Midland Health Board news: April 1999 Item Type Report Authors Midland Health Board (MHB) Rights MHB Download date 01/10/2021 09:20:56 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10147/43416 Find this and similar works at - http://www.lenus.ie/hse MIDLAND HEALTH BOARD NEWS, APRIL 1999 Midland 1 Health Board NEWS APRIL 1999 Minister CowenCowen AnnouncesAnnounces MajorMajor CONTENTS Healthy Development at Tullamore HospitalHospital Eating Week ............... 2 SAP Project................ 3 SECURES FUTURE OF ALL THREE ACUTE HOSPITALS IN THE REGION Mr Brian Cowen TD new state-of -the-art Complaint and Minister for Health and hospital being built there Appeal System ........... 4 Children announced a over the next few years," major capital development he said. Alzheimers at Tullamore General Mr Denis Doherty CEO Conference ................. 4 Hospital, on Friday Midland Health Board February 19. described the The scheme, the first announcement as a Educational Survey phase of which ( in 1998 "landmark day" for the Launched ................... 7 price terms) is estimated to Board, its hospital services cost in the region of £50m and the public served by Food Hygiene overall, will provide the Board. Courses ...................... 9 Tullamore will a fully up- Much progress, he said, to-day modern hospital on had been made since the the existing site. Rationalisation Plan of the Mental Health The Minister said that mid-1980s but up to now Promotion ................ 10 the scheme would involve the facilities were "well providing a range of major short of what is required". Portlaoise Hospital new facilities, including He praised the design The Project Team pictured at the announcement of the £50m capital development for the General Award....................... 13 main entrance and team and the Board's own Hospital, Tullamore, (back row l to r); Mr John Cregan, Programme Manager, Hospital Care; Julie concourse, medical and staff for their dedication Henry, Day Ward Sister; Dr Paul Redmond, Consultant Radiologist. Jean O’Laoire, Architect, Minister visits surgical wards, accident and input into the project. Department of Health and Children Mr Liam Connolly, Senior Hospital Administrator; Mr Fergal and emergency department, Background Lynch, Assistant Principal Officer, Department of Health; Mr Frank Durkin, Consultant Surgeon; Ofalia House ............ 15 radiology department, The original hospital in Mr Stephen Cahalan, Equipping Officer and Mr Brendan Colleary, Technical Services Officer. intensive care/coronary Tullamore was built in (front row l to r) Mr Roy Lane, Matron; Ann Kelly, Nursing Officer; Mr Denis Doherty, Chief Arus Eoghain Executive Officer, Midland Health Board; Mr Brian Cowen, TD Minister for Health and Children; care unit, and a group of 1937 and was designed by Launch ..................... 16 ambulatory day care the famous architect Miriam O’Callaghan, Deputy Hospital Administrator; Mr John Bulfin, General Manager, Acute Hospital Services and Ursula Cafferty. Nurse Planner. facilities such as out Michael Scott. patient department, day In 1984, the Midland theatre, oncology unit and Health Board adopted a renal services. policy on the re- Other support services organisation of its acute MMEETINGEETING THETHE CCHALLENGESHALLENGES OFOF including medical records, hospital services. This maintenance department involved clearly defining and catering/dining the role of Tullamore, facilities will also be Portlaoise and Mullingar THETHE NNEXTEXT CCENTURYENTURY provided. (now Longford/ The scheme also includes Westmeath) General The Bridge to the 21st most importantly that we involved in the work. The comment about the Board's the development of an Hospitals in the way that Century (Bridge) Project convert the project plan project management services. The purpose is to Education Centre and a would ensure the highest was established in 1997 in into actions to meet health approach will be used in enable the public to avail new headquarters for the possible quality service for order to facilitate the needs. the monitoring of the fully of their entitlements Midland Health Board. the people of the region. changes which are The Bridge Project service plans and in and to offer redress where Minister Cowen said he Under the plan, in- necessary for the Board to Management Unit when it prioritising needs which they have been unable to was proud to be the patient obstetric, meet the challenges of the was established in 1997 will form the basis of bids do so. Minister associated with gynaecology and paediatric next century. was virtually the only for funding from the The Corporate Team the “important initiative" services for counties Laois Project Management source available to the Department of Health & Another new and and