East Coast post Summer
Item Type Other
Authors Health Service Executive (HSE)
Publisher Health Service Executive (HSE)
Download date 27/09/2021 08:12:48
Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10147/251497
Find this and similar works at - http://www.lenus.ie/hse Public Service Excellence Award for CMH This story and more inside Pages
EDITORIAL 2
HEALTH \
• Reforming our health service 1 3
• Reforming our health service \ 4
• Reforming our health service ! 5
• Reforming our health service 6
• Message from Chairman of the Board of the Interim Health Service Executive \ 7
• Arklow Primary Care Project Update \ 8
NEWS
• Independent Living for Older People 9
t> Allocation for Wicklow and South Dublin \ Voluntary Groups 10 \
t> Carnew'Keeping People Well'Initiative 11
• New Comprehensive GP Specialist Training 12
• An A-Z of Health Board Services for Sandyford, Ballyogan and Dundrum Families 13
• Good Eats, Less Sweets and Occasional Treats! 14
• More Effective Identification of Childhood Communication Difficulties 15
• CMH Showcases its Dedication to Clients 16
FEATURES
• The Influence of Egypt 17
• The Influence of Egypt 18
• PPARS Phase II Implementation in the East Coast Area Health Board 19
• PPARS Factfile 20
• Heartwatch Programme 21
• Records Management 22
• Stroke Rehabilition Unit Baggot St 23
• Ireland 3 Northern Ireland 2 24
• Breda Going for Gold 25
SPORT
• Children and Sport 26
• Calling Last Orders on Football's Drink Culture 27
• Calling Last Orders on Football's Drink Culture 28
ENTERTAINMENT
• FILM REVIEW 29
• COPPER CRAFT - Now a reality 30 Health Information & Quality "A COMMITMENT TO Authority (involving the decentralisa- tionof 50 jobs) will be in Cork City. These two organisations are due to be COMMUNICATE" established on a statutory basis by 1 January 2005. We await further CEO'S REFORM UPDATE details about the composition of the staffing structures proposed. would like to take the opportunity of using the publication of the Summer edition of the East Coast Post to speak directly to staff regard Iing health services reform. Over the next few pages, you can read about most aspects of the current reforms, available to us at the time of publication. REGIONAL HEALTH OFFICES I would like to reassure staff that the management of ECAHB will endeavour to keep everybody fully informed of all future developments With regard to the potential Regional Health Offices, there has been in a frank and open manner as soon as any new information becomes some misleading speculation in the media recently. Recently, the available to us. Department of Health and Children published the Composite Report on the reform of the health services on their website. This report was com THE CHALLENGE OF CHANCE - AGAIN. pleted last January by the Action Project Teams and contains 11 different sections, making recommendations and suggestions as to how the health In 2000 we faced the challenge of establishing the East Coast Area service reforms could be implemented. The reason it was recently pub Health Board and improving health and social services for the people of lished was to give a wider understanding of the topics and issues which Wicklow and South Dublin. Through the professionalism and dedication are under consideration in the context of the reform process. However, of you, our staff, we rose to that challenge. Now, we face once more the so as to dispel any confusion that has arisen as a result of certain media challenges of reform and restructuring. reports, it should be noted that no decision has been made regarding any of the recommendations contained in this report. In particular, it must be The Health (Amendment) Bill 2004 was published on1April. The Bill emphasised that no decision has yet been taken regarding the geograph provided for the abolition of membership of the 7 health boards, 3 area ical boundaries relating to the proposed regional offices. health boards and the ERHA. It has now passed all stages of the Houses of the Oireachtas. June 2004 marked the end of local health board's par THE NEW STRUCTURES ticipation in the provision of services. I would like to take this opportu nity to thank all our Board Members for their valuable contribution over So, where are we now? At the moment, the Interim HSE has completed the last four years. With their keen local knowledge and their strong pub Phase 1 of its work, the analysis of existing health delivery systems and lic service ethos, they have helped us to provide better services tailor- structures. Phase 2, which is now under way, involves the design and of made for the people we serve. The Board members have been superb the new structures and the details of the transition process which will public advocates and we can only hope that this spirit of local account lead us from the current structures to the new. It is expected that there ability will be present in whatever new structures emerge. will be widespread consultation with all the stakeholders in the health services following completion of phase 2. The publication of three Reform Reports, (Hanly, Prospectus and Brennan), pose a dramatic challenge to all health service workers as we Between newsletters and bulletins, staff can keep up to date with devel plan for the future. Our Board has assigned a number of key personnel opments on the department of Health and Children's website for the to work with the interim Health Services Executive to plan and imple reform process, at www.health reform.ie . ment the new organisational structure. Finally, I would like to thank all staff for their continuing commitment and hard work, despite all the confusion and anxiety that a major reform NO REDUNDANCIES programme naturally will cause, and once more reassure everybody that this Board is committed to communicating with all staff in an open and Two of the most often voiced staff concerns have been in regard to job timely fashion. We will continue to tell you what we know when we security and the location of the HSE headquarters along with the know it. Regional Health Offices. The Government has made clear its commit ment that there will be no involuntary redundancies arising from the implementation of the Health Service Reform Programme. A draft proto col has been submitted to the Health Service National Joint Council. While this has yet to be agreed by the staff side it includes, as a key prin ciple underlying the Reform Programme, that there will be no involun tary redundancies.
LOCATION OF THE HSE
The Minister for Finance, Mr Charlie McCreevy recently (8 July) announced the locations for the decentralised HSE and HIQA headquar ters, as part of the public service decentralisation programme. The head quarters of the new Health Service Executive (involving the decentrali sation of up to 300 jobs) will be in Naas and the headquarters of the new
east coast • page 2 L • ....healthReform
REFORMING OUR HEALTH SERVICE
ur existing health structures have been in How will these changes improve the delivery of place for more than 30 years. Changes in services? O society and modern health care expectations means that it now faces challenges and levels of • The objective is to strengthen local services demand that were never envisaged at the time it was while developing a national framework that created. will yield the full potential of available resources. The issues involved have been the subject of lengthy • The new structure will provide a national consideration, in anticipation of a major programme focus on service delivery and executive of reform, which is underpinned by three major management of the system. reports which'were published during 2003 - Brennan, • It will reduce fragmentation and duplication of Prospectus and Hanley. The recommendations con effort and thereby make the system more tained in these reports represent a way forward to manageable and efficient. implement much needed change and reform in the • It will facilitate far greater consistency between system. the level and types of services provided in dif ferent parts of the country. However, for it to succeed, it will require the leader • It will facilitate the alignment of responsibility ship, commitment and engagement of every person and accountability throughout the system. across the system from government level right through to frontline workers and the general public. An What is the impact on staff? appropriate legislative and regulatory framework will be vital to clearly delineating the roles, responsibili There has been much speculation as to whether ties and powers of agencies and office holders within there will be job losses associated with the change the reformed structures. Careful management of the programme. The Minister for Finance has referred transformation process will minimize difficulties in directly to this issue in a recent statement. He the initial transition period. indicated that with the reduction in the number of agencies and the general streamlining in manage For the up-to-date situation or copies of the reports, ment structures some jobs will no longer be need why not check out the Department of Health's Health ed in the new system. However, he also pointed Reform web-site: www.health reform.ie out that this did not imply that there would be redun dancies. He stated that he expects that changes will What are the main elements of the reform largely be absorbed by natural wastage and rede programme? ployment. The intention is that freed up resources can be put into the improved delivery of front-line The main elements of the reform programme are: services. • Mainstreaming, consolidation of a new, more effective Health Structure and the abolition of How will this programme of reform be implemented? 32 agencies (including existing health boards and ERHA). The Government has appointed a National • Establishment of a Health Service Executive Implementation Steering Group, charged with a incorporating a National Hospitals Office, general overseeing role in respect of the reform Primary Community and Continuing Care programme, setting direction and ensuring objec Directorate and National Shared Services Centre tives are delivered. In the early stages of imple • Restructuring of the Department of Health and mentation, a series of action groups will develop Children. proposals on implementation of the various • Establishment of the Health Information and reforms proposed. Quality Authority • Changes to financial accountability and improvements in financial management sys tems.
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The working groups are supported by a Project Office The proposals will reflect feedback from the consultation which will plan and manage the various work streams process and the work on action projects referred to arising from the reform programme. This Office is below. comprised of staff from within the Department of Health and Children and the wider health service. A What input can staff have to the process at this stage? board of the interim Health Service Executive has been appointed to add further momentum to the implemen The Reform Programme includes a communications tation process. process with stakeholders. The Office of Health Management (OHM) conducted the first phase for on Change on this scale brings with it a level of behalf of the Department. Staff will be offered the uncertainty - concerns of the different groupings opportunity to have an individual and collective input involved need to be addressed through a programme into developing the best way to implement the pro of communication. This communication process will gramme This presents a unique opportunity for staff to feedback into the work of the implementation groups. influence the way in which the change programme will be implemented, of reform. What is the timescale for the reform process? What will the communications process involve? Overall, the programme of reform will take approximately three years. It is anticipated that the change from The Department requested the OHM to assist in health boards to regional and local structures will take carrying out the first staff communication/consultation about eighteen months to two years to complete. programme in relation to the reform programme. The purpose of the communication / consultation Preliminary work on the development of new process was to ensure that everyone working in the legislation to advance the project has begun and an health system is: interim board of the Health Service Executive has been appointed to support early development of the • Fully informed about the content of the proposals in relation to the hospital sector. A number Government decision in relation to organisation of action projects have begun work on other key reform in the health system elements of the reform programme - a high priority is • Knows and understands the commitment to the attached to the development of governance framework consultation process and and the internal restructuring of the Department of • Avails of the opportunity to have an input, individ Health and Children. ually and collectively into developing the best way to implement the programme of reform. It is likely that it will take between 18 months and 2 years to carry through all of the proposed changes to How will the democratic deficit be overcome? their full statutory basis. However, it will be possible to effect many changes on an administrative basis in the Among the various suggestions in Prospectus is that meantime. democratic input would best be represented at regional level through at least twice yearly meetings between Will legislation be required? Oireachtas members in their respective regions, and the Director of the RHO and his/her senior management It will require legislative change to re-assign functions team, together with other members of the HSE or its and to ensure accountability legislation reflects the offices as appropriate. This mechanism would be new structures and roles. The Minister will bring proposals designed to complement and reinforce the role of the to Government for legislation in required areas - these Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children in include: reflecting the views of public representatives in the ongoing oversight of the health system. Democratic • the establishment of the Health Services Executive input at regional level should focus on the delivery of • the abolition of the ERHA and health boards and national priorities. transfer of their functions to the Executive At this point the Government has made no firm deci • the establishment of the Health Information Quality sions in this regard. Further consideration will be given Authority to this issue over the coming months and this will have • other proposals necessary to support the governance regard to the information coming from the OHM as and management of the new structures. part of the stakeholder communication process. The Minister for Health and Children will bring proposals to Government on representation following the nation al communication process.
