caring Communication

staff magazine of the IRISH HEALTH SERVICE vol. 10 | issue 5 | spring 2016
Operation
Transformation
HSE staff vow to get healthy
Ordinary Lives in
Ordinary Places
Paddy and Michael
share their stories
caring
Communication
Introducing
features
general news
you section
lifestyle

Welcome to the
latest edition of
Health Matters
I think you will find the stories of Paddy Lyons
and Michael O’Shea inspiring and they show that
the fundamental reform of disability services in
this country is working, moving away from the
large institutional type model of service to a
model where people with a disability live in the
community.
Paddy and Michael now have their own space
and individual freedoms – like making a cup of tea
for yourself and your guests – that we all take for
granted.
I visited the headquarters of the National Medical
Card Unit just off the M50 in Finglas. I was
amazed by the sheer scale of the work involved,
with over 20,000 queries to be handled each
week. Huge boxes of mail are delivered every
morning to be sorted and dealt with. And the
main theme that I took from my visit was the compassion
and understanding that the team had for
the clients and the long lengths they go to to help
get applications over the line.
In this edition, we also look at how staff in the
HSE can use social media such as Twitter and
Facebook to engage better with the public and
to promote their services. The Digital Team talk
us through the changes in the way information is
delivered to the public in the modern age, with
the majority of people engaging with information
on their laptops and mobile phones and on social
media. Anyone who checks out the 10 Facebook
handles or 10 Twitter handles under the HSE banner
can see the amazing work that they do.
As ever, we welcome your ideas and feedback
on the magazine. Drop us an email at healthmatters@hse.ie
A big thank you to all of our contributors to this
edition and I hope you find plenty of interesting
reading in it.
Joanne
Weston
Joanne Weston,
Editor
This magazine is produced by the
HSE Communications Division
Publishers: Celtic Media Group
www.celticmediagroup.ie
Feedback: Send your feedback to
healthmatters@hse.ie
14
National Medical
Card Unit
Contents
You Section
08 LIVING ORDINARY LIVES IN
ORDINARY PLACES
Paddy and Michael share their stories of
moving from care home setting to their
own home in the community
11 #HELLOMYNAMEIS
Kate Granger talks about her campaign
for compassionate care among
healthcare givers
12 OPERATION TRANSFORMATION
HSE staff join the health revolution
14 MEET THE TEAM
We meet the Medical Cards staff at
their Finglas base and speak to them
about their work
17 STRIDES FOR LIFE
Cancer survivors speak about recovery
programme
18 QUITTING FOR GOOD
We talk to two people who have kicked
the cigarette habit, including Operation
Transformation leader Lucy
20 STAFF AWARDS IN LIMERICK
Eight inspiring winners named in
ceremony
22 TIME TO BLOSSOM
Anne Marie Frizzell launches new book
24 EUGENE VOLUNTEERS IN ETHIOPIA
Anaesthesiologist from Co Cork makes
fourth trip to African country
24 GOOD NEWS FOR ORTHODONTICS
Graduation day celebrations in Co Louth
25 BRAVERY AWARD
Dublin nurse honoured after heroic rescue
EXCELLENCE IN COACHING
Niall Gogarty gets award
26 A YEAR ON
HSE Information Officer Richard
Corbridge reflects on his first year
Features
28 UNDER THE WEATHER
Get advice and get better with the
help of this website
30 MANORHAMILTON TEAM
Pensions Unit develops Family Law
Expertise
32 USING SOCIAL MEDIA
The Digital Team explain how the
Health Services can get the most out of
new media
34 MATERNITY STRATEGY
Roadmap for the improvement of
services over the next 10 years

61
46
HEALTH MATTERS spring 2016
36 REFORMING THE HEALTH SERVICES
SRG Shares updates on health
service reform
38 INFANT MENTAL HEALTH
Three new posters promote good baby
mental health
39 SUPPORT PERSON’S ROLE
Listening service for all HSE staff
40 ADDICTION SPECIALIST DELIVERS
WORKSHOP
Marion Rackard speaks to Dr Martha
Schmitz
41 PEOPLE STRATEGY UNVEILED
HSE sets out its future ambitions
42 FITNESS THROUGH FOOTBALL
Innovative men’s health programme
developed between the HSEand FAI
44 STAFF ENGAGEMENT
Creating a positive culture in the HSE
46 TALLAGHT PATIENT SURVEY
Hospital leads the way in patient
advocacy
48 TOBACCO-FREE CAMPUS
New resource designed to support
service managers
50 SERVICES FOR OLDER PEOPLE
UNVEILED IN MID WEST
Major developments deliver modern,
spacious accommodation
39
22
spring 2015 | health matters | 03

Contents
28
Getting
Ireland Active
42
67
General News
52 GALWAY LEADS THE WAY
Hospital hosted “live cases” for the
LINC international interventional
radiology conference
52 DAY CARE CENTRE FOR CF
A new €1.4m day care centre for
patients with Cystic Fibrosis opened
53 TIDY TOWNS AWARD
Green-fingered staff at St Joseph’s
Hospital, Ennis scoop first spot
53 WORKPLACE WELLBEING DAY
Ireland’s second National Workplace
Wellbeing Day will take place on
Friday, April 8th
54 SCHOOL FLIES THE FLAG
Coláiste Cholmcille in Donegal earn
Healthy Ireland Health Promoting
School Flag
54 SCHOOL HEALTH INTITIATIVE
Instead of homework, pupils engage
in an activity that places particular
emphasis on family interaction
55 NEW YEAR NEW REHABILITATION UNIT
Good news for St Ita’s Community
Hospital
56 WEBSITE LAUNCH
A new website providing official
listings of over 100 services for
children, young people and families in
Sligo and Leitrim unveiled
56 POSTER CAMPAIGN
UL Hospitals Group launches poster
campaign to promote Local Injury
Units in the Midwest
57 HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY 1946
Are you now eligible for free GP Visit
Card?
58 PSYCHOLOGOICAL SERVICES
BOOKLET
Booklet to guide school principals
and teachers toward the most
effective community-based supports
58 NOURISH PROGRAMME
Aims to support staff by developing
quality improvement resources that
can be used by them at local level
in their nutrition and hydration
59 BREASTCHECK SCREENING STATS
The National Breast Screening
Programme has published its
screening statistics for 2014-2015
59 ST FRANCIS HOSPICE AWARD
Hospice wins Not for Profit
Organisation Excellence Award at
the Fingal Dublin Chamber of
Commerce Business Excellence and
Corporate Responsibility Awards
60 ASSISTED DECISION MAKING
Hundreds attend conference
61 DOMESTIC ABUSE
Conference hears the very disturbing,
yet powerful, personal stories of
women who are victims of abuse
62 NATIONAL SERVICE PLAN
Plans sets out the type and range of
health and personal social services
that can be delivered during the year
63 MINISTER LYNCH TURNS THE SOD
The new National Forensic Mental
Health Service hospital ‘represents our
modern approach to mental health’
04 | health matters | spring 2016

HEALTH MATTERS WINTER 2015
64
online
Sites we like
www.ehealth.ie
www.getirelandactive.ie
Lifestyle
64 GET IRELAND ACTIVE
New website promises to help get
Ireland off the couch
67 NEW YORK INSPIRES SKIBBEREEN
Programme offers opportunities for
older people
www.rte.ie/ot
68 HEALTHY EATING AWARDS
19 HSE sites honoured at Irish Heart
Foundation Awards
70 HEALTH BEHAVIOUR STUDY
Encouraging findings in survey of
school-going children
71 ALCOHOL AND CANCER
Know the risks of excessive
consumption
72 GOING SUGAR-FREE
Three recipes that show that you don’t
need sugar to satisfy a sweet tooth
www.undertheweather.ie
74 WHERE TO HOLIDAY IN 2016
We pick out the best places to go this
year
76 GADGETS
Six of the best for a healthy start to
your day
77 INTERIORS
Top tips for saving water and choosing
and using underfloor heating
78 FIRST DRIVE
Behind the wheel of the Skoda Octavia
Estate
The information in Health Matters is carefully researched and believed to
be accurate and authoritative, but neither the HSE nor the publisher can
accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions. Statements
and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Editor, the
HSE or of the publisher.
spring 2015 | health matters | 05

Message
A Message from the...
Director General
Staff concerns always remain with
the patient and it speaks volumes
Dear Colleagues
I have always thought it is important that leaders and managers
are visible to and connect with staff, patients and clients. It is not so
much about being seen but more about how the rich experiences
gained from seeing services first hand can inform and influence our
behaviours, decisions and work. Such visits also provide important
opportunities to empower and support colleagues working in
different areas of health and social services.
Since I was appointed, I have consciously made time in my schedule
to visit health and social care sites. I wanted to visit services in
every county in the country and across a wide spectrum – disability,
intellectual disability, older people care, primary care, acute care
and everything else you can think of. In the last two years, I have also
visited almost all of our hospitals.
The health service is incredibly diverse, much more so than most
people imagine. You mightn’t have had a chance to see the work and
understand the value of the day to day experience of so many of our
staff. So when coming from a particular background, in my case
cancer services, you may have had no experience, for example, of
sitting in the house of a 90-year-old woman in rural Donegal while
her home help visits her.
For me, there was a time when home help hours would have been a
number on a page in the Service Plan but having seen the service first
hand, I can truly see the core value of it. This experience helps me in
two ways:
• To be more connected to the needs of clients and the challenges
faced by staff
• To advocate for resources in that area of service with more
knowledge and therefore increased conviction.
Insight
I have also visited services that have been at the centre of
controversy. For example, I visited Aras Attracta two days after the
Prime Time television programme aired to meet the clients living
there at the time and the staff that stepped into the breach in the
aftermath. I needed to understand more about Aras Attracta and the
only way to do that was to visit.
I believe it is very important that staff in the HSE do not learn about
people in leadership roles only via a name on a memo, as a voice on
the radio or a face on television.
I value visiting services and I encourage other leaders and
managers to make the effort too. Just last year, I commenced
holding the monthly national leadership team meetings off-site
away from Dr Steevens’ Hospital in Dublin – our usual base. Now, at
least every second month, they are held in a different health service
location. This gives the team an opportunity to meet staff and service
users and local management teams.
One evening last November, each member of the leadership team
was asked to visit a Hospital Emergency Department, unannounced,
to meet staff and observe activity there. While some Emergency
Departments were busier that evening than others, the experience
afforded each member of the team a much deeper insight into the
issues and greater understanding of the pressures on staff as we
faced into winter.
Based on feedback, on the whole, these visits are positively received
by the staff we meet.
Connected
Leaders and managers in our services need to be connected to the
realities of the business of health and this is critical to creating a high
quality health service for all.
I see connections being made– whether within or across services.
New cooperation across new service delivery structures is evident.
Sometimes you can almost see the community reaching in to return
patients who no longer need to be in hospital to more appropriate
settings.
I notice that when our staff speak about the problems they face
at work they uniformly explain them to me in terms of how they are
impacting patients and almost never how they affected themselves.
Their concern remains with the patient and this speaks volumes.
I am also often reminded of the quote “Too long a sacrifice can
make stone of the heart” when it comes to our changing attitudes
in the health services. On a visit to an Emergency Department in a
OPPOSITE PAGE: HSE Director General Tony O’Brien during his visit to Ard
NaGreine, Intellectual Disability Community Group Home, Co Donegal, with
members of the Parents & Friends Association (P&F). Back row left: Eugene
McElroy, Business Manager, HSE West,Donegal Disabilities & Mental Health
Services; John Bosco O’Donnell, P&F; back row right: Jim Campbell, P&F; Paul
Hoey, Office of DG; front row (l-r):Seamus Rodgers, P&F; Marie Aitken, A/DON;
Tony O’Brien; Nora Flynn, P&F; and Thecla Morgan, P&F.
06 | health matters | spring 2016

Message
large hospital at 11pm one night, I observed it was extremely busy.
I mentioned to staff that they were very busy and under severe
pressure, but they told me that it “wasn’t too bad”. Yet there was
still a full waiting room and people on trolleys in corridors. But staff
perceived it wasn’t too bad because it was better than it had been.
During crises, our sense of what is acceptable and normal changes,
our tolerance changes overtime. It’s a normal, understandable,
psychological response.
Similarly, in community settings, we may see the wait time for
aids and appliances or specialised wheelchairs as being ‘not too
bad’, perhaps because it used to be worse. We have now improved.
For example, in 2011, we were routinely measuring hospital waiting
lists out to four years. Now we aim to offer a max of 12 – 15 months
waiting but that is still nowhere near good enough. We now need to
reset our sense of what things should be like because this will aid us
to be powerful advocates for those patients who may not be getting
the service they deserve. We need to reset our tolerances.
We also need to allow ourselves to identify resource deficits and
find a way to express our own dissatisfaction with aspects of the
system without discrediting all the good work of the services and
those who work in them.
VALUES
WHEN the time came to describe the values that I want to be the
hallmark of Irish health services - by the time I complete my time
as DG, I needed to look no further than the values I have observed in
practice by the vast majority of colleagues everywhere I have visited.
Care, Compassion, and Learning are much in evidence. We now need
to ensure that the Organisational culture reflects that reality so that
Trust can be a defining feature of the relationship between the HSE
(or its successor bodies) and the staff who deliver services.
Awards
Finally, I want to mention the Health Service Excellence Awards.
When Rosarii Mannion became our new National Director of HR,
we agreed to look at a way of recognising staff commitment and
innovation
These awards respond to the findings of the recent staff
engagement survey which highlighted the hunger and appetite of
our people to be more involved and to have freedom to innovate.
The awards will demonstrate the real value we place on innovation.
We received 426 entries and they have now been shortlisted to 39
finalists. The judges have tough calls to make but it is always great
to have a “high-class problem” like that. I look forward to the awards
ceremony next month.
Tony O’Brien
Tony O’Brien
Director General of the Health Service Executive.
Building a high quality health service for a healthier Ireland.
CARE COMPASSION TRUST LEARNING
spring 2016 | health matters | 07

You
Section
Real people...
Living
Ordinary
Lives in
Ordinary
Places
P
addy and Michael have both
recently moved house. Nothing
out of the ordinary about that
you might say. For these two
gentlemen, however, as former long term
residents in a large residential centre for
people with an intellectual disability, this is a
long awaited and much welcome event.
Through a partnership approach with the
COPE foundation and the HSE, both men
have recently moved to their
own homes in the community
and the residential centre,
Grove House in Cork city, is
now closed. So, while we might
not describe their moving home
as ‘out of the ordinary’, for
Paddy and Michael and their
families, it is significant.
The closure of Grove House is
good news as it demonstrates
the change in our approach to
delivering services for people
with a disability. Grove House
was a centre for people with an intellectual
disability and behaviours that challenge.
Traditionally, people with a disability lived in
centres like this and other large institutional
settings, often located in isolated areas and
away from their families, local communities
and services. However, change is under way.
As part of the HSE’s ‘Transforming
Lives’ programme, a fundamental reform
of disability services in Ireland is being
implemented. This reform programme
is about moving away from the large
institutional type model of service to a model
where people with a disability
live in the community; in
essence, ‘living ordinary
lives in ordinary places’.
The key to the successful
implementation of the
‘Transforming Lives’
Programme is based
on individual needs
and personal choice;
individuals may choose
to live on their own
in an apartment type
residential setting, others may
choose to live with a number of close friends
and for some, with more significant needs,
they might live in purpose built, disability
friendly type accommodation.
The HSE and disability service providers
have been working with individuals and
their families to identify how they wish to be
supported in relation to where they would like
to live, who they would like to live with and
the activities they would like to be involved
in within their community. Individual plans
are being developed in consultation with
the individual, their families and advocates
e.g Inclusion Ireland, to ensure people are
fully supported in all elements of life such
as relationships, employment, hobbies,
recreational activities and personal choice.
Having been through this process quite
recently, we meet with two former residents
of Grove House who have successfully moved
to community living to see how their lives
have changed.
Paddy’s story
Paddy Lyons is 78 years old and lived in
Grove house since the early 1990s.Paddy
moved in July last year and shares his home
with two other gentlemen with whom he has
developed new friendships. Paddy and his
housemates are supported on a daily basis by
the COPE Foundation.
Prior to the move, HSE and COPE foundation
staff worked together to ensure Paddy’s
08 | health matters | spring 2016

The communication
passport is a
means in which Paddy
can represent things that
are important to him in a
picture “easy read” format,
illustrating his likes and
dislikes, people who are
important to him; family
and friends, his past,
hobbies and interests. He
uses his communication
passport very effectively.
move was a success. Paddy’s transitional
programme consisted of visits to his new
home and recreational outings of his choice.
Paddy expressed that he would be happy to
live in the house on a permanent basis and
demonstrated his readiness for the move by
packing his bag and requesting to move.
Paddy is very happy in his new home and
was only too delighted to show us around and
to make a cup of tea in his kitchen. Paddy
also showed us his communication passport
which serves as a support to any new staff
getting to know him. The communication
passport is a means in which Paddy can
represent things that are important to him in
a picture “easy read” format, illustrating his
likes and dislikes, people who are important
to him; family and friends, his past, hobbies
and interests. He uses his communication
passport very effectively. It especially helps
him to express himself with all people he
spring 2016 | health matters | 09

You
Section
meets, as it helps open conversation and helps
others to understand him. Although Paddy
has some communication difficulties, it never
limits him from being sociable, enjoying chats
and having banter with everyone he meets. He
is charming and a gentleman at heart.
Paddy did not have any difficulty making
the transition to his new home and is
now fully settled there. Paddy’s interests
include bowling, music, singing, dancing and
socialising and he goes to mass in the local
church every Sunday.
Paddy’s family have expressed their
happiness in how well he has embraced his
new home. They can see he is so happy and
has a great quality of life now. He takes great
pride in all he has and is now enjoying his life
the way he wishes.
Michael’s story
Michael O’Shea is 52 years old and had
lived in Grove House for 26 years. Michael
did benefit from the safety and security that
Grove House offered but staff felt that he
was ready to move on to a new home in the
community and worked closely with Michael
and his family to prepare him for the move.
A number of different options were explored
before Michael moved to his new home in the
city.
In advance of the move, Michael visited the
house on a number of occasions to become
familiar with the new setting and his new
staff team. He was encouraged to bring
personal belongings from Grove House and
leave them in his bedroom so that it felt
like his own room. Michael is a big Liverpool
supporter and a team poster takes pride of
place on his bedroom wall. Staff from Grove
House organised a series of get togethers for
Michael, his family and his two house mates
and their families. These were great getting
to know you occasions.
Michael has a circle of support that includes
staff and his family. In the few weeks since
he moved, Michael has settled in really well
and has become comfortable in his new
home. He has started to explore the local
community with his house mates and staff
and has recently been on a train journey.
Michael’s new Person Centred Plan will chart
new opportunities and new roles for him into
the future. Michael’s family, who were initially
anxious and concerned about the move and
the closure of Grove House, are now very
happy especially when they hear Michael
humming and smiling more than he used to.
Michael’s mother and sister Mary said, “We
are so delighted and feel very reassured to see
how he has progressed in the last couple of
months. We see how well Michael has taken
to his new home. The new experiences and
opportunities open to him are fantastic. We
are so appreciative of the care and support
Michael O’Shea shows off some of his medals, with a poster of his beloved Liverpool on the wall behind.
given by the team in COPE foundation in
making this transition so positive for Michael.”
In Michael’s new home, there is an open
door policy where is friends and family can
visit and call for a cup of tea whenever they
like!
Paul McKeown, COPE Foundation, CNM2
said, “It has been a privilege to be involved
in Michael’s transition. Michael has shown
a great ability to accept change, in terms of
his environment and his engagement in new
positive experiences. It is so important to
ensure Michael is afforded every opportunity
to have a great quality of life and be happy.
This move has created a positive future for
Michael and the staff and I are excited to
be part of this journey with Michael and his
family.” The location of Paddy and Michael’s
new homes are within a few minutes walking
distance. This ensures both men continue to
maintain friendships. Both have visited each
other in their new homes for a chat and a cup
of tea, and regularly see one another at lunch
in the canteen facilities nearby.
Pat Healy, National Director, Social Care
said, “We heard, loud and clear, the very
powerful message that came across at
our disability summits last year about how
important it was for people to have choice
and to have a key to their own front door.
The implementation of Transforming Lives
is a new era in disability services in Ireland
and our focus is on ensuring that stories
like Paddy and Michael’s are replicated
nationwide.
“In progressing this reform programme,
the areas of biggest challenge, such as the
large institutions, are being targeted first
and significant capital funding of €100m
announced by the government in 2015
means that we can accelerate this pace
of change. This remains our focus and we
will continue to collaborate with all our
partner organisations to ensure people with
a disability have the choices and the homes
they deserve.”
In 2015, the Government announced a
dedicated capital programme of €100m over
a six year period to continue the process of
moving people remaining in large institutional
settings to the community. €20m is
being made available this year (2016) to
transition up to 165 people and a further
€10m is to be provided by the Department
of the Environment to facilitate more than
100 people with a disability to move from
institutional settings to social housing in their
community.
10 | health matters | spring 2016

let me introduce myself...
hello my name is
eading the #hellomynameis
revolution in healthcare service
L
is doctor and terminally ill
cancer patient Kate Granger.
During a hospital stay in
August 2013 with post-operative sepsis,
she made the stark observation that many
staff looking after her did not introduce
themselves before delivering her care.
“I met a number of staff that evening. The
junior doctor who clerked me was “one of
the doctors”; the clinical support worker who
cannulated me had no name; neither did the
nurse who administered my antibiotics. This
lack of introductions continued during my
subsequent admission on the urology ward.
It wasn’t just one particular professional
group, but seemed to permeate through
the whole hospital staff. However, when
someone did introduce themselves, it made
a massive difference to me; it made me feel
safe and that I mattered,”
explained Kate.
“One evening
visiting time I
discussed my
observations
with my
husband Chris.
He inspired
me by simply
telling me to
“stop whinging and
do something”. So
we did. The idea
was
to use my already significant social media
influence to start a conversation about the
importance of introductions in healthcare.
“In doing so, we hoped to encourage
healthcare staff to change their behaviour
and remember to introduce themselves.
Chris came up with the catchy hashtag
#hellomynameis and off we went on an
incredible journey.
“I have always been a very keen observer
of the healthcare I receive. I like to think
of it as a ‘secret shopper’ role and I often
reflect on what makes a good or not so good
patient experience. I use these reflections to
improve how I practice medicine and share
them to help other healthcare workers to
understand the patient perspective a little
better,” said Kate.
“In my mind #hellomynameis is the first
rung on the ladder to providing truly personcentred,
compassionate care.”
Kate was speaking ahead of her
appearance at the Masterclass in
‘Communicating Health’, hosted by the
National Communications Division, where
she shared her knowledge and experiences
with senior leaders across the health
services.
She said she would be thrilled to see more
healthcare staff in the Republic of Ireland
take on #hellomynameis as a campaign.
“I really believe that if we can start to
get the basics of communication like
introductions right for every patient, every
time, we have a real chance of
improving both experience
and safety in healthcare.
It would be wonderful
to see every
healthcare
organisation
in Ireland
supporting the
campaign and
really living by
its values,”
she said.
She added
that the
Southern
Health
and Social
Care Trust,
Wexford
General
Hospital and the Crumlin
Children’s Hospital
have all supported the
campaign. There have also been individuals
across Ireland getting in touch with her
through social media.
Kate revealed that the campaign has had
a really positive effect on staff, patients and
the public.
“When we launched the campaign at Leeds
Teaching Hospitals there was a palpable
buzz around the organisation. Everyone
wanted to get their badge and have their
picture taken. It became part of the Trust
corporate induction and is very visible
around the hospitals,” she said.
“Staff told me that it had reminded them of
what was important in healthcare. Students
told me it had given them the confidence
to challenge others when they witnessed
people failing to introduce themselves. I
received very similar feedback from staff
across the country through social media and
when we went on our #hellomynameis tour.”
She explained that one of the biggest
motivators for her to keep going is feedback
she receives almost daily from patients.
“It validates my experience as not
unique and that this matters to others
facing interactions with health services
too. I receive tweets thanking me when
someone has had a good experience with
introductions,” said Kate.
“However, I also receive tweets telling me
about the opposite experience. Perhaps most
worryingly when staff have not introduced
themselves, but there are #hellomynameis
posters all over the walls. This is why I am
working so hard to share the story behind
the campaign in person because I believe
that is the most powerful asset I possess to
drive behaviour change.”
She insisted that the campaign helps to
foster a culture of honesty, compassion and
transparency in the health services.
“Sharing your name with a patient is about
connecting with that person on a human
level, showing that you care about them as a
person, that you want to build a relationship
with them and help them to trust in you,”
she said.
“However, it is also about saying I’m proud
of the care I deliver and I want to be held
accountable if I fall short in any way. Hiding
behind anonymity is common, but I think
it does nothing to enhance health services
and patient experience. Creating a culture
where #hellomynameis is the norm, with
interactions with patients, staff and visitors,
goes a little way to improve a service which
is honest, compassionate and transparent.”
spring 2016 | health matters | 11

You
Section
Operation Transformation
your CHALLENGE
is accepted
he Operation Transformation
team threw down the challenge
to people across the country to
T
join them in transforming our
lifestyles and our waistlines.
And HSE staff nationwide showed that they
were more than up to the task.
As part of the Healthy Ireland Physical Activity
Challenge, the HSE encouraged healthcare
staff to avail of the opportunity to get
involved across workplaces.
Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, National Director,
Health and Wellbeing, was full of praise for
the effort put in by HSE staff across the
country.
“To date over 4000 staff checked out the
information on the HSE website. 1200 groups
across the country have registered and many
HSE staff and champions are participating.
Over 1000 people took part in a recent national
walking day including with HSE staff in
Mayo, Galway, Cork, Mullingar, Waterford and
Dublin,” said Stephanie.
People were urged to get a group of workmates
together, become a leader/champion,
agree some activities on http://www.hse.ie/
physicalactivitychallenge, and register your
group on the Operation Transformation web
site. Groups could be of any size – from two
workmates up.
The response was phenomenal and you
couldn’t miss the array of OT posters around
the canteens, offices and staff rooms advertising
the events to get HSE staff moving.
Walks and runs were organised by groups at
lunchtimes, fitness classes were put on and
staff did their best to swap bad eating habits
for good, ditching the crisps and chocolate for
good.
Many people stepped up and volunteered
to become a Workplace Champion and lead a
HSE Operation Transformation group. Every
group needs people that will keep them motivated
and that is what these champions have
provided in the last few weeks, from supporting
everyone’s efforts throughout the programme,
mapping and promoting walking or
jogging routes in the workplace or close by, to
promoting smarter travel options for staff by
highlighting safe places to park your bike and
encouraging people to get off the bus a few
stops early and walk the rest of the way.
The new Get Ireland Active website has a
sitting calculator, where you can estimate
just how many hours a day you are sedentary,
prompting people to ditch the chairs as much
as possible. You may have even spotted many
of the new ‘walk and talk’ meetings that have
been taking place. Even standing for part of
a meeting can make a big difference to your
health and fitness. Why not give it a go?
The HSE are also taking part in the Million
Pound Challenge, in conjunction with Operation
Transformation, challenging everyone
to get moving and loose a million pounds.
Healthy Ireland vending machines are now
in place in workplaces around the country,
helping you to make informed decisions about
your snack choices.
Operation Transformation is supported by
Healthy Ireland - Department of Health, Safefood,
Sport Ireland and the HSE.
12 | health matters | spring 2016

Dublin North City Mental Health Service
Dublin North City Mental Health Services Operation Transformation Group
was one of the great successes of the challenge, with organisers revealing
that many are using the experience as an opportunity to change their lives
in different ways. Catering Manager Ailish Ward and fellow leader Occupational
Therapist Alan Rowley said there has been a huge amount of positive
feedback from all members of staff, who participated in the programme.
Registration & Weigh Ins
They held two days of registration in the Meeting Room, 2nd Floor, Phoenix
Care Centre in early January. A total of 53 people registered comprising
of 48 women and five men. Most of those registered are based in The
Phoenix Care Centre or Connolly Norman House and some members of the
community mental health teams. They obtained email addresses and phone
numbers from those who registered for the purposes of communicating information.
Everyone who registered was given a personal ‘Progress Record
Sheet’. The group was registered on the official Operation Transformation
website as Dublin North City Mental Health Services and set up to be
included in the Million Pound Challenge.
“On registration, we asked each person to weigh in and write their weight
on a piece of paper and place in the box provided. So as to maintain confidentially,
we asked people not to include their names on the piece of paper
as we are only interested in a group weight and not individual weights.
Individuals could keep track of their own weights on their ‘Progress Record
Sheet’.
“The following week and subsequent weeks we asked people to record
and write their weight loss in lbs on a piece of paper. We had an average of
35 people weigh in on a weekly basis with average personal weight losses
each week of between 1-2 lbs,” said Ailish.
These weight losses are totalled weekly and have been submitted to the
Operation Transformation website to be included in the Million Pound Challenge.
To date, as a group they have lost 13 stone 13lbs.
Communication
A DistributioN list was set up via email and all correspondence was sent
out using this. An e mail is sent out at the end of the week informing registered
members of the weekly weight loss, information on the past week
and the Programme of Events for the following week. An information stand
was set up in the staff room, 2nd Floor, Phoenix Care Centre and contains
information on The Weekly Programme of Events, Recipe of the Week,
Information on Being Active and Eating Healthy.
“We also incorporated some of the posters relating to the #littlethings
campaign. We are also advertising and advocating for people to take the
stairs by placing posters around the building and at the lifts stating same
and displaying benefits of doing so. The Programme of Events is also displayed
on the TV screen in reception each week,” explained Alan.
Programme of Events
Week 1’s Programme of Events began with a 1km ‘Finding
our Feet’ Walk around the Walking Track on the grounds of
DIT on the Tuesday. They increased the intensity to a 1km
‘Moderate Walk’ on Wednesday and a 2km ‘Brisk Walk’ on
Thursday. Friday and Sunday were left as personal time for
people to do their own training.
Week 2’s events began the introduction of ‘Couch to 5k’
Training. There was a number of staff who were keen to step
up the pace and with the assistance of Brenda Piercy, CNM2
, who is a regular marathon runner, they began a training sessions with
her on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. “I set up a ‘Whats App’ page as a
communication tool for those participating in the Couch to 5k training and
we use this to motivate and encourage each other,” said Ailish. “There are
10 of us involved in the running group and we have renamed ourselves ‘The
Phoenix Flyers’.”
Ailish and Karen Murphy, Principal Social Worker, completed the OT Fun
Run in the Phoenix Park on 20th February. “As a group, we are planning on
getting involved in more Fun Runs as they happen nationally,” she said.
The walking training also continued Monday to Thursday and increased to
3kms as the weeks went on. On Thursdays, the walk is reduced to 2km with
the introduction of a weekly ‘Group Challenge’.
With the assistance of Gertie Coyle, ADON, Week 3 saw the introduction
of a 15 min DVD class on Tuesday lunchtimes. The exercise and toning DVD
classes were always well attended and enjoyed by all.
On Week 4, they had a ‘Healthy Eating’ Lunchtime talk from a representative
of a local fitness club who provided some very useful information to the
group.
Healthy Eating
“There is information on the stand in the staff room in The Phoenix Care
Centre on healthy eating, including a food pyramid, recipes and healthy
snack options. We have also included a recipe of the week which changes
every week and have printed copies of this for people to take home with
them. The recipe is also adapted to cater for the needs of vegetarian members
among us,” said Ailish.
“Each week we take the menu for the week ahead, together with the
shopping list and recipes for all dishes on the menu, photocopy them and
leave them available for people to take home with them. They are usually
collected by members after they have weighed in.”
Moving Forward
“Everyone’s reason for joining was personal to them. Some have joined
for weight loss, some to begin healthier eating, some to start exercising and
some as a form of stress relief.
Everyone who has joined
is reporting very positive outcomes
not just on the weighing
scales but also regarding
their overall general, mental
and physical health. People
are feeling and looking
happier in themselves. I am
confident that the changes
made will continue on long
after the TV programme
has ended,” said Ailish.
ABOVE RIGHT: Ailish Ward (left) and Karen Murphy (right)
having completed the Operation Transformation 5km Run in
Phoenix Park on February 20th. RIGHT: members of the Operation
Transformation Group with leaders Ailish Ward (front row,
2nd from left ) and Alan Rowley (front row, 4th from left).
spring 2016 | health matters | 13

