Health Matters Vol 5 Issue 3 Autumn 2009
Item Type Report
Authors Health Service Executive (HSE)
Publisher Health Service Executive (HSE)
Download date 26/09/2021 07:00:16
Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10147/85545
Find this and similar works at - http://www.lenus.ie/hse Vol 5 I Issue 3 I Autumn 2009
HEALTH INSIDE - PRIMARY CARE UPDATE MATTERS - MINDING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH - MAKING MEDIATION WORK National Staff Magazine of the Health Service Executive - REGIONAL NEWS VACCINATION FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS
PROTECT YOUR PATIENTS UPROTECT YOURSELF UPROTECT YOUR FAMILY 16 28 34
Health Matters 1
N >> Adults need at least 30 minutes will strive to recognise and celebrate a day of moderate activity, five staff achievements while highlighting days a week (National Physical organisational purpose and ambitions. Activity Guidelines). We are very conscious of the current economic environment and the need >> No advertising or display to cut costs as much as possible and of tobacco products is now demonstrate excellent value for money. permitted in a retail premises With this objective in mind we have selling them. achieved significant reductions in the production, design and distribution costs >> Around 2,400 men develop and revenue from advertising is helping us prostate cancer in Ireland to reduce costs further. annually. Two rapid access Our aim is to provide you with an diagnostic clinics for prostate improved new look publication and to cancer have been established at achieve the very best value for money. Galway University Hospital and St We would be very interested to hear your James’s Hospital, Dublin. elcome to the first edition of the feedback after reading this first edition, newly revamped Health Matters . this will be important in order to constantly >> The HSE has developed an WWe hope you like the new look improve . Email your views to Emergency Multilingual Aid (EMA) Health Matters publication and find plenty of items to [email protected] box which will assist frontline staff interest you. We intend to continue to publish every in communicating with patients You will notice more detailed articles quarter to keep you informed about health with limited English proficiency written by individual contributors on topical care developments and highlight important who attend hospitals in acute areas of interest in addition to the usual mix initiatives throughout the HSE regions. or emergency situations. This of news and developments from around You can also check out the digital edition resource is being rolled out in the country. of Health Matters on www.hse.ie or via the all 52 acute hospitals for the In future issues we will be working to HSE Intranet. first time. bring you more analysis of the workings Finally, I would like to thank all our of our healthcare system, more in- contributors and distributors for their efforts >> Clonshaugh in north Dublin depth coverage of important issues and and the Communications team for their is the location for an eircom- developments, and greater emphasis on work in producing this publication. managed new National Health special features. It is important that all Data Centre which will house key HSE staff have a channel of information Paul Connors, systems for HSE hospitals and that informs them of what is happening in National Director, health service offices nationwide healthcare in Ireland. Consequently, the HSE Communications including clinical applications, new look Health Matters aims to provide a administrative and email systems. greater coverage and analysis of the HSE’s recent developments and future plans, The magazine is produced by the >> From July 1st 2009, and to highlight the many achievements of National Communications Unit responsibility for inspections of all EDITOR: Stephen McGrath health care workers. has nursing homes transferred to the Health Matters PUBLISHERS: a role to play in informing and in addition Ashville Media – www.ashville.com Health Information and Quality to acknowledge the great work being FEEDBACK: Send your feedback to Authority (HIQA). HSE as a major carried out by health care professional’s [email protected] provider of care to older people is right across the country. Health Matters working with HIQA and the private nursing home sector to implement newly established standards in The information in Health Matters is carefully researched and believed to be accurate and authoritve, but neither the HSE residential services for nor the publisher can accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. Statements and opinions expressed herein are not older people. necessarily those of the Editor, the HSE or of the publisher. Advertisements within the publication are not endorsed by the HSE or the publisher. Any claims made within the advertisements are not endorsed by the HSE or the publisher. Learning... The key to your future The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) is Ireland’s leading Public Sector Management Development Agency. Its aim is to promote the study and improve the standard of public administration and management in the civil and public service. The IPA currently offers a wide range of services, which broadly covers education, training and development, research and publishing. Its training and professional development services include short training courses, accredited programmes, seminars, conferences and consultancy services that are specifically designed to address the issues and challenges facing the Irish public service. IPA Accredited Training Programmes are offered on a distance learning basis. Learning is supported by attendance at a limited number of tutorials/workshops over the duration of the course. Many programmes focus on the practical application of theory and skills development. Work-related projects/assignments and public sector case studies, allow students to relate learning back to their workplace and job role. Certificate and Diploma level programmes are offered in the following areas: ■ Change and Project Management ■ Internal Audit ■ Civil Service & State Agency Studies* ■ Local Government Studies ■ Computer Studies/Information Technology ■ Management Development ■ Finance ■ Mediation ■ Health Services*/Healthcare Management ■ Procurement ■ Human Resource Management ■ Service Delivery Programmes are accredited by the National University of Ireland and/or other professional bodies. *Day and Evening class options available For further details of any of the above programmes, please contact: Central Bookings Office Training & Development Division, Institute of Public Administration 57-61 Lansdowne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Telephone: 01 240 3666 Email: [email protected] A RECOGNISED COLLEGE OF THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND Web: www.ipa.ie/training_certificates_diplomas Coláiste Aitheanta d'Ollscoil na hÉireann Health Matters 3 D a primary care team, it is moving to hear many teams involved a very good outcome their enthusiasm for this new way of team was achieved. working. They really believe that they The challenge of making very significant can make things far better for patients value for money savings right across this and clients with this community focused organisation, in order to protect patient team approach. services, was only met because of the As I visit hospital facilities I am more dedication of thousands of people on the and more struck by our staff’s eagerness ground in ensuring that those we serve had to reach out into the community to ensure the service they needed. people get access to fully integrated care. The appetite for change and improvement Historically hospital staff often found it very among our staff has never been greater. confusing to determine who they should Change initiatives which in the past may link with in the community other than the have led to stalemate discussion or even general practitioner. As primary care teams industrial action are now being addressed emerge and stronger hospital-community with greater consideration for the needs of links are forged, caring for people in their the public and the realities of the financial n a visit to the south west region own homes, where they want to be, will challenge facing the country. recently a senior manager said to become easier. The public also now has a greater Ome casually “In considering what I appreciate that it is not always possible appreciation that there is no endless steam has been achieved, we tend to forget we to provide the volume and type of services of funding for health services; if we make are a very new organisation”. we would like as funding has to concentrate savings in one area without compromising It is very true – we are a new organisation. on the most urgent need. Nevertheless quality we can keep services going in When you think about where we started around the country many are working another area from and the important changes we together and finding ways to overcome This positive approach must be committed to introducing to improve quality what were seen in the past as brick walls. welcomed. It will help us greatly as we and achieve better value for tax payers, In many facilities, such as St Joseph’s continue to make essential changes that will our staff have achieved a great deal in a Community Hospital in Stranorlar, which improve quality and lower costs. A lot of this relatively short space of time. I recently visited, staff worked with the will become visible as we start next month Changes that are occurring in community management team to reduce significantly to merge our National Hospitals Office and services and within hospitals are significant high absenteeism levels; absenteeism was Primary, Community and Continuing Care at given their far reaching impact on improving reduced and the money saved used to national and regional level. Given the level access to services for our communities and provide more frontline services. of job security that exists within the health increasing our own pride in the quality of the When we hear about high profile service there is no reason why invitations services we provide as team members. achievement, setting up primary care to join this change programme should not A lot of this willingness to get involved in teams, reducing waiting times, opening new be welcomed as opportunities for personal making a difference stems, I believe, from facilities and delivering cost efficiencies, it and professional growth and enriched job the simple realisation that it is up to each of is important not to forget that these were satisfaction. I know that the willingness us to build a modern health service. That’s started and are being delivered by individual to be flexible and support change for the our job. We have a great opportunity over staff working together, overcoming road better exists among the vast majority of our the next few years, while our population blocks and persevering. staff and I thank you for it. remains relatively young, to build a superb The handling of the recent action This focus on doing what is best for health and social care service in all its facets by pharmacists is a prime example of clients is our greatest asset and will help if we can harness the wealth of skill that extraordinary lengths staff are prepared to us to continue to make progress within a exists among us. go to make sure that the health and welfare relatively short space of time. When I meet therapists and nurses who of the public is protected. This was an have moved from a hospital base, or an extremely trying time for many but thanks to Professor Brendan Drumm, isolated community base, to working in the leadership that was provided among the CEO, Health Service Executive 4 Health Matters :FEK Sites We Like... Transforming Public Services www.onegov.ie :FEK 1 WELCOME 34 NURSE PRESCRIBING How patients' lives are made easier by 3 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO new