148129 St Vincents Healthwise 05.07 - St Vincent's University Hospital

INFORMATION AND HEALTH NEWS FOR SAINT VINCENT’S HEALTHCARE GROUP
Issue 49 / May 2007
HEAL HEALTHY EATING/ACTIVE LIVING
– WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IN SVUH?
Healthy Eating – Outdoor Option – Why not bring your lunch to a table in
the outdoor area of the staff restaurant.
SVUH are applying for the IHF’s Workplace Healthy Eating Award. To get this
award we must have a ‘chip free day’ every week. Thursday is to be ‘chip free
day’ and it will be launched on Hospital Challenge Day on Thursday 17th May
2007.
Other potato options include baked, boiled or mashed. Rice is also an option.
Ethnic options available on Tuesday and Thursday.
Enjoy any of the many choices available each day.
STAFF RESTAURANT
There are five main points of service in the system.
1. The Carvery
Available here are two succulent joints, carved
personally by the chef.
2. Hot Favourites & Healthy Options
A variety of healthy options plus vegetarian, fish
and an ethnic dish of the day is served on
Tuesday and Thursdays all served with a choice
of fresh vegetables, potatoes and rice.
3. Snack Bar
Snack meals served for the not so-hungry.
Grab & Go!
4. Panini/Baguettes/Rolls
Panini cooked to order and served with a side
salad.
5. Sandwich Bar
Sandwiches freshly made to order.
Oodles of healthy salads continuously
replenished.
And there’s more!
Interspersed between these five stations are
numerous other dispensers for prepared sandwiches
and wraps, speciality breads, muffins, scones, yogurts,
soft drinks, juices and fresh fruit.
BRING YOUR FEET FOR A WALK!! SLÍ NA SLÁINTE
Join in one of our guided walks around our new Slí na
Sláinte route on the 17th of May at 12:30 or 1:15pm.It
only takes 15 minutes.
Meeting point will be at the Slí na Sláinte sign at the
new main entrance into the hospital.
See you there!
• Proceed with due care and attention, uneven
surface risk in a number of areas along the
route
• Wear flat appropriate footwear
• Fire Road at back of Hospital: co-operate and
do not cause obstruction in event of
emergency
Slí na Sláinte SVUH circuit can be enjoyed
anytime.Why not really ‘unwind’ at lunchtime.
Walk the Slí alone or with colleagues or friends.
WOMEN’S
MINI
MARATHON
Have you thought of
walking or running
the Women’s Mini
Marathon. It takes
place this year on
Monday 4th June.
Information and
registration forms
available on the
SVUH Intranet.
Why not join in as a
department team
and collect some
money for a charity
of your choice.

MAKING A WILL
What is a Will?
A Will is a written document which sets out the
deceased’s expressed wishes in relation to the
distribution of his/her property and assets after death.
Why should I make a Will?
Everyone has some money, belongings or property.
Even if the value is very small it is still important that
you clearly indicate what you wish to happen to these
after your death.
It is a good way of safeguarding the future of those
whom you care for. Making a Will keeps everything
simple and allows you to decide who gets what, with
the least amount of delay and hassle after you’re gone.
It is very important for you to make a Will if you have
young children especially under the age of 18 or if you
have long-term dependants.
How do I make a Will?
A person may make as many Wills as he/she
wishes, but the only relevant one is the last
valid Will made before his death.
• For a Will to be valid in Ireland, the person must be
aged 18 years or over or have been married
• Act of his own free will and be of sound mind,
memory and understanding.
• It is recommended practice for the Will to open by
stating your name and address, followed by a clause
revoking all earlier Wills.
A solicitor is not required to draw up a Will but if you
draw up your own Will you must have it witnessed by
two people.
Choosing an Executor/s
You should choose a trustworthy person or persons
best suited to carrying into effect the provisions of
your Will.You may select your friends or relatives i.e.
sons or daughters.
It is also wise to ask somebody who is younger than
you and it is advisable to have at least two executors.
What happens if I die without making a will?
If you die without making a Will you are said to have
died ‘intestate’.The Succession Act 1965 provides that
your spouse is entitled to your entire estate if there
are no children and otherwise two thirds (one third
goes to your children). If you do not have a spouse,
your entire estate goes to your children (Children of a
deceased child taking their parent’s share).
