CNO Newsletter March 2011 - Department of Health, Social ...

“OT’s Greatest Hits”The OT’s Greatest Hits eveningorganized by the Northern IrelandBoard of the British Associationand College of OccupationalTherapists was to acknowledgeoccupational therapists whohave retired recently, and tocelebrate those who have receivedrecognition during the past year fortheir contribution to occupationaltherapy in Northern Ireland.Martin Bradley, Chief NursingOfficer made the presentations.Paraig O Brien was recognizedfor his Fellowship of the Collegeof Occupational Therapists. Theaward of Fellowship is the highesthonour the College can bestow onone of the professional members inrecognition of exceptional serviceand outstanding contribution tothe profession. Paraig trained asan occupational therapist at theUlster University and has workedacross a wide range of areas buthis vision has always been tocreate the best possible servicesfor disabled people. His passion forthe occupational therapy professionand the work that he does is alwaysevident. He has contributed tothe profession by his involvementin research, policy, educationand practice. Paraig now worksas Housing Adaptations LiaisonOfficer, Northern Ireland HousingExecutive/DHSSPS and is presentlyinvolved in a Review of HousingAdaptations in Northern Ireland.Rhoda Baxter, OccupationalTherapist and Pavestone CentreManager, was awarded an MBEL to R: Martin Bradley CNO, Paraig O’Brien, Rhoda Baxter, John McAuley andJames Leckeyin the Queen’s Birthday Honourslist this year for her services topeople with disabilities in NorthernIreland. This is a well deservedaward in recognition of Rhoda’swork over the years. Rhoda has hada wide range of experience witha particular interest in vocationalrehabilitation. She has alsoworked as an occupational therapylecturer at the University of Ulster.In 2003 Rhoda was appointed asManager of the Pavestone Centrein Coleraine, (PAVE stands forPreparation and Assessment forVocation and Enjoyment).John Mc Auley is an occupationaltherapy technical instructor in RoyalHospitals, Belfast Health and SocialCare Trust in Care of the Elderly.John was recognized as this year hewas the HSC Innovations ElevationAward Winner for ‘EquipmentDesign of the Year’. John’sinnovation was a ‘Portable kneeblocker for use in occupationaltherapy’.James Leckey was acknowledgedas a recipient of an Honorary Fellowof the College of OccupationalTherapists this year. James is ChiefExecutive of James Leckey DesignLtd, based in Northern Ireland –which designs and manufacturespositioning equipment for childrenwith cerebral palsy, musculardystrophy, spina bifida and otherspecial needs. James has beenworking in partnership with DrAlison Porter-Armstrong, SeniorLecturer in Rehabilitation Sciencesand Jackie Casey, Lecturer inOccupational Therapy who bothwork at the University of Ulster.9

NEWSNursing and MidwiferyCouncil UpdateAdvice and information for employers ofnurses and midwives.The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)has produced a booklet that sets out the keyresponsibilities for employers of the UK’s 660,000registered nurses and midwives. The bookletintroduces employers, not all of whom will be a nurseor midwife, to the NMC, and informs employers abouttheir responsibilities for making sure their nursesand midwives continue to meet the registrationrequirements and are fit to practise.NMC Chief Executive and Registrar, ProfessorDickon Weir-Hughes said: “Not everyone involved inthe employment of nurses and midwives will be anurse or midwife themselves so we need to makesure everyone understands our role and the jointresponsibility we share in ensuring the health andwellbeing of the public.The way in which healthcare is delivered is changing,particularly as more care is moved into the community.Employers are responsible for the conduct andperformance of their staff and will need to developnew and innovative ways to ensure their nursesand midwives receive regular appraisals and thateducation and training opportunities are madeavailable”.Fitness to Practice ReferralsThe guide also informs employers about the processfor referring someone to the NMC for investigation.“Our role is not to punish nurses and midwives. Ourrole is to safeguard the health and wellbeing of thepublic from nurses and midwives whose fitness topractise is impaired and whose situation cannot bemanaged locally. This new guide will help employersto identify when they should be referring someoneto us for investigation and when they should bemanaging these issues through their own disciplinaryprocedures.”Raising and escalating concerns.Guidance for nurses and midwivesEvery registered nurse and midwife in the UK hasbeen sent information about how to raise and escalateconcerns about the safety or wellbeing of people intheir care.The NMC has produced guidance underpinned by theprinciples set out in the Code: Standards of conduct,performance and ethics for nurses and midwivesand Guidance on professional conduct for nursingand midwifery students. The raising and escalatingconcerns booklet is for all nurses, midwives and preregistrationnursing and midwifery students. It willestablish principles for best practice in the raising andescalating of concerns and aims to complement localwhistle blowing policies and safeguarding procedures.NMC has developed a specific section on their websiteto provide further information. This can be accessedfrom www.nmc-uk.org and explains the processesthat should be followed and provides informationabout the legislation in this area and indicates whereconfidential support and advice can be accessed.Commenting on the new guidance, NMC ChiefExecutive and Registrar, Professor Dickon Weir-Hughes said: “Poor care must never be tolerated. Thisnew guidance will support nurses and midwives toeffectively manage risk and empower them to speakout on behalf of the people and families in theircare. However raising a concern is only the first step.This guidance will only be effective if managers andsenior staff are committed to a culture that openlyencourages people to raise concerns. I encouragenursing and midwifery leaders to be proactive in theirapproach to disseminating the guidance to their staffand urge them to nominate a champion to lead onimplementing the guidance across their organisation.”(For further information on regulation of theprofessions see back page for details)10