prescribing practices Health Promotion www.healthpromotion.ie 6 FROM RHETORIC TO REALITY 36 THE BALTINGLASS COLLECTION Brian Murphy on how we will provide Residents of Baltinglass Hospital in Co. more health services locally Wicklow take a trip down memory lane 8 PRIMARY CARE TEAMS 39 SPORTING PASSIONS Inside the Primary Care Teams at Aileen Donnelly speaks to Health Scarriff, Irishtown and Inis Oirr Matters about her camogie career for club and county 11 PANDEMIC H1N1 The challenge for healthcare workers 40 REGIONAL NEWS News from Dublin Mid-Leinster 14 FIGHTING THE FLU Dr Kevin Kelleher and Dr Darina 42 REGIONAL NEWS O’Flanagan on vaccine safety News from Dublin North East HSE Community Games www.communitygames.ie 16 BUILDING COMMUNITIES 44 REGIONAL NEWS Meabh McGuinness outlines her role News from the South in the HSE Community Games 46 REGIONAL NEWS 18 ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY News from the West Rachel Mooney outlines the journey of counselling for victims of abuse 48 HITTING A HIGH NOTE A look at a music therapy research 21 MINDING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH project which examines the role of Geoff Day on suicidal behaviour in choral therapy in improving quality of life a recession 50 INSULIN PUMP ON THE UP Eating Well & Being Active 25 IN BRIEF Prof Richard Firth on why the popularity www.littlesteps.ie A round-up of news in the HSE of the insulin pump is increasing 28 SSIS UNDER SURVEILLANCE 53 A POWERFUL CATALYST FOR Eithne O’Sullivan on the benefits of a CHANGE surgical site infection surveillance How public feedback is improving the programme healthcare system 32 MAKING MEDIATION WORK 54 COMPETITION TIME Jim Fleming introduces the first staff Your chance to win four fabulous prizes mediation service in a public service organisation 56 ME & MY JOB EHO Stephen Murphy lets Health Matters in on his day UNITED DRUG PLC – WORKING WITH IRISH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS SINCE 1948 TO SUPPLY ALL THE NEEDS OF THE HOSPITAL AND PRIMARY CARE SECTORS. United Drug Unitech Hospital Service Diagnostics and Supply of Pharmaceutical equipment to Hospitals products to Hospital and Laboratories Pharmacies IntraVeno Ashfi eld Supply of Medical and Training and supply of Surgical products to Nurse advisors Materials Management IntraPharma Temperature Controlled Supply of specialised Pharmaceuticals* products to Hospital Homecare and specialist Pharmacy and delivery systems Primary Care *A Joint Venture partner of United Drug United Drug plc. United Drug House Magna Business Park Citywest Road Dublin 24 (01) 4632300 www.united-drug.ie email: [email protected] 6 Health Matters everyone in the country ultimately being able to access up to 95 per cent of the =ifdI_\kfi`Z care they need within their local community. More than 850,000 people can now avail of ‘one-stop’ shop health and social care from primary care teams. At present, there are 125 PCTs operating - holding clinical KFI<8C@KP team meetings across the country - with approximately 1,540 HSE staff and 680 GPs participating in teams in place and in We’re making significant organisational changes in the development. By the end of 2009 we are HSE to enable us to deliver hospital and community aiming to have 210 teams in operation. services in an integrated way, writes BRIAN MURPHY. This will represent a threshold in the overall programme, a ‘tipping point’ from which ltimately, the aim is to enhance delivered through primary care teams further momentum will develop. integration between community (PCTs). Primary care teams are providing Uand hospital services so it is easier an easy single access point to local health A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT for patients to navigate between health services such as general practice, For many of our patients, the health services. By rolling out primary care teams physiotherapy, public health nursing, care system can seem like a labyrinth of nationwide we’re aiming to have a health diagnostic services, occupational therapy, professionals, services and referrals. People system that is less hospital-oriented and speech and language therapy services, who are struggling with health issues, which provides more services for people community welfare and support for chronic many of them very complex, may not know in their local community. More hospital illnesses such as diabetes, asthma and who to call, or where and how to access resources will be re-allocated in favour so forth. We are on target to have 530 particular services. As a result, people - of expanding community-based services teams in operation by the end of 2011, with many of whom are very vulnerable - fall Health Matters 7 GI@D8IP:8I<K<8DJ through the cracks in our system and don’t One of the main areas in which get the timely, appropriate care that they programmes have been developed is need. The establishment of primary care diabetes management. Other areas teams means that there is a single point include asthma, COPD, cardiovascular of contact for health services available to and cancer. Patients who traditionally were people in their local communities. With this seen and managed in hospitals are now model patients will get to know familiar seen routinely in their local primary care faces and develop high levels of trust with team with input from dieticians, podiatrists, their health professionals. In turn, primary nurses and GPs. Several primary care care team professionals will learn more teams are now successfully delivering these about patients’ lives and circumstances and programmes nationwide. this will lead to the provision of appropriate Each primary care team is provided help as early as possible. with a level of flexibility to develop team- The benefits of primary care teams based care that meets the specific needs are self-evident. They have a proven of its population. To date, there has been ability to support and maintain people in a focus and concentration on the initial their own homes and communities for establishment of primary care teams as long as possible, thereby decreasing across the country. The results to date hospital attendances by offering specific are promising. The transformation of programmes of multi-disciplinary unidisciplinary community-based services preventative care as well as facilitating early into multi-disciplinary primary care teams hospital discharge and supported care at has generated an upsurge of innovation home. More and more services are now and creativity. A number of teams are becoming available locally, which reduces pioneering new programmes and services the need for patients to travel outside their with obvious benefits to patients. While communities. Health professionals are also many of these services are not available dealing with defined populations within a consistently within all teams across the geographic area and sharing their clinical country, the next step will be to standardise expertise in an inter-disciplinary way with these best-practice services across all team colleagues. teams. The team structure will facilitate such capacity development. ÈDfi\k_Xe/,'#''' BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE, FEWER READMISSIONS BUILDING BLOCKS g\fgc\ZXeefnXmX`c There is overwhelming international There is clearly huge commitment and evidence demonstrating that robust primary creativity within the existing teams. They f]Êfe\$jkfgËj_fg care systems are associated with improved address particular local challenges, often _\Xck_Xe[jfZ`XcZXi\ healthcare outcomes in the community. reaching out to vulnerable or high-risk Many primary care teams are establishing groups or individual patients. Many teams ]ifdgi`dXip chronic disease management programmes. are involved in health promotion initiatives ZXi\k\XdjÉ These programmes have positive impacts and adopt a more holistic and forward- on patients’ quality of life. They reduce looking approach to health care. hospital admissions due to the availability The primary care teams are the core of the services in the community and a building blocks of our new health care higher uptake of the services. Ultimately, system. Through them, patients will this means fewer complications resulting in experience new and improved approaches hospitalisation. Studies show that chronic to care which will be widely adopted and disease management programmes can implemented. They are and will be the achieve up to 50 per cent reduction in guardians of the health of local communities unplanned hospital admissions as well as providing team-based care, especially to the a 50 per cent reduction in bed day rates vulnerable and those with greatest need. Please turn over for a more for these conditions. They have also been detailed look at new primary shown to greatly enhance the integration of Brian Murphy is National Primary Care care teams in Scarriff, Irishtown services between the community and Services Manager and is based in Merlin and on the Aran Islands. >> the hospitals. Park Hospital, Galway. 8 Health Matters example physiotherapy or blood tests for Warfarin, which are services that are now available in the area,” says Scariff PCT GP Dr Conor McGee. “Previously patients would have to travel to Ennis or Limerick for these services. If you also consider the travel time, hospital staff hours, laboratory time and more particularly how the patients and their families or carers may have to organise their lives around appointments, having these services available locally is very significant. It certainly has improved access to services and the quality of people’s lives; clients are seen in a more timely fashion by health care professionals whom they are familiar with, thereby often resulting in a more satisfactory outcome for both client and healthcare worker.” Speaking at the launch HSE CEO Professor Brendan Drumm said that “primary care teams are the bedrock of our new modern health service. They are transforming how people access care and how we provide care. The healthcare professionals who are embracing and leading this new way forward and setting up teams in communities across the country deserve our thanks and full support.” “PCTs are delivering new standards of quality and convenience for patients; better value and greater job satisfaction for + HSE CEO Professor Brendan Drumm is pictured at the opening of Scariff Primary Care Team with local mothers staff. I encourage all GPs and health care and their babies - Suzanne Trehy with Jack, Patricia Foley with Patrick, Judy McCormack with James, Mairead professionals to become actively involved Higgins with Kate and Carol McMahon with Paul. Local nurse Christine Guilfoyle is also in the picture. in transforming our primary care service and unlock the potential and enormous J:8II@==G:KGIFM@; ÈK_\e\n?