said it underlines the and Offaly were The Board has adopted a Board of project Children for the budget for important development is government's commitment concentrated at Portlaoise Project Management management skills. Since the year 2000. the establishment of the to the people of the region General Hospital. A policy approach to managing then, the project specialists Complaints and Appeal Corporate Team, a team of and to the health services was adopted of providing change. This means in in the Unit have worked to System staff who have a significant generally. orthopaedics, ENT and effect that where we train other staff members in The Board will pilot a regional remit. The "The preferred strategic ophthalmology at identify the need for these skills. In the Complaints and Appeal function of the Corporate approach now being Tullamore General change, all alternative preparation of the 1999 System during May and Team is to advise the Chief developed underlines the Hospital as regional options are considered Service Plan, the project June, 1999. This is the first Executive Officer on extent to which new specialities, and it was before defining a plan for management approach was element of what will be a policy formation and facilities are needed on the decided by the Board that the implementation of the used by many of the wider project including a oversee the execution of site, which will result in a - Continued Page 2 most attractive option, and board's staff who were system to encourage - Continued Page 2 2 MIDLAND HEALTH BOARD NEWS, APRIL 1999 Longford/Westmeath the out-patients department The first phase will involve General Hospital should has doubled since 1984 and the great bulk of the work. service the acute hospital the number of accident and The second phase of the International speakers to needs of counties Longford emergency cases has project will include the and Westmeath. trebled in the same period. Education Centre and the Since the adoption of this Development of new headquarters. Address Conference approach Minister Cowen Hospital Conclusion said that acute hospital In approaching the task In conclusion Minister Psychiatric Nursing Where to Now, is the theme of a one day National services in the Midland the Design Team had to Cowen said such a Conference, organised by the Athlone Mental Health Services, in the Hodson Bay region have been take into account a number development requires Hotel, Athlone, on April 28. substantially developed. of factors such as: enormous work on the part This Conference will Professor Seamus Mr Laurence Ward, "Longford/Wesmeath • Minimising the of many people. provide an opportunity for Cowman, Professor of Chief Nursing Officer, St General Hospital has been disruption of services while "I would like to nurses to share and discuss Nursing, will speak on the Loman's Hospital, will the subject of major the new facilities are being acknowledge with gratitude views in relation to European Perspective of chair the morning session. development and I was built and commissioned the effort and commitment psychiatric nursing with Psychiatric Nursing. The afternoon session pleased to be able to • Providing for any shown by so many people National and International Prof. Patrick Darcy, will be chaired by Ms perform the official necessary expansion of involved, in particular speakers. Professor of Nursing, Mary Fahy, Deputy opening of Phase 2A in services given that the Denis Doherty CEO and Mr Denis Doherty CEO University of Ulster, will Nursing Officer, Athlone November. I have recently planning brief rightly John Cregan, Programme Midland Health Board, will address the conference on Mental Health Services. announced important anticipates increased Manager Hospital Care for address the conference on Psychiatric Nursing - Mr Ted Harrington, developments at Portlaoise demands upon services in their work through the Psychiatric Nursing - Generalist V Specialist Assistant Chief Nursing General Hospital, where future years Project Team and with the Perception, Reality and Nursing Officer, Athlone Mental planning is at an advanced • Preserving the integrity Midland Health Board. Vision. And looking to the next Health Services will stage for a new purpose- This will be followed by century, Professor Tony conclude the conference at built Acute Psychiatric An Overview of Butterworth, Dept of 4.30pm. Unit and work is now Psychiatric Nurse Training Nursing, University of Further information from underway to provide a new by Mr Vincent Brehony, Manchester, will speak The Continuing Education Paediatric Unit as part of Education Officer, An Bord about Physhiatric Nursing Office, St Loman’s Hospital, that development.” he said. Altranais. in the new Millennium. Mullingar (044) 40191. "Having set about