You
Section
National Medical Card Unit
PLAYING YOUR
CARDS RIGHT
andling almost 20,000
pieces of mail and thousands
of telephone and email
H
queries each week, you could
say the National Medical Card
Unit (NMCU) is used to being busy.
The unit is on the frontline of the health
service and, despite the service often being
a political football, its large team at the
base in Finglas, just off the M50, is more
used to kind words of thanks from grateful
clients.
“We treat each application with empathy
and compassion. We are not here to stop
applications, we want to help people and get
them over the line. We see all the problems
that people are faced with – marriage breakups,
vulnerable children, homelessness, and
do our very best every day to help them,”
said Hugh Glynn, a member of the new applications
team.
“It is particularly heartbreaking to see the
current homeless problem. Obviously it is
more difficult logistically when somebody
doesn’t have an address but we work with
Focus Ireland to make sure that the homeless
person has access to their medical card
and would prioritise these cases.”
He explained that there was a wide age
range of the homeless people they help,
with a lot of older people nearing retirement
age being forced out of their homes at
present.
“We are on the frontline here and see it
all. The rent increases have seen so many
without a roof over their head. But we take
rent increases as part of your outgoings
when assessing people and take it all into
account. We really take the client’s needs
seriously, treat them with empathy and that
comes from the bottom up. It really makes
you proud to work here,” said Hugh.
Increase
THE Primary Care Reimbursement Service
and National Medical Card Unit manages a
wide range of primary care services across
12 community health schemes, including
the Medical Card Scheme, to a population of
over 3.66 million people. These services are
provided by more than 7,000 primary care
contractors and involve 77 million transactions
annually, with an associated expenditure
of €2.397bn.
As of December 1st 2015, there were
1.729 million Medical Cards and 409,000 GP
Visit Cards in circulation. When compared
to December 1st 2005, there has been an
increase of 573,273 people with eligibility
under the GMS Scheme, which is 33.2pc
more than the 2005 level.
The unit is headed by Siobhan McArdle,
Head of Operations.
The first floor of the building is the first
point of entry for the thousands of letters
that are delivered daily. Each envelope is
We look to find the
balance of needing
to do everything in a timely
fashion and meeting our
targets while not affecting
quality or customer service.
We work to ensure that
applications, when complete
are processed within 15
working days. Over 95pc of
applications are processed in
10 to 15 working days
MAIN: Thousands of applications arrive every week.
OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP LEFT: The IT team at work;
TOP RIGHT: Files are sorted in the store room.
ABOVE LEFT: Kate Halliwell ABOVE RIGHT: Catherine
Kane, Christine Smyth, Kate Halliwell, Ann Smyth
and Siobhán Kelly. PAUL CONNOR PHOTOGRAPHY
14 | health matters | spring 2016

opened and sorted, whether it is a new application,
a returned letter, further information
on an existing application or a request
for a review on a failed application. Part of
that team is Damien Mullen, Emma James
and Sharon Craig.
Catherine Kane, Quality Control Manager,
explained that there are monthly meetings
to identify if there are more efficient ways to
handle the throughput of correspondence.
“Staff are very good at suggesting how to
make the system better,” said Catherine.
Three new schemes were introduced at
the NMCU in 2015:
• GP Visit Card Under 6 Scheme
• GP Visit Card Over 70s Scheme
• Eligibility in accordance with the Redress
for Women Resident in Certain Institutions
Act 2015
Despite the huge volume of written correspondence,
there is a move towards streamlined
online services. 98pc of applications
for the Under 6s GP Visit Card and 56pc of
Over 70s were made online.
A user-friendly online registration system
is available for the GP Visit Card Under
6 Scheme and GP Visit Card Over 70s
Scheme. To date, 204,251 children/clients
have registered for the GP Under 6 Scheme
and 47,594 people/clients have registered
for the GP Over 70s Scheme.
“The hope for this year is for a fully
integrated online service where you could
upload any additional information required
for your file. We hope to have it rolled out
towards the end of the year,” said Siobhan.
Emma James looks after the return to
sender letters which have come back to the
team. If clients move address and have not
informed the NMCU, correspondence including
cards may issue to the previous known
address. She explained that they endeavour
to ensure that clients receive their cards
and that addresses are updated.
“Sometimes cards are due to expire and
we do our very best to get a hold of the
relevant person so that is not allowed to
happen. It is important that our database is
kept up to date,” she explained.
Also based on the first floor is the library
where dedicated staff look after the filing
of applications. Some 100,000 folders are
stored on site at any one time. They are kept
in the cabinets there for four months before
being boxed up and brought offsite for longterm
storage.
Once all the applications have been logged
onto the system, they next go to the second
floor to the applications section. It is here
that they are sorted into new applications,
reviews or additional information, overseen
by Kate Halliwell and Ann Smyth.
Since 2011, the National Medical Card Unit
has provided a centralised medical card
assessment and processing service. This
enables:
•A single uniform system of medical card
application processing, replacing the different
systems previously operated through
more than 100 offices across the country
•Streamlined and standardised work processes
•It ultimately ensures a more consistent
and accountable medical card processing
system
TARGETS
Dealing with the new applications are
Olive O’Sullivan and Hugh Glynn, while
another member of the team, Gwen O’Brien,
looks after the additional information and
change in circumstances correspondence.
Jenny Warren processes the missing information.
On average, 2,500 will be review cases and
2,500 will be new cases each week. Close to
40pc of cases will be incomplete and need
additional information. When the additional
information is received, it is scanned onto
the system and attached to that person’s
file.
Kate explained that there are strict guidelines
about the turnaround in processing the
applications, with a 15-day target unless
there is additional information required.
“We look to find the balance of needing to
do everything in a timely fashion and meeting
our targets while not affecting quality or
customer service. We work to ensure that
applications, when complete are processed
within 15 working days. Over 95pc of applications
are processed in 10 to 15 working
spring 2016 | health matters | 15

You
Section
days,” she said. The third floor houses the
customer relations management team of
Christine Smyth, Siobhan Kelly and Gerry
Mulligan, headed by Kieran Healy, as well as
the IT department.
The NMCU operates a dedicated contact
centre for members of the public.
There are dedicatded phonelines for key
stakeholders, including GPs, pharmacists,
and staff in acute hospitals and Community
Health Organisations (CHOs).
“We do get negative publicity but we seek
to deliver our service to all clients in a timely
fashion and in most times we do that. We
go that extra mile for people. The process is
not subjective: each applicant presents with
unique and individual circumstances, and
we endeavour to process the application in a
timely and efficient manner. There are guidelines
in place which govern the process. We
seek to assist people with their applications
and with the financial assessment,” revealed
Gerry Mulligan.
“While we are always an easy target for
people, we usually get very good positive
feedback from the direct contacts we have
with people. There is a good side to it.”
In the NMCU, there are medical officers on
site to assess applications with a discretionary
element.
The medical officer team, which includes
a number of off-site medical officers, works
as part of the NMCU team to ensure that
We do get negative
publicity but we
seek to deliver our service
to all clients in a timely
fashion and in most times
we do that. We go that
extra mile for people. The
process is not subjective:
each applicant presents
with unique and individual
circumstances, and we
endeavour to process the
application in a timely and
efficient manner.
applications from clients with medical needs
are assessed in a professional manner taking
account of the undue hardship experienced
due to the burden of an illness.
There is a special team that deals with
political queries and parliamentary questions.
The highest volume of PQs for the
HSE are regarding medical cards so there is
an enormous amount of work to be done to
answer those queries. The team also deal
regularly with the Ombudsman about people
who are seeking reassessment or review, or
have lodged a complaint.
Sinead O’Neill, Data Analyst, is responsible
for workforce planning and organising
resources based on capacity and workload.
“We look at the projects coming in and
divert staff and resources to these areas,
learning the times when we are going to be
particularly busy,” she explained.
Finally, in the Quality Control department,
the team is headed up by Catherine Kane
and Paul McCartney.
They oversee the internal controls in
place in the unit to ensure high quality in
the processes and internal systems, and in
the decision-making involved in processing
applications.
“We used to do retrospective checks that
all was in order, ensuring that the right decision
was made in each individual case. Now
we do our checks on applications before the
card is even generated,” said Catherine.
above: ‘The medical Card Unit’ processing team.
16 | health matters | spring 2016

Limerick cancer survivors
take ‘Strides for Life’ together
L
imerick cancer survivors
have spoken about how the
Irish Cancer Society’s ‘Strides
for Life’ programme at the
Cancer Information Centre, University
Hospital Limerick has helped them in their
recovery.
‘Strides for Life’, with the help of volunteers,
is an initiative which brings participants
through a structured, individualised
walking programme, gradually increasing
fitness levels and improving health and
quality of life. The success of the programme,
which ran for the last 15 weeks,
has led to plans for a new Walking Club for
cancer survivors at the Cancer Information
Centre.
VOLUNTEER
Kay Waters, from Corbally completed her
treatment for breast cancer in 2012 and
was a ‘Strides for Life’ volunteer and enthusiastic
participant. Walking and exercise
played an important part in her recovery,
particularly whilst undergoing radiation and
chemotherapy treatment. She jumped at
the chance to become a volunteer walking
leader for the ‘Strides for Life’ programme
which, she says, allowed her to pass on the
benefit of her positive experience with exercise
to others.
“When the Cancer Centre called to say
that there was a programme starting on exercise
and asked if I would like to help out, I
was thrilled as I wanted to encourage other
cancer survivors to participate in exercise.
20 people came along on the first night and
have now completed the programme,” said
Kay. “We would love to hear from those who
wish to join the new Walking Club planned
for the spring.”
A review of the ‘Strides for Life’ programme
found that, as well as the physical
benefits of exercise, such as increased fitness,
participants valued the social interaction
and supportive element.
For Ann Kinsella from Ballinacurra Gardens,
the social and emotional benefits of
the programme were a huge motivator.
“I have been free of cancer for over two
years now and the Midwestern Cancer Centre
has been my lifeline, I can come here at
any time to have treatments such as Reiki
and Reflexology or just a cup of tea and a
chat. ‘Strides for Life’ has encouraged me
to stay active, I wouldn’t have walked to the
supermarket before the programme! But
most of all it’s the camaraderie in the group
which I love, you can go ‘into yourself’ once
you have finished your treatment so it’s
great to be part of a programme like this,”
said Ann.
Ann is also part of a local group of Southside
ladies who regularly perform in musicals
and plays, they teamed up with the
local Men’s Shed recently for a one night
only performance of Southside Musical at
the Limetree, “As long I stay active I will
hopefully have the energy to continue,” she
said.
THERAPEUTIC
John Leo, a prostate cancer survivor, suffers
from fatigue as a result of his ongoing
treatment. For him, walking as part of the
‘Strides for Life’ group, helped him to stay
on the positive side of things. Together with
his wife Peggy, they joined the walk every
week since it started. John thanked the hospital
and Cancer Centre for their support,
“The people here in the Cancer Centre and
UHL - you wouldn’t find anyone like them in
any hospital in the world. I find it very therapeutic
getting out of the house, if you don’t
then you become negative!” he said.
The Cancer Information and Support Centre,
located in the grounds of the University
Hospital Limerick offers patients and their
families’ practical information and emotional
support in a friendly environment.
“From the feedback we received after
‘Strides for Life’, the most important thing
was the socialisation aspect of the walking.
That’s why we have decided to start
the Walking Club and open it up to all our
members to avail of the opportunity to get
the exercise whilst enjoying the company of
others,” said Maria Keane, Manager of the
Centre,
Catherine Hand, Patient Advocacy Liaison
Manager at UHL and ‘Strides for Life’ volunteer,
added, “Physical activity is a step in
the right direction in terms of recovery from
cancer. We want to build on the success of
‘Strides for Life’ next year by working with
our colleagues here in the Cancer Centre to
develop the Walking Club. Sincere thanks to
all the participants and volunteers for their
involvement in ‘Strides for Life’.”
A large number of studies have shown
that moderate exercise, two to three hours
a week can help reduce the risk of some
cancers such as bowel, endometrial and
breast by as much as 50pc. Any amount of
exercise is beneficial to cancer survivors
but frequency, duration, type and fitness
levels have a direct impact on how much
a survivor can help reduce their risk of a
recurrence.
If you are a cancer survivor and want to
get involved in the Walking Club, contact
Maria Keane at the Cancer Information Centre
on 061 458163 or log onto www.midwesterncancercentre.ie
or www.cancer.ie
for more information.
Some of the Strides for Life participants pictured
with the volunteers: left to right, Kay Waters, Corbally;
Becky Hand, volunteer, Bruree, Co Limerick;
Marie O’Neill, Limerick; Gerard O’Regan Shannon,
Co Clare; Eugene Cantillon, Limerick; Catherine
Hand, UHL and volunteer; and Ann Kinsella, Ballinacurra.
spring 2016 | health matters | 17

You
Section
just keep going
You’re twice as likely to quit for good with our help
ucy Dillon is one of the six
team leaders on the current
season of RTÉ’s Operation
L
Transformation. The twentyfour
year old hails from
Clonmellon, Co Meath and on top of her
goal to slim down she has simultaneously
challenged herself to quit smoking. Before
starting the show Lucy was averaging 11
cigarettes a day.
The mother of one-year-old Molly has quit
numerous times in the past but has always
come back to smoking to help her cope with
the stresses of a busy life.
“I have never quit for long periods. For
example, when I was pregnant with Molly I
obviously didn’t want to be smoking but the
minute I had Molly, not that I had planned
to start smoking again, it just happened,”
explained Lucy.
“I’m feeling like it’s time to just quit. I have
a different air about it.”Lucy who lost her
mother to lung cancer just over three years
ago says that despite past attempts, this
time feels different.
“I know the affect they (cigarettes) have. I
lost my mam… smoking was a huge factor
to it. I did want to give them up but I needed
to feel it. It’s hard to explain but I’m feeling
it now. I’m feeling the actual health benefits.
I’m feeling like it’s time to just quit. I have a
different air about it,” she said.
determination
Finding that determination to quit for the
final time can be difficult. Temptation is
everywhere and excuses are hard to avoid.
Lucy said she began to feel differently about
smoking when she allowed herself to really
think about the damage she was causing
her body.
“I was digging a big hole for myself. Smoking
was a huge part of my day. If you count
five minutes for every cigarette, and I was
having 11 or 12 - that’s an hour a day spent
smoking. It’s scary to think about it like that.
“When I get a craving I just go outside for
fresh air.”
Lucy used her will power to quit at the
beginning of her Operation Transformation
journey. Naturally with such a big life
adjustment come the cravings.
“The car is a huge thing for me. Whenever
Molly wasn’t with me, I always smoked in
the car. It nearly passed the journey for me
so that is a huge change for me now.
When I get a craving I just go outside
for fresh air and take a few
deep breathes to get by those
couple of seconds. That’s all it is
but when it hits you it hits you.
The next time you would have
usually had a cigarette it will
happen again but it starts to
fizzle out.”
Trying to quit while
surrounded by other
smokers is tough.
Luckily for Lucy,
her partner does
not smoke around
her and a work
friend has also
recently quit.
“We were
the only two
smokers in the
office so it has
worked in my
favour. If I was
still working in
the restaurant
or the pub I
don’t know how
I’d manage it.
Just being around
people who don’t
smoke has helped
me an awful lot.
“It sounds weird
but I’m focusing
more and I’m not
as distracted.”
Family and
friends have
been a great
support for Lucy
and that has
undoubtedly aided
her in her journey
to remain smoke
free but what has
been most affective
is Lucy’s willingness
to help herself.
“For instance I
gave the
car a
good clean down to remove the smell of
smoke and to help me think that going forward
is going to be a fresh start and a
fresh, new me.”
It’s a fact that after 72 cigarettefree
hours, your breathing will improve
and your energy levels will
increase. With over 500 hours
under her belt, Lucy is feeling the
benefits.
“I’m enjoying things more. It
sounds weird but I’m focusing
more and I’m not
as distracted. When
I’m in work I’m not
always thinking
‘oh it’s my time
to go for a
cigarette now’.
My breathing
is definitely
improved; I’m
not as out of
breath. I know
I am training
more but since
I quit smoking I
feel like my chest
is opening up so that’s
not scaring me anymore,”
she said.
“Just actually think
about it.”
Lucy mentioned that she
is beginning to feel turned
off by the smell of smoking
and is starting to replace her
longing with a negative view of
cigarettes. She had this advice
to share with anyone trying to
quit,
“Just actually think about it.
Think about the harm you’re
doing to yourself and others
around you. I went on day to
day thinking yea, yea, I know
they’re bad and I would just
keep smoking anyway but you
need to actually sit down and
think about it. Don’t ever think
you deserve them (cigarettes)
because you don’t.
Just keep going.” You’re twice as
likely to quit for good with our help.
18 | health matters | spring 2016

37-year-old mum of three Sinead Hayes, a smoker of over
20 years, shares her experience of kicking the smoking
habit
My name is Sinead Hayes. I am a mom, wife,
blogger (www.facebook.com/Shin-Hayes-Thinking-Out-Loud)
and this is my quit story…
I had tried several times in the past to quit
smoking but never lasted more than the token
few days. This time was different!!!
My father, who turns 60 this year, was a very
heavy smoker, getting through in excess of 40
cigarettes a day and had been a smoker since
the age of 13. When I heard he was planning to
attend a quit smoking group, of course I encouraged
and wished him well but in my mind I
condescendingly assumed he’d fail. I was wrong.
I’m very proud to say that having attended the
HSE Quit course and, with the use of NRT (nicotine
replacement therapy), Nicorette patches and
Nicorette spray combined, he is smokefree since
September. He is now looking and feeling so
much healthier than he has in a long time. If he
can do it so can I.
My father’s success in quitting led me to contact
Miriam O’Shea, the smoking cessation officer
with the HSE, who led the course my father
attended in Cork city.
Two weeks later, I attended the first group
meeting of the six-week course. At this stage,
my mind was well and truly made up, I was going
to quit, I had to! I have a husband and three
fantastic children that I want to be around for, for
as long as I possibly can be.
I have an auto-immune condition known as
PalindromicRheumatism that requires me to take
daily immunosuppressants. I have little doubt
that my smoking certainly wasn’t beneficial to
my condition. I also had an embarrassing cough
which had plagued me for years.
From day one, I was pleased to find all group
members to be very welcoming and supportive. It
was very encouraging and uplifting to find myself
in a room of like-minded people all willing each
other to achieve a common goal.
As part of our introduction to the course, we
all had our carbon monoxide levels checked. Although
I was the youngest member of the group,
I had the second highest reading of all those in
attendance. This frightened the life out of me. I
actually felt nauseous.
Although as a group we had all agreed to quit
on week three, the result of that test was enough
to convince me to quit there and then. After a
few days, it was however ultimately another failed
attempt. Again it became apparent that cold
turkey wasn’t the way for me to tackle this.
In hindsight, I really should have listened to the
advice and understood the important role that
NRT would play in aiding me in my quest to quit.
I would have to say that the initial out lay for the
NRT products is high and I could easily see how
this would deter some, but I suppose if you look
at it in the long-term, good health is priceless.
It was week five before I fell into line and started
to correctly use the patches and inhalers. Even
then, it was far from plain sailing. I still stumbled
several times along the way. On more than one
occasion, I found myself accepting cigarettes
when offered, more out of reflex than anything
else.
Most recently, I was invited by a good friend to
attend Ladies Day at Leopardstown Racecourse,
something I have wanted to do for a very long
time. I threw myself headlong into the preparations,
a busy mind is a fabulous aide.
On the morning of the event due to being so
busy with getting ready I made a fundamental error,
I forgot to apply my NRT patch before leaving
home for the two and a half hour journey, and on
top of that I did not bring any patches with me.
Needless to say, as the day went on, my cravings
grew, to the point where I gave in and had a
single cigarette.
This only goes to show the importance the correct
use of the wide variety of NRT products plays
in our battle to succeed and quit once and for all.
Thankfully I was able to persevere and reap the
benefits of the NRT products which enabled me
to reach my goal and quit.
I am very happy to say my husband and
children, family and friends are delighted with
my success, and I am also delighted to report
that I no longer have that embarrassing smoker’s
cough!!
Sinead Hayes, who gave up smoking in December,
pictured after her appearance on TV3’s Ireland AM
show where she shared her quit story. Also pictured
is fellow quitter Seán Lynch (back left). Also pictured
is José Ayala, Health Promotion Officer, Tobacco,
and TV3 presenters Sinéad Desmond and Mark
Cagney.
spring 2016 | health matters | 19

You
Section
UL hospital group
staff AWARDs night
and the winners are...
R
ecognising the important
role that staff play in delivering
services to patients
and celebrating the many
achievements of the UL Hospital Group
was the aim of the inaugural staff recognition
awards.
Staff were recognised across eight
different categories: Exceptional Patient
Experience, Innovation in a Clinical Area,
Innovation in a Non-Clinical Setting, Education
and Training, Research, Best Team,
Quality Improvement and Unsung Hero.
The awards were held recently at the
Strand Hotel, Limerick and hosted by 2FM
DJ Will Leahy.
In total, over 50 nominations were received
and a panel of independent judges
reviewed each nomination before deciding
on the overall winners for each category.
Each winner was presented with a
framed certificate and trophy by Colette
Cowan, CEO UL Hospitals Group, who
said she was delighted to see the calibre
of people, teams and projects that were
shortlisted for the awards.
“Recognising the great work that staff
do across the Group in all our hospitals is
very important for the ongoing development
and improvement of services for our
patients. The level of ingenuity, care and
passion that is demonstrated by staff is on
a par with any other Hospital Group in the
country,” she said.
The winners for each category were:
• Exceptional Patient Experience – Maria
Keane, Cancer Information Centre, University
Hospital Limerick
• Innovation in a Clinical Area – Necrotising
Enterocolitis (NEC) free Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit, Paediatrics/Neonatology
Department, University Maternity Hospital
Limerick
• Innovation in a non-Clinical Area – E-
Staffing Team for development of E-Staffing
System in UL Hospitals Group
• Education and Training – Carol Cotter
for the roll out of Staff Training Matrix introduced
into ward 3D, University Hospital
Limerick
• Research - Mr Paul Burke, Vascular
Research Group, University Hospital
Limerick
• Best Team – Perioperative Directorate
Team, UL Hospitals Group
• Quality Improvement – Inpatient Waiting
List Committee, Perioperative Directorate,
UL Hospitals Group
• Unsung Hero – Mick Conlon, Catering
Department, Ennis Hospital
Speaking after receiving her award for
Exceptional Patient Experience, Maria
Keane, Manager Cancer Information Centre,
University Hospital Limerick said, “I
was overwhelmed at being nominated and
delighted to be chosen as a representative
of the cancer services team for this award.
I am thrilled as I feel it endorses everything
we do here at the centre. The clinical
area of the service is vital but I feel the
services we offer compliment a patient’s
overall experience.
“Patients have shared that the activities
or services they take part in help in their
recovery and in getting their confidence
20 | health matters | spring 2016

Patients have
shared that the
activities or services they
take part in help in their
recovery and in getting
their confidence back, they
improve physically from
their treatment but then
their spirit comes back
and they become part of
something that they would
never have thought of before
their cancer diagnosis.
tious and balanced meals for patients even
outside of mealtimes.
Patricia O’Gorman, Assistant Director of
Nursing, Ennis Hospital added “We are so
proud of Mick in Ennis Hospital, we always
knew we had a hero in our midst! As a
small hospital, Mick knows
a lot of patients and their
families and does his best to
ensure their stay in hospital
is a pleasant one.
Each Christmas day after
he has cooked dinner for
patients and staff, Mick visits
each patient and family, he
takes time to chat with them
and ensures that they enjoyed
their meal and that they had
enough to eat. This is very important
to patients particularly
those who have no visitors and
the time that Mick spends with the
patients is treasured by each patient.
Mick also visits the bereaved families
in Ennis and ensures they are catered for
while they are in the hospital. He gives
patients, families and staff a wonderful
service and his love of his work is what
makes him shine.”
Taking home the prize for Outstanding
Quality Improvement was the Inpatient
Waiting List Team, Perioperative Directorate,
UL Hospitals Group. Staff members
from Nenagh Hospital worked on the team
to develop and deliver a Waiting List Policy
for all hospitals in the UL Hospital Group
including Nenagh.
John Doyle, Perioperative General Manager
said, “UL Hospitals Group is recognised
as the best performing hospital group in
the country for the management of inpatient
and day case waiting lists. This year
back, they improve physically from their
treatment but then their spirit comes back
and they become part of something that
they would never have thought of before
their cancer diagnosis. I love opening the
door in the morning and welcoming people
in.” The Cancer Information and Support
Centre, based in University Hospital Limerick
is open to anyone from the Mid-West
region that has, or has had cancer and their
family regardless of where they had their
treatment. The Cancer Centre, located
in the grounds of the University Hospital
Limerick offers patients and their families’
practical information and emotional support
in a friendly environment.
Maria has been running the centre for two
years and has transformed it into a hive of
activity and also a spiritual and therapeutic
haven for patients and their families. Maria
has been responsible for the introduction
of a whole range of new activities into the
centre including, ‘Something to Sing About
Choir’, Strides for Life Walking Group, Craft
afternoons and complimentary therapies
delivered by volunteers.
Professor Rajnish Gupta, Consultant
Medical Oncologist commented, “Maria
has made such a difference in running the
Cancer Information Centre, she is brilliant,
and there is no other way to say it. She has
an innate understanding and ability to look
after people. Maria, along with the volunteers
and therapists support patients in a
holistic way; supporting the whole person
through their treatment, which is just as
important as treating the disease.
“How do you quantify what Maria does?
You can’t put data against it and measure
it but she contributes as much if not more
than what happens in the clinical treatment
that patients receive.
“Without the Cancer Information Centre,
with Maria and our team of volunteers and
supporters we would not be looking after
people they way they deserve to be looked
after.”
Mick Conlon, Catering Department, Ennis
Hospital who is from Ennistymon, was
delighted to walk away with the Unsung
Hero’s Award. “I am over the moon! After
40 years of service, this award gives me
a wonderful appreciation and recognition
for my work, which is shared with my new
catering officer, trainee chef and catering
staff.”
Mick works in the Catering Department,
Ennis Hospital preparing meals for both
patients and staff. Mick is a stand out
member of the team and provides a great
service to Ennis Hospital and is recognised
by his colleagues as an amazing person to
work with. Mick ensures that patients are
well fuelled for recovery, providing nutriwe
achieved all our waiting list targets and
were the first Hospital Group in the country
to achieve the 18 month target set for
June 2015 and the 15-month target set for
December set by the Minister for Health.
This is particularly true in Nenagh Hospital,
which has significantly reduced waiting
lists and waiting times while performing
more day surgery and in more specialties
than ever before.
“The benefits of developing a hospital
group are particularly relevant in relation
to waiting lists, where consultants are able
to see patients at a number of different
hospitals and are able to deliver care locally,
close to the patients’ homes.”
Cathrina Ryan, Director of Nursing,
Nenagh Hospital added, “We are thrilled to
be part of the wining team and receive the
award for Outstanding Quality Improvement.
The local team in Nenagh, work with
colleagues in hospitals across the Group.
By working together it allows waiting lists
to be pooled across specialities so that the
next available consultant can see a patient,
thus reducing waiting times for all patients.
There has also been significant capital
investment in a
new surgical day
unit in Nenagh
Hospital and
we continue to
recruit specialists,
anaesthetists
and theatre
nurses to
increase surgical
activity.”
MAIN: UL Hospitals Group CEO Colette Cowan
presenting the award for Outstanding Quality
Improvement to the Waiting List Committee from
Nenagh Hospital, Ennis Hospital, University Hospital
Limerick, Croom Hospital and St John’s Hospital at
the Staff Recognition Awards. TOP: Colette Cowan,
CEO UL Hospitals, with Mick Conlon, Catering
Department, Ennis Hospital celebrating winning
the Unsung Hero Award ABOVE: CEO UL Hospitals
Group Colette Cowan presenting the award for
Exceptional Patient Experience to Maria Keane,
Cancer Information Centre University Hospital
Limerick Photo: Brian Gavin
spring 2016 | health matters | 21