east coast • page 4 r-p • # health Reform i
How will the service planning process operate under the What is happening to the health boards and the ERHA? new structure? Under the new structures it is envisaged that the The functions of the health boards and the Eastern Minister for Health and Children will allocate a budget Regional Health Authority will be transferred in their to the HSE; entirety to the Health Service Executive (HSE) and will be redistributed, as appropriate, across the three pillars • The HSE will draft, and submit to the Minister for of the HSE. Health and Children, a National Service Plan, on Will there be four health boards? the basis that the quantity and quality of service pro vision to be provided in exchange for that budget is There will be no health boards. Primary care, continu in line with priorities set by his Department ing care and community care and other non-acute serv • The Minister for Health and Children will formally ices will be delivered through a network of four approve the National Service Plan incorporating Regional Health Offices supported by the existing any amendments to the draft service plan the he Community Care Area Structures (Local Area Offices). considers appropriate The Regional Health Offices will act as regional offices • The HSE will ensure that the National Service Plan, of the Health Services Executive and will therefore as approved, is underpinned by service plans at come under the same accountability structures as the each level of the system (down to individual cost- Executive. centre level); and It should be noted that the four regions apply only to • Local and regional budget holders in all service the Primary, Community and Continuing Care direc areas within the HSE will be accountable, ultimate torate. Hospital services will be organised separately ly to the Board of the HSE, for achieving their serv under the National Hospitals Office and are expected ice plan objectives within budget. to be based on hospital networks. It is envisaged that hospital networks will be co-ordinated with whatever What is the Health Services Executive? regional boundaries are ultimately decided on. There will be no board structure for regional offices of The Health Services Executive will be the first ever the primary, community and continuing care direc body charged with managing the health service as a torate, the national hospitals office or the national single national entity. The Executive will be organised shared services centre. on the basis of 3 core divisions: What will the structures in the regional health offices • The National Hospitals Office be like? • The Primary, Community and Continuing Care Directorate Will they be the health boards under another name? • The National Shared Services Centre The Health The Regional Health Offices (RHOs) will not be health Services Executive will have its own board and will boards under another name and will not have a board. be accountable to the Minister for the executive The four RHOs will act as regional offices of the Health management of the health service. The CEO will be Services Executive (HSE) with a clear line of accounta accountable to the board of the HSE and will be an bility from local to national level i.e. from the local Accounting Officer. An interim board of the Health manager through to the CEO and Board of the Service Executive will be appointed shortly. Executive. The HSE will be responsible for ensuring that What will be the respective roles of the DoHC/HSE? service plans consistent with the national level service plan set down by the Department of Health and The Department's role will be more tightly focused on Children are in place for each Regional Health Office policy formulation, regulation and monitoring and and Local Health Office. evaluating the delivery system - basically holding the Specifically the RHO will be responsible for planning, delivery system to account. commissioning and funding all non-acute services within the region and supporting a population health The Health Service Executive role will be to execute the focus. This will include managing delivery of primary, National Service Plan (as approved by the Minister for community, continuing and other non-acute services; Health and Children) within budget and ensure ade managing the relationship with acute hospitals within quate delivery of high quality services. The HSE and the region; and being accountable for resources and Restructuring Action Projects are developing detailed outputs at a regional level. proposals to reflect their respective roles.
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What is HIQA? How will the boundaries of the regions be decided?
HIQA is being established as a statutory agency with A more detailed analysis will be necessary to work out the responsibility for: exact boundaries of the regions. In the implementation of the new structures specific consideration will be given to • Developing health information this issue. • Promoting and implementing quality assurance The consideration that need to be taken account of in set programmes nationally ting the boundaries would include: • Overseeing health technology assessment 1. The need to achieve an approximate balance of It will provide much better evidence about how good our population size within the component parts of the services are and allow managers to make improvements new organisation in a more targeted way and clinicians to make decisions 2. The need for the structures to recognise geographic which can be backed up by evidence about the effective and demographic variations ness of treatments. 3. The need to cluster certain services which are not The Prospectus and Brennan Reports point to the need to appropriate for either local or national delivery for improve the quality of information and information sys reasons of scale, cost or geography, e.g. laborato tems in the health service. The National Health ry, public health services, emergency planning Information Strategy will set out more fully the framework 4. Reasonable span of control and responsibility within which HIQA will operate. over the Local Health Office groupings proposed, given their functions and state of development Why are there only four regions? 5. Effective planning, commissioning and budgetary The Government decision to set up the HSE means that link between local areas and the centre, without the roles and functions traditionally associated with the compromising the integrated nature of the new health boards will be transferred to that agency. delivery system For example: 6. The degree of potential fit with other regional 'maps', political or public service. 1. The reallocation of responsibility for hospitals to the NHO removes a significant element of the How do the plans for the regions fit with other govern workload traditionally borne by the health boards. ment policy on decentralisation etc? 2. Putting in place the National Shared Services Decisions on the location of new structures have not yet Centre should reduce the requirement for multiple been made. However, in line with the decisions regarding regional centres providing the same logistical and the regional boundaries, it is likely that decisions will be other supports to the delivery system e.g. payroll, made which support an integrated approach at accounts, IT support etc. currently carried out in Government level to align the outcomes of the National each health board Spatial Strategy and any further Public Service decentrali 3. Primary Care Teams and Networks are now being sation programme. developed as the principal point of patient interface with the health system. Account will also need to be taken of the variable extent of existing health service infrastructure and specific fea Put simply, the roles associated with health boards will be tures such as the clustering of stand-alone specialist and transferred to the HSE making the retention of boards national speciality hospitals in the Dublin regions. unsustainable.
east coast • page 6 MESSAGE FROM CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE INTERIM HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE
rom January 1 st 2005 the Health Service Executive the time to engage in an information sharing process over will become responsible for the delivery of all health the summer of last year and your inputs were greatly Fand personal social services, as set out in the appreciated. I strongly believe that these reforms will not Government decision last June. This means that the deliv be successful, unless they are underpinned by a thorough ery of health services in Ireland will be carried out under and comprehensive process of communications at each one governing body. There is a lot to be done before then, stage. We are committed to ongoing communications and a lot of decisions yet to be made. At this point I want with you and with your representative bodies through the to outline our guiding principles in this ambitious and partnership process. important process. Already, I have been enormously impressed by the dedi Unless the outcome of this reform process creates a better cation, commitment and enthusiasm of all involved in the environment for both patients and staff it will have been a services, and this gives the interim executive grounds for fruitless exercise. Value for money is also an important optimism that by everyone working together the reforms, element in enhancing the delivery of quality services. which I sense all believe must be achieved in the interest of patients and clients and staff, can and will be delivered. The Government is totally committed to ensuring that these reforms take place - the road will not always be We will keep our website up to date with all aspects of the easy, and it won't be completed within the next year to action projects and I encourage you to visit it regularly at two. But at the end, I believe we will have a better health www.health reform.ie. service. Our success in delivering these reforms to our patients and clients will depend on the mutual efforts of Kevin Kelly, Executive Chairman, Interim Health Service Executive all - only in this way, can it work.
Whilst the roadmap has been indicated by Government this journey will not be successful unless we all work in partnership to achieve our ultimate aim. Decisions will not be taken in isolation. Already over 20,000 people took
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EDITION OF THE EAST COAST POST
IN THE MEANTIME MAKE SURE THAT YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF
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enrolment, registration and service development. Arklovy Primary Care Each team must determine their own protocols around issues such as enrolment, referrals and service development. This gives the health professionals involved considerable ownership of the Project Update project, as well as a degree of professional autonomy.