It is particularly important to make a Will if you have
‘dependant’ people in your life i.e. children, people
with special needs or intellectual disability.
Probate
Probate is issued to one or more executors named in
the deceased’s Will.
When a person dies somebody has to deal with their
estate. Paying any debts and distributing what is left to
those people entitled to it. In order to get authority
to do this they usually need to obtain a legal
document called a Grant of Representation from the
Probate Registry.
Letters of Administration (with Will)
This letter is issued when there is a Will but there is
no executor named or when the executors are unable
or unwilling to apply for the grant of probate.
Letters of Administration are issued when the
deceased has not made a Will, or any Will made is not
valid.
Renouncing or losing rights under a Will
There are various circumstances in which a spouse
may renounce his/her rights to succeed to the other
spouse’s estate. Sometimes this might be done prior
to marriage this is not unusual in second marriages; or
the spouse may waive the right in favour of a child or
children. Such a renunciation may be set aside for
public policy reasons in certain circumstances, for
example where there is evidence of undue influence,
evidence that the spouse did not understand the
nature and effect of what he/she was doing or did not
have independent legal advice.
If a couple are separated it is usual to renounce rights
to each others estates in a separation agreement.A
separation does not always involve renunciation of
succession rights. Divorce, however always ends
succession rights and this is one of the factors taken
into account when financial settlements and property
orders are being made in a divorce settlement.
Non-married partners have no legal rights to each
others estates. Partners may, of course make Wills in
favour of each other but such Wills may not negatise
the legal right of a spouse.
A Will is a very
important
document.
For further
information on
making a Will feel
free to visit the
Citizens Information
Stand in the Main
Corridor of SVUH
any Wednesday from
100.00am to 4pm or
contact a solicitor.

15TH INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE ON HEALTH
PROMOTING HOSPITALS (HPH)
VIENNA, AUSTRIA APRIL 11TH – 13TH, 2007
The theme of this year’s conference was “Contributions
of HPH to the improvement of quality of care, quality of
life and quality of health systems.”
Over 500 delegates attended the conference from 33
countries. Ireland had 50 delegates who participated
representing their work from hospitals around the
country. Denise Comerford, SVUH facilitated a workshop
on the “Development of a strategic approach to
promoting safe alcohol consumption in your workplace”.
This workshop was well received with participants from
all over the world e.g.Taiwan, Canada and Italy. Dr.Anna
Clarke, SVUH presented on “Secular trends in Smoking in
St Vincent’s University Hospital 1977-2006 - Support for
an outright Campus Wide Ban?”
A wide range of topics was presented at the conference.
These included; patient’s safety, health promotion for
hospital staff, and the link between health promoting
hospitals and the community.All of these are common
challenges for health promoting hospitals worldwide.
One of the main topics focused on, was “Migrant
Friendly and Culturally Competent Hospitals”.This
encompassed the need for hospitals to embrace and
celebrate cultural diversity within staff and patient
groups and to become aware of the health literacy
issues that these ethnic groups may be experiencing.
Many members of ethnic groups not only have literacy
problems relating to English but also within their own
language and particularly in relation to medical matters.
Ireland is a multi-cultural country similar to most EU
countries and issues relating to access and provision of
appropriate health care services for minority ethnic
groups are challenges that need to be overcome.A
number of hospitals worldwide presented strategies
that have been put in place to overcome the barriers
that ethnic groups may be experiencing when accessing
health care services.The HPH network has a migrant
friendly project to support hospitals in programmes
relating to cultural diversity.
The opportunity for informal networking that a meeting
such as this provides is invaluable to get new ideas for
health promotion in SVUH and as always we have come
home energised and enthusiastic for the year ahead.
Vienna is a beautiful city with amazing architecture and
friendly people.We appreciated the opportunity to visit
this city, to dine in the “Rath Haus” (Town Hall) and
listen to a Viennese Orchestra. It was truly a wonderful
experience for
participating
delegates.
The 16th
International
Meeting will be
held in Berlin,
Germany in
May 2008.
Irene Gilroy, Denise
Comerford and Dr.
Anna Clarke at Dr.
