuals create the environments we work in.

The day concluded with Anthony Fitzpatrick, Regional Nurse Practice Development Co-ordinator, reminding the audience on the great improvements within GRMHS over the last number of years through various projects and innovations.

He reiterated the message of caring for ourselves to ensure we can care for others.HM

Cork comes together for free mental health and wellbeing event Cork Kerry Community Healthcare hosted the first Together at the Lodge free mental health and wellbeing event at the Midleton Lodge Park in October.

This followed on from the successful Together at the Castle in Mallow.

Over 6,500 people came out to enjoy entertainment, recreational activities, workshops and informational spaces provided by over 50 local community groups and organisations across the two days. The event aims to foster a sense of community and raise awareness about the support services available for mental health and wellbeing. This free community fun day is open to all and sees Cork Kerry Community Healthcare partner with Cork County Council, local Chambers and community services.

Julie O’Neill, Interim Head of Service, Mental Health Services, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, said, “I am delighted that Mental Health Services, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, HSE are supporting Together at the Lodge. Working collaboratively with our colleague organisations in the statutory, community and voluntary sectors in the East Cork region is vital in the ongoing promotion of mental health and wellbeing and reduction of stigma.”

Nora Conway, Social Prescriber, Community Health and Wellbeing Link Worker, said, “Together at the Lodge is a fabulous event to celebrate positive mental health and wellbeing.

The day promises to be fun-filled and informative with a variety of events taking place, including music, family and child-friendly events, workshops and more.” HM

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Events

Health protection strategy delivering ‘dynamic and comprehensive’ threat responses Hundreds of HSE staff from around the country heard how the COVID-19 pandemic illustrated the fundamental importance of building a strong health protection service.

Speaking at a major conference to reflect on the first year of the HSE’s National Health Protection Strategy, HSE National Director for Health Protection, Dr Eamonn O’Moore, outlined how the five-year strategy has begun to put in place robust mechanisms to help protect the public by delivering a dynamic, flexible and comprehensive response to emerging threats.

Participants heard from national and international experts including Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Breda Smyth, Head of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Dr Andrea Ammon, Chief Medical Advisor to the UK Health Security Agency, Professor Susan Hopkins and HSE National Director for Public Health Dr John Cuddihy.

Professor Smyth said that Ireland continues to work nationally and with EU partners to assess, learn and implement the lessons from COVID-19 and she acknowledged the work of frontline public health staff around Ireland.

She told delegates that the conference provided a welcome opportunity to take stock of what we have learned from the experience of recent years and prepare for the future.

The conference also heard of the importance of taking an all hazards approach to health threats, to include chemical and radiation incidents and environmental hazards. Other important topics discussed included health inequalities, antibiotic resistance, vaccination strategy, migrant health and influence of deprivation, and affluence in relation to COVID-19. It also provided a forum for networking and learning between colleagues, nationally and internationally. HM

170 attendees gather for child and family integrated care conference The first conference bringing the clinical stakeholders and national leads across disciplines together to discuss integrated care in children was held in Galway recently.

The Centre of Nursing and Midwifery Education (CNME) Galway received a request from clinical stakeholders for an educational event to support dialogue around integrated care for the child and family and collaborated with CNME Mayo Roscommon on the event.

The conference brought national programme leads, Department of Health and Office of Nursing and Midwifery Service Directorate leads, Tusla and local and regional clinical drivers together to open a discussion on integrated care.

It has created an opportunity for networking and understanding of the broader healthcare environment from ‘other’ service perspective.

The conference also provided guidance on providing the foundations for implementing integrated care.

Building foundations was described as having an agreed shared purpose and a focus on relationships, systems and network. Culture change is anchored in a shared purpose. The shared purpose is the child and the family. The conference created the space to allow for this networking and provided an understanding of the roles and challenges within other areas. HM

The HSE Health Protection Strategy 2022-2027 is available on www.hpsc.ie 76 | HEALTH MATTERS WINTER 2023

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Events Patient Flow Academy Introductory event held

Patient advocate and healthcare campaigner John Wall; Assistant National Director, Performance and Analytics (OPI) Sonya Cotter; and HSE National Director, Operational Performance and Integration (OPI) Joe Ryan.