Enrolment and Eligibility: rimary care is the "first and on-going point of contact with the health and personal social services" for people in Ireland. The Government strategy "Primary Care: A New Direction" aims Patients will be invited to enroll with the team voluntarily. The P team will set the specific enrolment protocols. Patients will to develop the role of primary care in our health service. It centres on "the introduction of an inter-disciplinary team-based approach". have to be registered with a participating GP in Arklow and This means that Community Services staff, such as nurses and live within a certain geographical area. Additional criteria physiotherapists will work in a team alongside General Practice may also be set. Ultimately, most of the local population will staff. This model of teamwork has been proven to improve both the be eligible to enroll, but it is likely that phased registration will quality and efficiency of care that is provided to the public. be implemented. The community representatives will give advice on which groups or areas should be prioritised first. Primary care is There were 10 pilot sites chosen nationally to initiate Primary Care intended to provide locally based services to everyone, regardless Teams to begin the implementation of this Strategy. Arklow was of age or financial status. There is no legislative basis for charging chosen as the site for the East Coast Area. There is dedicated fund for these services (other than for General Practice services, as is the ing provided to support the pilot project. Essentially, the project will current situation). provide a more accessible, flexible and co-ordinated service to the people of Arklow. We are in the early stages of establishing the Community Involvement: team, but significant progress has already been made. Over the coming months, the team will become more established and will Community participation is crucial in any primary care initiative. It begin service provision in a new and exciting way. is enshrined in the vision outlined in the Strategy. This participation must be real and effective. The Arklow Primary Care Team has a New Primary Care Centre: Community Consultative Committee, which will inform the team of the needs of the area. This group includes representatives from over The Primary Care Team will be housed in a purpose-built modular a dozen local community and voluntary organisations, including: unit, attached to the existing Health Centre in Arklow. This unit will Arklow Community Enterprises house all team disciplines on a daily basis. General Practice staff Youthreach will continue to operate from their practices but will have full Arklow Citizens' Information Centre access to the centre to provide services. GPs do have the option of Arklow & District Branch of Asthma Society of Ireland using the unit to provide specific services. Also, the GP Out of Arklow & District Health Care Hours Co-operative (Caredoc) will operate from the unit. The unit Arklow Disability Action Group will include clinical rooms, fully equipped physiotherapy and Alzheimer's' Society occupational therapy room, waiting space for patients, group room Arklow ISPCC and x-ray room. It is hoped that the unit will be ready for use in Arklow Active Retirement Group Arklow Springboard Dyslexia Association of Ireland Service Provision: Most members are involved in a number of local organisations The work of the Team will be a combination of a continuation of ensuring a very broad representation. existing service provision, and new service developments. Service enhancements will include additional capacity in Physiotherapy, Information and Communications Infrastructure: Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Diagnostics and Out of Hours GP coverage. Patients will be able to self-refer to any member of the The Primary Care Team will have a integrated IT system as soon as team. There will be greater availability of services locally for possible. This is fundamental to the concept of primary care. patients, such as the Vascular Wound Management Service. Multi- Significant work has been done in this area already. Effectively, GPs disciplinary team working will improve patient care and make it and community staff will have access to the same system and easier for staff to adopt a Case Management approach. records. However, access will be strictly on a "need to know" basis. New services that will be provided from the unit include: Clinical notes will not be visible to anyone other than the profes sional who holds those records. There will be a referral and con Vascular Wound Clinic - including nurse-led Doppler sultation facility on the system to allow for easy multi-disciplinary ultrasound facility working. There will also be regular clinical meetings to discuss On-site Outpatients Vascular Clinic complex cases. Cardiovascular Diagnostics - Echocardiography machine on site, direct access to Stress ECG in SCHL, arrhythmia Patients who enroll with the team will be made aware of the patient event monitors in GP surgeries record, and how and when information could be shared between GP Out of Hours Co-operative team members. Information will only be shared when necessary for Lead lined room for future digital x-ray provision the provision of best patient care.
Team Development:
The Arklow Team is one of the largest in the country, with over 35 people in total including General Practice personnel. It is a chal lenge to bring this number of people together from different profes sional backgrounds, and to create a team identity. The Department of Health & Children recognises this, and each pilot project can avail 'of professional facilitation services. This process of "team building" will start in the coming weeks in Arklow. Following the initial sessions, sub-groups will be set up to examine issues such as
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SLAN ABHA1LE HELLO TO INDEPENDENT LIVING OLDER PEOPLE
- 'MINISTER CALLELY OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES PROJECT THAT ENABLES OLDER PEOPLE TO REMAIN AT HOME'.
ate last year, Mr Ivor Callely T.D, Minister for Services for Older People officially launched 'Slan Abhaile', a = patient-centred project which aims to give older peo ple the choice to remain living at home, rather than going into long-term residential care. 'Slan Abhaile' is a joint initiative undertaken by the East Coast Area Health Board in partnership with the Royal Hospital Donnybrook, St. Vincent's University Hospital and Rehab care.
'Slan Abhaile' empowers older people to stay living at home. The client is actively involved in the decision mak ing process, working in partnership with Carers and Care Co-ordinators to design a plan that matches their needs and those of their family. Their individualised plan typi well known proverb, 'Nil aon tintean mar do thintean cally includes enhanced home care including out-of- fein'- there is no hearth or home like your own hearth or hours services, which enables them to function in their home. 'Slan Abhaile' achieves this through providing own home. For example this may include providing assis older people with an individual care plan with enhanced tance with getting up, bathing, running errands, meal home support services'. preparation, going to bed and other domestic or personal matters. Michael G O'Connor, Chairman of the Royal Hospital Donnybrook, commented, saying: 'The Royal Hospital is Minister Callely praised the project, saying: "Slan Abhaile delighted to have been involved with this project from is an innovative project in that it offers person-centred Day One. We recognise the care. coordinated value and importance of planning between 'We must never forget that older people have worked offering older patients and agencies and service hard, supporting our economy and contributing to their families a choice when providers, as well as our community in many ways - it comes to care. We believe integrated care plans as parents and as workers. Now is the time for the this programme will make a for older people and community to repay and support them'. clear difference to the qual support to families ity of life of those involved who are caring for and it shows how when organisations work together to vulnerable older relatives at home. find innovative solutions to healthcare issues the patient All of these elements contribute to the prevention, where benefits.' possible, of the inappropriate placement of older people At present the Slan Abhaile project provides 30 older peo in long-term care facilities. In addition, by providing ple with individualised care plans which enable them to older people with the necessary home support services, be supported to live at home. Each Week Rehab care they are able to return home after treatment in an acute provides between 6.5 -42 hours home support to each hospital." participant. Clients are monitored on an ongoing basis. Speaking at the launch, CIIr Tony Fox, Chairman of the Slan Abhaile supports both the principles and the objec East Coast Area Health Board said: 'We must never for tives of the National Health Strategy, offering: get that older people have worked hard, supporting our economy and contributing to our community in many • Person Centred care ways - as parents and as workers. Now is the time for the community to repay and support them. Slan Abhaile • Co-ordinated planning between agencies/service is a project, which aims to enable older people to achieve providers this through supporting them in living at home. • Integrated care plans for older people CI Ir Fox added, 'In Ireland the notion of home is one we ^ Support to informal carers hold especially dear - I'm sure you will all have heard the east coast ° page 9 3D e w s news news
EAST COAST AREA HEALTH BOARD ANNOUNCE ALLOCATION FOR WQCKLOW AND SOUTH DUBLIN VOLUNTARY GROUPS'
F^ast Coast Area Health Board (ECAHB) Members Physical, Sensory and =3 welcomed the allocation of approximately €344,000 Intellectual Disabilities I.—ifor a wide variety of voluntary groups and organisa Mental Health tions in the region. This funding was provided under the Board's Lottery Grants Allocation for 2003. Older People
Announcing the funding, CI Ir Tony Fox, Chairman of the Health Promotion East Coast Area Health Board said, 'This substantial fund Acute Care ing will assist these groups to achieve their objectives for 2004. The groups receiving funding serve many different Primary Care needs - from The Ardeen Cheshire Home in Wicklow to the Dun Laoghaire Refugee Project. These and the other Community Programmes groups receiving funding will be enabled to continue to provide tangible benefits to the people of the region Cllr. Fox welcomed this partnership between voluntary across a broad care spectrum' groups and the ECAHB saying 'the future of effective healthcare in Ireland lies in a close relationship between Funding is being provided for 88 South Dublin and health service providers and their clients, the public. Wicklow voluntary groups and organisations in the Voluntary groups such as those that will benefit from this region, whose target areas include: funding are essential to this. The Board is committed to working in partnership with local voluntary groups.'
'ST. COLUMCILLE'S HOSPITAL ADOPTS SMOKE-FREE WORKPLACE POLICY',
that we're showing our commitment to being smoke free from Ash Wednesday - we're looking forward to estab lishing a healthier environment that will benefit our patients, visitors and employees' St. Columcille's Hospital is a member of the Irish Health Promoting Hospital's Network (HPH) and recently attained the Silver Award on the European Registrar of Smoke-Free Hospitals. Currently there are 11 hospitals in Ireland who qualify for the Silver Award. As one of the only smoke-free hospitals in the region, St. Colmcille's is aiming for the Gold Award this year. t. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown became a 'smoke-free workplace' on Ash Wednesday the 25th SFebruary. This new approach, in advance of the upcoming implementation of the Public Health (Tobacco) Act means that staff and patients are not permitted to smoke in the hospital, except in two external specifically designated areas. The Hospital is asking patients and visitors to co-operate with them in implementing the smoking ban. The Hospital is supporting staff members in quitting smoking by holding Smoking Cessation Classes.
Sophie Charles, Cardiac Rehab Co-ordinator at the hospital welcomes the initiative, saying 'We're delighted
east coast • page 10 CARNEW 'KEEPING PEOPLE WELL' INITIATIVE TO ATTEND ROTTERDAM SHOWCASE OF BEST EU PUBLIC SERVICES
The East Coast Area Health Board was chosen as a pilot site for an innovative approach to health promotion - to empower, enable and encourage older people to accept responsibility for their healthcare. Workshops in Carnew actively sought the views of older people and a commit tee was established. The role of younger people was seen as paramount, and the local school, Colaiste Bhrfde was heavily involved, with two teachers on the committee which also has representation from older community in the community.