Perinatal Mental Health LaunchOn the 9th December MichaelMcGimpsey, Minister for HealthSocial Services and Public Safetylaunched a training programme fordetection of women with mentalhealth problems during pregnancy.This regional programme is initiallytargeted at midwives but will berolled out to other professionsincluding health visitors andmedical staff. The programmewas developed by the RegionalPerinatal Mental Health Forum,a multi-disciplinary group ofprofessionals established topromote evidence-based practicein perinatal mental health throughstrategic discussions, workshops,training and conferences inconjunction with the BeechesManagement Centre. Set up byDr Janine Lynch a ConsultantPsychiatrist from the BelfastTrust and Shona Hamilton aMidwife Teacher at the BeechesManagement Centre they workedtogether to develop a one daytraining programme for midwivesin response to changes in thequestions midwives ask women attheir booking visit regarding theirmental health.Launching the programme theMinister said, “The quality ofcare that women receive duringpregnancy, at birth and in the earlyweeks after birth influences boththe health of the mother and oftheir babies. Midwives have animportant part to play in this, andneed to be sensitive to and awareof the mental health needs of themother.”Dr Margaret Oates OBE, a leadingexpert in the area of perinatalmental health and Dr Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer alsospoke at the launch.L to R: Dr Janine Lynch, Michael McGimpsey (Health Minister) Dr MargaretOates and Shona Hamilton.NEW LEAD AHP OFFICER STARTS IN THE DEPARTMENTPauline Mulholland has been recently appointed towork in the Department as Lead AHP Officer. Paulinetakes responsibility for professional issues affecting theAllied Health Professions across the HSC.Pauline took up her secondment on 17 January and willbe in post for a 12-month period. Previously Paulinewas the Lead Dietitian for the South Eastern Trustbased at the Ulster Hospital.Pauline’s immediate priority is to oversee thedevelopment and publication of an AHP Strategy forNorthern Ireland. Pauline has said she is lookingforward to the challenges over the year ahead.Commenting on her appointment,Martin Bradley (CNO) said“Pauline comes to theDepartment with a strong trackrecord of achievement andbrings a wealth of knowledgeto this post. She is held in highregard by her professionalcolleagues both here inNorthern Ireland and acrossthe UK. I am looking forwardto working with Paulineand developing closer tiesbetween the AHP and nursing workforce.”Pauline can be contacted by phone (9052 0722) or by email (pauline.mulholland@dhsspsni.gov.uk)11