The recent ‘Introduction to the Patient Flow Academy’ event, chaired by the National Director, Operational Performance and Integration, Joe Ryan, brought together nearly 200 colleagues in person from all over the country to hear about a range of issues. These included driving improvement in the HSE, an introduction to the Patient Flow Academy and the principles of good patient discharge to improve patient flow.

The HSE Patient Flow Academy will improve patient flow by supporting health and social care staff to identify, define and improve processes, pathways and systems for the safe, timely and effective delivery of care driven by a culture of quality improvement. This will be achieved through the development and delivery of supports and resources targeting a number of workstreams.

Attendees at the event heard from senior colleagues in the HSE, expert speakers working in improving patient flow, including keynote speakers Dr Liz Lees, Professor of Nursing Practice, Centre for Care Excellence, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, and Dr Mike O’Connor, HSE National Clinical Advisor, Acute Operations.

In his opening address, the HSE Chief Operating Officer, Damien McCallion, highlighted the importance of driving improvement in the HSE. We heard from HSE leaders from teams around the country about driving improvement for patient safety, quality and care through enhanced integrated patient flow. HM

Patient voice important to help influence and design HSE services The first annual HSE National Conference on Patient and Public Partnership took place in Dublin’s Convention Centre recently, bringing together patient advocates, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders.

Patient partnership is a key priority for the HSE and an emphasis is now being placed on how HSE services can partner with patients to ensure patient voices are heard and that the experiences of patients have a real and meaningful impact and influence on the design, delivery and evaluation of HSE services.

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the invaluable role that patients and service users play in shaping healthcare delivery, policy development, and organisational governance.

A lot of work is underway to increase partnership with patients but much remains to be done.

The national conference was organised by the HSE in partnership with patient partnership groups including the HSE’s National Patient and Service User Forum, the Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science and Industry (IPPOSI) and Patients for Patient Safety Ireland.

Bernard Gloster, HSE CEO, said, “We recognise that partnership initiatives are currently taking place across the Irish health sector, but in different ways and with varying degrees of success. We know that common approaches are needed to ensure shared expectations are realised and agreed goals are met.

“Partnership with patients and service users (and their families, carers, and supporters) will be a cornerstone of how we work across our health system and broader health sector. This requires a cultural shift, but this move is in line with international best practices and offers numerous opportunities. The HSE is committed to partnering with patients to ensure more and more patients will influence decisions on the design, delivery and evaluation of health services.” HM Joe Ryan, HSE National Director, Operational Performance and Integration; Lorna Kerin, Manager Public Patient Involvement Unit, University of Limerick; Anne Lawlor, Chair of 22q11 and HSE National Patient Forum Chairperson; and Iolo Eilian, HSE Assistant National Director, Patient and Service User Experience Lead.

You will find more information at hse.ie/ patientflowacademy HEALTH MATTERS WINTER 2023 | 77

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Health

Health and wellbeing Equipping exercise professionals to work with people living with chronic disease

If you are interested in being involved, you can contact Brona.kehoe@setu.ie or sarahb.obrien@hse.ie

Regular physical activity is a ‘wonder drug’ when it comes to reducing the risk of developing chronic disease as well as helping those with chronic disease to live well.

When it comes to getting more active we all need support some-times. There are so many opportunities in our communities to become more active – whether it is through exercise classes, sports clubs, or walking groups.

Sarah O’Brien, National Lead, HSE Healthy Eating Active Living Programme, explained, “We know from research that the majority of people living with chronic disease can exercise safely in the community.

“However, we also know from speaking with people living with chronic disease and their healthcare teams that sometimes they don’t use these opportunities because they are concerned about what is safe and good to do, and whether exercise professionals delivering the programmes know about

their conditions.”