You
Section
Great buzz at book launch
TIME TO BLOSSOM
arkievicz House, Sligo was
buzzing with excitement recently
for the launch of Anne
M
Marie Frizzell’s first book
‘Time to Blossom- Harvesting Wellness and
Wisdom on Your Personal Life Journey’.
Over 100 people attended the event many
of whom purchased their copy of the book
and commented on the relevance and
timeliness of this publication at the start of
a new year with the promise of new beginnings.
Anne Marie is a Registered Nurse (Intellectual
Disability Division) a certified Health
and Wellness Coach, a Dietary Coach and
a member of the International Coaching
Federation. She is a coach member of the
HSE Connect Coach network and works
as Quality and Risk Manager in CHO Area
1-Sligo/Leitrim Community Services.
In December, Anne Marie was shortlisted
as a finalist for the International Coaching
Federation Irish Chapter, Coach Awards
in recognition of her work in the field of
Health and Wellness Coaching.
She is an advocate of ‘wellness as a
way of life’ and has seen first-hand how
coaching can empower and support people
to build as she calls it, their ‘Personal
Wellness Foundation’. When she finds time
outside her busy job and family life, Anne
Marie provides one to one Health and Wellness
Coaching and runs wellness workshops
in her local community.
fulfilment
Throughout her life and in recent years
through her Health and Wellness Coaching
work, Anne Marie has met many people
who are searching for greater meaning and
fulfilment in their lives.
“We lead extraordinarily busy lives, and
many people feel under constant pressure
to do more, to have more, to be more, to
achieve more and to give more. This constant
busyness is eroding people’s mindfulness
and many feel powerless to change
their situation. This leads to unhealthy
levels of stress and impacts on family life,
work life, finances, relationships, lifestyle
behaviours and self esteem which in turn
impacts on ones physical, mental and emotional
health and wellbeing,” she explained.
Through her coaching work and wellness
workshops, it became evident to Anne
Marie that most people know what they
need to do to be healthy but many find it
difficult to make or sustain lasting lifestyle
changes, and often face common barriers.
Many of these barriers are internal and
relate to the persons perception of themselves,
including their belief in their ability
to make lasting life and lifestyle changes.
Anne Marie has identified the negative
voice of the inner commentator as playing
a key role in sabotaging people’s efforts to
be well. She believes that to reclaim your
personal power you need to change the
script of the inner commentator, to one
that is uplifting; instead of one that drags
you down or undermines your efforts to
change your life.
In November 2014, Anne Marie’s began
directing her passion for positively influencing
the wellness foundation of individuals
and communities into writing her first
book. She signed a self-publishing contract
with Balboa Press and 12 months later, in
November, ‘Time to Blossom-Harvesting
Wellness and Wisdom on Your Personal
Life Journey’ was published.
In ‘Time to Blossom’, Anne Marie advocates
that to harvest wellness and greater
life satisfaction you have to reclaim your
personal power, change those things that
you have control over, and let go of that
which is beyond your control.
“Harvesting wellness and wisdom may
involve any or all of the following depending
on your personal situation; moving from
busyness to mindfulness, silencing the
negative voice of the inner commentator,
improving your relationship with yourself
or with others, managing stress, achieving
a better life balance, adopting a healthier
diet, increasing your physical activity, getting
more restful sleep, practicing gratitude
and forgiveness, medicating your life with
laughter and reaching out to others for
support along the way,” she said.
“Time to Blossom is underpinned by
Health and Wellness Coaching principles
and guides the reader to build their Person-
22 | health matters | spring 2016

Wellness is, at the
bottom line, about
personal growth. This book
will appeal to those who
want to reclaim balance in
their life, adopt a healthier
lifestyle, strengthen their
relationship with themselves
and others and experience
higher levels of fulfilment
and personal life satisfaction
al Wellness Foundation. It covers a myriad
of topics including; overcoming obstacles to
wellness, self care, mindfulness, managing
stress, coping with grief and loss, strengthening
relationships, healthy eating, physical
activity, restful sleep, laughter as medicine,
achieving inner peace, and finding meaning
and a true sense of purpose in your life.”
In speaking about the writing process,
Anne Marie described it as ‘both challenging
and empowering’.
passionate
“Challenging from a time commitment
perspective and empowering because I
am passionate about supporting others
to achieve higher levels of wellness, and
writing this book offered me a vehicle to
do so. I applied the principles of Health and
Wellness coaching to my own life by creating
a vision for this book, developing a plan
around that vision, setting specific goals
and timeframes around each stage of the
writing and publication process, and then
took practical steps to translate this plan
into reality,” she said.
It was a journey of discovery and significant
learning and one that has given me
a sense of personal fulfilment which I can
build on in the future. I see this book as my
part contribution to building the foundation
for wellness and greater life satisfaction
among those who take the time to read it.’
Dr Stephanie O’ Keeffe, HSE National
Director of Health and Wellbeing, formally
launched Time to Blossom’ in Markievicz
House and congratulated Anne Marie on
this achievement and for demonstrating a
personal commitment to promoting better
health and wellness at individual level and
across communities. She added that Time
to Blossom strongly supports the messages
set out in the Department of Health’s
cross governmental Healthy Ireland - A
Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing
(2013-2025) and the HSE’s national
implementation plan for this Framework,
and will appeal to adults from all walks
of life who wish to improve their overall
health and wellbeing.
Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady, Cathaoirleach
Sligo County Council described
Time to Blossom as “an outstanding publication
which will enable people to address
the key issues and challenges they face
every day of their lives. Anne Marie’s extensive
experience as a Health Professional
and Health and Wellness Coach makes her
uniquely qualified to offer invaluable advice
and guidance, and in every chapter she
inspires and encourages us to embrace opportunities
and create new beginnings.”
Speaking at the launch, Anne Marie
highlighted the importance of building the
foundation for wellness at all stages of life.
“Wellness is, at the bottom line, about
personal growth. This book will appeal to
those who want to reclaim balance in their
life, adopt a healthier lifestyle, strengthen
their relationship with themselves and others
and experience higher levels of fulfilment
and personal life satisfaction.”
She continued: “It is my hope that Time
to Blossom will positively influence the life
of each reader and that they will blossom
in health and wellness as they continue on
their personal life journey.”
Time to Blossom is published by Balboa
Press and is available from Balboa Press
http://bookstore.balboapress.com
It is also available on line from Barnes and
Noble and Amazon and can be purchased in
Eason’s Book Shop Sligo, Liber Book Shop,
O’Connell Street, Sligo, Veritas Sligo, Four
Masters Book Shop, Donegal Town, The
Reading Room, Carrick on Shannon and the
Novel Idea, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal.
Dr. Stephanie O’Keeffe, National Director of Health
and Wellbeing, Cllr. Rosaleen O’Grady, Author Anne
Marie Frizzell and Siobhan Patten, Area Program
and Development Manager. TOP: Author Anne
Marie Frizzell and her daughter Erica, 7. ABOVE:
Author Anne Marie Frizzell with her book at the
launch of ‘Time to Blossom- Harvesting Wellness
and Wisdom on your Personal Life Journey’ by Anne
Marie Frizzell at Markievicz House, Sligo.
spring 2016 | health matters | 23

You
Section
Cork anaesthesiologist
TRAVELS BACK
TO ETHIOPIA
Eugene Egan, an anaesthesiologist from
Co Cork, volunteered in Ethiopia for five
weeks with VSO Ireland, the international
development organisation
that fights poverty through
volunteers. Eugene used his
skills and experience as an
anaesthesiologist to develop
and provide capacity building
training for local anaesthetists
in the Tigray region.
It was Eugene’s fourth volunteer
placement with VSO Ireland and
he was eager to return to Ethiopia.
“I acted as a facilitator for a training
programme which will extend from Mekelle
University to the emergency hospitals on
the periphery of the Tigray region. We have
a situation where the major problems are
being faced by healthcare workers who are
least equipped to deal with them so I was
involved in building capacity for local health
professionals to bridge that gap. VSO’s
philosophy of putting people at the centre
graduation celebrations
of development is in line with my own which
is why I have volunteered with them several
times.” The knowledge and skills that
Eugene was able to share with local
anaesthetists, through onsite
mentoring and coaching, will
vastly improve the quality of
service given to patients in
different hospitals throughout
the region.
Megan Munsell, Executive
Director of VSO Ireland, said: “We
are delighted that Eugene undertook his
fourth placement with VSO Ireland. Ethiopia
is a very important programme country for
VSO Ireland and, thanks to Irish Aid funding,
VSO has been operating a very successful
Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH)
project there. Ethiopia has one of the highest
rates of maternal and neonatal mortality
in Africa and, through the training he will
provide to local health professionals, Eugene
played a key role in improving the lives of
many vulnerable people.”
Children First
Watch out for the next edition
of the magazine this summer
when we will feature the
implementation of Children
First and information on the
Children First Act. As HSE
staff, we all have a role in ensuring
that children are protected. The HSE has
a full implementation programme including
guidelines for all staff and a Children
First online training module to support the
Children First programme. Our new online
resource contains a wealth of information
and is going live in March. Watch out for
the information bulletins and take the opportunity
to learn how YOU can protect and
support children who use HSE services – we
all have a part to play.
Good news for
orthodontics in
the north east
Orthodontics seems to always attract
bad headlines in the press due to long waiting
lists. For once we have two good news
stories in the Dublin North East area.
Firstly, one of our dentists had graduated
from the University of Warwickshire with an
MSc in Orthodontics. After three long years
of study, Dr Ade Salawu graduates this year.
This course with Warwickshire involved a
clinical component in the Orthodontic Unit,
Louth County Hospital, Dundalk under the
surpervision of Dr Pat McSherry, Consultant
Orthodontist.
Another first for our orthodontic units in
the north east is the graduation of the first
two orthodontic therapists in the HSE. They
are Linda Flanagan and Lynn McCarty. After
gaining their diplomas in September, they
are now able to work in the HSE under the
supervision of a specialist orthodontist,
hopefully reducing waiting lists.
This is a first for the HSE and the country
and the north east area hopes to train more
therapists in the years to come.
Lynn McCarthy and Linda Flanagan pictured following their graduation with a diploma in orthodontic therapy.
Dr Ade Salawu pictured with the staff of the
Orthodontic Unit, LCH, Dundalk.
24 | health matters | spring 2016

Mental Health Nurse receives
National Bravery Award
A
Dublin nurse has been honoured
with a national bravery
award. On the morning of
December 11 2013, Paul
Lynam Loane, a mental health nurse with
Dublin North City Mental Health Services
and based at Phoenix Care Centre, was on
his way home from a night duty shift.
On the North Circular Road, he noticed
flames coming from a window. He immediately
reacted and his quick-thinking
undoubtedly saved the lives of eight to 10
sleeping residents.
“That morning when Paul forcefully
entered the house, he faced many challenges
as, firstly, the residents thought he
was a burglar and, secondly, he encountered
a series of language difficulties as
the residents were non-English speakers.
Paul reassured the residents and managed
to evacuate them safely from the burning
building,” explained his line manager at the
Phoenix Care Centre, Margaret Mitchell,
Director of Nursing – Assistant, who nominated
him for the award.
“Paul’s quick and selfless action is in
keeping with his person-centred approach
which he brings to his work each
day. He is a dedicated young
nurse who can be relied
upon to react appropriately
to whatever situation
he is faced with.
Paul’s great skills and
abilities were put to
the test that morning.
His capacity to remain
calm and win the confidence
of strangers is a
tribute to those skills.”
After the emergency services
arrived and dealt with the fire,
Paul continued home and after a few hours
rest he returned to the house in order
to check if the residents were safe. Paul
reported for duty that night despite the
events that occurred earlier in the day.
“Most people’s natural reaction would be
to respond in some way to seeing a house
on fire but it was the quality of Paul’s
response in this situation which deemed
him worthy of a nomination for a bravery
award,” added Margaret.
It was a great honour for
Paul to receive a National
Bravery Certificate and
Bronze Medal Award
at Farmleigh House in
November.
“There are times when
the media would have
us believe that such
acts of bravery, kindness
and caring are long
vanished from modern day
Ireland. We at Dublin North
City Mental Health Services are very
privileged to have such a hero working on
our team and wish Paul all the best in the
future,” said Margaret.
Margaret Mitchell (DON-A) and Paul Lynam Loane (Mental
Health Nurse) receiving his award at the National
Bravery Awards Ceremony held in Farmleigh House.
EXCELLENCE in COACHING
Excellence in coaching and the profession’s contribution to
Irish people, communities and the economy were celebrated at a
Gala in December, hosted by the Irish Chapter of the International
Coach Federation (ICF). Individual coaches from all over Ireland
were shortlisted for their work with clients in areas such as business,
executive and career coaching; sports, life and wellness coaching and
many others.
Finalists included members of the Health Services Executive, Anne
Marie Frizzell, Jim Doherty and Niall Gogarty. Niall Gogarty, Senior
Administrative Officer in the National Human Resources Department
of the Health Service Executive was awarded the Executive Coach of
the Year. Niall has also been instrumental in developing a coaching
culture within the organisation to provide support to staff in their
personal and professional development, and enabling their teams
to continuously strive for success. Niall is responsible
for the Coaching
Network in his area,
which includes a
team of 17 coaches,
who are highly
experienced and
provide coaching
services to staff
from all disciplines.
Niall is also a
qualified Coaching
Supervisor.
vital service wins award
Advanced Paramedic Liam Duffy and Paramedic Paddy Doherty, both Letterkenny
Ambulance Station, with Theresa Mannion at the RSA award ceremony. The 2015 RSA
Leading Light award in the Public Service Category was awarded to the Donegal Road
Safe Show, in which the NAS in Donegal played a major role.
spring 2016 | health matters | 25

You
Section
Exciting year ahead
E-health strategy
makes strides
UR Chief Information Officer
Richard Corbridge has the task
O of transforming the use of technology
across the Irish health
services and is in the job just
over 12 months.
The Office of the CIO has been very busy
over the last year with projects to develop
and beginning to implemention of new systems
such as the Individual Health Identifiers
(IHIs), eReferrals and Electronic Health
Records. The office also undertook a massive
overhauling of technology infrastructure
throughout hospitals and community services,
with over 47,000 computers being
installed or replaced. Richard Corbridge had
no illusions about the size of his task when he
took on the new role at the end of 2014.
“The public now has powerful technology
in their back pockets with modern mobile
phones. They are keen to harness this technology
to make their work and patient care
more effective and efficient.”
“For a number of reasons, primarily due to
the lack of funding during the recession, the
Irish health system has been late introducing
technology to make healthcare more efficient
and safer. The DOH published the eHealth Ireland
Strategy early in 2014. This sets out the
plan for technology enabled solutions to bring
about, improved population wellbeing and
healthcare service efficiencies. In early 2015
we published the Knowledge and Information
plan that describes how we will achieve this.
We are now advancing at an increased pace
with a number of important projects. These
projects will deliver on the benefits promised,
due to the joint involvement and ownership
of healthcare professionals and information
technology specialists,” he said.
Richard’s office has established a Council
of Clinical Officers (CCIO). This council is
made up of clinical leaders and those with
‘hands on’ successful programme delivery
experience in the Irish healthcare system. The
experience and perspectives represented on
the Council is both deep and diverse which
offers great value and insight to national
programmes of work. “Following learning
from other jurisdictions, Ireland is somewhat
of a world-leader in joining both healthcare
professionals and IT specialists through
the development of the Clinical Council, in
the process of developing our systems. This
partnership type approach is not yet evident
in other health systems. Despite its scale and
complexity, such a joined-up approach gives
eHealth Ireland a significantly better opportunity
for success,” he said.
Richard is the first Chief Information Officer
(CIO) of the HSE. He also leads a new organisation
known as eHealth Ireland, a body that
has a mission to use technology to deliver
real healthcare benefit across the country by
2020.
Richard is really proud and pleased with
the work his team in the Office of the CIO has
achieved in 2015 and is really excited about
the projects and what they will achieve in
2016. He is mindful of the fact that the team
is relatively small when compared with other
jurisdictions and that he is hoping that a start
to build the team will happen in 2016 with the
promise of some new resources agreed. “We
started off with 288 staff. That number is
now increasing by 49. We understand that IT
needed a major personnel investment and we
are committed to doing that,” said Richard.
Some of the projects within the Office of the
CIO are:
eReferrals
“eReferrals are obviously a major step
forward for the patient and the health system.
We currently have over 50pc of hospital
groups using eReferrals and will have
achieved 100pc by the end of March,” he said.
The objective of the project was to put in
place an electronic general referral solution,
that is accessible, transparent, measurable,
robust, scaleable and ensures its own sustainability.
Using the e-referral solution, a GP
can submit a referral electronically directly
from their practice management system, to
the hospital in question using the HIQA approved
referral form. They will immediately
receive an acknowledgement confirming
receipt of the referral which they can communicate
to the patient there and then, as they
26 | health matters | spring 2016

are in their consultation.
“This is something that will be of huge benefit
for patients. Without eReferral, it has been
estimated that 18 pairs of hands touch a referral
letter between the time it leaves a GP’s
office until it gets to the person that inputs it
into the hospital system and makes the appointment.
eReferral allows for this process
to be much more efficient,” Richard added.
Individual Health Identifiers
(IHI)
An Individual Health Identifier or IHI is a
number that uniquely and safely identifies
each person that has used, is using or may
use a health or social care service in Ireland.
The IHI can be used to safely identify the individual
and will enable an individual’s correct
health records from different systems to be
linked together showing their medical history.
This ensures that healthcare practitioners
can safely identify the individual and therefore
provide health services an individual
supported by a comprehensive view of their
relevant health information.
“We are conducting a public consultation on
the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) for the
IHI. The PIA will be used to put in place safeguards
to reduce any risk of your personal information
being identified and will be incorporated
into the way that the IHI is created and
operated,” Richard explained. The consultation
process is open until April 8th 2016.
Electronic Health Record
“An Electronic Health Record (EHR) for Ireland
is the cornerstone of the eHealth Strategy.
A national EHR is a comprehensive and
combined solution that supports the creation
Key dates outlined for the rest of 2016 as part of the eHealth Strategy.
and sharing where appropriate of key patient
information,” said Richard.
The national EHR will consist of core operational
solutions (with functions such as
ePrescribing and Case Management), along
with the ability to aggregate data from these
systems into a comprehensive national
record, accessible to health and social care
professionals, and also to patients, service
users and carers. The EHR business Case will
be published in April of 2015 and will move to
understand the approvals process.
Open Data for Health
The publication of Irish Public Sector data,
available in open, free and reusable formats
is recognised as a key element of the Public
Service Reform agenda.
Through the national (http://data.gov.ie)
and regional Open Data Portals, citizens
can access raw Public Sector data, providing
insights into the operation of public
organisations and services. The aim of Open
Data is twofold; on the one hand facilitating
transparency of the Public Sector, and on the
other providing a valuable resource that can
drive innovation.Open Data can stem from
any domain – transport, education, housing.
However, its importance in the Health Sector
is significant. The amount of health data being
created and gathered is growing rapidly: data
about patient care, about health services, and
about infrastructure.
However access to and use of this data is
currently limited, even for health services
staff. Insights that could be gleaned or efficiencies
that could be identified in the data
are locked away in filing cabinets, personal
computers, or proprietary IT system.
Irish Council of Information
Officers (CCIO)
This enthusiasm for change and innovation
was particularly evident in the Council of
Clinical Information Officers (CCIO), made
up of volunteers from across the health
services.
“There are presently 145 people on the
council. They are people who are interested
in the use of health technology and
how it can best be applied in the Irish health
services. They are giving their time and
energy to help us, and I am really excited by
it,” said Richard.
“The members of the council are from all
different areas across the health service.
The council has a huge amount of experience
and it is great to have their input at an
early stage to enable IT solutions to help
them in their daily work and to make the
system better for patients,” Richard added.
The following CCIO management team
has been announced:
• Yvonne Goff – will be co-ordinating CCIO
activities and will represent the CCIO at the
OoCIO Senior Management Team.
• Michelle Kearns – will support CCIO coordination
activities with particular focus
on communications and event management.
• Seamus MacSuibhne – will liaise with
the ARCH team and will promote the need
for transparent research within eHealth,
from a clinical point of view.
• Mary Fitzsimons – will provide leadership
at the CCIO Council meetings while
also being the liaison for the Lighthouse
Projects which commencing in 2016.
• Joyce Healy – will provide clinical reviews
for key projects when required and
will provide leadership at the CCIO meetings.
Building on all the progress so far, the Office
of the CIO continues to look forward,
Approval was granted in January 2016,
to allow us to move to the next stage for a
large selection of projects which included:
• National Immunisation and Child Health
Information System (NICIS)
• Refresh of Laboratory System environment
(UHL hospitals)
• Medical Oncology Clinical Information
System (MOCIS)
• Lab Order Communications for SVUH
• AMNCH infrastructure, network and
Microsoft operating system refresh.
Richard concluded: “It is always going
to be a challenge to introduce so many
wholesale changes to the way people do
things and how they work. I continue to see
strong levels of enthusiasm and innovation
throughout the system, from our staff.
They can see that there is a smarter, more
efficient way of doing thingss,” he said.
spring 2016 | health matters | 27

Feature
Feeling under the
weather?We can help!
s we move through winter
into spring, many of us are
A feeling under the weather at
this time of the year. It could
be with a cold, a sore throat or
an earache and the HSE has lots of advice
for these common ailments on its website
undertheweather.ie.
The straight-talking and easy to navigate
site was launched in November 2014, and
since then has seen over 200,000 visits
– and we hope has helped people through
a few thousand colds and tummy bugs! It
was developed in partnership with GPs and
pharmacists, gives users clear and practical
information on how to manage a range of
common illnesses.
Dr. Nuala O’Connor, ICGP Antibiotics Lead,
who played a leading role in developing the
site, said: “The purpose of undertheweather.
ie is to build on the work already undertaken
by the HSE, GPs, Pharmacists to improve
the general population’s confidence in
managing common illnesses, reduce waste
of antibiotics and help to manage demand for
our healthcare services over the busy winter
period.
“The easy-to-read content, videos and
advice from GPs and pharmacists, represent
the health education that goes on in GP
surgeries every day.
We may know there’s no point in taking
antibiotics for common viral illnesses, but
it’s a different story when you or your child is
feeling very unwell.
Undertheweather.ie will guide you on how
to treat the condition yourself and how to get
better – and also when you need to ask for
expert help.”
ADVICE
The website gives sensible practical
information, developed by health
professionals, on a range of common
conditions like colds, flu, earaches, sore
throats and tummy bugs.
It tells you how long they should last, what
to expect, and what you can do to cope with,
and recover from, these illnesses.
The site includes a series of videos
featuring GPs and Pharmacists who offer
their expertise on dealing with these
common illnesses, practical remedies, and
advice on when to seek help from either a
pharmacist or from a doctor.
Kathy Maher, President, Irish Pharmacy
Union, explained that pharmacists provide
expert health advice in every community
on how to ease the symptoms of common
conditions, and are delighted to be involved
with this website.
“As well as expert advice, tips and guidance
on what over-the-counter remedies can work
for you, your pharmacist is also there to help,
and will let you know when you should seek
advice from your doctor,” she said.
Research among
those who were
shown the site shows
that only 30pc said that
they would still want an
antibiotic from their GP
after visiting the site with
70pc acknowledging that an
antibiotic was not necessary.
89pc would recommend
the website to a friend and
83PC would be likely to visit
the site if they or a family
member had a common
illness.
28 | health matters | spring 2016

LIFE SKILL
Dr Robert Cunney , Consultant
Microbiologist at Temple St Hospital,
and the HSE’s Lead for Antimicrobial
Resistance, revealed that research has
shown that a lot of people still believe
that antibiotics can help to treat colds,
flu, earaches, tummy bugs and rashes.
In fact antibiotics do not cure these
common infections.
“Learning how to manage common
illnesses with confidence and
common sense is a life skill, and
those skills tend to come from our
parents, friends, doctors, from our
own experience and, more and more,
from the internet. Under the Weather
has been developed in response
to this, to support the public in
accessing trusted and reliable health
information, developed by the HSE
with expert knowledge and advice
from GPs and pharmacists,” he
explained.
Research among those who were
shown the site shows that only
30pc said that they would still
want an antibiotic from their GP
after visiting the site with 70pc
acknowledging that an antibiotic
was not necessary. 89pc would
recommend the website to a friend
and 83pc would be likely to visit the
site if they or a family member had
a common illness.
videos
Along with practical advice,
Under the Weather offers videos
from leading Irish GPs, Nuala
O’Connor herself, Prof Andrew
Murphy from
NUIG, and
Dr Eamonn
Shanahan from
Kerry, and from
Pharmacist, Tom
Maher from Co
Meath, who talk
about a range of
common illnesses
affecting babies,
children and adults.
They provide tips on
how to manage your
symptoms so you’ll
be feeling
better as quick as possible and when you
should contact your GP.
The website also features pharmacists on
hand to deliver advice on over the counter
remedies for you and your family. This type
of rich digital content; advice from medical
professionals, is ideal for the consumer
audience and adds to the user friendly feel
and accessible
content on the site.
Undertheweather.ie is being
promoted through radio
and online advertising and
through social media, and
GP surgeries and community
pharmacies will display
printed leaflets and posters. The website
is mobile, tablet and desktop friendly and
will be a useful companion to anyone who’s
feeling under the weather.
Here are some of the common-sense facts
that the site helps to promote:
• A cough, while irritating, can often last up
to three weeks – many people feel this is a
concern but it is quite normal
•Influenza is quite
a serious illness that can keep you off your
feet for a week or two – but it doesn’t respond
to antibiotics. We treat the flu with rest,
fluids, over the counter medicines. Keep an
eye on older people or those with long-term
illness, who might experience complications
and need to see the doctor
• Earaches and sore throats can be very
painful, but again, the vast majority don’t
respond to an antibiotic. We treat them with
over the counter medicines like paracetamol
or ibuprofen, and most resolve by themselves
within a few days
Visit www.undertheweather.ie - Get
advice and Get Better!
spring 2016 | health matters | 29

Feature
Pensions Unit develops
Family Law
Expertise
he HSE has recently established
an expert Family Law
Unit as part of Health Business
Services (HBS) HR Pen-
T
sions function and is based
in the HBS HR centre in Manorhamilton, Co
Leitrim.
The expertise of the Family Law Unit is
required when pension rights need to be
shared out between separating or divorcing
couples. This has become more prevalent
over the past few years as our society becomes
more complex. In 2015 the HSE dealt
with approximately 400 family law cases
where pension adjustment orders were
required.
Under Family Law Legislation your pension
is considered an asset just like any other
such as your house or savings. The Family
Law Act 1995 and Family Law (Divorce) Act
1996 were introduced to enable the Courts
to share out pension rights between separating
or divorcing couples.
Pension entitlements are divided by way of
a Court Certified Pension Adjustment Order
- which is an order granted by the court directing
that a certain portion of the pension
benefits should be paid to the spouse and
dependents and one can apply to the Courts
through a Barrister or Solicitor to make this
Order.
The role of the HBS HR Family Law Unit is
to calculate the value of the pension benefit
in advance of the Court Hearing, to examine
the Court Order to ascertain if the Order
was drafted in accordance with legislation,
and to advise the parties of the effects and
implications of the Court Order.
The Unit must maintain a high level of
expertise and knowledge in this area to
ensure the legislative obligations in the Act
are implemented correctly, as failure to do
so may result in costly legal challenges. It
provides ongoing support and has delivered
training in conjunction with Department of
Public Expenditure & Reform (DPER) to the
other HSE areas, Beaumont and St James’
Hospitals.
The Unit deals with many complex cases,
including cases where a portion of an individual’s
pension benefit is assigned to their
spouse/civil partner which will never lapse
and cannot be reversed even if the individual
remarries or predeceases the spouse/civil
partner. The Unit also examines Foreign
Divorces to see if they are recognised in this
Jurisdiction.
For further information on any aspect of
pensions http://ihbs.healthirl.net/Home/.
Julie Sheridan, Clair O’Brien, Bernie Neary, Francis
Haran and Alison Crowe, members of the HSE’s
Family Law Unit based in Manorhamilton, Co
Leitrim.
30 | health matters | spring 2016

Health Services
People
Strategy
he Health Services People
Strategy 2015-2018, which
sets out future ambitions for
T
its workforce, was launched
recently by Tony O’Brien,
Director General of the HSE. .
The People Strategy has been developed
in recognition of the vital role staff at all
levels play in delivering the best possible
care to our patients and service users;
and follows the publication of the results
of the first ever health sector Employee
Survey last year. It’s driven on the National
HR Division’s commitment to develop a
professional HR Service that is technically
competent and responsive to the needs of
the organisation.
Speaking about the new People Strategy,
Rosarii Mannion, HSE National Director
of Human Resources, said: “We want to
invest in and develop a workforce that is
dedicated to excellence, welcomes change
and innovation, embraces leadership
and teamwork and maintains continuous
professional development and learning.
Better people management and good HR
practices support safer patient care. We
want to make the health service a better
place to work for all our employees. Our
clear commitment is to engage,
develop and value our
workforce to deliver the best
possible care and services to
the people who depend on
them.”
The People Strategy was
developed following many
engagement sessions with
staff and stakeholders
from all parts of the health
system and supports Goal 4
of the HSE Corporate Plan
2015-2017. Ms Mannion
added that “the People
Strategy is focused on
providing a cohesive Framework to lead,
manage and develop the contribution of all
staff in an environment that is conducive
to learning and wellbeing. It is also focused
on the future needs of the service to meet
the workforce demands to attract and
retain high calibre staff.”
The Framework used to outline the
strategic priorities in the People Strategy
is based on an applied version of the Excellence
Model (European Foundation for
Quality Management).
The key premise of the Framework is that
achieving our ultimate goal of Safer
Better Healthcare is best achieved through
leadership driving cultural change, enabled
by staff engagement, workforce planning
and adopting a partnering approach. This is
further supported by learning and development,
use of evidence and knowledge, HR
transactional processes and performance
management.
View the People Strategy on the HSE
website in the Staff & Careers section.
Click Resources and select HR Strategies
& Reports.
The eight key priorities outlined in the People Strategy Framework
are designed to deliver the following outcomes:
Leadership and Culture
Effective leadership at all levels, working collectively towards a common
purpose, creating a caring and compassionate culture and inspiring innovation,
creativity and excellence throughout the organisation.
Staff Engagement
Staff have strong sense of connection to the service, take personal responsibility
for achieving better outcomes and support team colleagues to
deliver results.
Learning and Development
A learning culture that prioritises development to ensure staff are
equipped to confidently deliver, problem solve and innovate safer better
healthcare.
Workforce Planning
Comprehensive workforce plan in place based on current and predicted
service needs, evidence informed clinical care pathways and staff deployment.
Evidence and Knowledge
Work practices and client pathways are evidence informed and decision
making is based on real time and reliable data.
Performance
Staff and teams are clear about roles, relationships, reporting and
professional responsibilities so that they can channel their energy and
maximise performance to meet organisational targets.
Partnering
Partnership with staff, service managers and stakeholders effectively
developed and managed to add value and support the delivery of safer
better healthcare for local communities driving change and improving
the client experience.
Human Resource Professional Services
HR Services designed to create value, enhance people capacity and
positioned to deliver organisational priorities. A member of the HR
Leadership Team is assigned to lead out on each of the Priorities, and
the Strategy is supported by detailed Work Plans which outline ‘Areas
for Action’, ‘Deliverables’ and ‘Timeframes’ for each element of the
People Strategy; all of which is designed to aid its implementation
throughout our Services.
The People Strategy 2015-2018 and associated Work Plans are available
to view on the HSE website.
spring 2016 | health matters | 31

Feature
967 tweets
72,514
facebook profile visits
4803 new facebook followers
1,700,000
website impressions
tweet of the year...
“we apologise as it seems
that this page on HSE.
ie is out of date hse.ie/go/
civilpartner... will get that
updated as soon as possible
#MarRef 32.5k impressions,
181retweets, 206 likes
32 | health matters | spring 2016