As the project developed, older and younger people in Carnew have made significant lifestyle changes - from Ounagh Phillips, Camew Community college, John McEvoy, Camew Resident, Josephine Bolger, Project Coordinator, Martin Gallagher, C.E.O. ECAHB, healthy eating to activity and physical exercise (they par An Taolseach Bertie Ahern TD and Michael Lyons, CEO ERHA at the ticipate together at swimming, water-polo, golf, walking Excellence In Public Service Awards, Dublin Castle. and indoor bowls). The health professionals in Carnew The Carnew 'Keeping People Well' project has been have noticed that older and younger people have a much sponsored to attend the Third Quality Conference greater sense of their self worth and value and that their (3QC) for Public Administrations in the EU, which confidence is growing. will take place in Rotterdam from the 15th - 17th of September 2004. Every two years an EU member state holding the Presidency hosts a major conference that showcases the Noting the achievement, CIlr Andrew Doyle, Vice-Chair best of public services across the EU. In Ireland a total of of the East Coast Area Health Board said "This project has 81 projects were submitted from across the public sector empowered older people in Carnew to take responsibili and were judged by the Centre for Management, ty for their healthcare and has created a bond between Organisation and Development (CMOD -Dept of older and younger people in the community, breaking Finance) and The Public Service Modernisation Division down barriers, misunderstandings and fears and building (Dept of the Taoiseach). From this, three were selected to mutual trust and respect between generations. The suc represent Ireland and three cess of projects such f/,e ro/e 0f younger people was seen as paramount; and were selected to be sponsored as this show the value the local school, Colaiste Bhride was heavily involved, to attend the conference. of using local knowl with two teachers on the committee which also has edge and expertise representation from older community Projects which will be present and fostering a posi in the community. ed at Rotterdam are the Civil tive partnership Registration Modernisation between the community and statutory bodies." Programme, the Revenue Commissioners 'Case study in transformational change' and the Garda National He added, "It works because older people are involved in Immigration Bureau. The three projects which were spon finding the best fit for their own healthcare needs. There sored to attend are the 'Keeping People Well' Carnew have been incredibly positive results, to the point that Initiative, Laois County Council's 'electronic parking tick participants, some of them in their 80s, who recently et system' and the West Clare Community eLearning swam for the first time in their lives, are now deciding Training Centre (Co. Clare VEC Adult Education Service'. that they are going to take up water-polo." All six projects, including the 'Keeping People Well' proj ect will take part in a showcase of successful projects in CI Ir. Pat Doran, member of the East Coast Area Health Ireland, hosted by the Taoiseach, in Dublin Castle. Board and Chairman of the Carnew Community Care Project Partnership said "It's a well deserved honour that the 'Keeping People well' initiative has been chosen as one of the best models of innovative public service in Ireland. I would like to congratulate everyone involved on this achievement - their hard work, dedication and commitment has resulted in real benefits for the commu nity of Carnew"
east coast ° page 11 e w § e w s e w s
ALL-ROUNDERS FOR THE EAST COAST NEW COMPREHENSIVE GP SPECIALIST TRAINING
CEO Martin Gallagher (Centre) with former Board members Cllr Joe Doyle and Cllr Dr Bill O Connell at the launch of the GP Training Scheme
n innovative Specialist Training Programme in both GPs and their clients - the extended five year for General Practice which integrates general prac mat facilitates the development and consolidation of GPs Atice, community and hospital based training, expertise, which will ultimately benefit their clients, the developed by University College Dublin in partnership people of the East Coast region.' with the East Coast Area Health Board was launched late last year on the Belfield Campus. In July 2002 the first group of trainees began their five- year course. The longer, integrated programme was This East Coast Area Health Board funded programme was designed to ensure that GPs are fully equipped with high developed to respond to the ever-changing demands of ly developed clinical, community, academic, manage modern health care. The programme is in line with the ment and leadership skills and will offer participants the objectives of the Primary Health Strategy, which highlights opportunity to develop and consolidate specialist skills. the need for highly trained General Practitioners (GPs) Following successful completion, participants will gradu who operate in multi-disciplinary centres. A new module, ate with a membership of the Irish College of General the first of its kind in GP training in Ireland, 'Medicine in Practitioners, a Masters Degree in General Practice (MSc) the Community', will introduce participants to the interre and receive their certificate of completion of training. lationship between care in hospital and the community, benefiting patients through promoting the need for close In the East Coast it is estimated that the population of liaison between hospital and the community. Wicklow will increase by approximately' 25% over the next decade, and the additional six places on offer with Speaking at the launch, Dr. Michael Boland Director of this programme will increase the number of highly skilled the Postgraduate Resource Centre, Irish College of GPs entering the workplace each year. General Practitioners said: 'The advent of a new training programme challenges us to imagine what general prac During their first two years participants will spend four- tice may be like in the next twenty to thirty years. I wel month modules working in six different environments - come the launch of a new training programme because internal medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics, psy of the urgent need to increase the number of General chiatry, obstetrics and gynaecology and medicine in the Practitioners and address the GP workforce crisis. I par community. ticularly welcome this programme because it has a num ber of exciting new features - its five-year duration and During the following three years, participants are given an its close working relationship with undergraduate teach opportunity to experience working as a Specialist ing in UCD.' Registrar (SpR) in General Practice in different training set tings. Following the five-year course, graduates will have Martin Gallagher Chief Executive of the East Coast Area developed the attributes of lifelong professional practice Health Board welcomed the programme saying: 'this pio and have gained an understanding of the overall context neering specialist GP training programme will benefit in which general practice works.
east coast ° page 12 AN A-Z OF HEALTH BOARD SERVICES FOR SANDYFQRD, BAILY0GAN AND DUNDRUM FAMILIES
ity of information and identify service needs in the context of planning future developments for the Sandyford/ Ballyogan and Dundrum areas.
It is anticipated that the directories will be used as a resource for children and their families, providing basic, concise information and contact information for services available. The directories will be distributed to a number of key locations in the areas including schools, GPs surgeries, llr Tony Fox, Chairman of the East Coast Area libraries, resource centres, churches, citizen information Health Board officially launched two A-Z directo centres, health centres and pre-schools. Cries of Health Board Services for Children and Families in the Sandyford/Ballyogan Area and the Dundrum Area late last year.
Speaking at the launch in Ballinteer Health Centre, Cllr Fox said: These bright, easy-to read directories will pro vide families with much needed access to information about the local services provided by the East Coast Area Health Board' The directories were developed by two East Coast Area Health Board Project Teams who aim to improve the qual
ECAHB FOSTERING CAMPAIGN WIN! IRISH TIMES ADVERTISING AWARD
information meetings held throughout the region. The campaign aimed to recruit additional foster carers and to raise the profile of fostering in the region.
While it will take a number of months to identify how many foster-carers will be recruited from the campaign, the level of interest and awareness of fostering increased significantly as a result of all the hard work that went into the campaign. EAST COAST ARI.A HEALTH BOARD
NG INFORMATION
ast Coast Area Health Board Fostering-Team leaders in CCA1, CCA2 & CCA10 joined forces to spearhead Ea Fostering Recruitment Campaign entitled 'Could you change the life of a child/adolescent?' during September and October. Considerable time and effort HRE" EAk was spent on identifying the most effective methods to make the target audience aware of the campaign and an «WPrt»:«r. * G advertisement promoting the campaign recently won an award in the Irish Times 'Cedar' Recruitment Advertising Awards - this was featured in the Irish Times Business Supplement last Friday.
The campaign evaluation showed that it was extremely successful - in addition to 100 calls were received by a 1¾ free-phone number and good attendance was recorded at
east coast ° page 13 e w § e w § e w §
GOOD EATS. LESS SWEETS AND OCCASIONAL TREATS' TINAHELY NATIONAL SCHOOL LAUNCHES NEW HEALTHY LUNCH INITIATIVE!