The HSE Healthy Eating Active Living Programme is working with Sport Ireland and Local Sports Partnerships through the Physical Activity Chronic Conditions project (PACC). Through this project we are exploring how we can improve access to community sport and physical activity for people living with chronic disease.

One of the areas identified is the need to ensure the physical activity or exercise professional workforce have access to appropriate training and certification to increase confidence in communitybased physical activity programmes and improve the experience of participants.

Over the next few months a team from South East Technical University, led by Dr Brona Kehoe, will be inviting a range of health professionals and stakeholders to discuss the factors that are important when designing and delivering this training and certification. HM

HSE Health and Wellbeing launch new podcast A new podcast has been launched by HSE Health and Wellbeing called HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing. Hosted

by HSE staff, the podcast is focused on how the HSE and their partners are working to promote health across a variety of topics. Listeners will benefit from insights from those working in the field and the episodes will provide support for anyone working in or interested in health and wellbeing.

The first season was launched in March, with a second season just started in September. Both seasons cover a very broad variety of health and wellbeing topics. Season two features an even greater variety of speakers and topics, including a healthy lunchbox for kids, reducing your risk of cancer and a popular episode about financial wellbeing.

The podcasts have allowed listeners an accessible way to listen to staff and service users as they give their insights on various areas of health and wellbeing, including the transformative effect of behaviour change supported by the HSE. Listening to a podcast can be a relaxing and convenient way to keep yourself up to date with areas of interest.

The team behind the HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast hope that for many of their busy colleagues and allies, this format will enable them to get some useful information and learning at a time and place that suits.

Many people listen to podcasts in the same way they would listen to the radio, in the car or while out for a walk.

New episodes will be uploaded on a weekly basis over the coming weeks.

The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and the HSE YouTube channel. HM

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Health 3,600 books gifted to hospital patients The Arts Council, in collaboaration with HSE Healthy Ireland, celebrated Culture Night 2023 across a number of selected hospitals around the country. As part of the Read Mór initiative, 3,600 books were gifted to patients across seven different hospitals: Connolly Hospital, Dublin; Letterkenny University Hospital; Portiuncula University Hospital, Galway; St Luke’s General Hospital, Kilkenny; Naas General Hospital; Ennis General Hospital; and Croom Hospital, Limerick.

The initiative encourages the art of reading, supporting and celebrating living Irish and Irishbased authors and publishers, in addition to providing an opportunity to share the joy of reading with patients who otherwise may not have an opportunity to partake in other events on Culture Night due to their stay in hospital.

The Read Mór ‘Book Doctors’ and their teams visited the wards/units and public spaces in the selected hospitals across the HSE. The wards/units were carefully selected in collaboration with each hospital, ensuring the initiative of book-gifting added value to the in-patient experience.

When each book was read, patients were encouraged to share the joy of reading by passing on their book when they left hospital to a family

Programme aims to encourage people to try new activities Community health workers from across Cork city and county collaborated to deliver a jam-packed dynamic programme for the third annual ‘Get Active - Get Connected’ Community Health Month in October.

Over 35 activities took place throughout the month, with something on offer for people at every stage of their lives, ranging from: ‘Maintaining Mobility’ classes, ‘Minding Your Wellbeing’ workshops - delivered in Arabic and English, a ‘Women’s Health - The Menopause: Be Part of the Conversation’ workshop, Traveller Cultural Awareness Training, Baby and Toddler First Aid workshops and much more.

Sorcha Ni Chrualaoich, Principal Community Worker, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, said, “As a team, we are very proud of the wide variety of health-focused initiatives that were on offer within our ‘Get Active - Get Connected’ calendar of events, which provides a snapshot of some of our on-theground work within the community. Our aim was

member or friend. With a wide variety of books gifted, some as Gaeilge, there were titles to suit all interests and ages, from novels, short stories, poetry and memoirs, to children’s and young adult books.