NEWSRCM AwardsThe Royal College of Midwives annual awardceremony took place in London on the 19th January2011 and as always Northern Ireland Midwives cameaway successful. The awards were presented bytelevision presenter Natasha Kaplinskey who statedthat this celebration of midwifery made her want tohave another baby.Jasmine Callow a midwife at the Mater Maternity Unitwon the Johnson’s Baby Mums’ Midwife of the YearAward for Northern Ireland and was commended bythe judges in the final for the overall midwife of theyear. The mum who nominated Jasmine said of her“Jasmine made me feel like I really mattered andprovided tremendous emotional support to me”.Also winning were two student midwives fromQueens University who won the Pampers StudentVision Award- Dawn Nelson and Lisa Darragh. Thisyear Dawn and Lisa are undertaking a four weekelective placement to Chitokoloki Hospital in ruralZambia. They were described as self motivated andenthusiastic students with a strong desire to broadentheir experiences and develop their knowledge ofmidwifery practice.Dame Karlene Davis was given the lifetimeachievement award for her outstanding contributionto the profession. Dame Karlene was previouslyGeneral Secretary of the College.Above: L to R:Cathy Warwick,General SecretaryRCM SponsorRepresentative,Lisa Darragh,Dawn Nelson,NatashaKaplinskeyRight: JasmineCallow withNatashaKaplinskeyGynaecologyand ObstetricsGala Ball –Ulster MuseumL to R: Joan Neill, Sharon Watt, Joan Hunter, Jillian Downeyand Emma McNeillOn 13th January 2011 CNO attended a gala ball inthe Ulster museum organized by obstetricians andmidwives in Lagan Valley Maternity unit. The aimof the ball was to celebrate the obstetric led unit in12

CNO Visits Downpatrick andLaganValley Midwife Led unitsOn 23rd February Martin Bradleyvisited the 2 freestanding midwifeled units in Northern Ireland. Thefirst visit was to the Downe Hospitalwhere the midwife led unit had justcelebrated its 50th birth. When itopened on the 22nd March 2010the target was that 50 babieswould be born in the first year. On15th February baby Faye arrived tocomplete this target a month aheadof schedule. Faye’s mum Louisehas appealed in the Down Recorderfor women across the district to usewhat she has described as “thiswonderful facility”. On visiting theunit the CNO met with the Head ofMidwifery, Elaine Madden, and theAssistant Director for women andchild health, Eileen Mc Eneaneyand many of the midwives.The midwives in Downpatrick havebeen providing antenatal andpostnatal services to local womensince the closure of the obstetricunit in 2002 and are very excitedto now be able to provide a midwifeled service for women duringlabour and delivery.Mrs Mc Eneaney said shewas delighted by the 50thbirth which was achievedthanks to the dedicated andvery experienced midwivesin Downpatrick as well assupport from the localcommunity.Following the visit to the Downethe CNO visited the newmidwife led unit in Lagan Valleywhich transferred servicesfrom obstetric led on the 2ndFebruary. The unit has beengiven a complete refurbishmentto bring it up to the standardof both Downpatrick and theHome from Home in the Ulster.The Minister for Health SocialServices and Public Safety willofficially open the unit on the 10thMarch. On the day of the visit therehad been 12 babies born to date.L to R:Donna Smyth (Student Midwife),Martin Bradley (Chief Nursing Officer)and Zoe Boreland (Lead Midwife)L to R:Aine McGinn, Elaine Madden, TeresaMcDowell, Helen Wallace, PaulaMcConn and Martin BradleyLagan Valley and its contribution to maternityservices over the years as well as celebrate thefact that once these services were withdrawn afreestanding midwife led unit would remain.The obstetricians in Lagan Valley since theannouncement of the development of amidwife led unit have been very supportiveof the concept both encouraging the womenfrom the area and the general practitioners tocontinue to book in the unit when appropriate.Obstetricians and midwives past and presenthad a great evening saying goodbye to one eraand welcoming another.L to R: Dr Caroline Bryson, Hugh McCaughey (Chief Executive),Seamus McGoran (Director of Hospital Services) and ZoeBoreland (Lead Midwife)13