\Xck_ :\eki\n`ccY\lj\[kf gifm`[\Xn`[\iXe^\ f]_\Xck_j\im`Z\j `eZcl[`e^d\ekXc _\Xck_#[\ek`jkip#Xe[ \Xicp`ek\im\ek`fe j\im`Z\j]fiZ_`c[i\eÉ “Primary care teams are greater than Team will be developed next year to provide + Pictured above: Irishtown and Ringsend the sum of their parts,” said GP Dr Tony locally based, multi-disciplinary services to PCT GPs, (front, left to right), Dr Damien O’Sullivan, speaking at the official launch. the local communities. Rutledge with Professor Brendan Drumm, “They are encouraged to develop more “The new Health Centre will be used to CEO of the HSE; Dr John Ryan, (back, left to right) Fionan O’Cuinneagain, CEO of the integrated team working than before. provide a wide range of health services ICGP, Dr Tony O’Sullivan and Dr Miriam They treat a defined population, and work including mental health, dentistry and early Daly. Below: Pictured at the new Health together through inter-referral and regular intervention services for children by visiting Centre on Inis Oírr, Aran Islands, Galway team meetings to provide a comprehensive services to the Island Primary Care Team,” (from left) Dr Mirko Jukic, GP for Inis Oírr integrated service to patients.” said Tony Canavan, General Manager of and Inis Meáin; Barbara Hernon, Public The members of the Irishtown and Galway PCCC, speaking at the opening. Health Nurse, Inis Mór; Mary Curran, Health Ringsend PCT are located in a new purpose The new Centre has 150 square Centre Administrator; Bríd Ní Chonghaile, built centre in Irishtown. Facilities include metres of clinical space with a reception Health Centre Caretaker; Tony Canavan, a physiotherapy and occupational therapy area, consultation rooms for the GP General Manager, Galway PCCC; Dr Marian treatment room, wound clinic, minor and public health nurse and a room for Broderick, GP for Inis Mór; and Rita Flaherty, surgery, dental suite, health promotion visiting clinicians. Public Health Nurse, Inis Oírr. room and interview and clinical rooms used by staff. NEW HEALTH CENTRE FOR INIS OÍRR new Health Centre on Inis Oírr in the Aran Islands was officially opened in AJuly 2009. The Health Centre is currently used by a GP who provides 24-hour medical cover for Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin, and by the resident public health nurse who provides a nursing service. Speech and language therapy is provided in the Health Centre, along with chiropody and podiatry clinics which take place twice a year. The three Aran Islands (Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr) form a natural primary care unit and a new Island Primary Care Buy uniforms direct. Reduced price uniforms for the healthcare profession. Uniforms suitable for nurses and all healthcare professionals. To recieve a brochure or order a uniform please call 042 9746333 or log on to www.diamonddesigns.ie Roast beef & yorkshire pudding Homecare Foods have recently acquired the Wiltshire Farm Foods franchise for the Leinster region and are delighted to offer a whole new range of freshly frozen prepared meals to suit all dietary requirements. Our customers can enjoy a very large range of meals and desserts which are value for money and are designed specially for the older generation who may require special dietary requirements e.g, meals and desserts suitable for diabetics, low-salt, low-fat, gluten-free, soft diet or pureed. Paul Cullen and his partner Jacqueline are available to call or to meet any person who would like a home meal delivery service, which is “free” and very discreet. Our meals are delivered weekly or fortnightly as required and are placed straight in the customer’s freezer. The customer can then reheat the meal in either an oven or microwave and enjoy the pleasure of a properly prepared full meal which will help them to either rebuild them after a hospital stay or relieve them of having to get to the shops every day. Please contact Paul or Jacqueline at (01) 864 2155 or Free delivery for all orders [email protected] to fi nd out more or to receive one of our New Autumn/Winter brouchers. Health Matters 11 =CLG8E; G8E; Most people who get this flu are able to K?<:?8CC moral and ethical obligation on healthcare staff to be vaccinated by taking up the offer of the vaccine when it becomes available, you protect your own health and that of your patients and your family. Staff are strongly encouraged to avail of both the pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccine when they become available. Healthcare workers, along with people with high risk medical conditions, will be the first groups to be immunised. For all staff, the important messages are: • Keep up to date on clinical advice and the new arrangements for testing and caring for flu cases • Know what to do if you get sick • Know how to stop the flu from spreading • Know your local area’s pandemic plan and your role in it hands with soap and water; if you are a VACCINATION PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF department head or staff manager make 7.7 million doses of vaccine have been PANDEMIC H1N1 2009 sure you have information posters up in ordered – enough for the whole population Members of staff are asked to help prevent your area. These posters are available to have the required two doses each. the spread of infection by following good online at www.hse.ie. Ensure that soap and The HSE is finalising plans to deliver this hygiene practices. You are asked to: appropriate hand drying facilities are always vaccine to the population, with high risk available in all toilets. groups and health workers among the first COVER YOUR COUGH: cover your For the public, the message is that most to be vaccinated. nose and mouth with disposable tissues people with self care will recover at home in Healthcare workers have been prioritised when sneezing, coughing, wiping and a few days without anti-viral medication. to receive the pandemic vaccine when blowing your nose. If you have no tissues it becomes available. It’s your personal immediately available, coughing or sneezing If you feel you have the flu: responsibility to protect yourself by taking into your arm or sleeve (not into your hand) • If you get sick with a flu-like illness, phone up the offer of vaccine when it becomes is recommended. CATCH IT the Flu Information Line on freephone available. Two doses of pandemic vaccine BIN YOUR TISSUES: dispose of used 1800 94 11 00, available 24 hours a day; are required at least three weeks apart; tissues in the nearest waste bin. BIN IT • Listen to the symptoms of flu and the healthcare staff should also receive the WASH YOUR HANDS: wash your hands advice on home care. Most people with seasonal influenza vaccine. While there is a often with soap and water, especially after flu will be able to recover at home within a few days without needing anti-viral SYMPTOMS PANDEMIC H1N1 2009 COMMON COLD medicine or medical care; • If you have severe symptoms, or are in a Onset Sudden Slow high risk group, contact your GP or family Fever Characteristically High (≥38 oC or 100 oF) Rare doctor by telephone. They will decide if Headache Prominent Rare you need testing or treatment; General aches and pains Usual, often severe Rare • If you do need to be tested or treated the Fatigue, weakness Can be prolonged for a number of weeks Quite mild GP may arrange for you to be seen at Extreme exhaustion Early and prominent Never their surgery or may arrange a home visit. Runny nose Common Common You should stay at home for seven days Sneezing Common Usual while ill, unless needing further care. Sore throat Common Common Anti-viral medicine, where it is prescribed Cough Common, can be severe Mild to moderate, hacking cough by the GP, is available from community pharmacies nationwide free of charge Diarrhoea, vomiting Sometimes Not associated with the common to patients. cold in adults Health Matters 13 =CLG8E; coughing and sneezing – this is the most effective way of preventing the spread of WHO ARE THOSE CONSIDERED infection. KILL IT TO BE IN HIGH RISK GROUPS AND ÈDfjkg\fgc\n_f NEEDING TREATMENT? If you have clinical contact with patients, Patients with: chronic lung, heart, ^\kk_`jÕlXi\XYc\ please make sure that you observe the kidney, liver or neurological disease; kfi\Zfm\iXk_fd\ appropriate infection control measures immunosuppression (whether caused before and after patient contact. Full by disease or treatment), diabetes n`k_flke\\[`e^ information on occupational health and mellitus, people aged 65 years and safety advice for healthcare workers is older, children under five years, people Xek`$m`iXcki\Xkd\ekÆ available on www.hpsc.ie - go to Advice on medication for asthma, severely ]fccfn`e^flij`dgc\ for Healthcare Professionals on Pandemic obese people (Body Mass Index of 40 H1N1 2009 and click on the Occupational or more), pregnant women and people _fd\ZXi\X[m`Z\ Health Professionals link. with haemoglobinopathies. `jjl]ÔZ`\ek]fik_\ Remember: flu is an acute respiratory This approach to managing the illness which usually causes high fever current influenza situation is being dXafi`kpf]ZXj\jÉ of sudden onset, with severe weakness adopted in many countries that are and fatigue. It is more than the common experiencing increased cases of cold (see box on previous page). More Pandemic H1N1 2009. It is important information on Pandemic influenza is to remember that the vast majority available in the Frequently Asked Questions of cases that have been seen so far on the HPSC’s website www.hpsc.ie are mild, with many cases possibly unaware that they have been infected. ANTI-VIRAL MEDICATIONS An information leaflet for the GPs are only prescribing anti-viral public on Pandemic H1N1 2009 medication, for example Tamiflu, on the was delivered to all homes in early basis of a range of clinical and other May 2009. features, to certain categories of patients An updated August 2009 version suspected of having Pandemic H1N1 2009. is now available at www.swineflu. As most patients will have relatively mild ie. The 24-hour flu information line symptoms, they will not need any antiviral is available on 1800 94 1100. medication and will recover by staying at home (to prevent spreading infection Dr Kevin Kelleher is Assistant National to others), drinking plenty of fluids and Director, Population Health; Dr Phil Additional information can be taking paracetamol regularly to relieve Jennings is Director of Public Health, found on: their symptoms. The following groups are Midlands Area, and Dr Paul McKeown is www.hse.ie most likely to require treatment with anti- Health Protection and Surveillance Centre www.hpsc.ie virals: patients who appear to have severe Specialist in Public Health Medicine. All www.who.int symptoms and patients from one of the are members of the HSE National Crisis www.cdc.gov high risk groups. Management Team (NCMT). 14 Health Matters numbers of cases to date in Ireland. Using the numbers presenting to general practice with influenza like illness, the estimated total number of cases so far in Ireland is between 5,000 and 10,000. For most people pandemic flu has caused mild to moderate illness, from which they recover at home without any specific treatment. However, there are many vulnerable people who may suffer a more severe illness, such as younger children, pregnant women and those with underlying diseases. Additionally, the virus can cause severe and fatal illness in young and healthy people, although the number of such cases is small. Studies have shown that between 20 per cent and 50 per cent of cases who have died have had no reported underlying illnesses. In spite of advanced medical technology using ventilators and other intensive care supports, it has not been possible to save all. Many deaths are due to development of organ failure. The latest number of deaths worldwide is 3,281 (figure published on the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control website) with deaths occurring in countries with advanced medical facilities such as the US (n=593), Australia (n=160), Canada (n=72), and UK (n=70). In the Northern hemisphere Fighting these number of deaths have occurred out of the usual flu season and larger waves of K?<=CL infection are expected in the winter season. The Pandemic vaccine is the best tool we have to prevent this illness. In Ensuring vaccine safety is a high priority. Influenza vaccines have previous influenza pandemics, millions of people have died worldwide. We have the been used for more than 60 years and have an established record opportunity to prevent this happening, of safety in all age groups. Before being used, vaccines must pass once a safe effective vaccine is available. many safety tests, writes DR KEVIN KELLEHER and Clinical trials of pandemic H1N1 vaccines commenced in at least five countries in July DR DARINA O’FLANAGAN . 