Clarke’s presentation
MINISTER HANAFIN OPENS
UCD ST VINCENT’S GENOME
RESOURCE UNIT
The official opening of the UCD St Vincent’s
Genome Resource Unit by the Minister for
Education, Mary Hanafin TD, on 23 April 2007,
sees Irish patients making further contributions
to the Human Genome Project.The new unit
will enable scientists to share and compare
genetic data from Irish patient populations with
data from patient populations worldwide.
“Debilitating diseases such as heart failure,
cancer, arthritis and diabetes are major
research priorities for clinical investigators,”
said the Minister at the official opening.“This
facility will allow leading researchers to
investigate these diseases further with the
potential of designing focused therapies for
these disabling conditions.This is a valuable
addition to improving the quality of care for
patients in the future.
Dr Hugh Brady, President, UCD; Mary Hanafin
TD, Minister for Education and Science; Dr
Seamas Donnelly, Director, UCD ST Vincent’s
Genome Resource Unit; Prof Noel Whelan,
Chair, St Vincent's Board; Dr Risteard O'Laoide,
Chair, St Vincent's Medical Board
YOUR MISSION
To help the stranger along the road; to lend
a hand and to ease the load. To cling to that
which is good and true. That’s what you’re
put on this earth to do. To do the kind and
the friendly deed wherever the path in life
may lead.
To seize each change that might come
along – to meet a need and to right a
wrong. To share the blessings that heaven
sends, and not to garner for selfish ends…
To do your duty with joy and zest – giving
your utmost, your all, your best.

HOSPITAL CHALLENGE DAY
JUST 15 MINUTES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
- YOUR WAY-
EVERYDAY
What can you do?
1. Become a department representative.
2. Pledge to do 15 minutes physical activity of your
choice between 10:00am on Thursday 17th May
and 10:00am Friday 18th May and sign the pledge
forms.
3. Join in the fun on the day.
Mr. Eamonn Coghlan (four time Olympian Runner)
will launch the SVUH Slí na Sláinte (Irish Heart
Foundation walking route). Launch will take place at
9:45am on Thursday 17th May at the main hospital
entrance. Join in the fun.There will be refreshments
served in the hospital restaurant after the official
launch. Come to the Hospital Challenge Day Stand.
There will be lunchtime walks on Thursday around
the route.An information stand will be sited in the
hospital main hall from Monday 14th May. Sign up
forms will be available at the stand.
So come along on the day and join us for fun, snacks,
and raffles and get an opportunity to meet
colleagues from other departments.
The DART CHALLENGE
How long does it take to walk from the Sydney
Parade DART Station? We want to find out. The
Department of Preventive Medicine/Health
Promotion staff will be at the Station from 7.15am
on Thursday 17th May.They will hand out survey
sheets. Bring completed forms to the Hospital
Challenge Day Stand between 10.00am and 11.00am
to received refreshments and to be entered into a
draw for €50 Lifestyle vouchers. Department reps.
and other Hospital Challenge Day participants will
also be entered into other draws for vouchers.
For further information, please contact Denise
Comerford or Irene Gilroy in the Dept of Preventive
Medicine on ext 4958 or
email i.gilroy@st-vincents.ie.
Sheridan’s Juice Bar
has opened in the new hospital building.
Opening offer in conjunction with
Hospital Challenge Day.
Half Price offer on all drinks from 10.00am
on Thursday 17th May (all day).
Sheridan’s have also given us some vouchers
to distribute for free drinks on that day.
PHYSICAL
MENTAL
SOCIAL
Healthy Heart & Lungs
Reduced cholesterol
Reduced risk of Cancer
and Stroke
Weight Management
Stronger muscles
Increased mobility
Increased energy
Reduced risk of back
pain
Reduced risk of
Osteoporosis
Reduced risk of
diabetes
Improved complexion
Increased self-esteem
Clearer thinking
Better mood, less
anxiety and depression
Better sleep
Stress Management
Improved concentration
Reduced tension
Relaxation
Time to think
Fresh air
Meet people
Opportunity to chat
Fun/Enjoyment
Interact with
environment
Develop social support
networks
Time to think
Benefits
of
Physical
Activity
HEALTHWISE 2007 – DEADLINES FOR CONTRIBUTIONS:
Contributions for next issue of Healthwise should be sent to Denise Comerford, Health Promotion Coordinator
@ health.promo@st-vincents.ie, deadline for next issue is 17th July 2007