NEWSOfficial Openingof Lagan ValleyHospital MidwifeLed Unit.Health Minister Michael McGimpsey meets Kerry andAllan Houston and their new baby Adam. Looking on areLynne Logan (Team Midwife), Hugh McCaughey (ChiefExecutive) and Sarah Rankin (Team Leader).Health Minister Michael McGimpsey officially opens theMidwife Led Unit at Lagan Valley Hospital. Also picturedare Ashley Johnston (Staff Midwife), Zoe Boreland (LeadMidwife) and Hugh McCaughey (Chief Executive).On 10th March 2011 the Minister officially openedthe new freestanding midwife led unit in LaganValley hospital. This is the completion of a project heannounced on 18 March 2009 following a decisionby the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust towithdraw consultant-led services from the hospital.Transfer of services occurred on the 2nd February andon the day of the official opening 30 babies had beenborn to date.Unveiling a plaque celebrating the opening of the unitthe Minister reiterated his support for midwife ledservices and the extra choice they provide for womenwith a straightforward pregnancy, he continued bycommending the midwives, obstetricians and localgeneral practitioners for their support of the new unitwith a special mention for Zoe Boreland the lead midwifein Lagan Valley for her commitment to the project.The Minister then went on to say “I congratulate all thewomen who have given birth here to date which furthershows the popularity of this type of midwife led unit forwomen experiencing a straightforward pregnancy.”Health Minister Michael McGimpsey meets with parentsalong with their babies born at the Midwife Led Unit.For further information relating to midwifery contactDenise Boulter (see back page for contact details)14

Safeguarding Children SupervisionRegional Policy andProcedure for NorthernIreland Health andSocial Care TrustsThe need for robust structures and systems tosupport effective safeguarding children practicehas been repeatedly emphasized in child deathinquiry reports, case management reviews and inthe DHSSPS Inspection Report (2006), Our Childrenand Young People – Our Shared Responsibility. TheInspection (2006), which was taken forward througha multi-disciplinary and inter-agency inspection team,was carried out to obtain information about thenature and quality of child protection services withinNorthern IrelandLord Laming (2003 & 2009) and the NorthernIreland Inspection (2006), recommend the need forrobust supervision arrangements to be in place forthose practitioners who hold specific and ongoingresponsibility for safeguarding children.Parallel to this, NIPEC (2007) have defined nursingsupervision as ‘A process of professional support andlearning, undertaken through a range of activities,which enables individual registrant nurses to developknowledge and competence, assume responsibilityfor their own practice and enhance service and userprotection, quality and safety’. Safeguarding childrennursing supervision is complementary, but additionalto nursing supervision (NIPEC, 2007).In late 2009, a CNO sponsored programme of workwas established to respond to the recommendationsof the Northern Ireland Inspection (2006). This workhas now been completed and the Chief NursingOfficer has recently issued a Safeguarding ChildrenSupervision policy and procedure for Nurses.The aim of these documents is to promote goodpractice and improve nursing standards throughreflective practice, risk assessment, plannedintervention and ongoing quality assurance of nursingpractice which safeguards children and promotestheir welfare.These should be used alongside Trust nursingsupervision policies to support practitioners to delivera high standard of service to children and families.The policy is suitable for implementation withinspecific service areas including health visiting, schoolnursing, CAMHS teams, and Community Children’snursing, however further work will be required in thefuture to address the needs of acute nursing andmidwifery.Whilst this project did examine supervision withincommunity adult mental health services furtherwork will be taken forward through the Think Child,Think Parent, Think Family, project to review currentpractices within mental health and children’sservices and take forward work to promote a FamilyModel approach (SCIE 2009), which builds upon thestrengths of the family, supports the management ofrisk, care planning and the review of cases.Supporting staff through supervision improves workingpractices and contributes to better service delivery andoutcomes for children.The policy and procedure are available at: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/nmag/nmagprojectsandreports.htmIf you have any further queries please contact AngelaMcLernon, Nursing Officer, by e-mail at angela.mclernon@dhsspsni.gov.uk (or telephone 9052 0794).15