3inahe|y National School launched a new Healthy, mulating the policy, which was approved, by parents. Now our school can look forward to .a healthy future of Luncfci* Polif y •.o^cthe^g.6th.*pf February. The p.elicy ^ f , : . -j . -,.»•».»< '."f*;' — ~'J eats, less sweets and occasional treats!' was developed ' . .. . . \ . ^:ss- work.that illustrates the importance of healthy eating, and s r ' s ^ " '- ' The Healthy Lunch initiative is part ofthe support offered have agreed toMmplementthis policy. by the East Coast Area Health Boardj to teachers around the implementation of the Social, Personal and Health International Tjssearch emphasises the importance of estab lish ing^eSlffiy Eating imtiatives.within^school settings in Education Programme (SPHE). / v., - ^ •, order, to benefit the future health, of the population. ,. » H ' I '"f . ^ Mrs. GallagKer, the school principal"has supported and , participated; in this initiativeJrorn this outset. -Speaking , For more information on HeaMthy Eating habits are estabSished in chiDdhood - if you can encourage your children to make the right choice this really can make a difference to their future health. • Keep your strength up for those playground games - always ensure that protein-rich food is included (e.g. meat, eggs, cheese, tinned fish, peanut butter) • Roll Up, Roll Up! - Always try to include bread, rolls or crackers • Have some 'FAST FRUIT' - make sure to include tasty fruit and vegetables (e.g. apples, oranges, bananas, mandarins or whatever is in season) • Crunchy Fun - how about including tasty vegetables in your lunch - cucumber chunks, carrot cubes - why not add to sweetcorn, tomato or salad to sandwiches • Go Flat - Avoid fizzy drinks - use milk, water, unsweetened fruit juice, yogurt drinks or dilute sugar-free squash • What's seldom is wonderful - keep treats to a minimum, - why not make Friday a 'treat day' • Make and Do! Children can learn from getting involved, why not encourage them to choose and prepare their own lunches where possible east coast ° page 14 MOKE EFFECTIVE IDENTIFICATION OF CMDIDHOOD COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES llr. Tony Fox, Chairman of the East Coast Area Health Board, launched a new speech and lan Cguage booklet on the 19th of February, developed by Speech & Language Therapists and Public Health Nurses in the east coast, that will provide a more efficient means of identifying children's speech and language development. This booklet will facilitate the early identification of communication difficulties, which is central to the success of any subsequent intervention. This new easy-to- use booklet is attractive to children and contains pictures and questions that can be used to assess early communication skills during developmental check-ups Chairman Fox praised staff, saying, 'We are very privi- carried out by Public Health Nurses in the child's home at leged to have such committed and dedicated Speech and 18 months and 3 years. Language and Public Health Nursing staff in this Health Board, and this innovative booklet is testament to the ongoing enthusiasm that they bring to their work on a daily basis'. This new booklet will enable screening to be more uniform and comprehensive. Previously, Public Health Nurses had to rely on an assortment of pictures or objects that were available in the child's house or that they had gathered together themselves. The booklet will act as an additional tool to compliment the Public Health Nurse's expertise in identifying communication difficulties early and making appropriate referrals. While this booklet is an East Coast Area Health Board initiative, it is anticipated that health boards nation-wide may adopt the model. Speaking at the Launch, Cllr Fox said, 'The earlier we identify communication difficulties the more likely that Approximately 10% of people have some difficulty with subsequent intervention is successful. It is vital that we communication, ranging from mild to severe. In the East focus on finding ways to constantly improve our screen Coast Area Health Board each year, approximately 1,100 ing and assessment process in order to maximise our children, many of them with long-term needs, are referred capacity to diagnose and treat early, and innovations such to Community Care Speech and Language Therapy serv as this booklet, which increase our capacity to do this, are ices and in the region of 450 children and their parents to be commended'. attend Speech and Language Therapy. oh-j-h ;'w -NEWS ROUNDUP"rOs SSUNOUr CONGRATULATIONS TO: UNA MURPHY RGN, Glenside, Wicklow, who was conferred with a BSc Degree in Nursing Studies at UCD in Belfield. OUR BEST WISHES GO TO: MARGARET KANE Dental Officer, Glenside; Wicklow. She recently retired after 29 years of distinguished service with the Board. To mark the occasion, there was a Presentation and Buffet in the Grand Hotel Wicklow on Thursday, 15th January 2004. east coast • page 15 n e w new new CM HI Showcases its The project is Managed by a Steering Croup of key stake holders, which include Staff and Union Reps, Local Dedication to Clients Management and East Coast Area Health Board Management who oversee and monitor the Change Programme including the planning of event days etc. The Steering Group, which meets monthly is updated on a regular basis and any issues associated with the Hospital as the need arises, is discussed by the group. A Programme Co-ordinator also supports the process and he maintains contact with the work of the Action Teams that are established under the Programme. A book will be published in Late Summer 2004 detailing the story, the activities and the personalities associated with the Central Mental Hospital Change Programme. CEO Martin Gallagher accepting the award on behalf of the CMH. The benefits that have been achieved, have been achieved away from an adversarial approach to problems ' u 'he Central Mental Hospital was recently presented and change resolution, to joint collaborative working, 1 with an award from An Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern improved staff moral, enhanced sense of mutual and self- 0 for its commitment to staff development and public esteem, patient activity by improved, enhanced access to sector excellence. The award was presented as one of a Occupational, Vocational and Recreational activity. series of presentations during the recent Showcases for Public Service Excellence. In recognition of the very high quality of the projects and the excellent work being car ried out by all the organisations involved, the Taoiseach decided to host a reception following the Dublin Castle showcase, at which he presented the awards to all 20 par ticipants. The Carnew "Keeping People Well" Initiative was also an award winner (See separate story in this edi tion) and will represent Ireland at European level. The CMH Project relates to the development and imple mentation of an Organisational Change and Development Programme at the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum. The Programme sought to change, * The culture of the Hospital by encouraging an inclusive approach amongst staff of the need CEO Martin Gallagher, John Broe, Manager CMH, An Taoiseach, for change Bertie Ahern TD, Ann Maire Kennedy, Medical Secretary CMH and Dr Helen O Neill, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist CMH at the * Improved working relationships awards ceremony. * Create a new way of working * Optimise existing skill base * Modernise service delivery to patients. The focus in 2004 is on the implementation of the first * To achieve the implementation of the Service phase of the Service Level Agreement will be evidence of Level Agreement. the ability of all stakeholders in the Hospital to deliver on improved services and on a new way of working. A mechanism has been piloted in the Central Mental Hospital and repeatedly tested and developed to allow the staff the opportunity to explore and pursue their own change and development aspirations. This was in collab oration with Management within a safe and enjoyable environment. The mechanism includes all stakeholders who are treated as equals. east coast • page 16 THE INFLUENCE OF EGYPT - PART TWO (By Bill Seery) temple. This temple was one of the houses of life. The Edwin Smith Papyrus also contains a list of instruments including lint, swabs, bandage, adhesive plaster, support, surgical stitches, and cauterisation. In recent excavations the remnants of skeletons show sim ple and multiple limb fractures mostly to the forearm bones and leg. These fractures show signs of complete healing with realignment of the bone indicating that they had been set correctly with a splint. Two skeletons show amputations with healed bone ends suggesting successful surgery. Researchers have also described a 23cm screw tying the thigh and calf bones fixed into a mummy dating n this the concluding part of the article on medicine in back to the 6th century BC. ^)aYicient Egypt I will one again quote extracts from the I_jwork of Dr. Sameh M.Arab who is the Associate The Edwin Smith Papyrus contains a description of the Professor of Cardiology at Alexandria University, Egypt. brain and its pulsation. This was some 1200 years before Hippocrates, the father of medicine, believed that the The Edwin Smith Papyrus shows the suturing of non- brain was nothing more than a gland. The Ebers Papyrus infected wounds with a needle and thread. Raw meat was has 12 prescriptions for headache, with another three in applied on the first day, subsequently replaced by dress the Hearst Papyrus. Migraine was treated with Siluris (an ing of astringent herbs, honey and butter or bread. Raw electric cat fish) in fat and oil. meat is known to be an efficient way to prevent bleeding. Numerous papyri enumerate prescriptions to dental dis eases, such as pyorrhea, loose teeth, dental caries and Cairo museum has a collection of surgical instruments abscesses. Surgically produced holes to drain an abscess including scalpels, scissors, copper needles, forceps, under the 1st molar were found in a mummy of the 4th spoons, hooks, probes and pincers. A collection of 37 dynasty (2625BC -251OBC). A loose tooth fixed with a instruments is engraved on a wall in a 2nd century BC gold wire bridge to a neighbouring sound tooth was dis JL east coast • page 17 feature feat is ire feature feat is re feature feature covered in another mummy of the same dynasty in Giza. mids, medical services were provided at a high standard, Artificial teeth holding a maxillary bridge by a silver wire with workers enjoying a form of medical insurance. In were also found in the late period (Greco -Roman). Tooth cases of invalidity a pension could be claimed. Sick leave extraction, treatment of mouth ulcers and treatment of jaw was allowed and the working day was limited to 4 hours dislocation were dealt with in the Edwin Smith and Ebers in the morning and 4 in the afternoon with a meal and a Papyri. nap in between to avoid sunstroke Medical facilities were Psychiatric diseases had their share in ancient Egyptian also available at mines and quarries. medicine. Depression was described as fever in the heart, dryness of the heart, falling of the heart, debility of the heart and kneeling of the mind. The heart and mind were synonymous. The lay physician was named swnw (sunu). The profes sion was organised with the swnw being lower in rank to the Overseer of physicians (imy-r swnw),Chief physician (wr swnw),Eldest physician (smsw swnw), Inspector of physicians (shd swnw) and finally the Overseer of Physicians of Upper and Lower Egypt. Hesyre was the oldest known physician in history. He was the Chief of Dentists and Physicians at the time of King Zoser (2700BC - 2625BC). Peseshet was the oldest female physician in the world practicing at the time of the pyramids (4th dynasty). She was titled Lady Overseer of the Lady Physicians and supervised a corps of ladies who were qualified physicians, not midwives. She graduated midwives at the peri-ankh (medical school) of Sais. Outstanding physicians were deified and worshiped. Temples were erected to honor Imhotep, the physician and Vizier of King Zoser of the 3rd dynasty. Sunus were appointed by the state, with medical attention granted for every citizen. During the building of the pyra east coast • page 18 PPARS PHASE II: IMPLEMENTATION SN TH • EAST COAST AREA HEALTH BOARD ollowing a detailed planning process, Phase II of the the staff training required for a successful implementation implementation of PPARS commenced in January and use of the PPARS system. F2004 in all the Area Health Boards, EHSS and ERHS Corporate in the Eastern Region Health Authority area. In addition to the team based in Shared Services, each of This project is part of a national implementation through the agencies has a local change team drawn from within out all health boards and major hospitals in the country its own staff. These local change staff will be involved in and is the largest systems implementation of its kind in a full range of activities as the project progresses. The Ireland. presence of these local staff will ensure