2009 and early results should be available in September. This vaccine is expected to andemic (H1N1) 2009, a new form Since spring 2009, over 254,206 people begin arriving in Ireland from September/ of flu that has spread throughout the worldwide have had laboratory confirmed October 2009. It will be delivered in stages, Pworld since April 2009, was formerly pandemic (H1N1) 2009, with at least so we will offer vaccine to high risk people known as Influenza A (H1N1) or Swine Flu. 3,281 deaths due to the virus. In Ireland, first, along with healthcare staff and other While there is evidence that some elderly up to early September, 831 people have essential workers. people have some immunity most people had laboratory confirmed pandemic flu, under 65 years have no immunity and are 86 were hospitalised, seven have been SAFETY FIRST therefore at risk of catching it. This includes admitted to intensive care and two people As with every vaccine, vaccine safety is healthy adults as well as young children, have died. However, as laboratory testing a major priority. Influenza vaccines have those with pre-existing medical conditions is now only carried out for those with more been used for more than 60 years and and most older people. severe illness, this under-represents the true have an established record of safety in all Health Matters 15 =CLG8E; age groups. Before being used, vaccines much faster than is methyl mercury. A must pass many safety tests. These safety European review of the available evidence tests are conducted at each step in the concluded that there is no evidence of vaccine development and to very high harm from thiomersal in vaccines other than safety standards. The European Medicines hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions (EMEA Agency states that "decades of experience Public Statement on Thiomersal and Safety with seasonal influenza vaccines indicate of Thiomersal-Containing Vaccines dated 24 that insertion of a new strain in a vaccine, March 2004). In addition, the World Health should not substantially affect the safety or Organisation has concluded that there is level of protection offered”. People in Ireland no evidence of mercury toxicity in infants, will only be vaccinated after the vaccine has È@k`j`dgfikXekkf children, or adults exposed to thiomersal been licensed by the European Medicines i\d\dY\ik_Xk`eÕl\eqX in vaccines. CDC have recently released a Evaluation Agency (EMEA). statement to say that pregnant women can Well-known side effects of influenza mXZZ`e\jZXeefk^`m\ receive influenza vaccine with or without vaccines (as with other vaccines) are some jfd\fe\`eÕl\eqXÉ thiomersal. Because pregnant women are redness or swelling around the vaccination at increased risk of complications from this site for a day or two. Some vaccinated influenza strain, and because a substantial individuals will experience fever, malaise, could be associated with an increased risk safety margin has been incorporated headache and aching muscles or joints. If of GBS with one case occurring for every into the health guidance values for these problems occur, they may last as long one million persons vaccinated. During organic mercury exposure, the benefits of as 1-2 days. Serious adverse reactions, the 1976 influenza campaign in the US influenza vaccine with reduced or standard such as allergic reactions, are rare and it about 10 cases developed GBS for every thiomersal content greatly outweigh the is important to remember that influenza million persons who were vaccinated. A theoretical risk, if any, of thiomersal. vaccines cannot give someone influenza. recent UK study has shown that getting Anyone who has had a severe (life One potential side effect that some influenza illness is in fact a greater risk threatening) allergy to eggs or to any other people worry about is Guillain-Barré factor for GBS, with a 16 times increased substance in the vaccine should inform their Syndrome (GBS), because GBS was seen risk of getting GBS in the 30 days after a immunisation providers and discuss which in some people who received the swine flu influenza like illness. In this study, seasonal vaccine is appropriate. vaccine in 1976. GBS is an autoimmune flu vaccine protected against GBS. As It has been shown that up to 25 per cent disease, often preceded by a respiratory people who have previously had GBS are of healthcare workers can contract influenza or gastrointestinal infection. It causes more likely to get it again, anyone who in any one season. Infected health care progressive muscle weakness and short- developed GBS within six weeks of a workers, even if asymptomatic, can be a term paralysis. Most of the people who previous influenza vaccine or has developed source of infection for their patients and get GBS recover and are able to return GBS within the past year should discuss families. A safe effective pandemic vaccine to their normal lives and activities and in the risks and benefits of vaccination can save many lives, both from influenza about 40 per cent of cases, no cause is with their doctor. For people who have and from the indirect effects of an overrun found. Approximately 55-85 cases occur never had GBS, the benefits of influenza health service. In order to protect ourselves, in Ireland each year, a rate of 1.5-2 cases vaccination greatly outweigh any risk of our families, patients, co-workers and per 100,000 population. Some studies have vaccine-associated GBS. communities, it is very important that we suggested that seasonal influenza vaccine get vaccinated as soon as the pandemic USE OF THIOMERSAL (H1N1) 2009 vaccination programme Another concern that has been raised in starts. In fact, it is our moral and ethical KEY POINTS media reports lately is the use of thiomersal responsibility. Get vaccinated and stay • People in Ireland will only be as a preservative in one of the vaccines healthy this winter. vaccinated after the vaccine has been procured by the HSE. Thiomersal is a licensed by the European Medicines mercury-containing compound that has Dr Kevin Kelleher is the Assistant Evaluation Agency (EMEA). been used since the 1930s to prevent National Director in the Population • For people who have never had GBS, contamination in some multi-dose vials of Health – Health Protection section of the benefits of influenza vaccination vaccines. Thiomersal is not the same as the HSE, and Dr Darina O’Flanagan greatly outweigh any risk of methly mercury, which can accumulate in is Director of the Health Protection vaccine-associated GBS. the body and become toxic. Thiomersal Surveillance Centre. • The Pandemic vaccine is the best contains a different form of mercury (ethyl tool we have to prevent this illness. mercury) which does not accumulate and Additional material from Dr S Cotter, Dr is metabolised and removed from the body D Igoe, Dr I Kelly and Dr E O’Connell. 16 Health Matters HSE Community Games. Many volunteers are past participants who want to give the next generation the same experiences they had. In the HSE we might call it Building ‘building social capital’; volunteers call it ‘giving something back’. While our health :FDDLE@K@ K?FLJ8E;J ALMOST 9,000 CHILDREN and young healthy lifestyle choices for all the family. HSE Community Games National Finals, people from all around the country took Health promotion staff from the HSE we offered parents and children advice part in the 2009 National Finals of the HSE attended the National Finals in August on eating well, keeping active and staying Community Games in Athlone Institute of to provide helpful tips for eating well healthy. Through initiatives like ‘Little Technology. Young people attended the and staying active. This year, a special Steps’ and ‘Get Ireland Active’, we offered National Finals on one weekend in May healthy smoothie was created for the HSE tips and advice for all the family to look and two weekends in August. Community Games for all the participants after their health by making small changes President of HSE Community Games, to enjoy. HSE smoking cessation officers such as choosing healthier options, Miceal Curley said: “The move to Athlone were also available to talk to anyone and increasing activity levels. The HSE IT with larger facilities allows us to wishing to stop smoking, or to get advice Community Games are a great way for accommodate even more children and on deterring their children from picking up children to stay healthy, while making new give them an opportunity to participate in the habit. friends and enjoying themselves”. friendly competition in a fun atmosphere.” “The HSE is very proud of our Over 500,000 children and young partnership with the Community Games”, people from across Ireland take part said Catherine Murphy, Assistant National in the HSE Community Games every Director of Population Health, HSE. “The year making it an essential part of the motto of the Games is ‘A healthy mind in Irish summer. a healthy body’, a sentiment which reflects The HSE and Community Games the health promotion aim of the HSE. By partnership highlights the importance of providing health promotion staff at the information such as urging people to our approach to drug and alcohol incidents use sunscreen during summer events. had the best interests of our participants Messages from national health promotion at heart. Following the 2008 AGM of È@ek_\?J<n\d`^_kZXcc campaigns such as Little Steps (focusing the HSE Community Games a national `kÊYl`c[`e^jfZ`XcZXg`kXcË2 on making healthier food choices) were director was given responsibility for health also reinforced. promotion. This change reflects the value mfclek\\ijZXcc`kÊ^`m`e^ the organisation puts on this work: it is truly jfd\k_`e^YXZb É PROMOTING HEALTH embedded in its structure and ethos. The Development Committee ran a very successful and popular award night for IN PARTNERSHIP volunteers – the HSE Community Games’ Partnership is all about achieving more answer to the Oscars – so we included together than we can on our own. Working + Pictures are from the 2009 National Finals of the HSE Community Games in a health promotion award in 2008. The with over 20,000 volunteers means that Athlone Institute of Technology in National Finals are a showcase event for the HSE broadens its reach into hundreds August '09. the HSE Community Games. The activities of communities nationwide. Recognition committee has the huge task of organising of the HSE as the title sponsor of the HSE Below: Meabh McGuinness is pictured these events, which are spread out over Community Games is growing all the time. with the HSE’s Maria Lordan Dunphy and Micheal Curley, President of the HSE three summer weekends and attended by I think this sponsorship shows the Community Games, after receiving the almost 9,000 children and young people, public that the HSE values people in Silver Health Award from the National supported by the managers, parents our communities who are willing to give Youth Council of Ireland in February 2009. and friends. their free time and energy to improve the This committee worked with us on health of future generations. It also reflects implementing our healthy eating policy and a proactive, positive and progressive our smoke-free sidelines policy. Changes approach to delivering improved health like these take a lot of negotiation and outcomes by two organisations committed consultation, give and take, but I think the to people living ‘active healthy lives’. replacement of the traditional chip van with a van selling smoothies, sandwiches and For more about the people, the other healthy options signalled the end partnership and their ongoing progress of a era. The ‘substance use’ policy was please visit: www.communitygames.ie eagerly debated and discussed by the or www.hse.ie. security committee, keen to ensure that 18 Health Matters run a treatment programme, and each client is facilitated in a way that respects them as a unique person. Our clinical staff work with our clients to support them in a therapeutic relationship that facilitates their personal growth and development. Some people need short-term counselling (maybe up to 20 one-hour sessions), others need longer term psychotherapy which can extend up to two years, and a small number of our clients have had psychotherapy for more than two years. Some of our clients who were in institutional care as children were deprived of educational opportunities and had to work from an early age within the institutions they lived in. They report that they have felt very disadvantaged throughout their whole lives because of having been deprived of their emotional, physical and educational needs. Some people have also told us about their experiences of sexual abuse as children in care. The Commission to Inquire into Child FEK?