NEWSLearning disabilityframework– a fourcountry approachA UK-wide project has been established by the 4 UKChief Nursing Officers to inform the future practice,roles, career pathways and image of learning disabilitynursing in the changing health and social carelandscape. The project will be led by Ros Moore,CNO Scotland, who will chair the UK Project Board.The project is timely for a number of reasonsincluding:• the significant and increasing health needs ofchildren, adults and older people with learningdisabilities• the changing and challenging demographicswithin the learning disabled population• changing health and social care structures acrossthe UK• immediate workforce planning challenges withinthis specialist workforce.The project will develop a UK wide professionalframework for the learning disability nursingprofession targeted at maximising the contributionof learning disability nurses, whilst fullyacknowledging the multi-professional and multiagencycontext within which learning disabilitynurses work.Maurice Devine (Nursing Officer, Mental Health,Learning Disability and Older People) will coordinatethe Northern Ireland workstream, which will bechaired by Mr. Francis Rice, Executive Director ofNursing, Southern Health and Social Care Trust.Chief Nursing Officer for Northern Ireland MartinBradley said: “People with a learning disability facea range of challenges in terms of education, socialinclusion, employment and health. This requiresmulti-professional and multi-agency intervention andcollaboration. Learning Disability nurses have a keyrole to play in ensuring that people with a learningdisability have equal access to everyday healthservices and that they can access specialist health16

services when needed. This project will ultimatelyenhance and maximise the contribution of learningdisability nurses to achieving the best possible healthoutcomes for children, adults and older people with alearning disability.”It is anticipated that this project will:• Ensure that learning disability nurses utilise anddevelop their specialist knowledge and skills toensure the best possible health outcomes forpeople with learning disabilities• Modernise and enhance the image, profile andcontribution of learning disability nursing• Develop and enhance leadership skills andpotential within the learning disability nursingprofession• Promote a clear and flexible career structure forlearning disability nurses that will enable themto work in a variety of settings and to have theconfidence to take a lead role in working acrossservice, agency and organisational boundaries• Promote the development of skill mix, new rolesand new ways of working• Stimulate the development of specific metrics/indicators for learning disability nursing on a local,regional and national basis that will evidence theoutcomes, added value and quality of learningdisability nursing practice• Offer clear guidance to health and social carecommissioners and providers about the roles, theadded value and the positive impact of learningdisabilities nurses in modern health and socialcare services• Reenergise and refocus learning disability nursingthroughout the United Kingdom• Set out clear guidance and a model based onclinical-academic linkages for the delivery oflearning disability nursing education at pre andpost registration levels• Enhance access to and utilisation of evidence inlearning disability nursing practice and provideimpetus to enhance research and scholarly activityin the learning disability nursing field of practice.It is also important to note that the RCN have recentlypublished a position paper on LD Nursing (Learningfrom the Past: Setting out the Future) launched on26th January 2011 that calls for national support,collaboration, promotion and refocusing of theprofession.The development of this national collaborative willfocus on a number of the issues raised within theRCN position statement.For further information contact Maurice Devine (seeback page for contact details)CNO sees the benefits of TelemonitoringMartin Bradley visited the Southern Trust’stelemonitoring team at Craigavon on 28 February tosee at first hand how new technologies could helpnursing staff look after some patients at home. HereClare Black demonstrates how diabetic patientscan use a glucometer connected to a telephoneline to keep track of their blood sugar levels overa period of time. This is particularly important forwomen diabetics when planning pregnancies.Other patients helped by similar technology includethose with COPD and heart disease. The nursesusing telemonitoring across the Southern Trust saythat it increases patient contact, allows for quickerinterventions and gives patients greater confidencethat they can manage their conditions. The PHA areleading on rolling out this technology across all theTrusts in Northern Ireland.17