Keeping a finger on the...
DIGITAL pulse
D
igital technologies have
changed the way in which
people access information
and how they communicate
with each other. People now
have more information than ever at their
finger tips at all times. As a result of these
changes in communication, the HSE has
changed how we communicate with the
public and how we signpost them through
their health journey.
While many still receive health information
in the traditional channels, such as newspapers,
magazines, television, public booklets
or posters in their local healthcare centre
or hospital, there is now a huge proportion
of the public who primarily engage with
information online through all types of
social media. The Digital Communications
team manage social media for the HSE and
are developing these platforms to allow
members of the public ease of access to
information when they need it.
Who are the Digital Team?
The Digital Team is responsible for developing
and implementing an overarching digital
communications strategy for the Health
Services, in order to enhance existing and
develop new digital and social media assets.
The team supports HSE services to develop
content and tools for HSE.ie and other
online platforms, to engage with people
via social media, apps and tools and is also
developing the HSE Infoline into a digital
contact hub for people living in Ireland who
wish to contact the HSE and access our
services.
Head of Digital Emma Finn is ably backed
up by her team of Sandra Eaton, Frances
Plunkett, Louise Cooney and Peter Dineen
and also by the National Information Line
team in Ardee.
The benefits of social media
WHY should any of us use social media?
Well, it brings connectedness, information
sharing, learning, leading and listening. If
used properly, it can bring huge benefits in
our personal and professional lives.
For example, if there is a public health outbreak,
it provides an instant and widespread
communication channel to disseminate
information rapidly.
Healthcare leaders and line managers
can engage with their staff on social media,
giving a sense of visibility and openness
and providing the opportunity to challenge
misinformation. You also get a chance to
listen to what staff, colleagues, peers and
influencers - nationally and internationally
-are saying.
Social media sites have become the
biggest signposter for online content – it’s
where people go to find out information.
People share stories on their Twitter and
Facebook accounts, linking back to the HSE.
ie website, which has had 11.2 million visits
since January 2015.
And primarily, it allows you to stay up to
speed, informed and connected.
Twitter
TWITTER is one of the main ways that the
HSE engages with the public, through its 10
handles. The main one is @hselive.
Twitter is the ‘live news’ stream social
media channel, with each update allowing
for only 140 characters.
A tweet can contain text, a photo, a video
or a link to another website. It is widely used
by key influencers – from celebrities to the
media, politicians and organisations.
Facebook
The HSE uses the Facebook
platform across many
of its public information
campaigns like
QUIT, Think Contraception
and Little Things.
Facebook has many
benefits to
the HSE
although
the platform
is constantly
changing and
is very much a
paid platform
now for organisations.
It can help you be:
• Discoverable
– people can search
for your service online
• Connected – you can
have one-to-one conversations,
people can read
your posts, like your posts
and share them with friends
• Insightful – analytics on your page can
give you a deeper understanding of your
target audience
Facebook uses algorithms which makes
the platform like playback TV – The content
you see is based on who, when and how you
interact with content on the platform.
Facebook provides an easy way to get
your information out to an interested group
of people without having to set up and
maintain a website. In Our Lady of Lourdes
Hospital in Drogheda, the maternity physiotherapy
department were among the first
to recognise the usefulness of Facebook,
setting up a page to promote their regular
post-natal physio classes. It continues to
thrive, with over 500 ‘likes’ now.
Be social media savvy
THERE are simple rules to remember to
make the most out of social media.
• Decide your purpose and select the right
tool
• Be authentic – be a human!
• Remember it’s a conversation – that
means two-way
• You are what you tweet....it’s all public
• Practice makes perfect – give it a try
•Be respectful – it’s the real
world
spring 2016 | health matters | 33

Feature
Introducing the...
MATERNITY
STRATEGY
regnant women are to be
offered as natural a birth as
P
possible, in a safe environment,
under the new National
Maternity Strategy. Ireland’s
first National Maternity Strategy – Creating
a Better Future Together, which is a roadmap
for the improvement of services over
the next 10 years, aims to improve safety
and quality, as well as standardising care
across all maternity units.
PRIORITIES
The Strategy outlines four priorities:
• Aims to improve safety and quality in
general and standardise care across all units
• Recommends a Health & Wellbeing
approach to give babies the best start and
improve women’s health
• Ensures that a woman’s choice is facilitated
to the greatest extent possible
• Improve staffing levels and facilities in
maternity units and in the community
Dr Colm Henry, National Clinical Advisor
and Group Lead for Acute Hospitals, said
the Strategy will help deliver best practice in
maternity.
“The maternity care that women receive
is currently of a very high standard. Among
the lessons we have learned in recent years
is that we need to ensure that standards are
applied consistently across all units through
the establishment of maternity networks,”
said Dr Henry. “The Strategy will ensure that
evidence based practice will underpin the
model of care through the development of
comprehensive guidelines and audit through
the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee.
There will be a strong emphasis on
clinical leadership and continuous improvement
which will ultimately ensure that best
practice is achieved.”
The Strategy will ensure that mothers and
families will be offered choices regarding
their maternity care, with their options
depending on if they are classified as normal
risk, medium risk or high risk.
Women considered a normal-risk will have
the choice of supported care or assisted
care. ‘Supported Care’ will offer midwives
leading and delivering care, along with a
midwifery team. Mothers in this bracket
can also choose a home-delivery.
‘Assisted Care’ will be for mothers
who are either at a medium-risk, or at a
normal-risk who choose an obstetric service.
The assisted care will be led by an obstetrician
and delivered by obstetricians and
midwives.
Thirdly, there is ‘Specialised Care’, for
high-risk mothers and babies. This programme
will be delivered by obstetricians
and midwives and women under specialised
care will give birth in a Specialised Birthing
Centre.
Dr Henry said that this new three-tier
model will make it safer for women to give
birth in this country.
“The Strategy advocates new models of
maternity care by stratifying all women
and babies into risk groups. The pathways
of care whether midwife or obstetrician
lead, will correspond to these risk groups.
The Strategy recommends that women can
move between models of care according to
their needs.
“The Strategy also recommends that all
maternity units become part of larger maternity
networks. We have already engaged
with such work between the Maternity Unit
at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise
and the Coombe Women and Infants University
Hospital. This gives greater support to
smaller units and will promote standardisation
of care throughout all units.”
The Strategy will be delivered through
a new National Women & Infants’ Health
Programme, and care in each case will be
offered by multi-disciplinary teams. A new
community midwifery service will be developed.
Expectant mothers will be offered
choices about their care during pregnancy
and birth, ranging from home birth to specialised
assistance, depending on the level
of risk involved in each case.
The strategy was drafted by a 31 member
Steering Group.
The HIQA Report into the death of Savita
Halappanavar
recommended that a strategy be
developed to implement standard, consistent
models for the delivery of a national maternity
service that reflects best available
evidence, to ensure that all pregnant women
have appropriate and informed choices, and
access to the right level of care and support.
COMPLEX NEEDS
THE Strategy states that in order to provide
safe, evidence-based, accessible care to
all mothers, babies and families, maternity
services must be in a position to respond to
the increasingly diverse and complex needs
of the population.
Leadership, governance, clinical commitment
and clinical effectiveness approaches
are required to deliver safe quality maternity
care at all levels. Each maternity network
will need a defined patient safety and quality
framework.
This means that every service or hospital
will require a dedicated patient safety and
quality leadership and oversight function.
Currently, maternity care in Ireland is
largely consultant-led and hospital-based;
the new model of care now proposed represents
a fundamental overhaul of services.
The Strategy recommends that maternity
services should be woman-centred, and
provide integrated, team-based care, with
women seeing the most appropriate professional,
based on their need.
Every woman will have a named lead
healthcare professional who will have overall
clinical responsibility for her care.
Dr Henry said the new Strategy will give
women more control of how they give birth.
“For most women, thankfully, giving
birth is a normal physiological process. In
recognition of this, women will be offered a
pathway of care at home or in an Alongside
34 | health matters | spring 2016

The Strategy
advocates new
models of maternity care by
stratifying all women and
babies into risk groups. The
pathways of care whether
midwife or obstetrician lead,
will correspond to these
risk groups.
Birth Centre, which will be led by
midwives in a multidisciplinary setting.
Alongside Birth Centres will
provide comfortable, low-tech birth
rooms where labour aids such as
birthing balls, pools and complementary
therapy will be welcome alongside
natural coping strategies. In those cases,
where certain risk can be identified, the pathway
will lead to a Specialised Birth Centre
lead by an obstetrician, supported by a
multidisciplinary team and with higher tech
equipment available if required,” he said.
He also insisted that the new model will
bring more accountability when things go
wrong.
“The Strategy emphasises the importance
of clinical leadership at national, network
and departmental level,” he said.
“The creation of maternity networks should
ensure that smaller units are no longer
isolated and will work as part of a larger
cohesive maternity network. The development
and dissemination of guidelines across
networks should ensure a higher and more
consistent standard of care.
“Every woman will have a named lead
healthcare professional who will have overall
clinical responsibility for her care,” said Dr
Henry.
As a first step, the Programme will be
required to develop and manage a detailed
implementation plan and timetable, to deliver
on the Strategy’s required actions. The
plan will be finalised within six months of the
publication of the Strategy.
“The office of the National Women and
Children’s Health Programme is currently
being set up. It is expected that within six
months it will have developed an implementation
plan and timetable.
“As mentioned earlier networks are already
being established such as that between the
Maternity Unit at the Midlands Regional
Hospital Portlaoise and the Coombe Women
and Infants University Hospital. In addition,
Directors of Midwifery are in the process of
being recruited and appointed as required,”
said Dr Henry.

Feature
Supporting from the ground up
BUILDING REFORM
STARTs with support
S
upporting the goals of
the HSE Corporate Plan
2015–2017, the Health Service
Reform Programme will
enable and support the delivery system in
moving to a more integrated care delivery
model. All parts of the health service are
dependent on each other. To provide a better
service to users, the reform programme will
support the overall health system in meeting
the health needs of the nation in a connected
way.
How will it happen?
THE Reform Programme is based on the
objectives of the HSE Corporate Plan and
informed and guided by the underpinning
strategies, frameworks, policies and reports,
developed by DoH, HIQA and HSE.
Joe Ryan, Acting Head of System Reform
Group, explained how the reform will take
place across the health services.
“It is vital that these policies, strategies and
frameworks are implemented in a joined-up
way, so that the health service can deliver
the objectives of the Corporate Plan.
It is only through a well-organised, programmatic
approach, actively supporting
and working with all of the service delivery
and supporting organisations that the Reform
Programme will deliver meaningful
benefits for patients and service users,” said
Mr Ryan.
“To ensure that this happens, the System
Reform Group (SRG) has been set up within
the Office of the Director General. The SRG
will support the entire health service in
integrating, managing and coordinating the
delivery of the Reform Programme.
“Over the coming months, we will be looking
to staff to work with us in developing
the Reform Programme and to help share
the learning from the many valuable and innovative
projects across the health service
which are helping improve patient outcomes,
and achieving the delivery of a more personcentred,
connected health and social care
service.
“The core, guiding principle of the Reform
Programme is that all reforms need to be
evidence based and clinically-led and must
be focused on delivering real benefits to the
patient or service user.
“As we start to design and implement the
programmes over the coming months and
years, the Reform Programme teams will
ensure that they engage with staff, patients,
service users and all stakeholders as we
work together to build a better health and
social care service.”
36 | health matters | spring 2016

Improving the health and wellbeing of the nation through illness prevention and health
promotion is key in having a sustainable health service. This requires us to work with other
partners outside the health services, and to be able to listen to people’s needs to find out
what services can best help them live to their potential.
One in 17 people
will develop a
rare disease in
their life.
Keeping
People
healthy &
well
We have a responsibility to you to make
the best use of our resources. Introducing
efficiencies and innovations to improve the
service we provide, whilst also supporting,
developing and trusting our staff can help
us direct resources to where they can have
the most impact.
providing safe,
quality care
when and where
it’s needed
using our
resources
in the best
possible
way
Directing resources and funding towards
identifying and meeting users’ needs,
can help reduce the impact of increasing
chronic diseases, can support older people
to live longer at home, and can increase
the number of people treated in the
community, rather than in hospitals. This
means ensuring that services are integrated
and seamless across different parts of the
health system.
What will be changing?
There are a number of programmes in place that will see the establishment of Community
Healthcare Organisations (CHOs) responsible for delivering community-based care through
local networks, the establishment of Hospital Groups (HGs), and the development of the National
Ambulance Service. Clinical Programmes and Integrated Care Programmes are being
developed to enable both Hospital Groups and Community Health Organisations to deliver
better, more integrated care.
The changes to how national functions are organised are being developed in parallel with the
development of service delivery organisations as part of the National Centre Programme. All
of these are being supported and enabled by interconnected development programmes within
HR, eHEalth, Communications, Health Business Services, and Quality & Safety.
The Reform Programme is based on the objectives of the HSE Corporate Plan and informed
and guided by the underpinning strategies, frameworks and reports, developed by DoH, HIQA
and HSE. A snapshot of these is outlined below.
If you would like to find out more about the Reform Programme, or have any feedback to
offer, please contact the SRG via systemreform@hse.ie
The HSE established the new National Rare
Disease Office (NRDO), which was officially
opened by the Minister for Health Leo Varadkar,
in June 2015. It is based at the Mater
Hospital, Eccles Street, Dublin.
The role of the office is to provide current
and reliable information about all rare
diseases to people with rare diseases and
their families as well as health care providers
and researchers. The office is staffed by two
information scientists who are supported by
two consultants in both Genetic and Metabolic
diseases.
A rare disease (RD) is defined in Europe as
a chronic or debilitating disease that affects
less than five in 10,000 individuals. There are
at least 6,000 rare disorders currently identified.
Collectively, rare diseases directly affect
an estimated 6pc of the population with at
least 300,000 people affected in Ireland over
their lifetime.
The NRDO office provides Rare Disease
information that includes:
• Specific Disease information and Clinical
Expertise
• Social Care Supports
• Patient Support Groups
• Rare Disease Research and Clinical Trials
in Ireland and across Europe
• Rare Disease Policy information
• Non-directive information on the
availability of Rare Disease Specialists
To make reliable rare disease information
available within an Irish context, the office
focuses on collecting information regarding
services and projects that exist in Ireland,
through Orphanet Ireland. Orphanet is an
international information portal that hosts
information on approximately 6,000 rare
diseases through www.orpha.net. Information
collected by Orphanet includes rare
disease summaries, clinical expert centres,
medical laboratories, patient organisations,
research projects, registries, clinical
trials and biobanks; as well as reporting
on rare disease prevalence and orphan
drugs. The office is keen to increase the
number of Clinical Expert Centres in Ireland
on Orphanet Ireland as a first step towards
Irish participation in European Reference
Networks (ERN’s).
Services are available through its Freephone
Information line, website and email.
Please see www.rarediseases.ie If you require
information or contact NRDO at rare.diseases@mater.ie
or through the Rare Disease
Freephone number 1800 240365 /01 8545065
Mon-Thurs 9.30am to 1.30pm.
spring 2016 | health matters | 37

Feature
New poster campaign
Good mental
healthbegins
at birth
hree eye-catching posters
promoting good
T infant mental
health have been
circulated to a
wide range of public venues,
including HSE buildings, libraries,
crèches and playschools.
They are the brainchild of the
North East Infant Mental Health
(NEIMH) committee, a multidisciplinary
special interest group,
consisting of a broad range of
allied health care professionals.
The posters or resources are used
to promote infant mental health to
staff and the public.
The NEIMH are keen to promote
the idea that good mental
health begins from birth, to raise
awareness of infant mental health
amongst professionals and the
public; and, to further educate
themselves, other professionals and
the public on infant mental health
matters. They meet four times a year.
“Membership of NEIMH is relevant
to professionals who are interested
in infant mental health. There is also
an element of promotion and information
sharing with other professionals and
education of ourselves, making links with
other bodies both locally, nationally and
internationally,” explained Niamh Brown,
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist at CAMHS,
who chaired the group in 2015.
A young child’s capacity to experience,
regulate and express emotions, form close
and secure relationships, and explore the
environment and learn is crucial to their
healthy social and emotional development.
These are strongly promoted in a loving and
caring environment from birth.
The group discussed what would best get
this message across to parents, carers and
other professionals and decided to design
posters for distribution. The posters contain
simple messages to promote a baby’s
emotional wellbeing
– talking to them, having fun with them
and telling them what they are good
at. Primary Care Psychology secured
funding for the posters and the group
set about coming up with the core
message.
“We put forward phrases that
represent good infant mental health
and happy babies,” said Niamh.
When the final designs were
agreed upon, they went to print.
NEIMH distributed the posters
within the Meath, Louth and
Cavan/Monaghan catchment
area. The response has been
very positive. If anyone would
like any posters, contact Niamh Brown in
Meath, Ger O’Riordan/Marie French in Louth
or Cheryl Comiskey in Cavan/Monaghan.
38 | health matters | spring 2016

Support Person’s Role
listening service
Pauline Kent, Support
Contact Person,
at Sligo Regional
Hospital, explains
Dignity at Work and
the Support Contact
Person’s role
Support Contact Persons Pauline Kent, Joe
Casey and Wendy McGinty.
e have two ears and one
mouth so that we can listen
twice as much as speak.” The
above quote from Epictetus
the Greek philosopher epitomises for me as
a support contact person in the HSE a clear
explanation of what defines the role.
It is predominantly a listening service for
all staff in the HSE who may believe they are
experiencing bullying or harassment within
the workplace. Indeed, it is also a support
service for staff who may be accused of
bullying or harassment. If it so happens
that I am contacted by both parties, I would
support the first person who requests
support and refer the second person to
another Support Contact person.
The first contact I receive is generally
by phone where the individual will give a
description of what they are experiencing
and how they are feeling. This is the first step
but it is an important step in that staff feel
comforted and supported in the fact that
they have someone who is giving them time
to share their story. This is usually but not
always followed up by a face to face meeting.
It is imperative that a safe place is provided
to meet with the staff and that the staff are
assured that all information is confidential,
no records will be taken and their line
managers will not receive a report of the
meeting.
There are many reasons why we receive
contact; it may be for advice related to
workplace bullying. Our role here is to clarify
what they are experiencing and to empower
them to make a decision as to next steps, if
any. We do not judge if bullying etc has taken
place or indeed investigate such allegations,
our place is to support staff in any way we
can.
vulnerable
My experience of this role and indeed the
experience of most of my colleagues involved
in this role is that it is a very rewarding,
enriching role.
To be able to support staff at a time when
they may be feeling at their most vulnerable
is a humbling experience and one that I have
never regretted doing even though there
were periods when it could be demanding
and impact on your own time management in
your workplace.
I would encourage all staff to avail of this
service if they feel they fit into the criteria as
outlined. The positive feedback from staff
who have availed of the service is testimony
to how empowering the experience was for
them.
The contact details for the Support
Contact Persons Service are available in the
Performance and Development West section
on www.hseland.ie and details are also
available at your local HR office and or local
notice boards.
spring 2016 | health matters | 39

Feature
Interview with
dr martha schmitz
R
enowned addiction specialist
Dr Martha Schmitz delivered
a two-day workshop on Seeking
Safety Therapy to staff
in the Alcohol and Drug services and allied
disciplines in Mental Health, homelessness,
Domestic Violence services.
The idea for this workshop originated in HSE
Keltoi Addiction and Trauma Treatment centre
based in the Phoenix Park where clients
undergo an eight-week residential treatment
programme. The centre won the 2015 Health
Management Specialist Care centre of the
Year for their eight-week Emotional Regulation
cours.
The National Addiction Training Programme
has been working to develop resources and
trainings to support staff working with co-occurring
disorders; substance misuse and mental
health issues over a number of years.The
aim of this particular training was to enable
services to become more ‘trauma informed’
so that the co-occurring symptoms of substance
misuse and mental health related to
unresolved trauma could be treated in an integrated
fashion, as trauma is often at the root of
substance misuse/addiction, often perpetuating
the addiction.
Dr Schmitz offers continuing education
workshops and supervision in Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder and substance misuse to
clinicians throughout the United States and
abroad. Dr Schmitz is a Staff Psychologist at
San Francisco - VA Medical Centre and an Assistant
Clinical Professor at UCSF School of
Medicine. She has worked with Lisa Najavits,
author of Seeking Safety, since 2000.
She spoke to Marion Rackard, accredited Addiction
Counsellor (ACI) and Psychotherapist
(IAHIP), chair of the HSE National Addiction
Training Programme which supported the
two-day Seeking Safety Therapy event.
Marion Rackard: What interested
you initially in this field?
Martha Schmitz: That is an interesting question.
There are some intergenerational trauma
issues in my family. Growing up myself, I spent
an extended period of time in the hospital during
infancy which I experienced as traumatic. I
became interested in how people recover and
become resilient.
The resilience of the human spirit for me is
one of the most interesting questions; how
people can grow as a result of trauma and
develop a vision for life beyond it. I decided to
become a clinical psychologist so that I could
help others through the healing process.
Having a hand in someone’s healing is such a
privilege.
MR: What has been the influence
of Lisa Najavits on your clinical
work?
MS: Really, work with Lisa and Seeking
Safety changed my life. Her book was revolutionary
when it came out in 2002. At that time,
trauma and substance abuse treatment were
very separate. Lisa developed an integrated,
cognitive behavioural therapy that addresses
PTSD and substance misuse at the same time.
Up to that point, mental health and addiction
professionals believed that clients needed to
become abstinent before they could engage in
trauma treatment, because they had concerns
that addressing trauma symptoms too early
would cause the client’s symptoms to worsen.
However, the opposite is in fact true; addressing
the trauma symptoms using coping skills in
the present moment helps to provide stability
and recovery from substance misuse.
MR: Tell me about the essence of
the Seeking Safety model
MS: The focus of Seeking Safety is on building
safety, both physically and emotionally,
which is so essential for recovery. People with
histories of trauma and addiction may have
never lived anywhere safe, may not know one
safe person, nor have one safe way of coping
with stress and painful emotions. In Seeking
Safety, clients are encouraged to explore the
connection between trauma symptoms and
substance misuse and to learn skills that help
both conditions. The comprehensiveness of
the model is striking. Through psychoeducation
and coping skills, clients can transform
their lives.
MR: To a client entering substance
misuse treatment, might
it now be too much for them
to consider dealing with both
their substance misuse and their
trauma at the same time?
MS: Seeking Safety is a stabilising, presentfocused
treatment that has been shown to be
helpful for the most traumatised, vulnerable
clients. Rather than destabilizing clients, it
actually strengthens their recoveries from
substance misuse and teaches them the skills
that help both addiction and trauma-related
symptoms. For example, clients with trauma
histories may use substances as a way to
regulate their emotions. Learning coping skills
helps both their trauma-related symptoms
and their substance misuse.
MR: Does Seeking Safety facilitate
a stronger pace of healing?
MS: Yes, people start to build hope for a life
beyond trauma. Research outcomes on Seeking
Safety show that clients not only have
improvement in trauma-related symptoms
and substance misuse, but also in their daily
functioning and quality of life.
MR: How important is it for staff,
clinicians to do their own work
when working with this client
population? One of the participants
at the training mentioned
that “a therapist can only bring
people to where they have gone
themselves”. Do you hold that
view?
MS: I definitely agree. Emotional development
and growth is a life-long process for all
of us. Doing our own inner work is essential in
order to deepen our empathy and understanding
of our clients.
40 | health matters | spring 2016

Refurbishment of the old Tullamore
Midland Hospital
he original hospital at Midland
Regional Hospital in Tullamore
was designed by architect
T
Michael Scott in the 1930s
(1934-1937). It is a four-storey
building to the right hand side of the
main hospital campus. A new hospital was
constructed on site in 2006/2007 with final
transfer of all services from old to new
taking place in 2009/2010, thus leaving
a substantial building lying vacant on the
hospital campus site.
The Project
Following an accommodation review of
all buildings in Tullamore, Co Offaly used by
HSE in 2011, a number of leasehold buildings
were identified which were occupied by
administration functions and Mental Health
Services dispersed throughout the town. In
order to minimise rental expenditure in the
area a decision was taken to explore the option
of refurbishing the vacant old hospital
building on the MRH site to accommodate
the services in rental properties. This was
in line with HSE vision on using Freehold
property over rental properties. The Scott
building is a protected structure and as such
was also incurring maintenance and running
costs for the HSE on an annual basis of
€195,000 per annum pre 2012, while it was
vacant.
Following this review the Scott Project
Brief was developed and signed off on in
2012, funding was approved and design
team appointed.
Design Team & Contractor
Architect incl PSDP & Fire Safety
Todd Architects. Conservation Architect:
Kenny Lyons Ass. Mechanical & Electrical:
Varming Consulting Engineers. Civil &
Structural Engineers:Punch Consulting
Quantity Surveyors: Tom Mc Namara &
Partners.
Main Contractor:
JJ Rhatigan & Company
PLANNING
Planning for the refurbishment works,
was granted by An Bord Pleanala in August
2013 and construction commenced on site
in March 2014. The build took 22 months,
and the site was handed back by the contractor
to the HSE at the end of January
2016. Many original features within the old
building were retained during construction
works, this included the main solid wood
entrance door, the original radiators were
removed, refurbished and replaced in the
building, the stone façade was cleaned and
repaired where required, it was important
to maintain and enhance the integrity of
the original structure during the works. An
ambitious fit out works programme is currently
ongoing, with the first services due to
move into the newly refurbished building in
February 2016. The footprint of the building
is approx. 6,000 sq mts.
The Services
• Mental Health Day Centre, Day Hospital
and Sector headquarters
• Hospital Administration Accommodation
• Hospital On Call accommodation
• Centre for Education & Library
• Various Administration Departments
• Freedom of Information
• Consumer Affairs
• Health promotion
• National Contracts Office & Advocacy
Services
• Patient Private Property Accounts/ Fair
Deal
• Regional Health Office
• ICT Dept
• Nursing Midwifery Planning Development
Unit
• TUSULA Administration
• Customer Relationship Management
• Internal Audit
The Architect
The Scott Building is called after Michael
Scott (1905-1988), architect, who designed
the hospital on the site in the 1930s.
Michael Scott is considered the most
important and influential architect of the
twentieth century in Ireland. Initially he
wanted to pursue a career as a painter but
his father pointed out that it might make
financial sense to become an architect.
His design of Tullamore Hospital (1934-
37) features traditional limestone masonry,
with very strong horizontal lines broken
glazed rounded stairwells and window
bays that demonstrate a strong Modernist
influence. The main four-storey block
is strongly symmetrical with the exception
of the placement of the main entrance on
an end elevation. The ground floor elevations
are dominated by a range of round
headed windows. The unconventional use of
materials shows Scott’s interest in the use
of materials for decorative purposes. While
the use of cut stone is unusual in his work
the strong lines, symmetrical elevations and
rounded windows and stairwells became a
strong feature of his later work.
He was also very prominent in the arts,
both as artist and print maker and supporter
of the Arts. He brought modern art to many
Irish people for the first time by chairing the
committees which staged the ROSC Exhibitions
in Dublin in 1967, 1971, 1977 and 1980.
These exhibitions put modern art on the
front pages of the newspapers.
Scott went on to have a mural commissioned
for the entrance foyer of his new
hospital. The work was done by Frances
Kelly (Judy Boland) and still hangs in the
same spot today, It has been restored and
protected and will continue to take pride of
place in this iconic building.
spring 2016 | health matters | 41

Feature
Fitness
through football
ith Euro 2016 just months
away, the talk is turning to
W group stages, teams, tactics
and those all important goals.
wWhile, for some, football
is purely a spectator sport, for young men
in Limerick, football is proving to be a real
game changer, offering an opportunity to get
involved, get fit and train with a top Premier
League team.
Fitness Through Football is an innovative
men’s health programme developed
between the Football Association of Ireland,
Health Service Executive and led through
Limerick City Drug Education and Prevention
Strategy (DEPS). Delivered over eight weeks,
the programme includes a week long skills
camp delivered by Sunderland AFC. This programme
is unique to Limerick City but work
is under way to enable the programme to be
rolled out across the country.
The programme has been run successfully
in Limerick for the last six years and
is aimed at 18-25 year old males who are
unemployed, not engaged with other services
and living in areas of social deprivation.
Funded by Limerick City and County Council
Regeneration, the HSE Mid-West Resource
Office for Suicide Prevention and the Mid-
West Regional Drug Forum, the programme
uses football as a medium to work with men
to improve their overall wellbeing.
Although the focus is on the football with
participants getting involved in gym work,
football skills and fitness training facilitated
by the FAI, they also learn how to cook low
cost nutritious meals through the HSE’s
Cook-It programme. In addition, participants
also attend health workshops where they
learn about various factors that can affect
their health.
sense of fun
The HSE Mid-West Resource Officer for
Suicide Prevention, Mary Kennedy, is fully
behind the programme as it addresses four
of the seven strategic goals set out in Connecting
For Life, Ireland’s national strategy
to reduce suicide 2015-2020.
She commented, “The young men on the
programme learn about mental health and
wellbeing; they explore the risks and protective
measures as well as discuss the more
difficult issues, such as substance misuse.
They are encouraged to engage with services,
if needed, but are also supported to
explore further education and training. This
is all done in a supportive and comfortable
environment but with a great sense of fun
resulting in a high level of participation by the
young men involved.”
Daniel Butler, from Limerick City DEPS,
was full of praise of the programme.
“Fitness Through Football makes an
extraordinary impact on the lives of the
young men involved. The partnership with
Sunderland AFC was started about six years
ago building on the links established by
the Shane Geoghegan Trust with Sunderland
AFC and has grown from strength to
strength.
This programme gives guys the chance to
get fit, healthy and focused so that they can
achieve the potential they all have. Many
of these guys will get jobs, volunteer or go
back to further education as has been seen in
previous years, and they still never cease to
amaze and inspire me.”
In an evaluation of the programme, undertaken
by independent researcher, Mary
O’Sullivan, which examined key success
measurements, the programme was rated
very positively and was considered to be
highly effective in achieving its goals.
Evidence showed that the majority
of participants:
• improved their levels of fitness and health
displayed enhanced skills in terms of football
and cooking
•developed new social linkages with peers
and contacts with other relevant agencies
•demonstrated increased self-esteem and
42 | health matters | spring 2016

confidence. The evaluation included feedback
from tutors and coaches who both praised
the manner in which the programme was
managed and delivered. The report commented
on how the programme leaders were
very committed to the programme and respectful
of the participants’ needs.
The report recognised the expertise, experience
and the understanding of working with
young vulnerable men that the leaders displayed.
The innovative and sensitive approach
to challenging unhealthy behaviours was also
commended.
The evaluation clearly highlighted the impact
the programme had on the young men
who took park with the majority showing improved
physical health, physical activity and
fitness levels. The findings from the results
of the Fitness Test showed that the fitness
levels of all of the participants improved, with
some showing considerable improvements of
between 18pc and 50pc.
The participants themselves reported enhanced
psychological well-being, healthier
weight levels, improved concentration, better
quality sleep, increasing healthy eating
routines and a reduction in harmful levels of
alcohol consumption. Many also commented
that the programme offered an opportunity
for fun, relaxation and time-out in a supportive
environment.
For some, the programme provided an opportunity
to explore options for their future
including employment, further education or
community volunteering including coaching.
fitness
Intrinsic to the achievement of the Fitness
Through Football Programme is the recognition
that men are vulnerable in terms of their
health and that sport plays a hugely significant
part in their lives. Jason Hendry of Sunderland
AFC commented, “The attitude of the
group is fantastic and the enjoyment I get out
of it is huge. I have witnessed great attitudes
and hard work.”
The current programme will be coming to
a close this month with some moving on to
support services to assist with addiction and
mental health issues while others are moving
on to further education, volunteering and
employment.
All travelled to Sunderland for a training
camp and also got an opportunity to play
with local teams. The trip finished with a
visit to the Stadium of Light to see Sunderland
against Manchester United By tapping
into the love for the beautiful game, Fitness
Through Football has been successful in enabling
men to enrol in a programme designed
to address key issues through their passion
for football.
MAIN: The 2016 Fitness Through Football participants
with Daniel Butler, Limerick City DEPS
(standing far left) and Kevin Darke and Stephen
Hendry of Sunderland AFC Foundation of Light
standing either side of the participants. TOP RIGHT:
Daniel Butler, Limerick City DEPS presenting the
Overall Award for Fitness Through Football to
Alexsei Harsejev. Although Alexsei never played
football previously, his dedication and hard work
saw him progress to being a capable player as well
as embracing a healthier diet and lifestyle. Alexsei
embodies all that the programme hopes to achieve.
above: Peter Hogan and Danny McCauley hard at
it in the kitchen for the Cook-It programme.
spring 2016 | health matters | 43