<IF8; Abuse was set up in 2000 to conduct an inquiry into abuse of children in institutions during the period from 1940 or earlier, to the present day. With the publication of KFI<:FM counselling support when they are upset by of State for Children, Barry Andrews, television and radio programmes because announced additional funding for the HSE their emotional reaction is telling them National Counselling Service. We are in something important about themselves: that discussion with senior managers about they need to pay attention to their feelings additional resources to help us manage the and emotions, and this can lead to a deeper increase in demand for counselling from understanding of themselves. survivors of childhood abuse. We expect Counselling is an opportunity for a person this demand to increase further with the to meet with a counsellor on a regular basis, publication of the report from the Dublin usually weekly, where they can talk about Archdiocese Commission of Investigation events and experiences that are holding (the Murphy report). The commission, them back from living happy and healthy chaired by Judge Yvonne Murphy, lives. When a person has experiences conducted an inquiry into abuse cases in childhood that are abusive there is an which occurred in the archdiocese of Dublin impact on their normal psychological and between 1975 and 2004. personal development. This varies from Counselling is free of charge and person to person. Typically they can have enquiries can be made via freephone. Full issues with self confidence and self esteem. details of our service locations and contact They might not feel very good about numbers are available on our website ÈN_\en\_Xm\ themselves and this influences the choices www.hse-ncs.ie. We have an automated \og\i`\eZ\j`efli they make in friendships, relationships, jobs freephone service which connects the and in life in general. They may find that caller to their chosen county. The national Z_`c[_ff[k_XkXi\ they are feeling unhappy but are not really freephone number is 1800 235 234. XYlj`m\k_\i\`j sure why – counselling can help a person Individual freephone numbers for each of to explore their lives in a way that can bring the 10 Administration Centres can be found Xe`dgXZkfefli insight and understanding, and ultimately in the table below. Calls are answered self-acceptance and the courage to make during normal office hours. Early morning efidXcgjpZ_fcf^`ZXc healthier choices on every level in their and early evening appointments are Xe[g\ijfeXc daily lives. available in some counselling centres. Counsellors are trained to provide the [\m\cfgd\ekÉ kind of environment where a person can Rachel Mooney is Director of Counselling trust them enough to talk about their lives in HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster. She is Chair and events that they consider were abusive. of the HSE National Counselling Service These events can relate to emotional, Directors of Counselling Group and can physical or sexual abuse. The counselling be contacted on [email protected]. relationship is a confidential one and this means that a client can expect to be HSE AREA FREEPHONE NO. respected and helped to get a deeper understanding of themselves. We work HSE Dublin North East (North Dublin & Meath) 1800 234 110 within the Children First guidelines – a HSE Dublin North East (Navan, Cavan, Louth & Monaghan) 1800 234 117 framework where the protection of children HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster (South Dublin, East Wicklow) 1800 234 111 is paramount. HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster (West Dublin, West Wicklow & Kildare 1800 234 112 THE RYAN REPORT HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster (Laois, Offaly, Longford & Westmeath) 1800 234 113 People can self-refer to our service. Their counselling needs will be discussed with HSE West (Galway, Mayo & Roscommon) 1800 234 114 a counsellor/therapist and if our service is HSE West (Limerick, Clare & North Tipperary) 1800 234 115 suitable for them they will be allocated to a HSE West (Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo) 1800 234 119 waiting list and offered counselling as soon as it is available. Following the Ryan report HSE South (Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow and our waiting lists are longer than ever and South Tipperary) 1800 234 118 the number of people waiting does vary around the country from two to 23 months. HSE South (Cork & Kerry) 1800 234 116 However, on July 28 2009 the Minister COMMERCIAL FEATURE Corium Patient Management System Corium (n) – (the deepest vascular inner layer of the skin). Corium is an Irish healthcare company that has an exclusive relationship with Paul Hartmann Ag. We focus on 3 areas: Adult Incontinence, Draping and Customised Procedure Trays for theatre. Corium works with the HSE to manage the provision and delivery Fields can be added, amended or removed as required and of incontinence wear to 11,500 domestic addresses, 170 Health reports generated by a wide range of parameters. The Appliance Centres, 130 Nursing Homes and 30 hospitals in Dublin, Wicklow, Offi cers in the Local Health Offi ce Areas add, amend and remove Kildare and Meath. This equates to more than 50,000 deliveries prescriptions over the web and Corium performs the deliveries. per annum. This presents a signifi cant challenge in terms of Patients receive their prescription on an 84 day cycle. logistics and patient prescription management for the HSE and Corium. Due to the fact that Ireland does not have detailed post codes we relied on Geotags (Longitudinal/Latitudinal co-ordinates). We A multi-disciplinary team was set-up consisting of the HSE East achieved this by running all patient addresses through Dynamic Continence Promotion Unit, Central Purchasing Department, Business Informatics Limited software that tidied the addresses HSE Procurement Category Management, Corium staff and and subsequently through Google maps to get co-ordinates. clinical representation from the community, nursing homes and This had an 85% success rate and the remaining ‘geotags’ were hospitals. The group met on a monthly basis with the ultimate confi rmed manually or on their fi rst delivery. An automated objective of developing a service to meet each individual user procedure runs every night to ‘Geotag’ new patients added to the groups’ specifi c clinical and logistical requirements. system. The most demanding element of the service is the effective Additional advantages of the above process are that we can and effi cient management and delivery of product to domestic ‘zone’ deliveries by concentration/frequency; generate a map on addresses. Corium has developed a proprietary Patient demand to provide a visual representation of patient locations Management System (PMS) that manages Patient Prescriptions and generate accurate route plans. and deliveries securely over the web. We have the information that allows the HSE make real time Patient prescriptions include: decisions regarding patient prescriptions and product delivery. This has made our service to the HSE and patients very fl exible U Address and fast. In addition, the reporting module allows Corium & the HSE measure and manage patient/product prescriptions. U Contact and alternate contact details Furthermore cost analysis down to cost per patient per day is U Local Health Offi ce Area readily available to all stakeholders. U Nurse U Doctor U Dublin Electoral District (DED) U GMS/LTI references U Product required U Prescription history U Delivery history U Delivery comment and permanent patient note Corium Patient Management System U Next delivery date etc. Please contact us at Corium (01 866 1200) if you require further clarifi cation or have any questions. Health Matters 21 JL@:@;<GI area of suicide prevention. Essentially we’re trying to ensure that more people around the country are better equipped to respond to anyone who indicates suicidal thoughts. We recently produced 100,000 information leaflets and 100,000 pocket information cards on ‘Looking after your mental health in tough economic times.’ The cards, which were launched at an event at Dublin Castle this summer, include basic tips about trying to cope in difficult times. Our advice is practical. It includes tips like the following: • Take it one day at a time: Focus on the here and now and trust that you will have what it takes to cope with tomorrow. While this may feel impossible, think of times in your life when you overcame certain situations in your life and improved your self-confidence. Plan your day so that at the end of it you will feel as though you have achieved something; • Get advice on money problems: Taking control of your money problems may help to reduce your stress. Contact the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) for D@E;@E>PFLI advice on 1890 283 438 ; • Get involved: Volunteering for a charity or taking up a new hobby may help you D 'Suicide Prevention in the Workplace' . The document contains practical information and guidance for workplaces and organisations who may need to respond to and support those who are at risk of suicidal behaviour. The guidance within the document can be amended to meet the requirements of individual organisations or services. TRAINING GATHERS PACE In addition, we’re targeting suicide prevention training at relevant agencies including MABS, Citizens’ Information Centres and the Department of Social and Family Affairs, as well as HSE staff through regional suicide prevention resource offices and voluntary organisations. The training is ongoing, and will be intensified over the next 12 months. Two training programmes are co-ordinated nationally by the NOSP, which aims to increase awareness and skills in suicide prevention. ASIST – Applied Suicide Intervention Skills If you’re worried about someone in these Training – is a two-day programme which tough economic times there are a number of seeks to improve the skills of professionals useful tips that can help. These are outlined È@kËj`dgfikXekkf and community leaders in responding to in our recent publications and include i\d\dY\ik_XkpflËi\efk people who may indicate suicidal thoughts. the following: There are 100 trainers delivering this • Listen: This can make people feel Xcfe\Xe[k_Xkk_\i\`j programme and in the last five years over supported and less alone; _\cgXmX`cXYc\É 12,000 people have been trained. • Reassure them: Offer support and let Safetalk is a half day basic suicide people know that you care; alertness programme for the general • Ask the question: Don’t be afraid to public. It aims to increase awareness of discuss suicide – asking about it won’t put and others such as the job clubs already signs of suicidal behaviour and informs the idea in people’s heads; in place, send messages of hope in these people of relevant support services in their • Get professional help: Do not leave a difficult times and should encourage those organisation or community. suicidal person alone – encourage them to in financial or employment difficulties Informing those affected by look for help. to follow simple steps to maintain their unemployment, their families, friends, and mental health and well-being. The practical the wider community of the possible impact Speaking at the launch of our booklets advice in the NOSP leaflets complements that unemployment and financial difficulties in Dublin Castle during the summer the this message. can have on an individual’s mental health University of Michigan Professor Rick and wellbeing is hugely beneficial. An Irish Price described the Winning New Jobs Copies of the information leaflet & wallet study carried out in 2007 showed that 81 programme which has