NEWSInfection prevention and controlhas been a key aspect of clinicalpractice for many years and hastraditionally been viewed as theresponsibility of a small numberof designated individuals based inthe acute healthcare sector. As thelandscape of healthcare deliveryhas evolved and prevention ofhealthcare associated infectionhas become more of a priority forhealth and social care providers ithas become clear that the role ofinfection prevention and controlpractitioners needs to develop inresponse.Practitioners in this field now comefrom a wide range of professionsand occupations, bringing skillsand knowledge from their ownspheres of practice. However, theystill require key competences toenable them to practise safelyand with clinical credibility in theinfection prevention and controlarena.In response to this need, theInfection Prevention Society (IPS)has recently produced a set ofcore competences designed toenhance the practice of staffworking in the field of infectionprevention and control. They havebeen developed in partnership withall four UK governments, Skills forHealth and the Council of Deans,chaired by the Chief NursingOfficer for Scotland, Ros Moore.The competency framework isbased on the four domains withinthe Advanced Practitioner toolkit(Scottish Government, 2008) forModernising Nursing Careers:• Clinical Practice (6competences)• Education (4 competences)• Research (3 competences)Journal ofInfection PreventionOutcome competences for practitioners in infection prevention and controlInfection Prevention Society and Competency Steering GroupLead Coordinator: E Burnettwww.ips.uk.netFormerly the British Journal of Infection ControlOutcomeCompetencesfor Practitionersin InfectionPrevention andControlJIP-395797.indd i 1/17/2011 1:10:57 PM• Leadership and Management (4competences)Each competence comprises• A competence statement• Performance indicators alignedto each statement• Generic and specific knowledgeunderstanding and skillsneeded to meet the competence• Alignment to Skills for Health,National OccupationalStandards and the NHSKnowledge and SkillsFramework (Skills for Health2010; Department of Health2004)The competences may be used ina variety of ways and by a rangeof professionals from recentlyappointed infection prevention andcontrol practitioners, through tomanagers of health care services,educational commissioners andproviders as well as practitionersworking at or near advanced levelof practice. Organisations whichare looking to develop staff withthe expertise to drive forwardthe infection prevention andcontrol agenda may also find thisdocument a useful tool.The competency framework isavailable in both electronic formand hard copy in the Marchedition of the Journal of InfectionPrevention. Electronic access isfree to all and can be located onthe IPS website http://www.ips.uk.netNorthern Ireland have been fullyengaged in this initiative throughits Infection Prevention Societymembers and with full supportof the DHSSPS and the ChiefNursing Officer. In 2009 theDepartment commissioned NIPECto carry out a review of InfectionPrevention and Control Training inNorthern Ireland, and one of therecommendations is to, “determinethe training needs of IPC specialistpractitioners, taking into accountthe Infection Prevention NursesAssociation Core Competencies forPractitioners in Infection Preventionand Control (ICNA, 2004).”These competences will providea framework for the regionaldevelopment and commissioningof Infection Prevention and Controleducation programmes to be led bythe Public Health Agency.Grateful thanks to Emma Burnett,Lead Co-ordinator, IPS Educationand Professional DevelopmentCommittee, Lecturer andResearcher, University of DundeeSchool of Nursing and Midwifery.18

Launch of nurseledclinic forteenagers whosuffer fromcongenital heartconditionsHealth Minister, Michael McGimpsey launched a newinitiative for teenagers who suffer from congenitalheart conditions.Nurse Specialist and Jan Gordon Adult CongenitalHeart Disease Nurse Specialist, in the Belfast Healthand Social Care Trust.This nurse-led clinic is for 14-16 year olds aims tocare for around 100 teenagers per year which helpsto ensure their smooth transition from paediatric toadult services.Nurse led clinicsThere has been a huge growth in nurse-led clinicsto assist in meeting a variety of healthcare needs inNorthern Ireland. Nurse-led clinics such as Our Heartshave increased the scope for nurses to practise careand meet the needs of their clients.RHEARTZ (pronounced OurHearts) is a programme for 14-16 year olds with congenitalheart disease which helps toensure their smooth transitionfrom paediatric to adultservices.Speaking at the launch,Mr McGimpsey said:“Approximately 1% of babiesborn in Northern Irelandhave congenital heartabnormalities. Often thesechildren will have major lifesaving cardiac surgery whenthey are babies and againduring their childhood. However this condition is lifelong and as such requires regular input and carefrom multi-disciplinary teams.We are all aware the transition from childhoodinto adolescence and beyond is a difficult time foreveryone. The need for support for these patientsand their families is therefore essential.Rheartz is a nurse-led Congenital Heart DiseaseTransition Clinic which provides this support andtreatment.The programme has been developed by KatyRennick a Paediatric Congenital Heart DiseaseL to R: Jan Gordon (CHD Specialist Nurse, Adults), ColmDonaghy (Chief Executive Belfast HSC Trust), MichaelMcGimpsey (Health Minister) and Katy Rennick (CHDSpecialist Nurse, Paediatrics).The support of medical colleagues and of the‘Children’s Heartbeat Trust’, a well establishedparents support group affiliated to Children’s ClarkeClinic at the Belfast Trust has been invaluable inestablishing this programme. This is an excellentexample of partnership working, and how through theproper use of all our skills and talents we can ensurethe development and delivery of local services tomeet the needs of young people.19