that the concerns of people affected by changes arising from PPARS can be PPARS stands for Personnel, Payroll and Related Systems shared with someone who has a detailed knowledge of and is a fully integrated Human Resource Solution. The the issues. vision is to provide better information in order to manage the health service, and will streamline processes for When Phase II of PPARS goes live by the end of 2004, recording personnel information, paying staff and work each of the agencies in the eastern region will have access force planning. It involves the implementation of more to the full range of functionality that the SAP HR system SAP HR modules, and increasing the functionality of the offers including Time Management, Travel Expenses, system. Also it involves implementing new processes Training & Events and the ability to fully process Payroll within HR management and payroll. by EHSS. The PPARS implementation has structures at both a Between now and the go-live date, there will be a series national and local level. The overall implementation is of communication events and products that will keep you under the auspices of the Health Board Executive (HeBE). all updated and informed of relevant issues in relation to There is a National Team based in Sligo which operates the implementation. under the direction of the National Project Board. This Board comprises representatives of each Health Board. In addition, staff involved in personnel or salary process Each Area Health Board has a Steering Committee repre ing throughout the Board will be coming in contact with sentative of management and service managers. The chair staff from the Local Change Team in relation to specific of each Steering Committee is the Project Sponsor who is issues. responsible for overseeing the implementation in their agency. The sponsor in.the ECAHB is Mr.Gavin Maguire We on the PPARS Team look forward to working with staff (ACEO of Acute Services). on this implementation. Your involvement is vital to A team has been established and is located in the offices ensure that we deliver the system successfully within the of Eastern Health Shared Services (EHSS). The EHSS staff tight project timescale. from Phase I have been joined by staff drawn from other departments in EHSS along with staff from the three Area Health Boards (AHB) and ERHA Corporate. / This team is located at EHSS in Parkgate Street and is led by Fionnuala O'Brien, Implementation Manager. The team is divided' into two streams Application Management and Change Management. The Application Manager is Leona Hackett who, along with her team of Business Analysts is responsible for man aging the technical aspect of the implementation includ ing configuration, data management, testing of the system and supporting users. The PPARS CHANGE TEAM The Change Manager is Jim O'Sullivan who is responsible Please feel free to contact us on: for the Change Management, Communications and e-mail: [email protected] or Training aspects of the implementation. His team will be by phone on: 6352863 involved in ensuring that all staff in the agencies are kept fully informed in relation to the changes arising from this If you have any suggestions, comments or questions. Contact implementation. They will play a key role in audience details for all staff of the project are listed on the EHSS analysis, change readiness assessment and impact assess Intranet and they too will be happy to hear from you. ment. A team of trainers will be responsible for delivering east coast • page 19 feature feature feature featore feature feature <1 <1 PPARS F A C T F I L E t> t> What does PPARS stand for? Will I be affected? Personnel, Payroll and Related Systems All payslips will look different when the system goes live. However there will also be changes to some roles, What is it? processes and activities. Watch this space for more infor Implementing more modules of SAP HR into the Eastern mation. Region, to increase system functionality and increase the efficiency of HR management, allow better resource When will the system by up and running? management/ planning and allow EHSS to pay all salaries Autumn 2004 will be the period of Parallel running, (instead of CARA). where the old and new system payroll will work side-by- side. Who is involved? A team is located in the EHSS office in Parkgate Street and Where do I get more information? drawn from across all the regions (NAHB, ECAHB, Jim O'Sullivan (who was Director of Acute Services for SWAHB, EHSS and Corporate). There are 35 people on NAHB) is now the Change Manager for PPARS and will be the team, lead by Fionnuala O'Brien. happy to answers questions. NATIONAL PHYSICAL & SENSORY DISABILITY DATABASE National Physical & Sensory Disability Database is As part of the process clients who are identified and have currently being developed in the East Coast Area consented to being included on the database will be AHealth Board to improve the planning and provi requested to complete a survey on their current and future sion of services for people with physical and/or sensory service requirements. needs that are disabling. Similar types of databases in other areas have proved successful in obtaining addition We are currently seeking Data Collectors to carry out al funding for services. They have also improved the way these surveys/interviews and would be grateful to hear in which the services are planned and provided. from anyone who has one of the following:- The objective of the National Physical & Sensory • A clinical (Nursing or Allied Health Professional) back Disability Database is to provide a picture of the spe ground (desirable but not essential) cialised health and personal social service needs of peo • A Knowledge of Community Services/Disability ple with a physical and/or sensory disability by monitor Services; and ing current service provision and future services require • Currently holds a clean driving licence ments within a five year period. We are currently in the process identifying individuals who currently receive serv We are offering flexible working hours, payment of €30 ices and/or require services within a five-year period who per interview and travel expenses. will be included on the database. The aims of the data base include: Informal enquires may be made to: • Planning appropriate service developments Ms Kathleen Brennan, Database Administrator National Physical & Sensory Disability Database • Prioritising service needs East Coast Area Health, • Assisting in resource allocation decisions at national, Southern Cross House, Boghall Road, regional and local level Bray, Co Wicklow • Facilitating research Telephone: 01 274 4228 For the database to be useful for planning services, we need to include information from everyone, 1. with an ongoing disabling condition that is physical and/or sensory in nature, 2. less than 66 years of age, and 3. currently receiving or requiring within the next five years a specialist health and/or personal social service related to their disabling condition east coast • page 20 EAST COAST AREA HEALTH BOARD • HEARTWATCH PROGRAMME n 1999 the Minister for Health and Children launched Smoking is one of the main risk factors underpinning car a Cardiovascular Health Strategy - Building Healthier diovascular disease. Smoking is a complex combination Hearts. It sets out a strategic plan (through 211 recom of behaviours driven by social and psychological factors mendations) to reduce heart disease mortality and mor as well as pharmacological addiction. As part of the bidity experienced by our population. The strategy's pro Heartwatch programme, the ECAHB is encouraging and gramme to address the issues of secondary prevention in supporting cardiovascular disease patients to quit smok the GPs surgery is known as "Heartwatch". ing. To do this successfully smoking cessation officers will facilitate a series of seven-week intensive smoking Heartwatch is a national programme of collaboration by cessation programmes to assist smokers to quit smoking. the Department of Health and Children, and the Health Smoking cessation officers will work in partnership and Boards, working in partnership with the Irish College of cooperation with practice nurses operating in the General Practitioners (ICGP) and the Irish Heart Heartwatch programme. Smoking cessation interventions Foundation. The first phase of the programme is due for are coordinated by Mary Desmond. national review in April 2004. Jim Gorman is Physical Activity advisor for the ECAHB. First Phase of Programme: Jim has been involved in providing physical activity book In the first phase of the programme, secondary prevention lets to all participating Heartwatch practices. These book is focused on those patients with a significant proven car lets contain information to assist and develop a safe and diovascular disease. effective programme that will help improve their heart health. The criteria of selection is all patients in a GPs practice with a history of: Physical activity has been recognised as essential to our • Proven Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack), health and well-being as far back as Hippocrates. If everyone in Ireland became regularly physically active, • Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (Heart Bypass Surgery), or there would be a: • Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PCTA). > 33% reduction in coronary heart disease. > 25% reduction in strokes. How it Works: > 25% reduction in non-insulin dependent diabetes in 20% of GPs in each Health Board were recruited from a the over 45's. national advertised campaign. In the East Coast Area > 50% reduction in hip fractures in the over 45's. Health Board there are 42 GP's in 25 practices enrolled into the Heartwatch programme. Regular physical activity also offers the following benefits to us - The Heartwatch programme is now running since > It lowers high blood pressure and cholesterol. February 2003 in the East Coast Area Health Board. To > It reduces the risk of dying prematurely, of developing date over 500 patients have been seen. A GP coordinator diabetes and certain cancers. Dr Brian Meade has been appointed to work with GP's in > It helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles the East Coast, and the ECAHB has appointed a and joints. Cardiovascular Nurse Facilitator Maeve Cusack to sup > It increases flexibility, stamina, strength and improves port practice nurses in the implementation of this pro circulation. gramme. The services provided by the ECAHB to the > It helps weight management. Heartwatch' programme are a Dietitian (half time) and a Smoking Cessation Officer (half time). The Health > It can be used as a way of managing stress and aiding Promotion Physical Activity advisor is also involved in relaxation. training for participating practices. 24 hr Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitors (ABPM) The Dietetic service to the Heartwatch programme is pro In March 2003 the Board provided a 24-hour Ambulatory vided by Monina Hughes, and Carolyn Hilary with a total Blood Pressure monitor (ABPM) to each Heartwatch of two and a half days per week dedicated to the pro practice. This initiative has been very successful. All gramme. The service includes updates on nutrition and participating Heartwatch practices availed of the opportu the. secondary, prevention of, heart disease to Practice. nity to be supplied with and trained in the use of an Nurses and one-to-one dietary advice to selected patients. ABPM. These devices are used free of charge with An agreed referral protocol allows GP's and Practice "Heartwatch" patieints during their participation in the Nurses to prioritise patients for individual dietary advice programme. from ,a dietitian. The three key dietary messages for Heartwatch patients are to reduce saturated fat intake, to Dr Brian Meade is GP Coordinator for the Heartwatch increase fruit and vegetable intake, and to increase Programme. In this role he liaises between General intakes of omega 3 fatty acids from oily fish. Practitioners, and the Heartwatch Nurse Facilitator, with east coast • page 21 feature feature feature feat mire feature feature the Health Board, the Independent National Data Centre, been offered to all practice nurses in the Heartwatch pro The Irish College of General Practitioners, and other gramme. The next study day will concentrate on groups and individuals associated with the Heartwatch Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease. Programme. This involves meetings and training at both Speakers on the day will include Dr Charles McCreery, a regional and a national level. Consultant Cardiologist, Ms Sophie Charles Cardiac Rehabilitation Coordinator and Dr Brian Meade GP Maeve Cusack, Cardiovascular Nurse Facilitator for the Coordinator for Heartwatch. ECAHB, facilitates training and education for all the Practice Nurses in the Programme. She also liaises with For further information on the Heartwatch programme all the parties involved in the Heartwatch programme. A please contact: Health Promotion training day took place in July 2003 in