been developed in card ‘ Look after your mental health during per cent of women who attend the Money the USA. tough economic times ’ can also be obtained Advice Budgeting Service (MABS) discuss This mental health programme, which from Money Advice Budgeting Service their emotional health and well being with is targeted at those who are unemployed (MABS) and Citizens’ Information Centres. their money advisor – most commonly and seeking work, teaches people how The ‘ Suicide Prevention in the mentioning stress, depression, anxiety to be resilient and constructive in the face Workplace ’ resource can be obtained and insomnia. of adversity. The programme provides job from Susan Kenny, National Training and seeking skills, promotes re-employment and Development officer with the NOSP by WHAT TO DO helps people to combat feelings of anxiety, phoning 041-6860712 or by emailing With unemployment known to be a key helplessness and depression. It improves [email protected]. factor in suicide rates, several approaches participants’ self esteem, sense of control can be undertaken to offset the recession’s and coping skills against personal setbacks. Geoff Day is Director of the HSE National potential impact. The development of such a programme, Office for Suicide Prevention. Ireland Wish the HSE every success and support with Good Hygiene Practices Reduce Health Matters magazine . Infection Risk What is Swine Flu? SwineWhat Influenza is Swine (swine Flu?flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs causedPandemicSwine Influenza by (H1N1)type A(swine influenza2009 flu)is a is virusesnew a respiratory fl u that virus cause which disease regular has of been pigsflu outbreakscirculatingcaused by inworldwidetype pigs. A influenzaGiven since the viruses Aprilnew 2009.information that The cause World on regular the Health spread, flu theOrganisationoutbreaks virus (H1N1) in pigs.has causing declared Given the this mishapnew situation information is believed to be ona pandemicto the be spread, a mutated–the a flvirus u epidemic form.(H1N1) The thatcausing new spreads strain the mishap aroundis a hybrid isthe believed ofworld. swine, Pandemicto humanbe a JohnsonDiversey’s Recommended and(H1N1)mutated avian 2009 form. flu virusesis Thea type new and of strain inflthe uenza US is aCenters hybridvirus. It offor causes swine, Disease respiratory human Control anddiseaseand Preventionavian in fluhumans. viruses (CDC) The and says strain the it canUS causing Centersspread the fromfor current Disease human pandemic Controlto Products human.resultsand Prevention from(28.04.2009). a new (CDC) and says previously it can spreadunseen from type. human to human. (28.04.2009). Signs and Symptoms in People Softcare The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, Med+ sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhoea and vomiting associated hand disinfectant with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause Oxivir a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions. disinfectant Necessary Precautions – WHO Standard Recommendations pathogens such as H1N1 “Swine Flu”, • Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and coughs and Norovirus Wash your hands with soap and water Suma Bac D10 frequently and thoroughly • Practice good health habits including getting adequate for all surfaces in Food sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically Premises active a wide spectrum of Necessary Precautions – Other Sources Cough or sneeze into your arm (inside elbow) or into a tissue , (discard immediately in Titan Sanitiser Powder rubbish bin). Do not cover your mouth with your hands. See your doctor if you have fever, cough, sore throat, high level disinfection of body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, diarrhoea or hard surfaces vomiting. in one step Clean and disinfect surfaces frequently with a registered disinfectant cleaner with virucidal claims. Also products having Influenza A and/or Avian Flu specific claims can be applied. For more information please contact • Viruses can survive on hard surfaces for two hours or For more informationJohnsonDiversey please contact customer JohnsonDiversey service on:on: longer; regularly clean & disinfect high touch surfaces such as cafeteria tables, desks, door knobs, light 01 808 1808 switches, desk tops, restroom fixtures, telephones, door 01 8081808 push plates, lift buttons etc. Please inform your supervisor and HR department i f you suspect a case of Swine Flu Health Matters 25 @E9I@<= \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ * Pictured (back from `)DJ8M@E>FEDF9@C<G?FE<:?8I> GIF= stocked, computerised, staffed and registered with the Pharmaceutical Society * HSE Environmental Health Officer Claire Kenny, of Ireland, they were operating very well. Minister for State at the Department of Health, Aine “It is important to remember that the Brady and Kildare-based Principal Environmental challenge facing the HSE is to provide as Health Officer Catherine Foye at the launch of the many quality services to as many people as new provisions of the Public Health Tobacco Act. possible with the finite funding available,” he told staff. “This is becoming increasingly KF98::F8;M THE TAOISEACH’S PUBLIC SERVICE two years. Traditionally, selected Service, the Education Sector, the EXCELLENCE AWARDS, which projects from among the Award Health Sector, the Justice Sector, promote innovation and excellence, winners have been showcased at Local Government and other Public are designed to showcase and international “Quality Conferences” as Service organisations. celebrate public service projects that models of best practice. The deadline for entries is Friday, make a particular difference to the way The next round of Awards will October 23, 2009. Entry forms can the citizen can avail of services. The be presented early in 2010 and be downloaded at www.onegov. creative use of resources and the your project could be among the ie. Hospital Managers and/or Local development of new effi ciencies are winners. Submissions are invited Health Managers should be consulted typical hallmarks of successful entries. from individuals, groups and prior to the submission of HSE The Taoiseach’s Public Service organisations within the Public entries. HSE Area Communications Excellence Awards take place every Service, which includes the Civil Departments should also be informed. COMMERCIAL FEATURE Mayo Company Charts Course for the Future A Mayo based company is leading the way in the decontamination and recycling of medical equipment used in the community and health care institutions. pened in May this year, Homecare Medical Supplies 20,000 sq ft facility Oin Kiltimagh has been extensively This web based software allows authorised request repairs, collections and deliveries of renovated to accommodate the high tech HSE personnel to log in from their own PC’s equipment in the community or in a hospital. equipment needed for the decontamination using secure personal identification numbers to The equipment is serviced and decontaminated of beds, hoists, wheelchairs, commodes log requests for the repair, collection or delivery to the highest standards and stored for mattresses etc. of HSE owned equipment. subsequent redelivery when so required,” said Under the guidance of infection control expert The superior functionality of the software Mr. Doyle Marina Burd, the company has invested over provides for the asset tracking of all HSE “The software enables full traceability of half a million euro in the development of the equipment serviced by Homecare Medical product at all times. From an asset tracking and plant to included segregated areas for service Supplies enabling significant cost efficiencies, infection control perspective the advantages and repair, decontamination and storage of HSE complete traceability of product and ease of for the HSE are clear. We strongly believe owned equipment. product recall. we can offer a single cost effective solution Imported from Italy, the machines are capable According to John Doyle, General Manager of that addresses a number of significant and of cleaning and disinfection at universally Homecare Medical Supplies the recycling and problematic issues that have faced the HSE in accepted temperatures. As automated decontamination of health care equipment is a the past,” concluded Mr. Doyle. processes are superior and more reliable than growth area Homecare Medical Supplies. Homecare Medical Supplies was originally what can be achieved manually, this facility ‘”We see the recycling and decontaminating of set up by Peter, Mary and Noel McGuinness in achieves a level of decontamination that ideally health care equipment as becoming increasingly 1988 to distribute incontinence wear to nursing should be available for all similar equipment at all important for the HSE especially in the current homes in the west of Ireland. Over the past 21 K8F@J<8:?ËJ8N8I;J)'(' healthcare facilities. environment where there are limited or no capital years the company has diversified into many The company has recently been awarded expenditure budgets.” areas to encompass the supply of a wide range a 3 year contract from the HSE to collect, Displaying characteristic foresight this of medical consumables and equipment to the service, repair, decontaminate and store award winning company’s investment not nursing home, HSE, retail, GP and pharmacy medical equipment from community care areas only includes a state of the art facility but also markets. and health care institutions in Counties Mayo, advanced software with superior functionally and In 2008, as a result of continued growth and Roscommon and Galway. associated cost savings with the automation of the desire to grow further, Homecare moved to a Advanced software commissioned by routine processes. 60,000 sq ft purpose built facility in Ballyhaunis. Homecare Medical Supplies enables the same “We believe the total package that Homecare Homecare Medical Supplies now employs day processing of orders from HSE personnel Medical Supplies has put in place for the HSE 60 people including 20 who are directly employed in community care and health care West is unique in the extent of its offering. employed in the newly opened service and institutions in the West of Ireland. Simple web access enables HSE staff to decontamination facility in Kiltimagh. HOMECARE M EDICAL S UPPLIES , B ALLYHAUNIS , C O. M AYO TEL : 1890 090 390 www.homecaremedicalsuppplies.ie 28 Health Matters + After the introduction Staff in Wexford General of Surgical Site Infection Surveillance in Wexford Hospital have managed to General Hospital the crude infection rate in contribute to a reduction in surgical wounds fell from the number of healthcare 9 per cent for 2007 to 5.2 per cent for 2008. associated infections (HCAI) acquired in the hospital by putting in place an innovative surgical site infection surveillance programme, writes EITHNE O’SULLIVAN. vidence suggests that the implementation of an effective E surveillance system with regular feedback to stakeholders has been shown to have a direct impact on HCAI rates. “Surveillance of healthcare-associated infections such as surgical site infections (SSIS) is a key component in the prevention and control of these infections,” says Dr Fidelma Fitzpatrick, Consultant Microbiologist with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. SSIS are infections that occur at or near a surgical incision within 30 days of a procedure. They are one of the most common healthcare associated infections. Having an SSI can mean an extended length of stay in the hospital for patients, and hospital costs can be as much as doubled. In Wexford we started surgical site infection surveillance for general surgery as a pilot project in August 2006. The programme has been a great success, resulting in improved patient care and fewer surgical site infections. INITIAL RESULTS Following one year of surgical site infection surveillance, the crude infection rate in surgical wounds