Front Row L-R: Bob Brown Asst Dir. of Nursing South Eastern HSC Trust, Veronique Nickler, Marie-Odile Pauly,(University Lecturers). Back Row L-R: Evelyn Mooney Practice Education Co-ordinator South Eastern HSC Trust,Michelle McCartan (ward manager ward 10 UHD), Alexis Kuta (student), Gregory Rouyer (student)antibiotics no matter how muchsupporting evidence they couldprovide!The two students were supportedto obtain learning outcomesthat matched those expectedof students meeting the preregistrationstandards set by theNursing and Midwifery Council.Whilst the documentation isdifferent, anecdotal evidencefrom mentors suggested that theassessment process was similar tothat required by our universities inNorthern Ireland. One significantdifference is that the mentor hasto award a grade for the student’sperformance on their practiceplacement. The common elementsof caring and compassion wereevident in the way in which the twostudents undertook their day to daynursing activities and a high level ofclinical competence, patience andrespect for privacy and dignity wasobserved on many occasions.Quality AssuranceTwo tutors from Nancy University,School of Nursing visited theUlster Hospital as part of theirplacement audit process andsurveyed both placement areasand accommodation. Both wereconsidered satisfactory and positivereports were fed back that bothstudents were experiencing usefulplacements that would enhancetheir overall training experience.Experiential learning is the key tothe Erasmus students learningand is characterised by reflectivecommentary, demonstratingevidence of competency and skills,ongoing professional and selfdevelopment as well as the abilityto apply theory to practice. Thesegoals will form the basis of thestudent’s evaluation of experienceswhilst on placement in the UlsterHospital which they are requiredto present to lecturers and Peerswhen they return to France.A similar evaluation will take placebefore the students leave the Trustto help inform us as to what can beimproved on for the future and tocelebrate the success of this earlypartnership. We believe that wehave created good foundations fora continued partnership with theUniversity in France and we havebenefitted greatly from participatingin this experience.Siobhan Ross, Practice EducationFacilitatorEvelyn Mooney, PracticeEducation Co-ordinator21

NEWSOBITUARYMiss Doreen McCullough OBEIt is with sadness that we report onthe death of Doreen McCullough.Miss Doreen McCullough wasborn in Lurgan in 1920. In the1930s the family moved to Bangorwhere she lived for the rest of herlife. Always modest, friendly andapproachable she became oneof the best known and successfulnurses in Northern Ireland.Due to the outbreak of the SecondWorld War her entry to nursetraining was postponed andshe was 25 before commencingtraining at the Royal VictoriaHospital, qualifying in 1948.Following the introduction ofthe National Health Serviceshe recalled the increase ofattendances at the hospital bypeople who earlier had not beenable to afford a doctor. MissMcCullough’s nursing skills wererecognised in 1950 when she waspromoted to sister in the surgicalprofessional unit.Always recognising the great valueof wider experience in nursing,she went in 1957 to the WesternGeneral Hospital in Edinburgh tostudy midwifery. Further wideningof her career occurred on herappointment as Assistant Matronat St George’s Hospital, London.Miss McCullough returned to theMatron’s office at the Royal VictoriaHospital in 1965 where she putinto practice what she had learnedat St George’s and undertook awork study with the senior nurseMiss McCullough pictured with nursing studentstutor to prove the correlation ofeducation and service was crucialto nurse training.In 1968 Miss McCullough wasappointed Matron of LurganHospital and was involved withthe Commissioning Team of thenew hospital in Craigavon. Sheheld the appointment of ChiefAdministrative Nursing Officer ofthe Southern Health and SocialServices Board and ensured theintegration of all the hospitals inthe Board with the central Schoolof Nursing at Craigavon. In 1973,following the reorganisationof the health service, she wasinvited by the then Chief NursingOfficer, Miss Mona Grey, to applyfor a nursing officer post in theDepartment of Health, to which shewas appointed. Miss McCulloughbecame the Chief Nursing Officerwhen Miss Grey retired.Following retirement in 1981,she became involved with AgeConcern North Down and servedfor many years on the managementcommittee. She was instrumentalin introducing early morning checkupcalls to those who lived alone.In 1981 Miss McCullough wasawarded an OBE.Miss McCullough celebrated her90th birthday on 28 November2010 and passed away peacefullyon 22 December 2010 atSeaview Private Nursing Home,Ballyholme.22