St Columcille's Hospital for practice nurses involved in Maeve Cusack, Cardiovascular Nurse Facilitator the Heartwatch Programme. This day included informa Tel: 01 - 2744303 tion for practice nurses on smoking cessation, nutrition Mobile: 087 - 6831437 and dietary advice, exercise recommendations, and infor Email: [email protected] mation on cardiac medications. CPR training has also RECORDS MANAGEMENT By: Anne-Marie Donohue, Fol Manager. ecords Management is a fundamental requirement The principles of good records management practice in the running of an organisation, particularly in described here may apply equally to records created Rhealthcare. Developments in legislation such as the electronically. Freedom of Information Acts and Data Protection Acts have placed ever-increasing responsibility on public bod ies to ensure the proper management of records. The creation and maintenance of complete and accurate records is basic to allowing the Board to carry out its busi ness, to meet its statutory obligations and to protect its rights as well as those of the persons and organisations with which it does business. Why is the maintenance of proper records important? Everybody hates filing but... • Evidence is provided of completed transactions with clients. • Copies of letters and minutes must be signed and dated, remove any draft copies; • Legal requirements are met. • Records should be filed in date order, with the • Clients/patients/public have access to appropriate most recent records to the front of the file; information. • Treasury tags should be used to retain papers in files; • The organisation's corporate memory is preserved, which ensures informed decision • File pockets should be used where bulky making and continuity following transfer or documents are being filed. They should not be movement of staff. stapled to the front of the file; • Information can be shared easily, thus enabling • When a file contains 250 pages or is greater than the business of the organisation to be conducted 5cms in depth, a new volume of the file should efficiently. be opened; • Department Heads are informed of significant • Torn or defective covers should be replaced. happenings in the organisation. If you require any further advice in relation to the creation, maintenance and destruction of records, please contact Anne Marie or Michael in the FOI Office, (01) 2744331/2744332. east coast • page 22 STROKE REHABILITATION UNIT BAGGOT ST wi'im "All the clients were assessed on the first day of the course", Julia Stephenson Physiotherapy Manager said. "They were assessed again after 10 days and I'm delight ed to say that they all made significant improvement. The course was successful overall and we might consider repeating it depending on the client population at the time". The Stroke Rehabilitation Unit in Baggot Street Community Hospital is an out-patient unit for people who have sustained a stroke. The Unit is open to all adults and there is no catchment area. The purpose of the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit is to provide wide-ranging rehabilitation and support to people who have had a stroke, their families and their carers, on an he Stroke Rehabilitation Unit in Baggot Street out-patient basis. The aim is to enable individuals to Community Hospital put a new rehabilitation theo reach their maximum level of independence in all aspects T ry to the test. of life. We aim to minimise stroke-related disability and resulting handicap through treatment, education and Following stroke many people lose some or all of the abil adaptive techniques. ity to move their affected arm. This affects their inde pendence and ability to perform everyday activities. One possible explanation for excess motor disability of the upper limb in stroke patients is a phenomenon termed "learned non-use". "This suggests that where there is some recovery from the stroke allowing movement, use of the arm is suppressed due to "reprogramming" of the brain," explains Olive Lennon, Senior Physiotherapist in the Stroke Unit. She goes on to say "there is evidence from several recent studies that extended and concentrat ed practice of physical therapy techniques over consecu tive weeks can obtain a large improvement and address this learned non-use. "We thought it would be really exciting to put the theory to the test" Olive said, "so we got our heads together and selected clients who fitted into the criteria". Constraint - induced movement therapy is a recognised technique that requires patients with stroke to practice using the affected limb on an intensive or massed practice basis for consecutive weeks. The unaffected limb is con strained so it cannot participate or dominate the move ment during this time. "We reviewed all our clients" Aisling Carey, Senior Occupational Therapist in the Stroke Unit explains "and there were eight clients who fitted the selection criteria". The intensive therapy programme consisted of every client attending for three hours a day for two consecutive weeks. "We had to design an activity regime that suited everybody" Aisling goes on to explain, "it was a bit like "activity stations" where a client would work on a task and then move to-the next station after-20-minutes". "The clients found it very tiring", Niamh Gaffney Team Coordi nator said, "but it was good fun and we all enjoyed it". east coast • page 23 featme IRELAND 3 NORTHERN IRELAND 2 watchful eye of very popular Premiership Referee, Ambulances Mr. Dermot Gallagher, and an FAI observer was in attendance as well. We were coached by a former Converged on League of Ireland player and were fully up for it today. Even though we won today, the real winners Football Grounds as were Tallaght Hospital and The Royal Children's North battled South Hospital Belfast. The day was a fun day for all the family with he Eastern Regional Ambulance Service and Emergency vehicles on display, face-painting, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service bouncing castles and other activities. Last year the joined forces on a series of charitable events T Eastern Regional Ambulance Service arranged a to raise funds for Tallaght Hospital and The Royal Children's Hospital Belfast. charity football match, taking on Dublin Fire Brigade, Civil Service Division 1 Champions - while they were unsuccessful in that game, a significant amount of money was raised for Crumlin Hospital. With this second Charity Shield Game, they successfully built on their fundraising success of last year. The events culminated in May in a charity challenge football Match held at the Iveagh Grounds, Crumlin Road. One of the organisers, Mick McQuillan, an Emergency Medical NIAP KOKTKQM mEUND Technician stationed in MSUUNCC satvtcc USTOtNUOUUNtC SCKVKt DUBLIN Athy Ambulance Station, SUNDAY tad HAT 200« said 'This was an enjoy able match under the east coast • page 24 .(Dm® for GoM W J- ongratulations to Breda Bernie (Environmental Health Service, Dun Laoghaire) who will be repre Kieran Carberry and Ian Daly, senting Ireland at the Paralympics in Principal Environmental Health Officers at Breda Bernie's presentation Athens in September this year. It has taken great determination and effort on Breda's part to attain this consistently high level of achievement. Breda Bernie at her presentation in 12 Northumberland Avenue, Dun Laoghaire Sean O'Connor, Principal Environmental Health Officer making a presentation to Breda Bernie on behalf of the Environmental Health Service, ECAHB Our best wishes are with her and her Breda will be competing in the Equestrian disci horse Jake as they go for gold in pline in which she also represented Ireland in Athens. Sydney in 2000, and on this occasion she is the sole equestrian athlete selected. FOOD SAFETY COURSE Sean O Connor Principle Environmental was a field trip to the European Health Officer, Dun Laoghaire Parliament in Brussels where students Rathdown, and Kevin Smith Senior met MEPs, officials of DG SANCO, DC Technician in the Public Analyst Research, Irish representatives and rep Laboratory Sir Patrick Dunns recently resentatives of accession countries. An graduated from the Masters in Food integrated case study, which applied Safety management from D.l.T Cathal principles learned on the course to a Brugha Street. The course was set up in working factory, and a thesis, which response to the European Union White was an original piece of research car Paper on Food Safety, which contained a ried out by each student, were also wide range of measures covering all completed. In addition a wide range of aspects of food products from "farm to professionals from regulatory, retail, table". The course covers the underlying catering and laboratory backgrounds scientific principles of food safety, food attended the course leading to insight production, legislation, consumer affairs, into food safety from different part of and management of food safety. Highlight of the course the food production chain. east coast • page 25 CHILDREN & SPORT rganised sport for children has been on the increase in most countries in recent years. O Indeed, many children find sport interesting and often this is enhanced by coverage of sport in the media. Sport can sometimes be the most popular of organised leisure-time activities. Moreover, parents are interested in children's sport as it is often considered to be a positive environment for children's growth. Also, the development of elite, or top-level sportspersons, has led to the search for talent and this has included recruitment into sport at an been infringed concerning scouting, signing and future early age. Sometimes the end product results in rejection. planning protocols. This programme also deals with the What happens when all the time, effort, and resources do issues which effect young players repositioning them not produce the sport's child prodigy? Smoll, Magi 11, & selves in the United Kingdom. One of the latest examples Ash (1988) wrote, "We are not told what happens to of the violation of child rights is in Africa concerning the youngsters who do not make it." But the implication is that exploitation of promising young footballers and athletes, the sense of failure is significant. the UN has revealed. Sports head-hunters have been scouting developing countries, especially in Africa, in Resulting in personality readjustments, the young foot search of potential stars - offering their guardians money baller for example, who has been signed by the wealthy and then bringing them abroad, especially to northern English Premier club at sixteen years of age, can return Europe. The rejection rate is very high and there are clear home following the non-renewal of his contract at eight examples of rejected footballers and athletes being 'dis een years of age with low self-esteem. A complete mental carded' by so-called agents in France and resorting to re-construction and in most cases technical and tactical crime and prostitution in order to survive. re-training needs to be undertaken by the qualified coach to allow the person to regain the 'lost ground'. The social Organised sport has traditionally been regarded as an context for dropout and burnout is often overlooked, but environment for positive growth and socialisation for chil as Coakley (1992) discussed, it is often more significant dren. However, it is also known that sport can disturb an than any personal factors. individual's development and be a negative influence on socialisation. The significance and influence of sport for Stevenson (1990) found that the evaluation for potential the child will depend primarily on the nature of the inter success by coaches and scouts is an irrational process at actions that are created in sport and on the quality of the best. Often the key to success is being in the right place at emotional atmosphere that is sustained within sport con the right time, being seen by the right people, fortuitously texts. stepping into the position of a fallen team-mate, or by chance possessing the playing style that is favoured by the Regular participation in sport promotes growth and body team's current coach. awareness, aids in the acquisition of motor skills and com petent movement, and provides opportunities for the The pressure to succeed in sports often leads to burnout development of many personal and social skills. Sport and dropout (Kantrowitz, 1996). Prior to dropping out, provides a medium through which the individual is able sportspersons can often experience serious academic to develop a positive self-concept and greater confidence. problems. Trusty and Dooley-Dicky (1993) found that Enjoyable and rewarding experiences in physical activity academic problems may begin as early as First Year in and sport at a young age help in developing lasting self Secondary school. Early symptoms of burn out are esteem and a positive attitude to physical activity and sportspersons who stop enjoying the experience or cease health. to improve (Weiss & Petlichkoff, 1989). All that being said what are the reasons why children The one-dimensional self-concept that develops with spe play sport? cialized sportspeople creates a developmental dead end. Young sportspeople feel trapped in a role and identity that Children enjoy playing sport: depends on their success. This is a chronic stress situation that can result in burnout, and may occur at an age where • for enjoyment and fun they haven't reached there potential. In the case of the • for peer group acceptance hopeful Irish soccer player, the Football Association of Ireland under the guidance of former Republic of Ireland • for the excitement of competition because they enjoy manager Eoin Hand has established a programme to experiencing the elements that make up the game and ensure the rights of the child and adolescent have not because of the sense of well being they gain from it. east coast • page 26 CALLING LAST ORDERS ON F0$TBALL'S DRINK CULTURE By: Michael Carrie wo of this island's greatest ever football players have er. By 1973 Best's lifestyle and commitments as a^roffes.