fell from 9 per cent for 2007 to 5.2 per cent for 2008. Surgical site JJ@J LE;@:8CJ@K<@E=<:K@FEJLIM<@CC8E:< the project and subsequently to coordinate the surveillance process. This role is seen as an essential component to the continuous success of surveillance. A steering committee was appointed and a framework was put in place to feedback findings to clinicians and the hospital management team. A project team was also appointed to implement the surveillance system. Team members included a surveillance manager, consultant + Pictured above: Colm microbiologist, consultant surgeon, Quigley, Consultant Physician specialist in public health medicine, and Clinical Director, WGH; Eithne O’Sullivan, Surveillance surveillance scientist, surgical specialist Manager, WGH; Mr. Ken registrar, representation from senior nursing Mealy, Consultant Surgeon, and general management, an infection WGH; Dr Brian Carey, control nurse specialist, IT analyst and an Consultant Microbiologist, antibiotic liaison pharmacist. WRH and WGH. COLLECTION OF DATA team in Wexford General and, through We put a system in place to collect data collaboration, work is currently ongoing on on surgical site infections for 20 surgical È?Xm`e^XeJJ@ZXed\Xe the implementation of these care bundles in procedures including: appendectomy, Xe\ok\e[\[c\e^k_f] the hospital. cholecystectomy, gastric surgery, herniorrhaphy, varicose vein surgery, jkXp`ek_\_fjg`kXc]fi 2. ANTIBIOTIC PROPHYLAXIS AND colon surgery, small bowel surgery and TREATMENT mastectomy during the pilot phase only. gXk`\ekj#Xe[_fjg`kXc The SSIS database includes information This system involved the development of a ZfjkjZXeY\XjdlZ_ on antibiotic prophylaxis for each data collection form based on that already procedure, which can help to monitor in use by the Northern Ireland Healthcare- Xj[flYc\[É appropriate use of these valuable drugs in Associated Infection Surveillance Centre the hospital. In 2008 an audit of antibiotic (HISC), as part of the Pan Celtic group. published and the surgical site infection treatment of surgical site infections was Director of the Northern Ireland HISC, Dr rates calculated along with enhanced undertaken, which helped to guide further Ed Smyth and his colleagues provided surveillance data according to age, sex education initiatives for appropriate great support. and risk factors. These reports are then antibiotic prescribing. Standardised definitions introduced by returned to the surgical directorate and A multidisciplinary team approach to the Centre for Disease Control and used hospital management. the diagnosis and treatment of Surgical by the Pan Celtic surveillance group are Site Infection has also been established used in Wexford General Hospital. After the INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE with input from the surgeons, a clinical pilot phase the surveillance system was SSI RATES microbiologist, infection control nurse expanded to include all general surgical 1. CARE BUNDLES specialists and an antibiotic liaison procedures. In 2008 it was expanded to Following the first year of surveillance the pharmacist. These initiatives may have in include surveillance of wounds in patients SSIS committee looked at ways to reduce some way contributed to the positive 15 per following caesarean section delivery. the SSI rates. Evidence-based audit tools cent reduction on overall antibiotic use in If a patient re-attended at Wexford with and care bundles are being introduced the hospital between 2007 and 2008. a suspected SSI within 30 days of their to facilitate practices aimed at reducing procedure, the surveillance manager was surgical site infections. KEY LESSONS informed. If an SSI was diagnosed within Care bundles are collections of key The staff in Wexford General adopted a 30 days, the diagnosis was recorded by the interventions that may be applied to a team approach to the surveillance process. surgical staff and/or surveillance manager particular condition or procedure. All A robust system was put in place which had and the information was scanned into a elements of care are derived from evidence- a number of positive outcomes including an master database. based best practice. early clinical response to SSIS, improved For each year the results of the data Existing SSI care bundles have been practice through audit and the introduction forms are collated, a comprehensive report adopted or adapted by the infection control of care bundles. 30 Health Matters I feel strongly that organisational support is a key factor in the success of this programme. Good communications between all parties allowed for timely problem solving and action plans. Clearly defining roles and responsibility from the outset has allowed issues to be resolved effectively and efficiently. Consultant surgeons and their teams have been actively involved and the regular feedback of SSI rates to surgeons is essential. “The multidisciplinary approach incorporating the Surgical Directorate, Clinical Microbiology Department, Infection Control Team, surveillance scientists, antibiotic pharmacists, nursing staff, public health specialists and hospital management has been key to the success of this project,” said Dr Brian Carey, consultant microbiologist in the HSE South East hospitals for SSIS. The Health Protection Hospitals’ Network. “This model could also Surveillance Centre (HPSC) subcommittee ÈK_\gif^iXdd\_Xj be adapted and utilised for the effective on surveillance of surgical site infection has surveillance and management of other produced a national protocol for general Y\\eX^i\XkjlZZ\jj HCAIs such as vascular catheter infections, surgery. Further information is available on urinary catheter infections and ventilator- www.hpsc.ie. Xe[_Xji\jlck\[`e associated pneumonia.” Emphasising the importance of SSI `dgifm\[gXk`\ekZXi\ It is important that patients who come surveillance, consultant physician and into our hospital for surgery are confident clinical director at Wexford, Dr Colm Xe[]\n\ijli^`ZXc that adverse events such as surgical site Quigley, said that “the pro-active review j`k\`e]\Zk`fejÉ infection are prevented insofar as this is and audit of healthcare-outcomes is a vital possible. A zero per cent risk of HCAI or component of the continuing assessment of surgical site infection is not realistic, but it is clinical performance and the maintenance vital that every effort is made to minimise the of professional standards. This surveillance risk of an SSI occurring. The introduction of of surgical site infections is a very important a robust, systematic surveillance system in part of quality improvement and shows the Wexford using a collaborative approach by commitment of Wexford to the provision clinicians and management is contributing of excellent clinical care to all its patients. to positive patient outcomes. I hope that the Wexford experience will be “The surgical site infection data collected helpful to other hospitals in their efforts to has allowed us focus on this major improve patient care.” outcome marker,” says Wexford-based The Wexford model is outlined in the consultant surgeon Ken Mealy. “While it is document Developing and Implementing heartening to note our SSI rates are roughly SSIS at WGH; Our Experience which is comparable with international norms available at www.hpsc.ie. we clearly have room for improvement. These results will allow us target specific Eithne O'Sullivan is Surveillance areas using a range of interventions with Manager at Wexford General Hospital the ultimate goal of improving patient and can be contacted at 053 9153136 outcomes.” or by email [email protected]. Eithne has written this article on behalf NATIONAL UPDATE of the hospital's Surgical Site Infection The HSE Infection Control Action plan Surveillance Steering Committee. states that explicit targets will be set for all 32 Health Matters partnership discussions leading to revisions of the Dignity at Work policy it became DXb`e^d\[`Xk`fe clear that we needed to have a process which could deal with alleged bullying and harassment cases at a very early stage, in order to avoid the spiral of escalation which tends to occur. In the 2008 Chartered NFIB Institute personnel development survey on mediation, 57 per cent of those surveyed felt that mediation reduced the number of Earlier this year the HSE broke new ground in industrial formal grievances raised, while 83 per cent of respondents indicated that mediation relations by becoming the first public service organisation to improved relationships between employees. introduce a staff mediation service, writes JIM FLEMING . Of course, mediation is not restricted to cases of bullying or harassment and can be e hear a lot about mediation these It is specifically designed not to have rigid used for all forms of grievances outside of days in relation to international processes or legal consequences. the collective bargaining arena. Wconflicts, disputes over land In the HSE our mediation panel deals Workplace complaints and disputes ownership, family law issues, marriage solely with work-based conflict. It is not have cost the HSE an estimated €1.2m breakdown and, increasingly, issues in intended to replace the normal process of since 2005. This figure covers the cost the workplace. industrial relations or collective bargaining. of legal fees, damages and awards to We all know that mediation deals with However, it is strongly supported by both individuals – it doesn’t include management conflict resolution, but what exactly is it? management and trade unions and is time lost in preparing for and attending Is it a legal process? Does it involve union specifically referenced within the Dignity at third party hearings. The new mediation representation? Are you put under oath? Work policy. service will prevent considerable costs in What does a mediator do? time and money but, more importantly, WHY DO WE NEED IT? will de-escalate potential conflict between WHAT IS IT? Most individual disputes start small. individual employees and within teams. Firstly, it is not a legal process – quite the Some, unfortunately, escalate in cycles of opposite, in fact! It’s a totally voluntary tit-for-tat until they grow into something HOW DOES IT WORK IN PRACTICE? approach, freely entered into by individuals unrecognisable from the initial issue, The mediator usually has a chat with each and/or groups in conflict situations. often sucking in other employees. During party before a joint session to explain the Health Matters 33 D<;@8K@FE • Every person is capable of change; FACTS • People can and should make decisions • There are currently 40 fully trained and about their own lives; accredited mediators operating on a • The parties speak for themselves, think for part time basis within the HSE; themselves, and decide for themselves. • Information on mediation is available The hard work is theirs. So is the outcome. from a number of sources such as your line manager, trade union official BENEFITS or from occupational health. However, Mediation tackles disputes and differences your area HR department is the first at an early stage, before they become contact point if you want to avail of the entrenched. The process is confidential mediation process; to the parties and issues such as loss of • Using mediation as a first option does face or the fear of public exposure can be not prevent you accessing other avoided. However, a key benefit of mediation È@e\jj\eZ\d\[`Xk`fe dispute resolution agencies such as is that it is a voluntary approach. Parties can the Labour Relations Commission opt out at any stage with no consequences. ^`m\jXe^ipg\fgc\ or Labour Court if mediation is A second key benefit is that the parties XZ_XeZ\kfYi`e^ not suitable; themselves reach agreement through • Mediation is confidential and parties discussion, with the assistance of the flkk_\Y\jk`e sign an agreement to this effect. mediator. People get the opportunity, in a k_\dj\cm\jÉ protected environment, to explain directly to the other party how the dispute has