Feature
Staff Engagement...
Creating a positive
culture in the HSE
o you look forward to coming
to work, knowing that you
D make a difference and that
your efforts are noticed and
valued? Or do you head into
work feeling less than enthusiastic, wondering
“am I a fit with this organisation?”
• Engaged employees work with passion.
Because they feel a strong connection to the
organisation, they work hard to innovate and
improve.
• Not-Engaged employees do the work expected
of them, but do not put in extra effort.
• Actively Disengaged employees aren’t just
unhappy, but are spreading their unhappiness
to other staff.
Which kind are you?
ACCORDING to the Health Services Employee
Survey carried out in 2014, we know
that approximately 33pc of staff are not satisfied
with their job, only 14pc feel valued by
the HSE and less than half feel that patients
and clients are the top priority in the Health
Services. The statistics are eye-opening and
yet when you talk to Mark in the bed who’s
just had surgery, Mary who’s breastfeeding
her baby for the first time, or Pat who has
just signed the papers for his mother to be
cared for in a nursing home, they talk about
the HSE with one breath and the great people
they met along their care journey with
another.
When we talk to staff, they tell us that
helping make a difference is what keeps
them going, yet they are feeling the impact of
several years of organisational restructuring,
overwork, financial constraints and media
scrutiny.
The HSE Leadership Team realises that as
an organisation, we’re at a tipping point and
if we do not take action to ensure that our
culture supports an engaged workforce even
in the midst of constant change, there are
significant and serious consequences for not
only the people using our services but for our
colleagues and ourselves.
International research tells us that care for
staff including wellbeing and happiness at
work, improves performance and productivity.
There are also improvements in clinical
quality and safety with reductions in errors
and costs. Ultimately, there are improvements
for the people who use our services
- their experience improves, they have better
outcomes, mortality rates improve, and the
public perception and confidence in the services
increases.
At Listening Sessions around the country,
when we ask staff what was important to
them, they tell us:
“Helping make a difference in the lives of
those who use our services and working
collaboratively with our colleagues are the
greatest positives of our work. Please ensure
we have sufficient staff to do our jobs
safely and well. Help us to continue to learn
so that we can continue to improve service
delivery. Help us commit to a culture of mutual
respect, kindness and compassion. To
improve services, improve communication
- keep us informed, listen to us and value our
opinion. Ask us - we can help reduce waste
and improve processes. Introduce flexible
working – happy staff - happy patients. Finally,
recognise the work of staff - say thank
you and acknowledge us when we do a job
well.”
44 | health matters | spring 2016

What is the National Positive
Staff Engagement Forum?
We are setting up a National Forum for Staff
Engagement which will have two connected
parts. This will include representatives from
different parts of the organisation who are
working directly on the staff engagement
agenda so that we can co-ordinate efforts.
This will be a group which is a representative
sample of all staff working in HSE i.e.
including staff from all grades and levels
across the organisation to provide feedback
and ideas about what’s important to staff,
proof plans and give suggestions about how
to introduce change in a way that will ensure
staff can be involved.
We’d love you to join us! In the course of our
work in this area, we have been very inspired
by people’s willingness to get involved! So no
matter where you work in the organisation if
you’re interested in finding out more, please
contact: Libby Kinneen, National Lead Staff
Engagement (HR), Libby.Kinneen@hse.ie
091-775953
what’s been happening so far?
In recent months, the focus on staff engagement
has grown throughout the organisation,
for example in HR with the publication
of the People Strategy, in Health and Wellbeing
with Operation Transformation (see page
20 for more information) and in the Quality
Improvement Division (QID) with pilots of
Schwartz Rounds, Front Line Ownership and
Staff Listening Sessions.
Positive staff engagement is an essential
element of quality improvement and person
centred care. QID, in conjunction with
HR, have been partnering with a number of
services to test and develop methodologies
to support staff engagement, help build organisational
leadership capacity and share
learning. One of the key principles of quality
improvement is to work with the willing and
the services profiled below showcase two
projects happening at the moment - Staff Listening
Sessions and Schwartz Rounds. In the
next edition of Health Matters, we’ll update
you on Front Line Ownership.
Staff Listening Sessions
We believe strongly that each individual
working in the service has a unique insight
into the challenges faced by their service and
know what can be improved. This knowledge
also means that staff are often best placed
to identify creative, practical and sustainable
solutions when given the time to do so. This
happens in some services already, however,
it’s usually on an informal basis.
In 2015, the Quality Improvement Division
designed and commenced testing a Staff
Listening methodology. Listening sessions
provide an opportunity for staff to share experiences
and their ideas on how to improve
their service. The sessions also create a platform
for staff to work with Senior Managers
to review and act on the top three pieces of
feedback.
Following the sessions, the facilitators
present all of the information to the management
team for discussion, action planning and
quality improvement by management and
staff. Tony O’Brien, Director General is also
supporting this work and will receive the top
suggestions from staff which will be included
in the InSpire Hub.
196 staff in Kerry General Hospital and
Cavan Monaghan Hospital participated in the
sessions which were facilitated by QID and
HR staff. 100pc of staff in KGH and 97pc in
Cavan Monaghan who completed the evaluation
form recommended that the sessions
continue. In 2016, the pilot will be extended to
include two sites in Primary Care and Mental
Health before it is evaluated.
Schwartz Rounds
When we talk about staff engagement, staff
wellbeing is vital. Whatever your profession,
there is a good possibility that your training
did not cover how to manage the emotional
aspects of care and this impacts us all regardless
of your role in the service. While we
have the Employee Assistance Programme
which provides free confidential counselling
for staff, and there is debriefing for critical
incidents, we rely often on the support of colleagues
to help us cope with the day to day.
We don’t always avail of these supports which
can lead to compassion fatigue and burnout.
Schwartz Rounds provide an opportunity for
staff from all disciplines across a healthcare
organisation to reflect on the emotional aspects
of their work. The structured, monthly
meetings provide an opportunity to have
lunch together and share stories of our experiences.
Each round is based on the story of
a particular patient, or a theme and is briefly
presented by 2 or 3 members of staff involved
in the care of the patient. This is followed
by a facilitated discussion which involves
the wider audience and is an opportunity to
share, support and listen. Schwartz Rounds
provide a framework which has been proven
to improve staff wellbeing, resilience and
teamwork which ultimately has an impact on
improved patient centred care.
In 2015, the Quality Improvement Division
engaged the Point of Care Foundation to licence,
train and mentor staff in the Blackrock
Hospice and the Galway University Hospital
to test the introduction of Schwartz Rounds in
an Irish context. To date, eight staff members
have been trained and in the coming months
they will facilitate 10 rounds on each site. The
teams rely on the multidisciplinary steering
group on each site to provide an insight into
the type of rounds to hold and to suggest potential
panellists. The steering group also has
the added responsibility of ensuring that the
organisation supports the rounds by releasing
staff to participate etc. We hope this gives
you an insight into the type of work we have
started. For more information about this or
any of our other work, please contact: Maureen
Flynn, Director of Nursing and Midwifery,
Quality Improvement Division, maureena.
flynn@hse.ie/01-6352344 or Juanita Guidera,
QID Lead Staff Engagement, juanita.guidera@hse.ie/052-6191237.
Tune in to the next
edition where we’ll give you an insight into the
work happening in Kerry General Hospital on
Front Line Ownership (FLO)!
MAIN PHOTO: Staff in the Blackrock Hospice who
participated in the first Schwartz Rounds! TOP:
Catherine Anne Field – Lecturer, Discipline of Health
Promotion, NUI Galway / Schwartz Round Facilitator;
Irene Maguire - Senior Physiotherapist, GUH
/ Schwartz Round Facilitator; Jean Kelly - Interim
Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Saolta University
Health Care Group; Dr Sean Dinneen – Head
of School Medicine, NUI Galway and Consultant
Endocrinologist and Schwartz Round Clinical Lead,
GUH; Siobhán Murphy, Administrator, Chief Academic
Office, GUH; Olive Gallagher, Patient Advice
and Liaison Service Coordinator, GUH.
spring 2016 | health matters | 45

Feature
Tallaght Hospital
leading the way on
patient advocacy
esults presented at a special
showcase event for the
R Volunteer-Led Patient Survey
Programme at Tallaght Hospital
showed that 94pc of those
surveyed said their care there was excellent,
very good or good.
As part of its longstanding commitment to
patient advocacy and ensuring a high quality
patient experience, Tallaght Hospital undertook
the survey programme involving extensive
patient surveys of inpatients and outpatients
in 2015 to gather patient feedback and
use it to improve services.
Between July and November 2015, specially
trained members of the Tallaght Hospital
Volunteer Service, in partnership with the
Patient Advocacy Service, interviewed 426
patients about their experiences at Tallaght
Hospital. Working with the Picker Institute,
personalised surveys were designed for each
patient that enabled volunteers to generate
feedback on their experience of the treatment
and facilities at Tallaght Hospital in an
atmosphere of comfort and confidence.
The survey results were presented as a
special Patient Survey Showcase event,
held at Tallaght Hospital in January. Guests
included Peter Tyndall Ombudsman, Stephen
McMahon of the Irish Patients Association,
Dr Philip Crowley of the HSE, Lisa Yorke of
the Picker Institute and representatives of
Irish and UK hospitals and local patients’ representatives.
Survey results revealed that the vast majority
of patients are happy with their experience
at Tallaght Hospital, with 94pc of inpatients
responding that care was good, very good or
excellent; 98pc saying their hospital room or
ward was clean and 95% saying they had confidence
in the nurses. Importantly, the survey
was designed with the user in mind, to find
improvements that are not always obvious to
staff and regular visitors.
Among the key findings were:
• 95pc of inpatients said they ‘always’ had
confidence and trust in the nurses treating
them
• Just 44pc of inpatients reported that they
‘definitely’ found someone on the hospital
staff to talk to about their worries or fears.
• 98pc of outpatients said that doctors knew
‘enough’ about their medical history
• Just 17pc of outpatients were given written
materials about the hospital, prior to their
appointment
David Slevin, CEO, Tallaght Hospital said,
“Tallaght Hospital has always been committed
to ensuring that all our patients receive
the highest quality of care and a central part
of that is collecting and responding to their
feedback.
“This initiative, with support from experts
46 | health matters | spring 2016

in the area such as the Picker Institute, the
Southampton NHS Trust and the excellent
work of our volunteer’s service and patient
advocacy department, will ensure the
patient voice is heard and the feedback
is used to improve the patient
experiences when coming to Tallaght
Hospital.
“The entire initiative is a very
practical example of how at Tallaght
Hospital we are all about
‘people caring for people’. This process
is invaluable in ensuring that we
continue to meet the needs and expectations
of our patients and I would like to thank all
involved for their excellent work.”
Dr Daragh Fahey, Director of Quality Safety
& Risk Management, Tallaght Hospital, said
hospital management and staff are continuously
looking for ways to improve the patient
experience at Tallaght Hospital.
“These surveys will give patients an influential
voice in this process and capture insights
and improvements that are not always obvious
to staff who use the facility every day.
The routine collection of such input is commonplace
in the British National Health Service
and we are delighted to be introducing it to
Tallaght Hospital. This is yet another way for
Tallaght Hospital to demonstrate its commitment
to patients and their welfare.”
Carol Roe, Manager, Tallaght Hospital
Volunteer Service said, “The feedback from
all the volunteers involved in this process
has been excellent. The patient survey is a
wonderful initiative – asking our patients, who
are our customers, is an example of how seriously
Tallaght Hospital is trying to improve
patient care. The patients we spoke to during
the process really appreciated being asked
for their feedback and being able to have a say
in what services they would like to see in the
hospital.”
Dr Susan O’Reilly, CEO of the Dublin Midlands
Hospital Group said, “Tallaght Hospital
is clearly leading the way in patient advocacy.
The programme will be a very useful example
for shared learning with all hospitals within
our Group. I would like to acknowledge the
work and commitment of David and his team
and I look forward to hearing and seeing the
positive impact it will have on the patient experience
into the future.”
The surveys are guiding improvements
including:
• Improved hospital signage to make it
easier to navigate the building
• Increased clinics and list validation procedures
to reducing outpatient waiting times
• Increased information on Departments for
patients to review before attending for their
outpatient view
• A review of Pastoral Care services to
increase the number of people available to
patients to talk to them about their concerns
and fears
• New uniforms for volunteers for easier
identification by patients looking for information
These improvements should lead to a
greater level of patient satisfaction as they
use our services and they also provide a base
line performance level for future analysis and
improvement.
Tallaght Hospital plans to undertake four
more surveys with different questions in 2016
in the X-Ray Department, the Emergency
Department, Paediatric Inpatients and Paediatric
Outpatients.
Tallaght Hospital Volunteers
Service
The Tallaght Hospital Volunteer Services
Department has been running since the doors
of the hospital opened in 1998. Originally our
volunteers showed patients coming to the
new hospital where to find their clinic or a
ward to find their loved one.
As our hospital has grown so to, has the
unique contribution our volunteers make
to our patients healthcare journey. Each
volunteer at Tallaght Hospital plays an indispensable
role in enhancing the experience
our patients, their carers and visitors have
during their time with us, whether it is for a
brief or extended period of time. In addition
to an array of support services, our volunteer
programme particularly through the
Volunteer Coffee Shop raise funds which are
invested back into programmes within the
hospital that benefit of patients. Just some
of the initiatives supported by our Volunteer
programme include a library service, pastoral
care, play therapy, patient engagement, student
volunteering, meet & greet volunteers,
artist volunteers and now patient-survey
volunteers.
If you would like to find out more about the
Volunteer Services, please contact Volunteer
Services Manager Carol Roe on: Volunteerservices@amnch.ie
OPPOSITE PAGE LEFT: Dr Philip Crowley, volunteer
Maureen Callan and Peter Tyndall, ombudsman, at
the special Patient Survey Showcase event held at
Tallaght Hospital. OPPOSITE PAGE right: Student
volunteer Megan Dowdall and Tallaght Hospital
board member Anna Lee at the showcase. CIRCU-
LAR INSET: Volunteer Teresa Quinn at the Tallaght
Hospital showcase event.
spring 2016 | health matters | 47

Feature
a Tobacco-Free
Campus is now
just a click away
New resource designed to support service managers to implement the
National Tobacco Free Campus policy published.
rish hospitals and primary
care services have championed
the introduction of
I
the National Tobacco Free
Campus policy. In doing this,
they developed many innovative tools and
resources which have helped to plan for, communicate
and monitor policy implementation.
The resulting document – ‘An Implementation
guide for the Tobacco Free Campus policy’
combines a variety of tools and resources
into one document which is both comprehensive
and easy to use.
Since 2012, the roll-out of the HSE Tobacco
Free Campus (TFC) policy has been coordinated
and implemented through the National
Tobacco Control Programme Group via HSE
National Service Plans.
Background
Initially the policy was adopted by all acute
hospitals, then primary care services and
now currently by our most complex services
and sites affecting our most vulnerable service
users (Disability services, older persons
residential services and mental health residential
services).
In May 2015, a National TFC Toolkit Sub-
Group was set up to develop a resource to
support these services and ensure equity for
all service users by ensuring that tobacco
addiction is treated as a healthcare issue
across all services. This group has consulted
with quality experts, reviewed international
evidence and given consideration to the many
tools and systems developed and used both
internationally and here in Ireland to overcome
challenges experienced in the implementation
of TFC policy.
The document works on the principle that
the policy requires a ‘whole organisation’ approach,
the buy-in of all service users and the
need for all healthcare staff to embrace their
potential as positive role models. It aims to
support the delivery of high quality care to
How to Implement
“HSE Tobacco Free Campus Policy”
Tobacco Free Campus Implementation Guidance Document
48 | health matters | spring 2015 2016

all with a clear focus on managing risk and
ensuring safety. It includes information and
suggestions on the governance and leadership
required to implement the policy, development
of an action plan for implementation,
and communicating the policy with all those
concerned for example there are template
signage designs and a press release included
within the resource.
Tools
In addition there are tools to support staff to
assess levels of nicotine addiction among clients
and direction on providing best practice
treatments options to tobacco dependent
clients. There is detail on training options
to ensure staff access appropriate training,
tools on how to carry out a comprehensive
risk assessment process around tobacco use
and to assess the key criteria to be considered
in the development of an exemption process.
Finally, there are a variety of other resources
to support auditing and compliance monitoring
in preparation for a potential audit on implementation
within your service.
Who is it aimed at?
We would suggest that all TFC policy leads
and members of TFC local groups familiarise
themselves with the resource and supporting
tools, in an effort to minimise work and build
the foundations for successful policy implementation.
For more information go to www.
hse.ie/tobaccocontrol
Feedback
Send your feedback on using this resource to
miriam.gunning@hse.ie
If you are a smoker and
would like support to QUIT
contact
Freephone: 1800 201 203 and visit
www.quit.ie and www.facebook.com/HSEquit
EMAIL: QUIT on support@quit.ie | FREE TEXT
QUIT: 50100 | TWEET QUIT : @HSEQuitTeam
Tobacco Free in Mental
Health Services
Health and Wellbeing in conjunction with the Mental Health Division launch a briefing document
on ‘Smoking Cessation and Mental Health’. Research shows that people with a mental illness tend to
smoke more heavily and be more dependent on nicotine than those without a mental illness. However,
they are just as likely to want to stop smoking but often lack confidence in their ability to quit and
historically have not routinely been offered specialist support to quit. The implementation of Tobacco
Free services in mental health and the introduction of tobacco dependence treatments into routine
care are some of the many measures helping to address this issue.
How big a problem is tobacco addition?
Currently in Ireland, 19pc of Irish people aged 15 plus are reported as daily smokers and 4pc as occasional
smokers (Healthy Ireland Survey, 2015). There is no definitive data available on smoking rates
among adults with mental health conditions as yet. Further cross referencing studies are ongoing
using the recently acquired Healthy Ireland data in 2015. However in the UK, smoking rates among
adults with a common mental disorder such as depression and anxiety are almost twice as high compared
to adults who are mentally well and three times higher for those with schizophrenia or bipolar
disorder. Those with substance use disorders, with or without a co-morbid mental health problem,
have the highest rates of smoking. In every area of mental health, even child and adolescent mental
health services, perinatal psychiatry and older adults care, smoking rates are disproportionally high.
It is estimated that people with a mental health or substance use problem buy approximately 42% of
the tobacco sold in the UK.
How do we address the inequality that presents itself?
The HSE’s Healthy Ireland Implementation plan 2015-17 in conjunction with ‘Vision for Change‘ have
prioritised work which tackles inequality in health care. The implementation of Tobacco Free services
in mental health and the introduction of tobacco dependence treatments into routine care is one of
the many measures helping to address this health inequality. Recording tobacco use at every service
contact point, offering brief advice, cessation medication and specialist support to quit can have
an enormous impact on quitting levels. The roll out of the policy commenced in 2015, with many
approved and residential services making that all important change. There has been tremendous
work in this regard with CHO 2 (Mid Western Mental health Services) and CHO 8 (Laois, Offaly, Louth,
Meath and West Meath) taking a co-ordinated approach by establishing working groups, consulting
with stakeholders, providing training for staff, cessation support and medication and instigating a
phased approach to the roll out of the policy within their services.
Targets for 2016
This year’s target is to have all approved units tobacco free by the end of 2016. It is certainly acknowledged
that implementation of the policy presents a significant challenge. It is hoped that the journey
to tobacco free will be smoother with the shift in mindset and cultural change already seen in a number
of services, along with the online suite of tools and resources already developed.
For more information on smoking cessation and mental health, tobacco cessation training opportunities
and to download the new briefing document on smoking cessation and mental health go to the
‘Brief Intervention Training’ section on hse.ie/tobaccocontrol
What is the impact of smoking on our general health and
on our mental health?
The combined evidence of thousands of published scientific papers confirms that there is undisputable
evidence that tobacco use has detrimental health effects for those who use tobacco and for
those exposed to second-hand smoke (SHS).
Second hand or passive smoke as it is otherwise known is defined as a class ‘A’ carcinogen by the
US Surgeon General’s Report. Research tells us that half of all smokers are killed as a direct result of
their smoking, and half of them die prematurely. On average, smokers lose 10 healthy quality years
of life. Tobacco use is a significant cause of ill health (particularly chronic illnesses) and mortality in
the population and as smoking is more common among lower socio economic groups it exacerbates
health inequalities. Evidence shows that those who smoke cigarettes have more severe mental health
symptoms, require higher doses of psychotropic medication and spend more time in hospital, compared
to people with a mental illness who do not smoke. They spend more of their disposable income
on cigarettes and often prioritise cigarettes over food and leisure activities.
While those with a mental illness tend to smoke more heavily and be more dependent on nicotine
than those without a mental illness, they are just as likely to want to stop smoking but often lack confidence
in their ability to quit and historically have not routinely been offered specialist support to quit.
spring 2016 | health matters | 49

Feature
Ennistymon, Regina House and Raheen Community
Nursing Units in Co Clare are currently undergoing
major developments that will deliver modern, spacious,
comfortable and appropriate accommodation for older
persons needing residential care.
three major boosts
for elderly patients
Raheen Community Nursing Unit
The first phase of the new building development
at Raheen Community Nursing Unit was officially
launched back in October.
Phase One of the development forms part of an
overall plan to upgrade resident accommodation
at the Community Nursing Unit. The project
comprises the construction of a new extension
that will provide seven new bedrooms all with
ensuite facilities. A number of ancillary rooms will
be included in the development and will comprise
of a living room, visitors’ room and an upgraded
plant room as well as associated site works.
Refurbishment works, which are planned for later
in the construction programme, will result in a new
nurses’ station and garden room.
A total of €1.6m has been allocated to this
project and it is anticipated that phase one will be
completed by June 2016.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Lynch said,
“The programme will deliver improvement in both
personal and communal accommodation as well as
general amenities which will have a beneficial effect
not only for residents and their families but also for
staff working in these units.”
DK Architects designed the plans for the new
development and O’Brien Construction is the
contractor appointed to deliver the new extension.
William McLysaght, Chairman of the Raheen
Hospital Support Group, added “I am delighted
to see how the collaborative efforts of the support
group, in conjunction with the HSE and local
people and representatives are being realised
today. The building project gives a lot of confidence
to the people of East Clare about the future of this
facility. We are committed in supporting Raheen
Commuity Nursing Unit and indeed over the
past years have assisted the HSE in providing an
enhanced level of comfort to residents. We are
confident that this development will contribute
further to the quality of lives for the residents and
their families.”
Marissa Butler, Director of Nursing, commented,
“The new building project will contribute to the
person centred ethos and philosophy of care for
the residents within Raheen Community Nursing
Unit. We are delighted that it has been designed
in a way that enhances the residents’ abilities
to live a meaningful life with the single and twin
rooms further adding to each resident’s dignity
and privacy. Within the existing building, residents
will have greater room and better opportunities
to meet with their relatives in a homely setting.
In addition the new enclosed garden will allow
residents to enjoy a safe outdoor space.”
Commenting on the developments within the
Mid-West, Bernard Gloster, Chief Officer, HSE
Mid-West Community Healthcare, said “These new
developments are consistent with our objective to
ensure the delivery of quality residential services for
older people and the new extensions in Ennistymon
and Regina House, as well as the one planned for
Raheen will provide the modern purpose built
environment to enable residents to receive the
care they require in as home like an environment as
possible.
“I welcome the next phase of the developments
that will further enhance the quality of life for
residents providing even more space and privacy as
well as better communal areas.
“I want to thank the Minister for officially
launching these developments. It is also great to
have the support of the local community and I
want to thank again the Friends of these Units for
their very generous contribution. Developments
such as these are the result of a combination of
efforts and so I would also like to thank HSE Estates,
the building contractors, Gem Construction and
O’Brien Construction as well as the architects
Pascall +Watson and DK Architects, whose
vision and attention to detail has delivered new
extensions that reflect modern healthcare delivery
while ensuring an appropriate living space for
residents and working environment for staff.”
Minister Kathleen Lynch is presented with Wise
Ways, a unique collection of handmade artworks in
clay along with personal memories and stories documenting
the extraordinary wealth of knowledge
and the sustainable ways in which people lived in
Co Clare in the past, by Kathleen Woods, resident,
to commemorate her visit to Raheen Community
Nursing Unit. Photo: Brian Gavin/Press 22
50 | health matters | spring 2016

Ennistymon Community Nursing Unit
In October 2015, the new extension to
Ennistymon Community Nursing Unit entitled
‘Oak Suite’ was officially opened at a cost of over
€1.2m with €400,000 contributed by the Friends of
Ennistymon Hospital.
The Oak Suite is a single storey extension
that comprises four two-bedded
rooms, all with en suite facilities,
a centralised staff station, utility
and associated site works. The
design and building of the new
extension provides for a bright
and comfortable living space
that is modern, well equipped
and accessible for residents.
Principal contractors for the project
were Martins Construction with Paschal +
Watson appointed as architects.
Phase two commenced in May 2015 and will
comprise of a sitting room, eight single rooms, all
with en-suite facilities, a nurses’ station, linen store,
an accessible toilet as well as a clinical room and
store room. It is anticipated that Phase two will be
completed in March.
Kathleen Lynch TD, Minister of State with
responsibility for Primary Care, Social Care and
Mental Health, who performed the opening, said
she was delighted to be in Ennistymon to officially
open the new Oak Suite in Ennistymon Community
Nursing Unit.
“This development will greatly enhance the
quality of life for residents and ensure the highest
standards of care. I am heartened to see such a
strong community involvement with the unit.
The long running commitment and
generosity demonstrated by the
Friends of Ennistymon Hospital
through their fundraising efforts for
the new unit is to be commended.
I am also delighted to see that the
next phase is already progressing
and should reassure the local
community of the HSE’s commitment
to providing high quality residential care
into the future,” said Minister Lynch.
Thomas O’Sullivan, representing the Friends of
Ennistymon Community Hospital, said he believed
the new unit was ‘a milestone’ in the journey to
create a first class residential facility for the North
Clare Community.
“It is also testament to what an active committee
of a local and concerned community can achieve
in partnership with the HSE. If somebody was to
suggest to The Friends back in 1984 that the fruits of
that partnership would result in the fabulous facility
we have here in Ennistymon today they would not
be believed and especially with the official opening
of a brand new eight bedded unit constructed to
the highest standards,” said Mr O’Sullivan.
“A further eight en-suite bedded unit is in the
course of construction all of which is positive proof
of what a good working partnership can achieve.
There have also been various other projects
delivered down through the years all for the benefit
of the residents of Ennistymon Community Nursing
Unit. Here’s to another 31 years of partnership.”
Anna Marie Nagle, Director of Nursing, said, “The
Oak Suite was developed with residents’ needs to
the fore and enables the experienced and caring
team of staff to provide the highest standard of
person centred care in a warm, friendly and homelike
environment. I would like to acknowledge the
support and commitment from the local community
and the Friends of Ennistymon Community Hospital
in helping us to realise this extension and I believe
that this new unit will be of great benefit to our
residents and the local community.”
INSET: Minister Kathleen Lynch officially opening
the new Oak Suite at Ennistymon Community Nursing
Unit with Anna Marie Nagle, Director of Nursing
and Thomas O’Sullivan, Secretary of the Friends
of Ennistymon Community Hospital. Photo: Brian
Gavin/Press 22
Regina House Community Nursing Unit
A commemorative plague to mark the official
opening of the new single storey extension in
Regina House was also unveiled by Minister Lynch
in October. The new Bluebell Wing which consists
of five twin rooms and two single rooms, all with ensuite
facilities and also includes a clinical room and a
nurses station was built at a cost of over €1.2m with
€100,000 being donated by the Friends of Regina
House.
Speaking at the opening, Minister Lynch said
“The new purpose built Bluebell Wing will afford
residents greater space and privacy in a modern
and comfortable environment. The design and
layout of the new unit will enhance the services
currently provided to residents and their families
and will also be of tremendous benefit to the local
community.”
In addition to the bedrooms provided in phase
one, existing rooms have been transitioned into an
art room and extra storage space for medical and
other equipment.
The principal contractors for the project were
Gem Construction with Paschal + Watson
Architecture responsible for the building design.
Phase two, which consists of a single storey
extension, commenced in September 2015 and will
comprise of three single bedrooms, a new sitting
room, visitors’ room, upgraded central garden,
relocation of the sluice room to conform to infection
control requirements and a new entrance. It is
anticipated that Phase Two will be completed by
June.
Sean Dunleavy, speaking on behalf of the Friends
of Regina House said, “We are absolutely thrilled
with the new unit and it is great to see the residents
settled in. It has been a long road between the
Friends and the HSE but what we have achieved
today makes that journey worthwhile. Bluebell Wing
provides a real home from home for people and
the extension has been designed and constructed
in a careful and conscious way to ensure privacy,
dignity and comfort for residents and their families.
I get a real sense of contentment from the residents
and that is very encouraging. We are looking
forward to Phase II which will add even more to the
environment and quality of care for the residents.”
“The opening of the new unit is a great step
forward and it will greatly enhance the delivery of
care to older persons in the West Clare area in a
modern environment, thus benefiting residents and
their families. We want to provide the best service
in an environment which supports and promotes
our residents’ health and wellbeing. We are very
involved with the local community and with the
Friends of Regna House and it is only through their
continued support that we can achieve so much
for our residents and I want to thank them for this,”
added Anne McNamara, Director of Nursing.
Minister Kathleen Lynch unveils commemorative
plaque to mark the official opening of Bluebell Wing,
Regina House Community Nursing Unit in Kilrush
with Anne McNamara, Director of Nursing and Sean
Dunleavy, Chair, Friends of Regina House. Photo:
Brian Gavin/Press 22
spring 2016 | health matters | 51