- been in the news again of late. Sadly and all too sional footballer could no longer happily co-exist. H Tfamiliar now, it was for reasons other than football. announced his retirement that year, only thereafter to George Best is back on the booze again and his marriage become somewhat of a football tourist turning out for a is falling apart amid rumours of infidelity and spousal succession of lower league teams before eventually fully abuse. Paul McGrath, due to appear on a TV chat show retiring. More often than not, during this period, Best was decided to have a drink or ten to overcome the anxiety he overweight, lacking physical conditioning - the adorn feels on such occasions, he had ten +, failed to appear on ment of his continuing alcoholism. Best's charge sheet for the show and had the indignity of being snapped by a drink related behaviour is long as it is indistinguished; a tabloid newspaper relieving himself in a public laneway jail sentence for head butting a police officer, appearing after his night of excess. It wouldn't end there for drunk and using vulgarities on a TV chat show and mari McGrath. A short time later he found himself before a tal infidelities are among the more dishonourable. magistrate's court on drink related public order offences. Facilitated with a life saving liver transplant, Best's battle In response to the request to state his address, McGrath with the booze continues, his life a cautionary tale for all would tell the court he was currently of 'No Fixed Abode'. aspiring young footballers. 'Soccer star is homeless' the following day's tabloids screamed. McGrath had been barred from the home George Best was not alone, by his behaviour, in creating where his estranged wife and kids reside. He was now the belief that a drink-culture existed within the English depending on the generosity of friends for refuge. game. Throughout the seventies players such as Frank Worthington, Rodney Marsh, Alan Hudson, Malcolm MacDonald and the oft forgotten Albert Johansson were just as guilty as Best in feeding public perceptions as to the prevalence of excessive alcohol consumption within top flight English football clubs. The former two players now regale corporate audiences with tales of their drink fuelled off field antics. The same jocularity cannot be applied in telling the stories of the latter three players. Hudson and MacDonald continue to battle chronic alcoholism long after their careers had ended. Johansson's story remains the most tragic. He was one of the first black players to make his living in England as a professional footballer. Part of the early revival at Leeds These sad and unfortunate headlines bring into sharp United under Don Revie, Johansson fell out of football to focus once again the malediction of alcohol dependence die in penury, some years later, after a lifetime of alco among football's elite. In any portrayal of a drink culture holism. in football's confines, Best and McGrath, are cast as cen tral characters. Both were recognised as having a 'drink The prevalence of drunken excess in English football did problem' long before they shuffled (staggered?) off foot not abate throughout the eighties. As long as players were ball's playing stage. training and performing on match day drinking escapades were tolerated even encouraged as a form of team bond Best emerged as part of the Manchester United team of the ing. Manchester United is the documented example from late sixties, winning the European Cup in 1968. It was a this era. The quartet of Paul McGrath, Kevin Moran, time when Britain was experiencing a social revolution of Norman Whiteside and Bryan Robson are the chief names sorts. Attitudes were changing, society was opening up to touted in claims branding united a 'drinking club' during more liberalised tendencies. Best, with his easy good the eighties. These four regularly perched themselves up looks and mercurial footballing style, came ready made at Paddy Crerand's pub after a week-days training and on for this hedonistic age. Dubbed the 'fifth Beatle' Best was Sunday afternoons to being marathon drinking sessions. heralded as part of the avant-garde of this social move McGrath, Moran and Whiteside were all booted out of ment. Soon, however, Best was in the grip of the worst United for their drinking exploits by Alex Ferguson who excesses that his celebrity afforded him. introduced a new code of discipline on becoming man ager in 1986. His over indulgence in drinking and late night cavorting Of the four McGrath coped worst with his fondness for the saw Best begin to miss training and fall foul of his manag bottle. Raised in an orphanage and having spent time in east coast • page 27 hospital being treated for depression, McGrath sought the Chief among the participants was the team's self-appoint crutch of alcohol to overcome his shyness and lack of ed court jester Paul Gascoigne. confidence. However, his over dependence on alcohol would cause him to go AWOL on match days for both Gascoigne, arguably the greatest midfield player of his club and country. Were it not for sympathetic managers generation, blighted his playing career through indisci- and the precocity of his talent as a footballer, McGrath's plined association with alcohol. Dropped from Glenn career would have ended ingloriously premature. Hoddle's 1998 World Cup squad for his preference for lager and kebabs with 'mates' Danny Baker and Chris The nineties and the advent of the Premier League saw Evans over dedication to his physical conditioning, clubs prosper from the money received from the resultant Gascoigne cuts a sorry figure today, hawking what's left of TV rights. Suddenly clubs could afford to turn players into his talent to any club that will have him. The battle to millionaires virtually overnight. The media cavalcade that overcome his alcohol dependence is his everyday men hitched itself to the new premiership conferred a celebri ace. ty status on these footballers. It bred a brash arrogance among many. Young with loads of disposable income and Just as the ingrained nature of a drink culture in the plenty of free time to spend it, some felt the need to live English game had reached worrying levels by the 1990's, up to this false celebrity by partying as much off the field redemptive forces arrived, fortuitously, bringing the hope as playing on it. of salvation. No more so was this true than of the Liverpool team under Roy Evans. Nicknamed 'the spice boys', Jamie Redknapp, Jason McAteer, Robbie Fowler, Neil 'Razor' Ruddock took advantage of Evans lax regime partying to Ruddock's catch-cry "win, draw or loose were on the booze". Down at Arsenal they fared no better. Tony Adams had ini tiated the 'Tuesday Club', a group of players who gathered together after Tuesday's training for lengthy drinking ses sions. Adams and Paul Merson didn't stop at Tuesday. They drank most days they didn't have a game. In his remarkable autobiography 'Addicted', Adams chronicles Foreign managers such as Arsene Venger and Gerard in stark detail his life as a serial alcohol abuser. He recalls Houllier came to England preaching a new credo. Their the days on end benders, the drunken brawls, the bed- message was of temperance, dietary control and self-dis- wetting, the dissolution of his marriage and the low point cipline leading to optimum performance levels and longer of 56 days spent in prison for drunk driving. Paul Merson playing careers. The testimony of foreign players who didn't just have a problem with alcohol addiction but fed came to the premiership and their embodiment of the effi expensive cocaine and gambling habits as well. cacy of this message made it less of a hard sell. English players now regularly substitute pasta for kebabs and a glass of wine for pints of lager. The realisation has dawned that the demands of the game have changed. In order to prosper and adjust to the pace of the modern game play ers must be at the peak of athletic fitness at all times. This requires conditioning lifestyles to meet with these new standards. Just to caution that the message of sobriety has yet to be embraced by all players, incidences such as the Leeds United player involvement in a drink-fuelled attack on an Asian youth and allegations of player involvement in gang rape are still occasioned. However, claims describing cer The English national team when away on foreign trips tain football clubs as 'drinking clubs' and wholesale abuse behaved just as reproachfully. Stories abounded of drunk of alcohol by players are in retreat. Football like any pro en debauchery and licentious conduct. The infamous fession will continue to have individuals who are alcohol 'dentist chair' incident from England's trip to China prior dependant. That's not football's problem, it's a societal to the 1996 European Championship stands out. England problem. The disease of alcohol does not selectively dis players were snapped taking turns sitting in a dentist's criminate between life's professions. What is being expe chair in one of china's nite clubs having copious amounts rienced in English football is the emptying of the glass on of alcohol poured down their throats by fellow players. it's institutionalised drink culture. 1¾ east coast • page 28 M R E V I E W i n DADDY DAY-CARE Reviewed By: Fiona Byrne / ' r~ Genre: Family (Comedy) Length: 1hr32mins Rating: PG Directed by: Steve Carr, starring Eddie Murphy, Jeff Carl in and Steve Zahn. ^ v_ In this comedy, Charlie (Eddie Murphy) and his busi underway. They also take on board a fellow Daddy for ness partner Phil (Jeff Carlin) both advertising execu —thejday care who just happened to get fired from the tives at an advertising company lose theii>jpbs'afte7 j advertising company also, Marvin who is a Star Trek their best efforts to market a vile tasting vegetable cere fanatic. When Mrs. Harridan (Anjelica Houston) al that goes bust. Headmis^res's\at Chapman Academy starts losing stu dentsjpm the^academy she does everything in her • Charlie's family is used to the finer things iry ife with'his • power to pijt Daddy Day-Care out of business. Towards most prized possession other than/his son Ei'en,[ the the^end of the filn^Charlie and Phil have am offer to go Mercedes Benz in the driveway, and fourfyear oldWn ^/back to thej'advertising company and make twice as enrolled in the exclusive Chapman Academy. When ^fpifch money. Will'he go? Well I can't tell you about all Charlie and his wife Kim contemplate enrolling BerTin a more affordable school, they fmd the\alternative yJ options deplorable. -^arksout of ter/l would give it six. This film will defi- [^tel.y-^ive^you a good giggle, although it's not up to i In desperate need for day-care for Ben and^without |pEddieJ0urphy's usual comedy standards such as my /job Charlie comes up with the idea of starting^i"s~owni Lfavourite the Nutty Professor. It's an ideal film for kids day-care service from his home. With his partner Phil of around 8 years of age or so, they will find it on board after a lot of convincing Daddy Day-Care gets hilarious. east coast • page 29 entertainment entertainment entertainment entertainment WHAT o N The staff at Glenside Road were amazed at the response from their colleagues for copper coins in aid of concern. Likewise, Ballinteer Health Centre staff and Headquarter Staff at Boghall Road have added a tidy sum to this worthwhile cause. To date, €4111 has been lodged with Concern. We think that other offices and other people have copper lurking in their drawers, pockets, cars, down the back of sofas etc. With the Summer Sales now over there should be even more of those annoying coins weighing us down in unwanted places. "Be Copper Aware and Start a Jar". Again contact either of the following to arrange the collection of your coins: Thanking you in anticipation. Please contact the following: Rozel Fitzgerald Ian Daly PEHO East Coast Area Health Board East Coast Area Health Board Health Centre Health Centre Glenside Road Glenside Road Wicklow Wicklow Tel: 0404-60670/68400 Tel: 0404-68400 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] ). Your small change can make a big change to those more in need east coast • page 30 -'.i'I-'' ''w - ; :./-