N.I. Obstetric Ultrasound ForumCommittee – First Scientific DayThe Northern Ireland Obstetric Ultrasound Forum(NIOUF) was set up at the beginning of 2010 as amulti-disciplinary group for health professionalsincluding ultrasonographers, radiographers,obstetricians, midwives and nurses who are involvedin obstetric ultrasound.NIOUF aims to improve the client/patient experience;provide a support and communication network;and a regional resource through the sharing ofknowledge, expertise, service development, andinnovation. It also hopes to develop and maintainlinks with Obstetric Ultrasound networks throughoutIreland and the UK. NIOUF’s first year was very busyand successful. The inaugural meeting was heldJune 2010 and due to interest the venue had to bechanged to accommodate the numbers! Speakersincluded Professor Alan Cameron (The Ian DonaldFetal Medicine Unit), Professor Basky Thilaganathan(St Georges University Hospital, London), ProfessorFionnuala McAuliffe (University College, Dublin)and Professor Jim Dornan (Royal Jubilee MaternityHospital, Belfast).The first Annual Scientific day on Saturday 20thNovember 2010 was a huge success with over 120delegates attending. Keynote speaker was Dr TrishChudleigh from Addenbrookes who spoke in detailabout the National Screening Committee’s 18 to20+6 weeks gestation fetal anomaly scan standardsThe Northern Ireland Obstetric Ultrasound ForumCommittee and Dr Trish Chudleigh (5 from right) atNIOUF’s First Scientific Day.and menu. Dr Frank Casey, a paediatric cardiologist,provided a live fetal cardiac scanning symposiumwhilst the regional cleft lip and palate team led byMr Chris Hill, covered USS diagnosis, subsequentmanagement and surgery. A ‘Spot Diagnosis’presentation, and sirenomelia and sextuplet casestudies ensured variation and a prize was presentedfor the best poster. Delegate evaluation was extremelypositive. The NIOUF committee is now organising itsspring event to be held in early April and developingan interactive website for all NIOUF members. Detailsabout both will be advertised throughout the Trusts!The official launch of the document “DeliveringExcellence:Supporting Recovery” took place on28th October 2010 at Magee Campus, Universityof Ulster, Londonderry.The development of this document was featuredin the November 2010 edition of CNO News andcopies can be obtained from the Department’swebsite.L to R: Martin Bradley, CNO; Professor OwenBarr, Head of School of Nursing, University ofUlster; Maurice Devine, Nursing Officer; DeirdreWebb, Public Health Agency23

NEWSContacts Nursing OfficersAngela McLernonNursing Officer responsible for publichealth issues, community nursingand primary care.T: 028 9052 0794E: angela.mclernon@dhsspsni.gov.ukDenise BoulterNursing Officer with responsibilityfor midwifery issues and children’sservices.T: 028 9052 2328E: denise.boulter@dhsspsni.gov.ukKathy FodeyNursing Officer responsible forthe regulation of professions andeducation policy and workforceissues.T: 028 9052 0795E: kathy.fodey@dhsspsni.gov.ukAnne MillsNursing Officer responsible forall matters relating to acuteservices.T: 028 9052 0792E: anne.mills@dhsspsni.gov.ukMaurice DevineNursing Officer with responsibility formental health, learning and physicaldisabilities and older people.T: 028 9052 0788E: maurice.devine@dhsspsni.gov.ukCNO Administration TeamMary MaguireHead of HealthFacility Planning,Health EstatesT: 028 9052 3828E: mary.maguire@dhsspsni.gov.ukJackie McGeaghRegional Antenatal & NewbornScreening Co-ordinator.T: 028 9052 0771E: jackie.mcgeagh@dhsspsni.gov.ukPauline McMullanBusiness and ContractsManagerT: 028 9052 0566E: pauline.mcmullan@dhsspsni.gov.ukCNO News Editorial TeamKathy Fodey and Ruth ToddBack row (L-R) Hilary Jennings, Mark Anderson, JayneSaulters, front-row (L-R) Ruth Todd, Jayne McCrory24