General
News
showcase takes place on
interventional radiology
Galway University Hospitals (GUH), a leader
in interventional radiology with a world class
service in diagnosing and treating patients
from all over Ireland and overseas recently
showcased the expertise of the Interventional
Radiology Department when they hosted “live
cases” for the LINC international interventional
radiology conference which took place in
Germany recently.
Interventional Radiology is an independent
medical specialty providing minimally invasive
image-guided diagnosis and treatment of
diseases in every organ system. More than 90
cases were performed from 13 international
centres worldwide and transmitted real-time
online to a wide medical audience using the
latest in high definition television and wireless
technology. The audience (remotely) had the
opportunity to ask questions as the operations
occurred.
GUH is the only hospital in Ireland or the UK
to be involved in this project, which is one of the
biggest meetings of its kind in the world and
was viewed live by at almost 4000 doctors
on the main screen in Leipzig, Germany plus
many thousands more around the world. This
is Galway’s third year to take part in this Interventional
course.
Commenting, Dr Gerry O Sullivan, Consultant
Interventional Radiologist at Galway University
Hospitals said, “By broadcasting procedures
live we were able to share our expertise
and experience with a much larger group of
doctors internationally. UHG is one of the leading
centres in Europe for acute deep venous
thrombosis work and a team of 25 staff, including
nurses, radiographers, pathology staff,
doctors, porters and administrative staff work
in the Interventional Radiology Department.
Significant numbers of patients both from outside
the region travelling to Galway for treatment.
These procedures are highly advanced
using the most cutting edge technology available
which results in a much better quality of
life for our patients.”
LINC is a comprehensive and interventional
live course designed to foster collaboration between
colleagues worldwide and to promote
the understanding and development of endovascular
therapies that can be incorporated
into daily clinical practice. This highlights how
technological advancements in medicine are
contributing to improving practice through innovative
online education and training.
Pictured are the Interventional Radiology Team at GUH, Marie Curley, Elaine Larkin, Ian Davidson, Fiona Gallagher, Gerry O’Sullivan, Noreen Keelan, Grace Kenna,
Chris Maharaj, Mary Nolan, Clare Adams, Louise Brennan and Irene O’Meara. Photo: Joe Travers
cystic fibrosis daycare centre unveiled
A new €1.4m day care centre for patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) was
officially opened earlier this year. The new centre will, for the first time,
provide dedicated facilities for all of the regular out-patient and day care
needs of children and young people with CF in the greater Mayo area.
The CF day care centre was built through a partnership between the
Mayo University Hospital/HSE and charitable funding and other support
provided by Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (the national CF patient group) and CF
West (a regionally based CF hospital build fund).
Charlie Meehan, General Manager at Mayo University Hospital said, “This
is a significant development for CF services in the greater Mayo area. The
Cystic Fibrosis team at Mayo University Hospital are first-class and this new
facility will enable them to continue to deliver high quality care in state of
the art clinical facilities. I would like to acknowledge the significant support
provided by Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and CF West for the development of
this centre.” Commenting, Dr Michael O’Neill, Consultant Paediatrician
and lead of the CF team at Mayo University Hospital said, “This new centre
will increase the life expectancy and improve the quality of life of the many
CF patients in Mayo. It provides two specialist patient areas, treatment
facilities, education laboratory, conference and support facilities all
integrated into the main hospital’s infrastructure.”
The new centre includes consulting rooms with a state-of-the-art art
air filtration system that will significantly reduce the risk of cross infection,
which is a major challenge in all CF centres. The total project cost was
€1.4m of which €800,000 was provided by CF West /Cystic Fibrosis Ireland
and €600,000 was provided by the HSE/Mayo University Hospital and the
National Lottery.
52 | health matters | spring 2016

Green-fingered staff at St
Joseph’s Hospital scoop first
prize in Ennis Tidy Towns
It is long recognised that gardens are often
to the soul what medicine is to the body – they
have the power to heal and restore.
St Joseph’s Hospital is an older person
residential facility located in Ennis Town with
120-beds registered with HIQA. A single story
building, the hospital is spread out over an extensive
campus.
Staff working within the hospital were aware
that many of the residents, prior to admission,
enjoyed gardening as a hobby and indeed for
some it had been an occupation. During conversations,
the residents frequently expressed a
great love for nature and an appreciation of the
changing seasons that a garden can signal.
It had been a long-held ambition of the staff
of the hospital to cultivate and develop the garden
facilities for the benefit of the residents/
patients, service users, their families
and visitors to the hospital. With this
in mind that staff of St Joseph’s
Hospital, Ennis came together
to form the St Joseph’s Hospital
Garden Committee. As
the campus was set out over
extensive grounds there were
several green areas located
throughout. It was decided, as a
first step, to address the unmet need
of maintaining and up keeping the central
garden area of the hospital. This garden was
the focal point for residents and their relatives
and friends who visited.
They set about their work with a common
purpose to create and maintain a safe and secure
green area offering a relaxed and tranquil
environment that would enable people enjoy
quiet time close to nature.
The hospital garden committee brought tremendous
energy, interest and vitality to their
The prize-winning garden at St Joseph’s. INSET : Mary and Annie Murphy, residents of St Joseph’s Hospital,
with Tony Kelly, Clare county hurler, in the garden of St Joseph’s Hospital.
work on the garden. The committee is made up
of members from a cross section of disciplines
based on site at St Joseph’s Hospital and
includes nursing, non-nursing, allied
health professions, clerical, management
and maintenance. The
committee is chaired by the
Director of Nursing.
Time dedicated by staff
to developing and maintaining
the garden is purely
voluntary. The Committee
have undertaken various fund
raising activities such as table
quizzes, coffee mornings, garden fetes,
book sales and Christmas Fairs to help with
the costs. The hard work and commitment by
staff helped transform the central garden. In
2014, staff took the bold move of entering the
garden into the Ennis Tidy Towns Competition.
St Joseph’s Hospital Central Garden was
awarded joint third place.
Staff were delighted to have achieved recognition
for such a worthy project. Spurred on
by the high placing, the Committee redoubled
their efforts, completing the central garden
and moving on to the next green space, a small
garden located near the Alder Unit. Staff,
again, gave generously of their time and helped
to breathe life into this space.
In 2015 the Committee decided to enter
both completed gardens in to the Ennis Tidy
Town’s Competition. After rigorous judging,
St Joseph’s Hospital Garden Committee saw
off the competition to claim first prize in two
categories. The Central Garden won the Large
Amenity Garden Category while the smaller
Alder Unit Garden claimed the accolade in the
Small Amenity Garden Category.
Maeve O’Connor, Director of Nursing at St
Joseph’s Hospital and Chair of the Committee,
commented, “This is a fantastic achievement
for the hospital and the Garden committee,
who are now even more determined to continue
their good work. It is a major recognition
of all the hard work and long hours that have
been lovingly put into the Garden.”
For one resident, the beautifully restored
gardens has given him ‘a special retreat and a
place to dream and feel at peace’.
Workplace Wellbeing Day
Ireland’s second National Workplace Wellbeing Day will take place on
Friday, April 8th. Public and private sector organisations across the country
are expected to participate in the day, which aims to improve employee
health through promoting better physical activity and nutrition in the
workplace. As part of this year’s activities, employers are being called upon
to arrange a “Lunchtime Mile” - a one mile cycle, jog, run, walk or swim for
employees in the vicinity of their workplace.
According to research¹ commissioned by the Nutrition and Health
Foundation (NHF), organisers of Workplace Wellbeing Day only one
in three workers takes the recommended level of exercise for a healthy
lifestyle each week. Three in 10 workers undertake no physical exercise
during work time with just over a quarter (27pc) describing themselves as
fairly or very physically active. On Friday, April 8th, employers are being
asked to put a special focus on wellbeing through promoting existing
and new initiatives available in their workplace as well as hosting special
events for staff, such as the “Lunchtime Mile”. Aramark, Bank of Ireland,
the Department of Public Expenditure, ESB, Intel, the NSAI and Waterford
Institute of Technology were among the hundreds of employers across
the public and private sectors that supported the inaugural event. They
organised a range of special events for staff on the day including healthy
breakfasts, health checks and talks, exercise and fitness classes, cookery
demonstrations and lunchtime walks.
spring 2016 | health matters | 53

General
News
interaction not
homework!
Donegal school
joins elite group
of flag bearers
Coláiste Cholmcille. Ballyshannon, Co
Donegal recently joined an elite group of
schools presented with the Healthy Ireland
Health Promoting School Flag.
The Healthy Ireland Health Promoting
School (HPS) Flag is presented by the HSE
to schools as an acknowledgement of their
work in improving the health of their school
communities. The HPS supports schools to
focus on health and wellbeing and involves
all members of the school community.
Students, staff, parents and guardians are
consulted to identify priority health areas.
Over a period of two academic years, schools
develop an action plan to address the health
areas identified.
Schools are guided to address their priority
area under the following evidence-based
categories: environment (social and physical),
curriculum, policies and partnerships.
Schools work at their own pace supported by
the HSE Health Promotion and Improvement
Department.
In each school, a HPS coordinator and HPS
Team lead out on the progression of health
and wellbeing and this work is supported
by the principal, Board of Management and
wider school community.
In Coláiste Cholmcille, the key area of work
by the Health Promoting School Committee
was the safe and proper use of mobile
phones.
To address the need for students to tell
the time as wearing a watch is no longer the
norm, the Health promoting School Committee
ensured all classroom clocks were
working.
Staff and students participated in training
workshops on Internet safety.
The school also addressed many other
health issues including participating in the
annual anti-bullying week and mental health
promotion activities for students, staff and
parents.
Coláiste Cholmcille was presented with
the HPS Flag and a certificate in recognition
of work carried out by the HPS Team and the
whole school community.
Speaking at the event, Anne
McAteer, HSE Health Promotion
Officer, praised the
Committee for the approach
taken that got the support
of the student population to
ensure mobile phones were
not disrupting lessons and
that students use technology in
a very positive way.
The school has now taken on a new
theme – physical activity and will work to ensure
students, staff and parents will benefit
from increased physical activity.
Mr Keogh, the principal of Coláiste Cholmcille
stated, “Today is a great day for Coláiste
Cholmcille as we are one of only two schools
in the county to be awarded The Healthy Ireland
– Health Promoting School (HPS) Flag.
“This is something that the entire school
community is very proud of. This is the result
of two years hard work carried out by a very
dedicated HPS committee.”
Students from Colaiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon
at the flag raising cermony on Thursday when their
school was presented with a Healthy Ireland - Health
Promoting School Flag.
In 2012, Gaelscoil Osraí in Co Kilkenny
became involved in the HSE Health
Promoting School (HPS) initiative. This is a
WHO evidence-based initiative that supports
schools to plan for health in a co-ordinated
manner using a whole school approach.
As part of the HPS process, a committee
was set up comprising of teachers, SNAs,
pupils and parents. A consultation process,
via questionnaires, was undertaken with the
whole school community and a number of
health topics were identified as important to
address; healthy eating, improving the school
environment and mental health promotion.
Having worked on the school environment
as our initial priority in 2013, the HPS
committee decided to address mental health
promotion in 2014, and Máirt Machnamhach
was one of the outcomes of our action plan.
Máirt Machnamhach takes place on the first
Tuesday of each month. Instead of homework,
pupils engage in an activity that places
particular emphasis on family interaction.
Suggested activities including baking, going
for a walk, board games or simply sitting
down to enjoy a meal as a family. The children
may take photographs of their activities to
display on our HPS notice board or school
website.
Máirt Machnamhach is wonderfully
simple and has been a positive
experience in Gaelscoil Osraí for
students, parents and teachers
alike. Everybody gets to take
a break from the chore that
is homework, (or having to
correct it!) using the time to
connect and communicate
with others. Máirt Machnamhach
is anticipated each month and
the feedback from parents has been
wonderfully affirming…. “The value of
this initiative is priceless. In a world where
everybody is rushing, the life-skill of being
able to stop and spend time on the simple
important things cannot be overstated.”
Through the progression of our school as a
Health Promoting School and the adoption
of Máirt Machnamhach into the life of our
school, we have all gained an insight into the
importance of taking time out to look after
our sláinte meabhrach.
The work of our HPS committee
further develops the concept of Máirt
Machnamhach by providing a mental
health awareness evening for parents and
through the development of mindfulness
in our school, with the aim of continuing to
promote wellbeing across the whole school
community. Tanya Hudson, Gaelscoil Osraí,
Loch Buí, Cill Chainnigh.
54 | health matters | spring 2016

New Year New Rehabilitation Unit
for St Ita’s Community Hospital
The new year got off to a good start for St
Ita’s Community Hospital in Newcastle West
with Minister Lynch on campus in January to
officially open the new purpose built Rehabilitation
Unit for the people of Co Limerick.
The new Unit was developed at a cost of
€2.5m in a partnership between the HSE and
the Friends of St Ita’s. The Friends were supported
in their €1.4m contribution by the JP
McManus foundation.
The new facility which replaces the older
14-bedded unit providing rehabilitation has a
capacity for 22 beds allowing room to expand
the service into the future.
Kathleen Lynch, Minister of State with responsibility
for Primary Care, Social Care and
Mental Health, said she was delighted to officially
open the new unit.
“This new unit provides excellent facilities
for the people of County Limerick, and will
offer a first class service for patients at a
crucial stage of their recovery from illness or
trauma. The opening of this new unit builds
on the excellent work of St Ita’s Community
Hospital in providing public care to our older
people over so many years and in so many different
ways,” she said.
“I would like to acknowledge the very generous
support from the Friends of St Ita’s and
cannot emphasise enough the importance of
local communities being involved in supporting
their own services. This new Unit clearly
demonstrates what can be achieved through
partnership.”
facilities
The new Rehabilitation Unit is a single storey
building that comprises of eight single and
seven two-bedded rooms, all with en suite
facilities. The unit also includes a centralised
dining/sitting room, nurses’ station as well as
office accommodation and utilities.
The design of the new unit and outdoor
space is bright, comfortable and modern.
The Rehabilitation Unit is well equipped and
accessible for those availing of in-patient
rehabilitative services. Principal contractors
for the project were O’Brien’s Builders with
O’Connell Mahon appointed as architects. The
project was managed by HSE Estates.
Ann McMorrow, Director of Nursing, welcomed
the new development, saying, “The
opening of the new Rehabilitation Unit at St
Ita’s Community Hospital marks a new phase
in the delivery of modern rehabilitative services
and complements the many other health
services in Co Limerick. People can now avail
of the excellent rehabilitation service we al-
ways had but in a state of the art, comfortable
setting.”
Fergus Scanlon, representing the Friends
of St Ita’s Community Hospital, commented,
“Needless to say, the Friends of St Ita’s are
thrilled that we have finally reached this point
in time which sees this beautiful state-of-theart
facility reaching fruition.“It marks the culmination
of a five year fundraising campaign,
involving many wonderful people, groups,
clubs and organisations whose outstanding
support and unparalleled generosity has had
a major input towards this very successful
outcome, of which, we can all be justly proud.
And for that, the Friends wish to say a very
big thank you to one and all and, in particular,
a very special thank you to the great JP Mc-
Manus without whose support this fabulous
22-bedded Rehabilitation Unit would not be
here today.”
maximise
Bernard Gloster, Chief Officer, HSE Mid-
West Community Healthcare, said, “Rehabilitation
is extremely important in the care journey
for so many and this purpose built Unit
has been carefully designed to maximise the
effectiveness of the services. We are very fortunate
to continue to have a Consultant led
rehabilitation service in St Ita’s and I want to
commend the work of Dr Margaret O’Connor,
Consultant Geriatrician, her team and all of
the staff and management of the Community
Hospital in all wards for what they do every
day of the week.
“In saying thank you to the Friends group
I am aware this opening comes with the
retirement of the Chair of the group, Fergus
Scanlon, from that role. I want to pay tribute
to the generosity of spirit that Fergus and his
colleagues have shown in so many ways to St.
Ita’s over the years.
“I also want to thank HSE Estates, O’Brien’s
Builders and O’Connell Mahon Architects and
all who input into this development becoming
a reality where 14 people are receiving
services today and we have room to expand in
the future.
“I am, as always, grateful to the Minister for
her time and support to what we are doing
here in the Mid-West.”
TOP: Minister Lynch with members of the Friends of
St Ita’s Community Hospital who generously fundraised
for the new Unit. (Back row, left to right) Sheila
Walsh, Member of the Friends; Irene O’Connor,
HSE; Fergus Scanlan, Chair of the Friends; Bernard
Gloster, Chief Officer, HSE Mid-West; Maria Bridgeman,
Senior Operations Manager, Primary Care
for Limerick and North Tipperary, HSE Mid-West;
Mary Phillips and Kay Moloney, members of the
Friends. (Front row, left to right) Cora Mullane; Mary
Kennedy; and Margaret Culhane, all members of
the Friends; Minister Kathleen Lynch and Geraldine
Loughnane, member of the Friends. In the foreground
is John Joe Nash, resident of St Ita’s and
a major supporter and fundraiser for the Friends
and Jeremiah Sheahan, resident of St Ita’s who also
presented his original artwork to Minister Lynch to
commemorate her visit. ABOVE: Jeremiah Sheahan,
originally from Tournafulla, Co Limerick and now
resident of St Ita’s Community Hospital presents his
original artwork to Minister Lynch to commemorate
her visit.
spring 2016 | health matters | 55

General
News
new directory of services
for sligo and leitrim
A new website providing official listings of
over 100 services for children, young people
and families in Sligo and Leitrim was launched
recently.
The local online Directory of Services, www.
sligoleitrimdirectory.ie, includes information
on health, mental health, education, disability,
youth, childcare and other services.
The website was developed by the Youth
Mental Health Initiative in conjunction the
Sligo Leitrim Children and Young People’s
Services Committee (CYPSC) and is funded by
a variety of agenies.
The website hosts information on services
relevant to children from pre-birth to young
adults (18-24 years). The target audience for
this website is: Service providers (eg schools,
youth services, health services, statutory
agencies, voluntary groups, etc), adults working
with children, young people and families,
parents / guardians / carers and young people
The North Connaught Youth and Community
Service (NCYCS) were designated as the lead
agency in relation to the development of the
website and are responsible for operating
and maintaining it. There were a number of
Rosaleen O’Grady (Cathaoirleach, Sligo County Council), Frank Curran (Co-Chairperson, Sligo Leitrim
Children and Young People’s Services Committee), Anne Brennan (Youth Information Officer, North Connaught
Youth & Community Service), John Hayes, (Chief Officer, HSE CHO 1), Mark O’Callaghan (Chairper-
other agencies involved in the development
of the site including the HSE, Mayo, Sligo and
Lei trim Education and Training Board (ETB),
Meitheal, Sligo Leitrim Children and Young
People’s Services Committee, Sligo Social
Services Council Ltd and Tusla, Child and
Family Agency.
Speaking at the launch the MC Grace Filan,
Comhairle na nóg member said, “I think that
Sligo Leitrim Directory is the bringing together
of many different resources and has resulted
in this great website. There are not many
places that really take young people’s ideas
and voices into account. “As a Comhairle na
nóg Sligo member, I am so proud of all the
work that has been put into this website. It’s so
reaffirming to see that young people’s opinions
and ideas are taken into account.”
UL Hospitals Group launches poster campaign to
promote Local Injury Units in the Midwest
UL Hospitals Group has this week launched a new poster campaign to raise
awareness about the services provided by its Local Injury Units (LIUs) in Ennis,
Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals.
LIUs are locally based services treating minor injuries in patients from the age
of 5 years upwards. They are a safe alternative to the Emergency Department
(ED) for a number of injuries and conditions.
The new posters, which have been mailed out to GPs, Primary Schools and
Sports Clubs, depict commonly occurring injuries and highlight the most
appropriate place for the treatment of those injuries. They are localised to each
LIU and they all contain a simple message, ‘Go to your nearest LIU with a minor
injury and go to your ED in an emergency’.
Speaking about the campaign, Professor Declan Lyons, Clinical Director,
Medicine Directorate at the UL Hospitals Group, said, “The reason we have
chosen these three groups specifically is because GPs play a significant role in
the referral of patients to the ED.
“Throughout winter, ED presentations tend to be higher than the rest of the
year so to alleviate this pressure, we are encouraging GPs to refer patients,
young and old, with minor injuries to their local LIU; we also see a significant
number of minor sports injuries in our ED, many of these can be treated in the
LIUs so we would encourage all sports clubs and those involved in organised
sports to utilise the LIUs; any patient over the age of five can be treated in an
LIU with a minor injury, so we are seeking to highlight with schools and parents
that any falls, breaks or sprains in the school yard will be seen and treated more
quickly in the LIUs this year.
“Patients coming to the LIU are generally seen, treated and discharged
within an hour of arrival, they can either self refer or get a GP referral. There
are times when patients do need to go to the ED in UHL, such as when they
are experiencing chest pain, abdominal pain or after a serious head injury.
In those situations patients should always attend the ED. Now that there is
an alternative for minor injuries, we would encourage patients to consider
whether they could more appropriately travel to their nearest LIU.” LIU
activity across the UL Hospitals Group has been consistently growing and now
accounts for 32pc of all the groups Emergency presentations.
The LIUs come under the clinical governance of a consultant in emergency
medicine and are at all times staffed by a senior clinical decision maker,
qualified in emergency care.
At the LIU, clinicians will assess the patient’s injury, request x-ray or other
diagnostic interventions, prescribe analgesia or tetanus, suture wounds and
provide discharge advice, all under the clinical governance of a consultant in
Emergency Medicine. Emergency Medicine RANPs (Registered Advanced
Nurse Practitioners) rotate between the LIUs and the ED at University Hospital
Limerick (UHL). Protocols are in place for the transfer of patients to UHL, who
clinical staff have decided are too unwell to be treated in the LIUs or whose
condition falls outside the criteria for care in the LIU.
All patients should, in the first instance, consider whether they can be
more appropriately treated by their GP or out-of-hours GP service such as
Shannondoc before presenting at either an LIU or the Emergency Department.
For schools, sports clubs or GPs surgeries who wish to receive copies of the
posters, please contact your LIU in Nenagh Ennis or St John’s. Posters can also
be downloaded from the UL Hospitals website, www.ulh.ie or by contacting
the Communications Department at UL Hospitals on ulhgcommunications@
hse.ie.
56 | health matters | spring 2016

Happy 70th birthday 1946
Do you know anyone turning 70 this year and
celebrating a big birthday along with Rod
Stewart, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Ruairi Quinn, Dolly
Parton, The United Nations and the Microwave?
If you do – let them know they are going to be
eligible for a free GP Visit card as part of their
birthday celebrations. Over 50,000 people
have already registered for the Free GP Care
service for people aged 70 and over.
An easy-to-use online registration
system is available
on www.gpvisitcard.ie.
Registration is simple and
just requires the person’s
name, PPS number, gender,
date of birth, contact
details and the selection of
a GP of choice. Alternatively
people can download a form
from the website or locall
1890 252 919 to receive a
copy by post.
All persons aged 70
or older are now able to
access a free GP service
without charges, replacing the
existing GP service arrangement
for this age group
which is based on a meanstest.
Their dependents, including
spouses or partners,
who are under the age of 70
will continue to have access to
a GP service without fees where they
meet the existing income limits. Anyone over
70 who already holds a medical or GP visit card
does not need to register.
If you have a patient, resident, client, family
member or neighbour who is going to celebrate
their 70th birthday this year, why not bring this
to their attention and help them to register online
for free GP care.
Free GP Care
for Over 70s
Did you know
everyone aged
70 or over
is eligible for a
GP Visit Card?
For a quick and easy
registration go to
www.gpvisitcard.ie
Find out more and register at www.gpvisitcard.ie
or LoCall 1890 252 919
The GP Visit Card for people aged 70 and over is part of the Government’s health policy to provide free GP care for all.
If you have Medical Card or GP Visit Card eligibility currently, you do not have to register for this scheme.
dosa unit benefits temple street hospital
Since its establishment in September 2014, 1,000 children from across
Ireland have been admitted to Temple Street’s DOSA (Day of Surgery
Admission) Unit.
A successful DOSA process can provide significant benefits for the
patient and the hospital. These include potentially fewer cancellations for
elective surgery, cost efficiencies and the process can help reduce rates of
hospital acquired infection.
The DOSA Unit has also aided the introduction of a ‘patient and family
friendly admission process’ whereby the Surgical Ward staff can receive
patients fasting on the day of surgery and admit them in a comfortable
environment with their families rather than waiting for an available bed
prior to going to theatre.
Speaking on the day the 1000th patient is being admitted to the DOSA
Unit recently, Sharon Ryan, Divisional Nurse Manager, Temple Street said,
“The DOSA process guarantees an available waiting area where patients
for admission can be prepared for theatre safely without the added time
pressure of waiting for inpatient beds to become available. Patients go
to the theatre from the DOSA Unit and return to a bed post operatively
elsewhere in the hospital.”
DOSA is a process recommended by the HSE & RCSI National
Programme for Elective Surgery. The national target for ‘Day of Surgery
Admissions’ as outlined in the National Programme for Elective Surgery
(Please see www.rcsi.ie/ncps-electivesurgery) is 75pc of all planned
admissions. Temple Street has achieved this target with the help of DOSA
and regularly exceeds this target on a monthly basis.
spring 2016 | health matters | 57

General
News
nourish programme
serves to support
hse staff
More than one in four patients admitted
to our acute hospitals are affected by malnutrition,
and older patients, vulnerable
surgical patients and patients with cancer
are particularly at risk.
Providing patients with good nutrition and
hydration care is a fundamental requirement
for good care. It underpins the care
and treatment of all patients, no matter
what their specific clinical problem. The
HSE is progressing several programmes of
work focussing on nutrition and hydration.
One of our programmes, Nourish, was
established by the Quality Improvement
Division in 2015. In keeping with the role of
the QID, the programme aims to support
staff by developing quality improvement
resources that can be used by them at
local level in their nutrition and hydration
quality improvement efforts.
The programme is focussing on malnutrition
in acute hospitals. Malnourished
patients experience more health complications,
stay in hospital longer when admitted
and have poorer health outcomes.
Dietitians as nutrition experts assess,
diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional
problems in hospital patients. However, to
ensure patients receive the right intervention
at the right time requires firstly that
procedures are in place to identify at risk
patients, prevent at risk patients from
becoming malnourished and when necessary,
refer to the Dietitian for nutritional
assessment. These methods are referred
to as malnutrition risk screening tools and
in hospital are usually completed by nursing
staff.
A need that was identified early in the
Nourish programme was access to training
resources for nursing, medical and other
healthcare staff on malnutrition and the
use of malnutrition screening tools. In
response to this need, the advisory group
in association with BAPEN* have adapted
the Nutritional Screening: A ‘MUST’ for
Healthcare. This e-learning programme
explains the causes and consequences of
malnutrition, the importance of nutritional
screening and how to screen using ‘MUST’,
the most commonly used screening tool in
Ireland.
While the Nourish programme is focussing
on acute hospitals, the ‘MUST’ is
validated for use in hospital and community
settings and so the programme has
been developed for use by staff in hospital,
residential and community settings. The
programme can be accessed through
the HSELanD site (www.hseland.ie). It is
expected that undertaking this programme
will provide staff with additional knowledge
and skills to improve the nutritional
care of their patients.
Members of the advisory group to the programme in the photo: Back: Niamh Rice, IrSPEN; Aoife Lane, NMPDU
Officer, ONMSD; Prof John Reynolds, IrSPEN (Chair); Patrick Glackin, Area Director, ONMSD; Carmel O’ Hanlon,
IrSPEN. Front: Margaret O’Neill, Dietetic Advisor, Health and Wellbeing Division; Olivia Sinclair, Programme Lead,
Quality Improvement Division.
Just how well
is your child
coping?
School can be an adjustment for many a
child, with time needed to settle and find their
way. However, for some, the school years can
present challenges; socially, emotionally and /or
academically. If such challenges are identified
and responded to appropriately and at an early
stage, much can be done to overcome these.
School principals and teachers, although
ideally placed to identify such issues, can
have difficulty advising on the recommended
services and appropriate support pathways
available.
To respond to this, a new cross-agency
development between the Department of
Education and Skills’ National Educational
and Psychology Service and the HSE’s Clinical
Psychology Service was launched in the
Clare Education Centre at the end of 2015
to help schools throughout Co Clare access
psychological support at school for children
and young people.
In support of this new development, a
booklet entitled ‘Educational and Clinical
Psychological Services in County Clare - an
integrated approach to supporting students
in your school’ was published to guide school
principals and teachers toward the most
effective community-based supports to
assist when concerns arise about children’s
learning, social and emotional development, or
behaviour in school.
The new booklet summarises the
psychological supports available through
the school, the community, and the specialist
services, and gives a clearer picture of the
way psychologists work together to support
children who struggle in the school setting.
Psychologists in Clare who work with children
and young people have been working together
to develop a clearer pathway to access
appropriate psychology services. Through
good communication, joined up thinking, and
mutual goals, the psychologists in four different
services aim to provide the most effective
support to children and young people who
seem to have difficulty in school.
This collaborative approach is the first
initiative of its kind nationally, and is seen as a
promising innovation in multi-agency working.
The Department of Education and Skills’
National Educational Psychological Service
(NEPS) provides an integrated service to all
primary and secondary schools in Clare through
a tiered system known as the Continuum of
Support.
The HSE’s Clinical Psychology Service
provides a broad range of psychological
supports for children and adolescents and their
families as well.
58 | health matters | spring 2016

vital service wins award
award winners
praised for
‘immense effort
and planning’
Diabetic RetinaScreen hosts ‘5 Nations’ event in Dublin - The bi-annual meeting of the five diabetic retinopathy
screening programmes from Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales was hosted by Diabetic RetinaScreen
in Dublin in November. The meeting was attended by the clinical leads, programme management and
administrative representatives of each of the five programmes and provided an opportunity to share and compare
programme learnings and experiences as well as new approaches and developments in diabetic retinopathy
screening. This collaborative approach allows Diabetic RetinaScreen to review initiatives that could enhance and
improve the programme offered to participants. Back row (l-r): Dr Caroline Styles, Consultant Ophthalmologist,
NHS Scotland; Mike Black, Scottish DRS Collaborative Co-ordinator, Prof. Peter Scanlon, Consultant Ophthalmologist,
NHS UK; Mr David Keegan, Clinical Director, Diabetic RetinaScreen; Helen Kavanagh, Treatment Co-ordinator,
Diabetic RetinaScreen; Dr Adrian Mairs, Public Health Lead for the NI AAA Screening Programme & the NI Diabetic
Retinopathy Screening Programme. Front row (l-r): Fiona Morgan, Information Support Officer, DRS NI; Colette
Murphy, Programme Manager, Diabetic RetinaScreen; Andrew Crowder, Programme Manager, DRS Wales; Catherine
Cooney, Administration Support, Diabetic RetinaScreen; Dr Michael Quinn, Clinical Lead, DRS NI. Photo:
Paul SharpPicnic 2015.
screening stats for
2014-2015 published
by breastcheck
BreastCheck – The National Breast
Screening Programme has published its
screening statistics for 2014-2015. The
programme aims to detect breast cancers
at the earliest possible stage. At this point, a
detected cancer is usually easier to treat and
there are greater treatment options available.
The statistics relate to women aged 50-64
who were invited for screening in 2014. During
the reporting period (1 January-31 December
2014) 177,724 eligible women were invited for
screening and 135,966 women attended for
their mammogram. The uptake rate at 76.5pc
was a significant increase from the previous
year (70.2pc) and surpassed the programme
standard of 70pc.
890 women had a cancer detected, representing
6.5 cancers for every 1,000 women
screened. Women who have a breast cancer
detected are supported throughout their
journey by radiographers, radiologists, surgeons,
pathologists, breast care nurses and
administrative staff who are experienced and
committed to providing care of the highest
standard.
Some 198 women were diagnosed with a
ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). DCIS is an
early form of breast cancer where the cancer
cells have not spread within or outside the
breast. If DCIS is not treated, the cells may
spread and become an invasive cancer. It is
thought that low grade DCIS is less likely to
become an invasive cancer than high grade,
yet it is impossible to predict exactly. Just over
nine per cent of DCIS detected by BreastCheck
during the reporting period was low grade.
In 2014, uptake remained highest among
women who had previously participated in
the programme. BreastCheck is now in its
sixteenth year of screening and has provided
almost 1.37 million mammograms to over
480,000 women and detected more than
8,500 cancers.
BreastCheck is extending screening upwards
to women aged 69. BreastCheck
achieved its target of inviting 1,000 women in
the older age cohort by year-end 2015. Extension
will continue and by the end of 2021, all
eligible women aged 50-69 will be invited for
free routine mammograms.
St Francis Hospice Dublin has won the
Not for Profit Organisation Excellence Award
at the Fingal Dublin Chamber of Commerce
Business Excellence and Corporate
Responsibility Awards.
The award was in recognition of St Francis
Hospice Dublin’s contribution to the Fingal
Dublin region. The contributions to the
Fingal Dublin region which the independent
judges recognized were the planning,
development and opening of the new 24-bed
St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown and
the community learning and development
programmes delivered by the hospice’s
Education Department.
The independent judges said, in awarding
the Excellence Award to the hospice, “St
Francis Hospice provides a vital service to the
local community but through immense effort
and careful planning, they have extended
their services and their reach far beyond
expectations. Their dedication, commitment
and fundamental understanding of the needs
of those they support is inspiring and the
quality of the service they provide is second
to none.”
In 2015, it is estimated that St Francis
Hospice Blanchardstown will treat, in the
Fingal Dublin region, 540 patients in their
own homes, 200 in-patients, there will be
820 visits to Hospice Day Care and 500
attendances at the Out-Patient Departments.
On receiving the award, Fintan Fagan,
CEO, St Francis Hospice Dublin, said,
“The receipt of Fingal Dublin Chamber’s
Excellence Award is a timely recognition
of the hard work and dedication of all the
voluntary board directors, management,
staff and volunteers of St Francis Hospice
over the past 25 years. It is also important to
acknowledge with sincere thanks the support
of the HSE and the many St Francis Hospice
voluntary supporters in the communities of
the Fingal Dublin region.”
St Francis Hospice, Dublin.
spring 2016 | health matters | 59