Audiobook versions of a selection of the titles were also available.

HSE National Healthy Ireland Lead, Sarah McCormack, would like to thank each and every one of the Healthy Ireland Hospital Group Project Managers and their local teams in helping to make this special event happen.HM

to encourage people of all ages to try out some new activities and develop some new friendships.”

HSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcare’s community health workers have been enhancing community health and wellbeing over the past 20 years. They work to support and promote the development of sustainable health initiatives.

These initiatives are developed based on localised needs, with the long-term aim of inspiring people to improve their own health and wellbeing. Community health workers also work collaboratively with a wide variety of local voluntary, statutory and community organisations to improve the health and lifestyle of a community. HM

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29/11/2023 18:06

Ways to unwind

Ways to unwind Keep a clearer head – and feel better

The Christmas and New Year period is full of parties and get-togethers.

It is a rare chance for us all to unwind and celebrate. However, it is too easy to go overboard on the alcohol over the festive period.

Why not consider cutting back on the amount you drink. As well as the benefits for your mental health, there are so many other upsides to reducing your alcohol intake.

No more hangovers You may spend your weekends nursing a hangover or suffering from ‘the fear’. This is the low mood that often follows a night’s drinking.

To wake up with a clear head and feeling energetic can be a welcome break.

This will help you to make the most of your free time.

Taking the focus off alcohol can give you new experiences that do not involve drinking.

More money 1 in 3 Irish people spend between €30 to €75 a week on alcohol.

Depending on how much you drink, you could save a lot by cutting back.

A healthier you The less you drink, the lower the risk to your health.

Short-term benefits of taking a break or cutting down can include: • lower blood sugar • lower blood pressure • fewer alcohol-related symptoms, like headaches, heartburn, indigestion and stomach upsets • less fatty build-up around the liver • improving existing conditions - depression, high blood pressure or skin conditions such as rosacea • better sleep • more energy • weight loss • better absorption of nutrients like vitamins B1 and B12, folic acid and zinc • fewer injuries Long-term benefits include greatly reducing your risk of: • high blood pressure and strokes • depression and anxiety • 7 kinds of cancer • liver disease • many other alcoholrelated conditions

Freephone the HSE Drugs and Alcohol Helpline on 1800 459 459 for confidential information and support.

Tips for drinking less on a night out: • Go out later.

• Bring less money.

• Order smaller drinks – a glass rather than a bottle or pint, a single measure rather than a double.

• Pick lower strength drinks.

• Alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic or soft drinks.

• Drink slowly - sip your drinks and wait until you've finished one before you order another.

• Avoid buying rounds, or buy yourself a non-alcoholic drink when it’s your round.

• If you’re leaving, leave your drink unfinished.

Tips for drinking less at home: • Stock up on low-alcohol or alcohol-free drinks.

• Use a standard measure for spirits, rather than pouring ‘freehand’.

• Start drinking a bit later - go for a walk, have a shower or do some extra jobs or activity first.

• Change your routine to find new things to do at your usual ‘drinking times’.

• If you're giving up or drinking less, do not keep alcohol at home.

• Consider not buying alcohol in your weekly shopping.

• Do not store alcohol in the fridge keep it out of the way in a cupboard or cabinet in a room other than the kitchen or sitting room.

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HealthIRL is a secure domain that allows users to: • Access Microsoft Teams, Office 365 and cloud systems • Login from any location on any HSE device • Keep the same login if you relocate between HSE regions

If you have not been migrated yet contact: Healthirl.migration@hse.ie

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If you work in healthcare, you are at increased risk of being exposed to flu and COVID-19

Vaccines are safe and effective and provide the best protection from flu and COVID-19.

You can get both vaccines at the same appointment.

Your flu and COVID-19 vaccines may be available at work, and also from participating GPs and pharmacies.

Visit HSELand for vaccine training and resources Cover_HSE Health Matters.indd 4

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