General
News
conference streamed live
due to massive demand
Over 500 HSE delegates attended a major
HSE conference to create awareness of the
Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act
2015 has which just been passed by
the Oireachtas. The conference
was also streamed live to staff
throughout the country such
was the massive interest in
the event.
The Assisted Decision
Making Act 2015 applies to
everyone in the HSE and has
relevance for all health and
social care services.
The conference was organised
by the HSE Quality Improvement Division
and focused on the Act, its implications,
challenges and opportunities for health and
social care professionals. The Conference
was aimed at clinicians, managers and staff
who are involved in planning, managing or
delivering services to patients, service users
or clients across health and social care settings.
This conference brought together key
Irish and UK experts to inform clinicians, staff
and managers about the legislation and to
explore the impact this Act will have on current
practice.
“It was fantastic to see so much interest in
the conference as it starts the HSE process
of preparedness for the commencement of
the Act in December 2016,” said Dr Philip
Crowley, National Director, HSE Quality Improvement
Division.
“We plan to consult as widely as possible
about how the Act affects us in the HSE and
this is the start of the consultation process.
Our aim is to make sure that all training needs
and supports are in place to ease the implementation
of the act, when it is commenced.
This is the first in a series of actions planned
for 2016,” he said.
Speakers at the conference included Patricia
Rickard-Clarke, Solicitor and former Law
Reform Commissioner, Dr Siobhán O’Sullivan,
Chief Bioethics Officer, Department of Health
and The Hon Justice Baker, Judge of the High
Court of Justice (Family Division) England
and Wales.
The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity)
Act 2015 -All Health and Social Care professionals
should familiarise themselves with
it and the following key points have been
drafted as a brief guide.
The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity)
Act 2015:
Applies to everyone and to all health and
social care settings.
Provides for the individual’s right of autonomy
and self-determination to be respected
through an Enduring Power of Attorney
and an Advance Healthcare Directive
– made when a person has
capacity to come into effect
when they may lack decision-making
capacity.
Provides for legally recognised
decision-makers
to support a person maximise
their decision making
powers.
Places a legal requirement
on service providers to comprehensively
enable a person make a decision
through the provision of a range of supports
and information appropriate to their condition.
Abolishes the Wards of Court system.
Provides for a review of all existing wards
to either discharge them fully or to transition
those who still need assistance to the new
structure.
Repeals the Lunacy regulations governing
the Ward of Court system.
Establishes a Decision Support Service
with clearly defined functions which will include
the promotion of public awareness relating
to the exercise of capacity by persons
who may require assistance in exercising
their capacity.
The Director of the Decision Support
Service will have the power to investigate
complaints in relation to any action by a decision-maker
in relation to their functions as
such decision-maker.
Visit www.assisteddecisionmaking.ie for
more information, conference papers and to
watch the conference.
INSET: Hon Justice Baker; TOP: Dr Rosarie McCarthy; ABOVE: Justice Catherine McGuinness speaks to Dr Philip
Crowley.
60 | health matters | spring 2016

Domestic Abuse: A Healthcare Issue
Attendees at the first CUH/CUMH Domestic
Abuse conference heard the very disturbing,
yet powerful, personal stories of women
who are victims of domestic abuse.
The inaugural conference was opened by
Jason Kenny, Operations Manager, Cork University
Hospital, last month. Well over 100
people, including midwifery, general nursing,
psychiatry, social work, medical colleagues
and NCHDs attended this multidisciplinary
conference.
Dr Louise Crowley, UCC Law School, provided
the conference with updated information
on the upcoming Domestic Violence Bill
2015 which has extended safety and barring
orders to include communication by electronic
means and in applications for interim
barring orders removes the requirement for
similar or greater ownership in the property.
These welcomed proposed amendments
widen the scope for protection of victims
under the current Domestic Abuse Act.
Don Hennessy, counsellor and former Director
of the National Domestic Violence Intervention
Agency, provided some interesting
insight into the psychology of the perpetrator.
From his years of work as a relationship counsellor,
he shared his experience and understanding
of the complexities of relationships
marred by domestic abuse.
Louise Kelly spoke about her experience as
a consultant surgeon responding to a complex
and life-threatening case of domestic
violence. This case brought home to everyone
the significant health risks that can be associated
domestic abuse, with this case alone
costing the CUH in the region of €64,000.
This conference explored the legal, psychological
and medical cost of domestic abuse
in Ireland and allowed attendees to reflect
on the complexities of domestic abuse as a
healthcare issue.
1. Some of the speakers at the conference; 2. Laura
Connolly and Orlaith Murphy Mid Wifes CUMH; 3.
Margo Noonan CNS Safe HSE and Juvy Paz Theatre
Nurse CUH; 4. Dr Louise Crowley School of Law,UCC;
5. Dearbhla Ni Riordain Manager Social Works Services
CUH; 6. Some of those in attendance; 7. Marguerite
O’Rourke and Michelle Crotty, Social Workers Mental-
Health West Cork .Pictures Gerard McCarthy
spring 2016 | health matters | 61

General
News
the National Service Plan 2016
The HSE National Service Plan for 2016,
which sets out the type and range of health
and personal social services that can be
delivered during the year, was approved by
the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, at the
end of 2015.
Early in 2015, we launched our Corporate
Plan which sets out our ambition for the
health services over the three years 2015–
2017. Delivery on our vision of a ‘high quality
health service valued by all’ is underpinned
by five key goals.
The National Service Plan 2016 details the
actions which we will take to deliver on the
goals over the course of the year, grounded
in our values of Care, Compassion, Trust
and Learning, and emphasising the need for
quality, patient-centred care. The key focus
for 2016 is striking the balance between
significant ongoing financial challenges and
the need to provide a quality, safe service.
Longer term reform of the health services
is well underway with the establishment of
hospital groups and community healthcare
organisations. A focus in 2016 is to further
develop these so that they can operate in
an effective and integrated way, placing the
patient at the centre of all services that we
deliver.
Priorities in 2016 include...
• Improving Quality and Patient Safety
• Reforming services to achieve better outcomes for patients and service users
• Optimising existing hospital and community capacity, to improve the patient experience, patient flow and timeliness of quality service delivery
• Implement actions from the Healthy Ireland Agenda across the organisation
• Ensuring the provision of integrated care and clinical programmes
• Reducing waiting times and waiting lists
• Extending GP care without fees to all children aged between 6 and 12 years
• Developing Children First implementation plans
• Provide a range of home and community support to enable older people to live independently for as long as possible.
• Develop services for people with a disability so that they are supported to reach their full potential
• Promoting mental health and resilience including implementing Connecting for Life- Irelands national strategy to reduce suicide.
There is an increase in budget allocation for 2016 which is very welcome. However, significant financial challenges
remain within acute hospitals, social care, social inclusion and the Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme when
consideration is given to the increasing demand for services arising from a growing and ageing population. We will
do all within our power to maximise delivery of a quality, patient-centred service within the funding available.
Delivery of the National Service Plan 2016 will be supported by the Accountability Framework which sets out the
arrangements in place between the National Performance Oversight Group (NPOG) and the National Directors in
accounting for and responding to areas of underperformance across the balanced scorecard of access to services,
quality, financial management and human resources.
The Corporate Plan 2015–2017 and National Service Plan 2016 are available online at www.hse.ie/eng/services/
publications/corporate along with Divisional Operational Plans for 2016 which further detail the implementation
of the National Service Plan 2016 across our services.
The National Service Plan is prepared by the Planning Unit within Planning and Business Information (PBI), Office of the Deputy Director
General in conjunction with the Planning and Performance Leads across all service divisions and support functions. Queries in relation to same
should be directed to planning.ddg@hse.ie
62 | health matters | spring 2016

sod turned on new National
Forensic Mental Health Hospital
The new National Forensic Mental Health
Service hospital ‘represents our modern
approach to mental health’, according to
Minister Kathleen Lynch as she turned the
sod on the new facility recently.
When completed, this new state of the art
facility, built on the site of St Ita’s Hospital,
Portrane, will replace the Central Mental
Hospital in Dundrum. The construction of
the new hospital is one of the Government’s
priority projects in the Capital Investment
Plan 2016 – 2020 and marks an important
milestone on the path to providing a modern
mental health service.
“It symbolises this government’s
commitment to prioritising mental health
in an open and progressive manner,” said
Minister Lynch.
“This commitment has been underpinned
by the allocation of €120m in the HSE
Capital Programme 2016-2020 to deliver this
project. This makes it the third biggest health
capital project being progressed by the State
in the current capital plan. In turning the sod
today, we can all be assured that there is no
going back on this crucial project.
“I would like to also pay tribute to the
many people who campaigned for this state
of the art facility, those who still use and
work in the mental health services and their
predecessors.”
Anne O’Connor, HSE National Director of
Mental Health praised the work of the staff in
bringing the project to its present stage.
“I would like to congratulate all involved in
designing and developing this new state of
the art facility, which is designed to meet the
needs of our service users, family members
and staff. I would also like to thank all of our
staff who have worked tirelessly over many
years for their commitment and hard work to
bring this project to this crucial stage.
This facility will be a critical component
to the delivery of the full range of mental
health services to the population of Ireland,”
said Ms O’Connor. Professor Harry Kennedy,
Executive Clinical Director, NFMHS, said it
was a ‘welcome development for people
with the most severe, enduring and disabling
mental disorders’.
“The new hospital will provide a modern,
safe and secure therapeutic environment.
This will enable the HSE’s National Forensic
Mental Health Service to work with our
patients and their families to achieve their
recovery,” he said.
The NFMHS hospital will comprise of a
120-bed Adult Forensic Hospital, together
with a 10-bed Forensic Child and Adolescent
Unit, and a 10-bed Forensic Mental Health
Intellectual Disability Unit on the same site
within the St Ita’s Hospital campus.
The new facility is expected to be
completed by the end of 2018. When
completed, patients, their families, and
staff will benefit from transferring from
an antiquated building to state-of-the-art
facilities in a new modern forensic setting.
St Ita’s will continue to provide specialist
services for people with intellectual
disabilities, in addition to child and
adolescent mental health services.
spring 2016 | health matters | 63

Lifestyle
Getting Ireland Active...
New website shows
appetite for exercise
ince going live in mid January,
the newly re-designed HSE
website www.getirelandactive.
S
ie has had over 60,000 page
views, which shows the
appetite among Irish people for a healthier
lifestyle.
With two out of three Irish adults and four
out of five children not sufficiently active for
health benefits, the new website promotes a
healthier lifestyle for the whole population.
The website is designed to encourage people
to become more active by providing expert
content, advice on how to get started, a full
listing of places to get active across Ireland,
tips on how to get more active and motivation
to keep them going. The content is streamed
from the early years right up to older adults
with expert advice from professionals such
as the HSE’s physical activity co-ordinators.
A special feature of the website is the
interactive sitting time calculator, which adds
up the number of house you spent sitting and
evaluates your risk of ‘sitting disease’. You
would be surprised how quickly it all adds up.
Our results also suggest tips on how to fight
‘sitting disease’ by building more activity into
your day. Prolonged sitting is as dangerous
to a person’s health as smoking, according to
researchers at Queen’s University in Belfast.
The study found that sitting for long periods
of time has been linked to increased risk of
heart disease, obesity, diabetes and even
early death.
Colm Casey, HSE Physical Activity Coordinator
said, “Researchers, scientists
and health professionals know that being
active on a regular basis can lead us to
healthier and even happier lives. Evidence
shows that people who are physically active
generally live longer, and have a lower risk of
suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure,
some cancers, cardiovascular disease and
depression.
However, sometimes people need a little bit
of encouragement to make positive changes
to their lives. We are hoping that by raising
awareness about the benefits of physical
activity that we will inspire more people to
become active in 2016, continuing on for the
entire year and beyond.
Log on to getirelandactive.ie to help you
get started.”
The 2015 Healthy Ireland survey found
that two thirds of the Irish population do not
engage in enough, regular physical activity,
particularly women of all ages, those at
home doing domestic duties, unemployed
people, and older people. According to Sarah
O’Brien, HSE National Lead for the Healthy
Eating and Active Living Programme,
“Studies show that few Irish people take
part in regular physical activity particularly
women, unemployed people and older adults.
“The HSE’s new website getirelandactive.
ie aims to get as many people as possible
to become aware of the appropriate level of
physical activity for their age. The website
offers bespoke content that is motivating,
inspiring and engaging, yet supportive of all
Irish age groups no matter how active or
inactive they are.
“It gives key information on the health
benefits of being physically active with
motivation tips and a database full of places
throughout Ireland where you can go to be
active. We know that in a perfect world, we
all would have lots of free time for being
active.
“However, sometimes life can be busy.
Our website aims to inspire you with top tips
for easy ways to squeeze in some physical
activity into your day.
“The website is also proving to be a
valuable resource for professionals, who are
interested in learning about and promoting
physical activity as part of their work.”
64 | health matters | spring 2015

How to get half a million more people
taking regular exercise
Key Features of
website
January 2016 marked the publication of Ireland’s
first ever ‘National Physical Activity Plan, which aims
to get at least half a million more Irish people taking
regular exercise within ten years.
The key target is to increase the number of people
taking regular exercise by 1 per cent a year over 10
years — that’s around 50,000 people per year, or half
a million individuals in total, by making exercise a
normal part of everyday life and giving people more
opportunities to be active.
Currently, it is estimated that seven out of 10 adults
don’t get enough exercise. At least €5.5 million in
funding across three Government Departments
has been ring-fenced to implement the plan in
2016, comprising sports measures, Healthy Ireland
initiatives, Sport Ireland programme funding, and
education projects.
Key features include
• Increase the number of people taking regular
exercise by 50,000 every year for the next ten years;
• A new annual campaign to encourage more
people to get active more often, including social
media campaigns and a new Physical Activity Week
as part of the European Week of Sport;
• Support 500 new community walking groups, and
extend the Active School Flag Programme to another
500 schools;
• Health professionals will get further training on
using physical activity to prevent or treat chronic
conditions;
• Build on the success of Get Ireland Walking by
setting up new initiatives like Get Ireland Swimming,
Get Ireland Cycling and Get Ireland Running;
• The getirelandactive.ie website will be expanded
as a one-stop-shop for physical activity, including a
public database of national sports and recreation
facilities;
• There will be a new push to get employers to
encourage Healthy Workplace initiatives through
walking and exercise activities, standing desks and
other measures;
• More physical activity will be provided for people
with physical or mental disabilities through guidelines
and support materials;
• New guidelines will be developed on sedentary
behaviour, including warnings about the dangers of
lengthy inactivity;
• The National Council for Curriculum and
Assessment will finalise a new PE curriculum
framework at Senior Cycle level;
• A new school subject called ‘Wellbeing’ will be
launched next September as part of the new Junior
Cycle to include Physical Education;
• Healthy lifestyles will be promoted in primary
and secondary schools. Physical activity will be used
as an educational tool, especially at primary level,
and a Professional Development Support Service on
physical activity will be set up for teachers.
Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said: “In Health,
the focus is generally on the day to day problems
we face but we will never get on top of these or get
budgets under control in the long-term if we don’t
improve our health as individuals and as a nation.
Being healthy starts with personal responsibility, but
the Government also has a role to play. That’s where
Healthy Ireland comes in: the cross-Government,
cross-sector programme to improve our health.
We are already taking actions in a number of areas
such as smoking, alcohol, sexual health and sunbed
use. Now this National Physical Activity Plan sets an
ambitious target to get half a million people more
active within ten years. I’m very confident we can
reach this goal.
“This Plan is also a great example of joined-up
Government involving the Departments of Health,
Transport, Tourism & Sport, and Education & Skills.
Too often, Government Departments and agencies
work in silos but on this issue we are committing
today to working together.”
Sitting CalculatoR
How many hours each day
do you sit? At
work? In the
car? At meals?
In front of the
TV? You might be
surprised to learn
that Irish people
spend on average
5.3 hours sitting each
weekday. Do you know
how long you spending
each day? Try out our interactive sitting
time calculator to see how much time you spend
sitting. You would be surprised how quickly it all
adds up. The calculator adds up the number of
hours you spent sitting and evaluates your risk
of ‘sitting disease’. Our results also suggest tips
on how to fight ‘sitting disease’ by building more
activity into your day.
Places to Get Active
Database
When the last time you tried something new?
Knowing where to go is now even easier with our
new database of Places to Get Active. Browse
by county to start getting active in a place
near you. With information on local amenities,
outdoor activities and indoor venues, you’ll find
everything you need to know before you go!
Community Wall
This feature was developed to integrate all our
social media channels directly onto our website’s
homepage. Our Community Wall displays our
Twitter feed, Facebook and Instagram posts in
one spot for our visitors to read and keep up
to date. This section also features three latest
news-spots with links to more in-depth analysis of
topics related to physical activity.
Testimonials
The power of these positive accounts of Irish
people getting active, will hopefully provide
inspiration and support to visitors before they
embark on their getting active journey.
Minister for Health Leo Varadkar (centre) with (from left to right) Minister of State for Tourism and Sport
Michael Ring, Paralympic cyclist Cathal Miller, cyclist Ciara Doogan, and Minster for Transport, Tourism and
Sport Paschal Donohoe, at Ballybough Community, Youth and Fitness Centre, Dublin.
Animated videos
We’ve designed and developed four bespoke
animated videos targeting specific age groups
and topics with information on:
• physical activity for babies, toddlers and
preschoolers,
• how inactivity is a silent killer;
• 8 tips from our physical activity experts to
getting active; and
• Tips on getting active for those aged over
65s.
spring 2016 | health matters | 65

New York Museum of Modern Art inspires...
Skibbereen art scene
antry woman Sheila Goggin,
who will be 89 years old on
B December 26th next, has
recently visited Uillinn West
Cork Arts Centre as part of its
new In the Picture programme.
The programme offers opportunities for
older people – living in residential settings
or being cared for in their own homes in the
West Cork area – to participate in bespoke
facilitated experiences in the galleries. The In
the Picture concept was originally rolled-out
by New York’s Museum of Modern Art and is
designed to give older people and people living
with dementia an opportunity to participate in
art and cultural venues.
“It was very good, we walked around and
looked at all the art and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
I do a bit of art myself and would like to do
more of these types of visits,” said Sheila.
According to Sheila’s son Finbarr Goggin, this
visit and indeed the other artistic ventures that
Sheila is involved in have made a remarkable
difference to her life.
“Spending a great deal of time at home leads
to boredom and feelings of isolation but when
mam is out and about participating in art and
other cultural activities, she is at her best. She
comes home full of life and buzzing from the
activity,” explained Finbarr.
“The In the Picture programme involves
meaningful participation and I can see a huge
difference in mam when she returns from such
activities. A day or so after the visit, mam drew
a haunting picture of a tree blowing during a
gale.”
According to Sarah Cairns, who works as
an activities co-ordinator at Bantry General
Hospital, “By taking part In the Picture,
Sheila’s inner love for art and all things of
a cultural nature became hugely apparent
and she actively engaged with a selection of
artworks on exhibit. At one stage both she and
the other participants broke into song inspired
by the display.”
In the Picture delivers direct access to and
participation in the West Cork Arts Centre’s
exhibition programme and a sensitive space
for conversational and sensory contribution.
The discussions are facilitated by artists and
gallery educators trained in dementia care and
communication skills.
The programme is overseen by a committed
group of local partners from the HSE, Cork
Education & Training Board, West Cork Carers,
Cork County Council, and West Cork Arts
Centre who see at first hand the benefits that
it brings to people our communities.
Sarah Cairns added, “I see the art-work
lighting up the faces of people with dementia
and their carers reaction to this. It is
overwhelmingly powerful. There is an unusual
amount of ability available to people with
dementia to connect with and appreciate
art in all its forms, and also an ability to
connect with their own creative selves, this
is what In the Picture is offering people a
chance to tap into. Our sessions are about
making observations, describing and building
connections. Allowing each person the time to
comfortably observe and experience the space
and artwork.”
Programme Manager Justine Foster
Lifestyle
Sheila Goggin and artist facilitator Sarah Ruttle enjoying a facilitated art discussion at West Cork Arts
Centre.
explained that they now have a trained team of
professional artists delivering the programme.
“We provide ongoing professional
development support for both healthcare
and arts professionals in the area of arts and
dementia in order to extend and develop the
local pool of expertise and encourage dialogue
between arts and health practitioners who are
currently working with people who are living
with memory loss and dementia.”
This new development in Skibbereen is part
of Arts for Health Partnership Programme,
West Cork which has been delivering a hugely
successful arts and cultural programme for
the last 10 years in community hospitals and
day centres across West Cork.
winter 2015 | health matters | 67

Lifestyle
Picking the right option
awards promote
healthy workplace
ast year 19 HSE sites were
awarded the Healthy Eating
L Award and five hospitals
received the Active at Work
award at a ceremony hosted
by the HSE on behalf of the Irish Heart
Foundation in Dr Steevens’ Hospital.
The Health and Wellbeing Division support
the Irish Heart Foundation with these awards,
as one of the largest employers in the public
service and because of the known benefits of
heart health.
Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, National Director,
Health and Wellbeing, commented: “We
recognise workplace health programmes
are one of the best ways to prevent lifestyle
diseases and improve mental health and
wellbeing. We believe as the health services,
we are well placed to lead on improving health
and wellbeing – not only for the populations
we service but also as an employer.”
With so much interest in workplace health,
it is timely for the Irish Heart Foundation to
expand its long-standing workplace Healthy
Eating Award to include three levels from
2016 – bronze, silver and gold - to further drive
standards in relation to healthy food choices
for staff restaurants.
The HSE was just one of a growing number
of companies are engaging in the Irish Heart
Foundation’s (IHF) health and wellbeing
award programmes to help employees
become more physically active and have
healthier diets.
Sixty seven companies were certified this
year by the Irish Heart Foundation under
their Healthy Eating Awards to provide
and promote healthy meal options in their
restaurants and since the programme began
up to 400 companies have been certified
benefiting 400,000 employees nationwide.
At the Foundation’s presentation of awards
to 92 companies, the national charity said
workplace health is more than a ‘tick the box’
exercise and it can be used very effectively
to increase productivity, reduce absenteeism
and to boost overall morale and positivity.
Emerging research shows that sitting
for prolonged periods is associated with
increased risk for heart disease and stroke,
even if individuals are regularly physically
active. Further research has shown that one
third of premature heart disease is due to
poor diets alone and the benefit of promoting
healthy diets can help reduce employees’
weight, cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
With many office workers sitting for six or
seven hours a day and 61pc of adults being
overweight or obese, workplaces can play an
important role in providing an environment
that supports employees to move more
throughout the day and eat more healthily.
President of the Irish Heart Foundation Prof
Declan Sugrue said: “Serious health problems
face us as a nation with heart disease and
stroke at the top of the list claiming more lives
than any other cause of death in this country.
The good news is that 80pc of cardiovascular
disease is largely preventable but tackling
these diseases is more than a matter of
individual responsibility. Creating a supportive
environment to empower individuals where
they work or live is essential. About two
million people are employed in Ireland and
the workplace is a key setting in which we can
work together to make a difference.”
As a pioneer in the field of workplace
health since 1992, the Irish Heart Foundation
welcomed new legislation announced
recently by the Minister for Health, to ensure
Health and Wellbeing polices are in place to
improve the health of the Irish public-sector
workforce which represents thousands of
workers.
Meanwhile, the newer Active@Work
Award, founded in 2013 was presented to
25 companies in recognition of efforts to
boost employee physical activity levels at
work. Promoting an active workforce has the
potential to reduce sick days by as much as
27pc and drive down absenteeism by up to
20pc.
Prof Sugrue added: “It is very heartening to
see so many companies across the country
receiving our Healthy Eating and Active@
Work Awards and contributing greatly to
68 | health matters | spring 2016

Main: Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, National Director
of Health & Wellbeing, HSE; Betty Dunne,
Anne Bergin and Mary Boyce, Alison Holmes
and Veronica McCormack, Midland Regional
Hospital Portlaoise, receiving the Healthy Eating
Award and Bronze Active@ Work Award, with
Barry Dempsey, CEO, Irish Heart Foundation
and Tony O’Brien, Director General, HSE TOP
RIGHT: Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, National Director
of Health & Wellbeing, HSE; Kate O’Flaherty,
Director, Health & Wellbeing Department,
Department of Health; Tony O’Brien, Director
General, HSE; Janis Morrissey, Dietitian, Irish
Heart Foundation; Barry Dempsey, CEO, Irish
Heart Foundation; and Ann Scanlon, Workplace
Health Promotion Officer, Irish Heart Foundation
RIGHT: Barry Dempsey, CEO, Irish Heart Foundation;
Eamonn Riggs; and Jennifer Magee,
Aramark Catering, Dr Steevens’ Hospital, receiving
the Healthy Eating Award, and Tony O’Brien,
Director General, HSE
the effort. These companies represent all
sectors - from hospitals, to financial services
and banks, to manufacturing and community
groups. I acknowledge the HSE’s invaluable
support over many years for the Foundation’s
workplace programme and these awards.”
Tony O’Brien, Director General of the Health
Service, HSE, who presented the awards, said:
“According to the World Health Organisation
workplace health programmes are one of
the best ways to prevent lifestyle diseases,
such as CVD, and improve mental health.
The workplace is also identified as a key area
of action in the Healthy Ireland Framework.
WHO indicates that any costs associated with
the measure should be minimal and will be
recouped many times over by the benefits of a
healthier workforce.
“As Director General of the Health Service
any steps that can reduce the cost of disease
to the taxpayer and to the health service is
a major benefit and is vital in ensuring that
we can sustain the health services into the
future. It is estimated that 57pc of the costs
of cardiovascular diseases are directly linked
to healthcare, 21pc to productivity costs and
22pc to informal care. (EHN, 2008) So the
health and wellbeing of employees is a winwin
for employers, employees and the Health
Service.”
HSE sites certified with the Healthy Eating Award in 2015
PORTIUNCULA HOSPITAL, BALLINASLOE
MAIREAD COYNE, CATERING MANAGER
ST COLMCILLE’S HOSPITAL, LOUGHLINSTOWN
NUALA FITZPATRICK, CATERING MANAGER
KERRY GENERAL HOSPITAL, TRALEE
BREDA MOORE, CATERING MANAGER
NAAS GENERAL HOSPITAL, NAAS
TERESA FITZSIMONS, CATERING MANAGER
ST VINCENT’S HOSPITAL, ATHY ANNE KNOWLES, CATERING MANAGER
DALKEY COMMUNITY UNIT, DALKEY
RACHEL KERRIGAN, CATERING MANAGER
MIDLANDS REGIONAL HOSPITAL, PORTLAOISE
BRENDA O’CONNELL, CATERING MANAGER
ST CAMILLUS HOSPITAL, SHELBOURNE ROAD
RORY FAY, CATERING MANAGER
CHERRY ORCHARD HOSPITAL, BALLYFERMOT
LOUISE O’REILLY, CATERING MANAGER
NEWCASTLE HOSPITAL, NEWTOWNMOUNTKENNEDY
MARY DOWLING, CATERING MANAGER
ARAMARK IRELAND, MAYO GENERAL HOSPITAL LORETTA BRACKEN,
CATERING MANAGER
ARAMARK IRELAND, PEAMOUNT HOSPITAL
MARIA CLEARY, CATERING MANAGER
ST STEPHEN’S HOSPITAL, GLANMIRE
HELENA O’BRIEN, CATERING MANAGER
MIDLAND REGIONAL HOSPITAL, MULLINGAR
YVONNE DOWLER, CATERING PROJECT MANAGER
ST ITA’S HOSPITAL, NEWCASTLEWEST RORY FAY, CATERING MANAGEr
SOUTH INFIRMARY VICTORIA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, OLD BLACKROCK rd
JIM SEWARD, CATERING MANAGER
ARAMARK IRELAND, DR STEEVENS HOSPITAL
JENNIFER MAGEE, CATERING MANAGER
ST VINCENT’S HOSPITAL, MOUNTMELLICK
BRENDA DOWLING, CATERING MANAGER
SODEXO CORPORATE SERVICES, ARAS ATTRACTA
MAEVE QUINN, CATERING MANAGER
HSE sites certified with the Active @ Work Award in 2015
Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise
Alison Holmes, Physiotherapist
Cavan General Hospital, Cavan
Jacinta McAree-Murphy, Health Promotion Officer
Monaghan General Hospital, Monaghan
Jacinta McAree-Murphy, Health Promotion Officer
University Hospital Limcerick, Limerick
Jean Quinn McDonogh, Manager, Physio Department)
Summerhill Mental Health Centre, Wexford
Anne Porter, Social Worker
spring 2016 | health matters | 69

Lifestyle
promising findings in
survey of irish children
T
he newly released Health
Behaviours in School Children
(HBSC) survey 2014 shows
encouraging findings on
consumption of fruit and vegetables, teeth
cleaning, and a drop in smoking levels and
consumption of sweets and soft drinks.
However, many children said they find it easy
to get cigarettes, too many children are going
to bed hungry, and there are concerns about
levels of cyber bullying.
A total of 13,611 pupils were surveyed with
questions on topics like general health, food
and dietary behaviour, exercise and physical
activity, self-care, smoking, use of alcohol and
other substances, bullying including cyber
bullying, and sexual health behaviours.
It was carried out by the Health Promotion
Research Centre at the National University of
Ireland, Galway. The HSE welcomed the
publication of the
survey, particularly
the significant
declines in smoking
behaviour.
Smoking
• 56pc decline in the
number of children
(aged 10-17) who say
that they have ever
smoked since 2006
• 47pc decline in the
number of children
(aged 10-17) who
describe themselves as
‘smokers’ since 2006.
Commenting on the
survey findings, Dr
Stephanie O’Keeffe,
HSE National Director,
Health and Well-Being,
said, “Legislative
changes such as plain
packaging, restrictions on
advertising, tobacco free
parks, playgrounds, the creation of tobacco
free workplace campuses, a successful QUIT
campaign and QUIT support service have
all contributed to the significant declines in
smoking. More children are now seeing their
parents and other adults around them trying to
quit smoking.
Those parents and adults are sending a
positive message to the children around them
– that it is better not to start smoking in the
first place.” Recent studies have shown that
early age at first smoking is causally related
to subsequent levels of nicotine dependence.
Therefore, reducing access to tobacco
products for adolescents will reduce the total
population burden of nicotine dependence
and the substantial associated morbidity and
mortality.
Alcohol Use
THERE were also steady, gradual declines in
alcohol use:
• 21pc decline in the number of children (aged
10-17) who report that they have ever had an
alcoholic drink since 2006;
• 35pc decline in the number of children (aged
10-17) who report that they have ever been
“really drunk” since 2006;
• 50% decline in the number of children (aged
10-17) who report
ever being drunk
in the last month
since 2006.
Dr O’Keeffe
commented,
“While the
declines in
alcohol use and
drunkenness are
welcome, the
fact remains
that over 40pc
of children have
consumed an
alcoholic drink
and 20pc have
been really
drunk.
There is no
safe level
of alcohol
consumption
for children
under 18
years of age.
It is important to address environmental
factors that influence underage drinking and
change adult attitudes and behaviour before
we can reasonably expect children to follow
suit.”
The Irish Health Behaviour
in School-aged Children
(HBSC) Study 2014
Healthy Eating and
Active Living
The trends in relation to fruit and vegetable
consumption have slightly improved since
2006 but there has been a significant decline in
Poor habits
and unhealthy
attitudes that develop
in childhood and
adolescence can be
very difficult to break in
adulthood. The best way
that parents, teachers,
youth workers or coaches
can encourage children
and young people to be
healthy is by modelling
healthy habits themselves
the daily consumption of soft drinks. Levels of
physical activity are stable since 2006:
• 50pc decline in the number of children (aged
10-17) who report that they drink soft drinks
daily or more since 2006;
• Consumption of fruit and vegetables
remains low with three out of every four
children not eating enough fruit and vegetables
daily;
• Only 23pc of children (aged 10-17) report
being active seven days a week;
• The trend for reported levels of activity to
decline as young people progress to late teens
is particularly marked among girls.
Dr O’Keeffe went on to say: “Poor habits and
unhealthy attitudes that develop in childhood
and adolescence can be very difficult to break
in adulthood.
“The best way that parents, teachers, youth
workers or coaches can encourage children
and young people to be healthy is by modelling
healthy habits themselves and praising
children and young people for any efforts they
make towards leading a healthier lifestyle.
Schools also play an important role, by
having healthy eating policies that don’t allow
soft drinks and other unhealthy foods, as well
as ensuring that students get the opportunity
to be active throughout the school day,” she
added.
Front cover of the newly released Health Behaviours
in School Children (HBSC) survey 2014.
70 | health matters | spring 2016

Know the risks
alcohol and cancer
A
lcohol causes over 900 cancers
in Ireland every year, with
500 deaths, according to the
HSE National Cancer Control
Programme, who reminded everyone that
while there is no safe lower limit of alcohol
consumption, the cancer risk can be greatly
reduced by drinking less.
Stressing that ‘the more we drink the
greater our risk of alcohol related cancer,’
Dr Marie Laffoy, Consultant in Public Health
with the HSE National Cancer Control Programme,
said, “The cancers caused by alcohol
can take many years to develop, so the
effect of drinking habits today will be seen
well into the future.”
Alcohol is known to cause seven cancers
– breast, bowel (colon and rectum), pharynx,
larynx, oesophagus and pancreas. While the
highest risk is for head and neck cancer, the
greatest impact in Ireland relates to breast
and bowel cancer, simply because these are
common cancers.
“For women in Ireland, the most important
impact from alcohol is in relation to breast
cancer. Approximately 12pc of all breast
cancers (300 cases per year) are associated
with alcohol consumption. For men, the most
important impact relates to bowel cancer
where around 100 cases are caused by alcohol
annually (one in every twelve cases). Consumption
of just one standard drink per day
is associated with a seven per cent increase
in the risk of developing breast cancer, compared
to non drinkers, while consuming three
to six standard drinks per day increases the
risk of breast cancer by 41pc,” said Dr Laffoy.
“There is a very long lag time between
exposure to alcohol and the development of
cancer (10-20 years). This is an especially
important message for young women in relation
to breast cancer risk. New research has
shown a clear association between drinking
in young women and the risk of developing
both benign breast disease and breast
cancer in later life. Therefore teenage girls
should delay the onset of drinking for as long
as possible.”
It has been widely acknowledged that the
volume of alcohol consumption in Ireland (11
litres per person per year) is higher than the
European average (nine litres per person per
year).
The NCCP stressed however that most
alcohol related cancers can be prevented by
adhering to Department of Health low-risk
drinking guidelines (up to 11 standard alcoholic
drinks per week for women and up to 17
for men).
A standard drink is half a pint of beer, a
single measure of spirits or a small glass of
wine. Overall in relation to alcohol and cancer
risk, Dr Laffoy stated: “Less is good and
none is best of all.”
Alcohol is known to
cause seven cancers
– breast, bowel (colon and
rectum), pharynx, larynx,
oesophagus and pancreas.
While the highest risk is for
head and neck cancer, the
greatest impact in Ireland
relates to breast and bowel
cancer, simply because
these are common cancers.
Human liver cancer organ as a medical symbol of
a malignant tumor red cell disease as a cancerous
growth spreading through the digestive system by
alcohol and other environmental toxic reasons.
spring 2016 | health matters | 71

Lifestyle
Sugar-Free
Toppings
sweeten the
SUGAR-FREE
DEAL
72 | health matters | spring 2016
Sugar-Free
Scones

here is no sugar-coating the
fact that sugar consumption
is having a massive impact on
our waistlines, teeth,
moods and overall health and
wellbeing.
From reports that slashing
the amount of sugar in
sweetened drinks by 40pc
could prevent 300,000
cases of Type 2 diabetes, to
news that the average fiveyear-old
consumes the equivalent
of their own body weight in sugar in a
year, reducing the white stuff has become
something of a national priority.
Yet while many are painfully aware of the
destructive influence of sugar (that’ll be the
3pm grumps, ageing skin and bingo wings
then), it doesn’t help that: A, sugar is added
to lots of food and drinks, even unsuspecting
savoury products; B, sugar is embedded in our
daily diets (hello, mid-morning biscuits with a
cuppa), and C, it tastes nice.
Here to help is cookery writer Susanna Booth,
who used her polymer chemistry degree to
create sugar-free goodies that don’t sacrifice
taste, sweetly displayed in her new recipe
book, Sensationally Sugar Free.
But with sugar playing “quite a big role in a
lot of baking”, the challenge was to find a way
of adding texture and crunch - which sugar
provides - as well as sweetness.
So far, Booth’s recipes (in which she uses
apple puree, sweeteners like stevia and
naturally sweet fruits) have been well received
by her friends and family.
BANANA BREAD
(Makes about 12 slices)
4 ripe bananas, about 700g
75g unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for
greasing
1 egg, beaten
150g white plain flour
50g wholemeal plain flour
4tsp baking powder
1/2tsp salt
75g sunflower seeds
Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/Gas
mark 6. Lightly grease a 22 x 11 x 7cm/1kg loaf
tin with a little butter.
Peel and mash the bananas in a large bowl
(a few lumps are OK). Add the melted butter,
followed by the egg, and stir well.
Add both flours, the baking powder and
salt to the bowl. Gently fold everything
together until well mixed. Set aside about one
tablespoon of the sunflower seeds, then fold
the rest into the mixture.
Use a spatula to transfer the mixture to the
loaf tin. Shake gently to distribute it evenly
in the tin and then smooth the top with the
spatula. Sprinkle the reserved sunflower
seeds on top. Bake for 55-65 minutes until well
browned and risen. Leave to cool in the tin.
CHOCOLATE TEA
CAKE
(Makes about 12 slices)
1 Earl Grey teabag
110g pitted dried dates
75g wholemeal plain flour
25g cocoa powder
100g unsalted butter, very soft, plus
extra for greasing
2 eggs
2tsp baking powder
Pinch of ground cloves
Pinch of salt
50g no-added-sugar plain dark chocolate,
plus extra for decorating
Use the teabag to make a pot of tea, using
about 150ml boiling water and leaving it to
brew for five minutes. Pour off the tea into a
measuring jug, then soak the dates in 125ml
of the tea for at least four hours or overnight,
reserving the remaining tea for the ganache.
When the dates are softened and have
absorbed most of the tea, preheat the oven to
180C/160C fan/Gas mark 4. Lightly grease a 22
x 11 x 7cm/1kg loaf tin with a little butter.
Place the soaked dates, and the tea they were
soaking in, in a food processor and process
until smooth. Add the flour, cocoa powder,
butter, eggs, baking powder, cloves and salt
and process for three to four seconds, until
everything has combined.
Scoop the cake mixture into the tin and
smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 30
minutes until well-risen and an inserted skewer
comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin before
removing and placing on a serving plate.
Meanwhile, make the ganache. Break up the
chocolate into small pieces and place in a small
saucepan with the reserved tea over a low heat
until the chocolate has melted, then stir well.
Pour into a bowl and chill in the refrigerator for
30 minutes until the mixture has set.
Spread it on the cooled cake. Use a vegetable
peeler to create curls of chocolate and sprinkle
over the top of the ganache to decorate. Eat
within two to three days.
STRAWBERRY
SCONES
(Makes 8)
225g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
75g wholemeal plain flour
1tbsp baking powder
50g unsalted butter, chilled and cut into
chunks, plus extra for greasing
125ml rice milk
85ml milk
For the topping
500g fresh strawberries, hulled and thinly
sliced
2tsp balsamic vinegar
1/4tsp ground black pepper w300ml
whipping cream
Preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan/Gas
mark 7. Lightly grease a baking sheet with a
little butter.
Mix both flours and the baking powder
together in a large bowl. Add the butter and
rub in with your fingertips until the mixture
resembles fine breadcrumbs (you can pulse
the ingredients in a food processor if you
prefer). Pour in the rice milk and milk. Stir
everything together, then get your hands in
and knead the mixture into a dough.
Roll out the dough on a worktop, well
dusted with flour, to a thickness of about
3cm. Use a 6cm cookie cutter to cut out
eight rounds, re-rolling the trimmings as
necessary, and place them on the baking
sheet. Bake for 15 minutes until well-risen
and browned.
To make the topping, stir the strawberry
slices, vinegar and pepper together in a
saucepan over a medium heat for five
minutes, taking care not to let the mixture
boil.
Once the strawberries have become
softened and translucent, and have released
some of their juices, remove the pan from the
heat and leave everything to cool. Whip the
cream until it forms soft peaks.
Serve the scones cut in half, with each side
topped by a dollop of whipped cream and a
serving of the balsamic strawberries.
sugar-Free
Chocolate
Tea Cake
sugar-Free
Banana
Bread
spring 2016 | health matters | 73

Lifestyle
WHERE TO
GO IN 2016
BEST FOR CULTURE
Stratford-Upon-
Avon, Warwickshire
Even after several centuries, Shakespeare’s
plays continue to impress and entertain
audiences worldwide with his works
translated into more than 75 languages. This
year though, attention will be firmly focused
on his birthplace Stratford-upon-Avon,
marking the 400th anniversary of his death on
April 23rd with a series of new openings and
special exhibitions.
Learn about Shakespeare’s personal life
through artefacts on display at a re-imagining
of his former family home, New Place, where
he lived for the last 19 years of his life and
wrote 26 major works. The new attraction
has been billed as the single most significant
project to commemorate the playwright’s
legacy.
Then delve further into his past by visiting
Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall at King
Edward VI School, where the Bard honed his
writing skills. Following a major restoration,
the 15th century building is open to the public
for the first time.
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)
will be staging productions throughout the
year, along with a new discovery tour, Page
To Stage, giving a behind the scenes look at
the famous playhouse and an opportunity
to look inside the RSC’s store of 30,000
costumes. Visit shakespeares-england.co.uk/
shakespeare-2016 for more information.
BEST FOR SAFARI
Botswana
Excellent wildlife sightings, a commitment
to conservation and a good range of luxury
accommodation options make Botswana a top
safari destination. Next year, on September
30, the country will celebrate 50 years of
independence, prompting Lonely Planet to
declare it the number one destination to
visit in 2016. Discover the Okavango Delta,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from the
comfort of the newly renovated 12-tent
Belmond Eagle Island Lodge, where activities
include game drives and boat trips through the
ever-changing waterways.
The Okavango’s unusual topography has
resulted in various animal adaptations, such
as swimming lions. Stay at private concession
Duba Plains, where film-makers Dereck
and Beverly Joubert famously documented
the resident pride who hunt buffalo in broad
daylight.
Botswana also has one of the highest
populations of endangered wild dog and
Belmond’s Khwai River Lodge, on the border
of the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, is currently a
good place to track them.
BEST FOR WILDLIFE
India
The cinema release of Disney’s The Jungle
Book in April will put the spotlight on India and
its most famous animal resident - the Bengal
tiger. These highly endangered creatures are
notoriously difficult to spot.
Rudyard Kipling set his classic novel in the
region now known as Madhya Pradesh, which
is home to some of the country’s greatest
jungles. You can follow in the footsteps on
19th century travel pioneer James Forsyth
by visiting the teak forest of the Satpura tiger
reserve, the hill station of Pachmarhi and stay
in Sakata in the migratory corridor between
Pench and Kanha tiger reserves.
BEST FOR SCENERY
Utah, USA
This year, America’s National Park service
celebrates its 100th anniversary, providing
a good excuse to visit some of the country’s
most pristine and protected areas. The state
of Utah is home to a ‘Mighty 5’ parks.
Marvel at the wind-sculpted sandstone
structures in Arches National Park, explore
the towering hoodoos in Bryce Canyon, or
discover a 100-mile warp in the Earth’s crust
at Capitol Reef.
After dark, the sightseeing continues at
74 | health matters | spring 2016

several designated International Dark Sky
Parks. Photograph the Milky Way above the
famous Mesa Arch landform in Canyonlands,
or wander through ancient Puebloan ruins at
the Natural Bridges National Monument.
During the winter season, Utah is a favourite
destination for skiers and snowboarders.
The recently opened Cherry Peak Resort,
near Logan in northern Utah, features three
triple chairlifts and a 1.25mile run. Visit www.
visitutah.com
BEST FOR FOODIES
San Sebastian, Spain
Peru...
Best for
Adventure
As the European Capital of Culture 2016,
this city in northern Spain will host a series
of talks, exhibitions and events throughout
the year. (See dss2016.eu/en/ for a full
programme.) But the main draw continues to
be the fantastic range of restaurants and bars
available, many of which regularly appear in
The World’s Best 50 Restaurants list. Spend
a weekend sampling some of the 200 pinxto
bars in the Old Town, serving the Basque
version of tapas, or incorporate the city into a
wider itinerary. Pura Aventura (pura-aventura.
com) is running a new 10-night Basque Foodie
Adventure, visiting producers and sampling
products from the coast to the highlands.
Highlights include a visit to millennia-old
saltpans, where harvesters collect salt for
Michelin-starred chefs, a pintxo making class
in Pamplona, and a visit to the hallowed San
Sebastian supper club, the Gastronomic
Society.
BEST FOR
ADVENTURE Peru
Peru has always been a bestseller in South
America. Capital city Lima has a lively
gourmet scene and boasts some of the
continent’s top restaurants; experiment
with flavours at award-winning Central
(centralrestaurante.com.pe/en/), where the
menu is based on ingredients foraged from
Peru’s different altitudes, or sample national
dish ceviche (raw fish cured in citrus juice) at
lunch only restaurant Chez Wong (facebook.
com/ChezJavierWong).
Inca citadel Machu Picchu is undoubtedly
one of Peru’s highlights, with passes for
the popular Inca Trail selling out months
in advance. Tourists now have more
comfortable options for a stay in the Sacred
Valley, allowing them time to acclimatise
to higher altitudes and enjoy the scenery.
Last year, Inkaterra opened the Hacienda
Urubamba and in August Explora will launch
new property Valle Sagrado on the site of an
ancient corn plantation. Both can be reached
by road from Cusco.
spring 2016 | health matters | 75

Lifestyle
Six of the best
FOR A
HEALTHY
START
Slowly does it
Hotpoint SJ 15XL UP0
Slow Juicer (1)
Juicers provide an easy way to
achieve your five-a-day and they
were of course a big hit in 2015.
Hotpoint’s latest model will
see the trend continue. The
basis of this model is that the
bladeless technology and low
speed motor (50rpm) will help
you get more nutrients and
vitamins from your juicer as
the fruit and veg go through a
more gentle process allowing
more vitamins and nutrients
to be squeezed into your drink.
On top of that, there is less waste
produced and Hotpoint estimate you’ll
get 30pc more juice from this model than
others on the market.
The multi-purpose gadget
De’Longhi Multifry Extra
Chef (2)
If you are unable to resist the lure of
the humble chip, this device will
ensure that a plateful of the potato
treat won’t automatically mean you’ll
be consuming your body weight in
calories or fat. With this machine,
you can cook up a
batch of 1.7kg of
chips using just 14ml
of oil. The Multifry’s
capabilities don’t end
there. Cook up a batch
of a winter warming
stew or risotto, your
own homemade pizza
- without the additives
you get in shop-bought
ones - using the pan
function or the air grill
function.
Box clever
George Foreman
Cream 18873
Family Grill (3)
With their tag
line of ‘The
Lean Mean Fat-
Reducing Grilling
Machine’, the George
Foreman grill has proved to be an
ever-present kitchen accessory
since launching in 1994. If you’re
yet to invest in one, you may be
wondering what the hype is about.
Well, not only does it cook your
food swiftly, but the angled
plate allows the excess
fat and grease from
your dishes to channel away
into a drip tray. In fact, they
estimate that it will reduce
the fat content of some
food by up to 42pc. This
model is great for families
as it allows you to cook five
portions at a time.
On the go
Mix & Go (4)
Another quick and easy-touse
smoothie maker, this
blender will suit those who
live a busy lifestyle and don’t
feel they have time to sit
down for breakfast. Place
your ingredients in one of
the two portable bottles,
screw the blade unit on,
turn it upside down and
attach it to the motor unit.
Then just press down on
top of the bottle - when
the machine senses
pressure it’ll whirl
into action, quickly
making up your favourite blend.
Also, you can replace the blade
unit with the drink lid and go
out and about!
Weigh it up
Terraillon’s Nutritab
Scale (5)
To the naked eye this is a set of
fancy kitchen scales, however, delve a
little deeper and you’ll discover an assistant
to help you stay on course for your healthy
eating plan. The scales pair up with its
own wellness app so that you can check
the nutritional information - including fat
and fibre content and the calories - of
all the ingredients as you weigh
them. Use the app to store
the data and create different
profiles. Requires three AAA
batteries.
Homemade is best
Cuisinart Soup
Maker Plus (6)
Nothing tastes quite as
nourishing as a homemade soup. However,
they can become quite cumbersome
to make, with lots of pots, pans and
a blender/food processer required.
It’s enough to leave you running
to the supermarket for a shopbought
one.
This soup maker though will
make the creative process far
simpler. Cook the ingredients, add
your stock, blitz it all up and keep
it warm without breaking into
a sweat. You’ll be in control of
what goes into your soup - so no
additives or preservatives unless
you want them - and the hearty
dish you create will leave you
full up so you won’t be reaching
for the snack jar.
76 | health matters | spring 2016

... FOR SAVING WATER
About a third of the water we use at home is for flushing the loo, but you can save a lot
by only flushing when there’s something solid to flush away. If this doesn’t appeal, you
can restrict the amount of water used for each flush by fitting a water-saving loo, such
as a dual-flush one that has a big and a little flush. You can also put something (a brick, or
a plastic bag designed for the job - some water companies provide these free of charge) in
the cistern, so it doesn’t use as much water to flush.
Taking a shower uses around two-thirds less water than taking a bath, but this is
providing you’re only in the shower for a few minutes and it’s not a power shower
- power showers can use more water than a bath. You’ll save most water by fitting
a flow-restricting shower or an aerating shower head. These use less water per
minute and shouldn’t leave you showering in a dribble. Mira Showers’ Eco showers,
for example, use flow regulators to limit the maximum flow of water, while their Eco
shower heads use aerating technology to create the sensation of a normal flow using a lot less water.
If you have a dripping tap, fix it as quickly as possible because it will soon waste litres of water. Often the tap just needs a
new washer, which isn’t hard to fit. You can also save water by fitting flow restrictors or regulators to your home’s taps,
or tap inserts that aerate the water.
One of the best ways to save water is to install a grey-water recycling system. This typically takes waste water
from the bath, shower and basin (and sometimes other waste water too) and uses it for the loo and outside tap.
There are various ways to do this, some of which are expensive, but it can be as straightforward as fitting a wastepipe
splitter to separate the water from your bathroom’s loo from the room’s other waste water.
In the garden, rainwater can be collected in a water butt by connecting it to a downpipe, which is a fairly simple DIY job.
This makes watering the garden easier, especially when there’s a hosepipe ban. A more elaborate version of this is a
rainwater harvesting system. There are different versions, but it’s often a system that collects rain from the guttering and
pumps it to where it’s needed. More than half of the mains water we use at home could be replaced by rainwater in this way,
so it could make a big difference.
...FOR CHOOSING &
USING UNDERFLOOR HEATING
Wet underfloor heating works by circulating warm water through a series of pipes under the floor,
connected to a boiler or other heat source - usually a heat pump. The pipes don’t have to be laid
in concrete - with some wet underfloor heating systems, the installer can lift up the existing floor
covering, fit the heating panels, lay plywood on top and replace the floor covering. Most types of floor covering
are suitable for underfloor heating, including carpet, tiles, vinyl, laminate and engineered wood (check with the
manufacturer if in doubt).
Lots of homes have underfloor heating in some rooms and radiators in others, but underfloor heating
is more energy efficient. It works at a lower temperature to radiators, yet delivers the same level of
comfort, saving you money because the boiler doesn’t have to work as hard and so uses less energy. A
radiator heats the air immediately above it, with the heat rising and then falling in a circular motion as it
cools, whereas an underfloor system heats the entire room from the floor up. This reduces the constant air circulation
caused by radiators, which creates draughts and distributes dust.
If your home has a ground, air or water source heat pump, or you’re considering installing one, this is the perfect partner for
underfloor heating. Heat pumps work at their most efficient at low-water-output temperatures, so having a low-temperature
heat emitter, such as underfloor heating, is ideal. Both heat pumps and boilers can heat water to the lowest temperature required
for underfloor heating, but heat pumps do it more efficiently than boilers.
As wet underfloor heating systems are connected to your home’s boiler or heat pump, they can be cheaper to run than electric
versions. They also come with room (or zone) controls, so you can have some rooms (or zones, such as the ground floor) hotter than
others, again, potentially saving you money. Another advantage of underfloor heating is that it’s space saving. Some rooms have
little free wall space for radiators, but this clearly isn’t a problem if the heating’s under the floor.
It is, of course, important to get your underfloor heating from a reputable supplier - some manufacturers guarantee their
heating pipes for up to 50 years - and to use a plumber or heating engineer with experience of fitting systems like yours.
spring 2016 | health matters | 77

Lifestyle
SKODA OCTAVIA
VRS 230 ESTATE
First
Drive!
FACTS AT A GLANCE
Skoda Octavia vRS 230,
from €35,995
Engine: 2.0-litre petrol unit producing
227bhp and 258lb.ft of torque
Transmission: Six-speed manual
gearbox driving the front wheels
Performance: Top speed 152mph, 0-
62mph in 6.9 seconds
Economy: 44.8mpg combined
Emissions: 143g/km of CO2
What’s new?
There’s a lot to love about the Octavia vRS
as we know it. The spacious and good value
mid-sized offering can be had in petrol or
diesel forms, in hatchback or estate and with
manual or slick DSG gearboxes, all of which
are blessed with impressive performance
and handling. But now there’s a 230 model to
make choosing even more difficult.
In petrol-only 230 form, the power output
has been bumped by 10PS to give 230 in
total, or 227bhp in old money, while underneath
it also benefits from the clever electronic
differential as standard.
Marking out the 230 model from a regular
vRS are the 19-inch alloy wheels, black
detailing on the door mirrors, grille and roof
rails on the estate, as well as unique instrument
displays.
Looks and image
They may be subtle differences to the
regular hot Octavia, but the vRS 230 is even
better looking. The
black detailing
around the exterior
gives it a little
more menace, although
it is far from
a boy racer’s hack;
Skoda has always
managed to produce
sporty cars that
look good, but won’t
attract the wrong
kind of attention,
which is one reason
why they’ve proved
so popular. There’s also the added cache
of owning the 230 model over the standard
car, which might well prompt a few people to
trade up.
SKODA OCTAVIA VRS 230 ESTATE
Space and practicality
The other reason the Octavia vRS is so
popular is that you can have it as an estate,
which makes it far easier to justify as a family
wagon. As with the standard Octavia, the
boot space is excellent; a yawning 610 litres
with the rear seats in place and up to 1,740 litres
if you fold them. It’s sensibly shaped too,
with storage areas and lashing eyes for bigger
stuff. In the cabin, there’s plenty of space
too, and unless you need the vast legroom of
the bigger Superb, you’ll be able to fit adults
in all five seats.
Behind the wheel
Upping the performance
factor hasn’t diminished
the core Octavia qualities
of being undemanding and
easy to get on with. There’s
a brief burble from the
2.0-litre turbocharged unit
when you fire it up, but the
clutch is light and the gearshift
easy and slick.
The extra 10PS doesn’t
transform the vRS 230
from hot into scorching,
but it’s welcome nonetheless.
It’s a joyously
flexible unit that has lots of
low-down torque but is also keen to rev, with
strong acceleration right around the dial. The
standard sports exhaust adds a little more to
the vocals too, although it’s far from raucous.
It also blends ride and handling prowess in
a well-judged fashion.
The electronic differential means you can
accelerate harder and earlier, and it helps to
pull the vRS through bends with alacrity. It’s
sufficiently good fun to be entertaining, but
not so hyperactive it will drive you crazy on
the motorway.
Value for money
The vRS 230 costs an additional €2,500
over the standard car in manual estate form,
but for that you get electric sports seats, the
extra power, electronic differential and all
the visual enhancements including 19-inch
alloy wheels as standard, which is considerably
cheaper than those extras added on top.
Who would buy one?
If you can afford the extra outlay, there’s no
reason not to choose the vRS 230 over the
standard vRS. The extra power and grip are
welcome as are those heated leather seats
and it looks smarter too.
Happily the Octavia in any guise is a purchase
you don’t have to justify; good value,
spacious, practical, easy to live with and
sturdily built, it can play the role of family car
and daily driver whilst still raising a smile.
This car summed up in a single word
Polished.
If this car was a School pupil it would
undoubtedly be the class swot.
78 | health matters | spring 2016

Win a midWeek break With afternoon tea
Farnham EstatE GolF
and spa rEsort
The stunning Farnham Estate Golf and Spa Resort in County Cavan is offering a lucky reader the chance to win a luxurious
midweek break to truly get away from it all.
Located in the heart of a magnificent estate just 3km from Cavan town, the Radisson Blu Farnham Estate is a contemporary
and stylish hotel, full of country charm and character, surrounded by natural beauty among acres of rolling countryside.
You and a guest will spend two relaxed days enjoying the elegant surrounds of Farnham Estate. Included in the prize
is Afternoon Tea for two served in the handsome period rooms in the original main house, the Music Room and middle
Drawing Room are the venue for this leisurely tradition that you will savour with your guest.
Relax even further with complimentary access to the Health Spa, where you will enjoy the indoor/outdoor infinity pool,
Water Mint Thermal Suite, Relaxation Room and gym.
Radisson Blu Farnham Estate Golf and Spa Resort brings centuries of the very best of traditions of hospitality and natural
beauty and blends them with contemporary comfort and service, creating a destination unlike any other in Ireland.
For more information visit www.farnhamestate.ie or call 049 4377700.
For your chance to win, simply email your answer to the following question...
In WHAT CounTY IS THE RADISSon BLu FARnHAM ESTATE LoCATED?
Email your answer to competition@celticmediagroup.com with ‘Farnham Estate Golf and Spa Resort’ as the subject,
along with your name, address and contact number. Competition deadline is 31st May 2016.
TERMS AnD ConDITIonS: Valid for 12 months from when the winner is announced. Subject to availability.
Voucher can not be redeemed in part or in full cash. Voucher must be used in full and there is no exchange for services not listed in the prize details.
R a d i s s o n B l u F a r n h a m E s t a t e G o l f R e s o r t a n d S p a , F a r n h a m E s t a t e , C a v a n , I r e l a n d
T + 3 5 3 ( 0 ) 4 9 4 3 7 7 7 0 0 F + 3 5 3 ( 0 ) 4 9 4 3 7 7 7 0 1 E : i n f o . f a r n h a m @ r a d i s s o n b l u . c o m