affected process and get a sense of the issues them as a person and what part the other involved. At the joint session each party party has played wittingly or unwittingly in The mediation policy and code gets the opportunity to speak about their that hurt. Each side is given an opportunity of ethics is available for HSE issues without interruption. Then there is an to directly respond, query or explain their staff on the HSE Intranet site, opportunity for an exchange of views and for side of the story. HSEnet or on www.hseland.ie. each person to explain why they are upset. Agreements reached through mediation This is a very important phase because it have less residual negative impact because allows people to be heard directly by the each party has voluntarily agreed to a other party (this type of direct discussion solution rather than having it imposed may not have been possible for some time through third parties such as the Labour as the conflict developed). At times it may be Court or the legal process. necessary to break into separate meetings to check on people’s concerns or to deal Jim Fleming is an Assistant National with unhelpful behaviour, or even to help Director in the HSE’s HR Performance participants to consider their options. and Development section. He is based in The mediator eventually guides the Dublin’s Parkgate Street office. discussion towards the future and helps the parties to set an agenda of items for resolution. The parties work through these items, testing alternatives before settling on what they agree are workable solutions. Where agreement is reached the mediator writes up a formal agreement which is signed by all parties. However, mediation is not always successful and not every issue is suitable for mediation. Other solutions may + At the launch of the be required. ui mediation service in red. Palmerstown, Dublin in July MEDIATION ASSUMPTIONS were (left to right): Marie Casey, Rita Thompson, Basic assumptions underpinning Gerry Tuohy, Karen Erwin mediation include the following: (Mediation Institute Ireland • Every person has an element of goodwill President), Mary Smith Hayes and integrity; and Geraldine Gannon. 34 Health Matters practice. He or she must have completed an approved six month post-registration education programme, have the appropriate clinical experience, and be registered with An Bord Altranais as a Registered Nurse Prescriber (RNP). This course is provided at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and University College Cork, and the first group of nurses graduated and registered in January last year. NATIONAL RESOURCE AND IMPLEMENTATION GROUP The minister also set up a national resource and implementation group on nurse and midwife prescribing, which is supported by the HSE through the appointment of a E BENEFITS the lead researcher, by email at Numerous benefits resulting from this type [email protected]]. of prescribing are passed on to people who need such services. These include: Maureen Flynn is Assistant Director of improved services through reduced waiting Nursing, HSE Dublin Mid Leinster and is + Gill O’Callaghan, + Margaret Mallen, times, and by using nursing and midwifery based in Dr Steevens’ Hospital in Dublin 8. Clinical Nurse Specialist Advanced Nurse skills more effectively. Being able to For further information on this initiative you in Acute Pain, Our Practitioner, Monaghan Lady's Hospital for Sick General Hospital. prescribe drugs has also meant that nurses can contact Maureen at 01-635 2344. Children in Crumlin. and midwives are able to provide more holistic care. Rose Lorenz is Assistant Director of Vigorous monitoring of the ability to Nursing, HSE Dublin North East and is prescribe such medicines is essential based in St Bridget’s, Ardee, Co. Louth. to its smooth and transparent running. For further information you can contact The resource and implementation group Rose at 041-6850658. developed a national nurse and midwife prescribing minimum dataset for Ireland. The minimum dataset contains twelve items of information that are collected in a HEALTH SERVICE NUMBER HEALTH SERVICE NUMBER standard way (using the nurse and midwife PROVIDER OF RNPS PROVIDER OF RNPS prescribing data collection system accessed Primary Community and Continuing Care Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore 03 through a website specifically developed Birr Community Nursing Unit, Co. Offaly 01 Midwestern Regional Hospital, Co. Limerick 03 for this purpose by the HSE) on every prescription written by a nurse or midwife. COPE Foundation, Co. Cork 01 Midwestern Regional Maternity Hospital 01 During the first 18 months of its Dublin West/South West Mental Health Monaghan General Hospital 01 introduction nurses and midwives reported Services St. Loman’s 04 Naas General Hospital, Co. Kildare 01 prescribing 9,822 times for 7,923 individual Macroom Community Hospital, Co. Cork 02 National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, patients involving 14,272 items. Up to 275 Public Health Nursing Services, Clare Local Dublin 12 different products were prescribed. Health Office, Co. Clare 01 Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, Co. Meath 01 Good governance structures, including access to a drugs and therapeutics Sacred Heart Hospital, Co. Carlow 01 Our Lady’s of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, committee, were put in place before Sligo Leitrim Mental Health 01 Co. Louth 01 the introduction of nurse and midwife St. Josephs Community Hospital, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 02 prescribing. These committees advise on Castletownbere, Co. Cork 01 Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin 02 each individual’s prescriptive authority. St. Finbars Hospital, Co. Cork 01 The Rotunda Hospital, Dublin 02 Since the introduction of the initiative some St. Vincent’s Centre, Navan Road, Dublin 01 The Coombe Women’s and Infants 26 committees have been established or re-established. 14 University Hospital, Dublin 01 In 2007, Minister Harney gave a National Hospitals Office South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel 03 commitment to conduct a review of Adelaide and Meath Hospital Dublin, inc the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, the regulations two years after their National Children’s, Dublin 05 Co. Cork 03 implementation to ensure they were working Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 04 St. Columcille’s Hospital, Loughlinstown, as planned. This was carried out by a Cavan General Hospital 01 Dublin 01 collaborative research team from University College Dublin over a six-month period this Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street, St. James Hospital, Dublin 05 year, with the findings indicating that overall Dublin 01 St Luke’s Hospital, Rathgar, Dublin 01 nurse/midwife prescribing has been safely Connolly Hospital, Dublin 02 St. Luke’s General Hospital, Co. Kilkenny 04 developed and implemented nationwide. Cork University Hospital 08 St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin 08 The full report of the evaluation is being Cork University Maternity Hospital 02 Waterford Regional Hospital 04 submitted to the Minister for Health Mater Misericordiae Universality Hospital, University College Hospital, Co. Galway 01 and Children and will be published in October 2009. Copies will be available Dublin 05 90 from the School of Nursing, Midwifery Mercy University Hospital, Co. Cork 02 Total 104 and Health Systems, University College Dublin [contact Dr Jonathan Drennan, Source: An Bord Altranais, 30 August 2009 36 Health Matters K?<98CK@E>C8JJWrite on... :FCC<:K@FE esident Ernie McGeer recalls his + MOLLY CRANNY showband days in London, while "I was born in Terenure on August 1st 1915. Opening the Door RTom O’Sullivan tells of the day he The eighth child in a family of ten children, on Our Memories met the famous South Pole explorer Tom I had a very happy childhood… Leaving is a collection Crean. Cora Lawlor gives a very interesting school at 16, my first job was as a dental account of her wartime experiences in receptionist. My social life took off then produced by London where she trained as a nurse, while and I had many boyfriends. Mother would the residents of Peter Kelly’s story, entitled ‘Itchy Feet' , have my brothers chaperone me. Finding Baltinglass Hospital in Co. gives an account of his travels in Canada, true love, I married Derek at 20 years of America and New Zealand. age and had seven children, three by the Wicklow earlier this year as In one of the pictures we see a age of 25. As the children grew up I felt I part of the Bealtaine Festival, determined Molly Cranny leading a had more time for outside interests and which celebrates creativity in protest march in Dublin city centre became a member of the Irish Housewives’ when she was chairperson of the Irish Association. We dealt with problems like older age. The stories and the Housewives’ Association. hygiene in shops; we fought for wage pictures in the booklet offer a These are just a few of the life increases for doctors and nurses and other precious glimpse into the past. experiences related in the book. Each story low paid workers, children’s issues etc. We is accompanied by a photograph of the organised marches - one to Dail Eireann A different time comes alive in writer. All the stories are different, and are about food prices, which proved very the tales told by the residents. unique to each individual. successful." The booklet was produced using a grant from the Health Promotion Unit of the + TOM O’SULLIVAN Health Service Executive. "I was four years of age when I met Tom Crean. My mother was going to Dingle to shop. She had a fistful of dollars that came in the post from her sister in America. We were rushing to get the train and we just made it. There wasn’t another sinner on the train except Tom Crean. We sat down beside him and he started to tell us about his expedition to the South Pole with Scott and Shackleton. He told us about he severe cold and the hardships he encountered – about the snowstorms and sandstorms. I was very impressed with him; I thought he + Clockwise from bottom left: was a very tough man. Molly Cranny leading an Irish Housewives Association march in "He described it all so vividly that I Dublin city centre to protest over thought I had been to the South Pole and high food prices. Molly Cranny I went home delighted with myself. My (right), then chairwoman of the mother was telling the story of meeting Tom Irish Housewives’ Association. Tom Crean for months afterwards… after 80 O’Sullivan celebrating his birthday years I can still remember clearly the day I in recent years and below, as a younger man, pictured with his wife, met Tom Crean, which is an indication of Kathleen on a night out. the strong impression he made on me." Health Matters 37 :I<8K@M@KP + CORA LAWLOR WORKED AS A NURSE IN LONDON IN THE 1940 s "I went to London in December 1943, in the middle of the war. I was 17 years of age. I started my nurse’s training on January 1st 1944 in St Alfege’s hospital in Greenwich, London. I sailed on the boat from Dun Laoghaire. I was travelling alone, but I was so excited I didn’t think about being afraid or nervous. The boat journey took four hours and then I had an eight hour train journey to London. My aunt was waiting to collect me at Euston station. It + Top left: Cora Lawlor was quite a frightening place. It was so with her grandson Adam busy. There were thousands of soldiers and in recent years and everywhere was blacked out. The next day (below middle) Cora in my aunt brought me to meet the matron of England in 1949 as a St Alfege’s hospital, she was very nice and young trainee midwife. Top right: Seamus I settled in very quickly… When you were and Ann Reid in recent on duty you could not go to the air raid years and (bottom right) shelters; you had to stay with your patients. Seamus and Ann in If you thought the bombs were falling London where they met nearby you were allowed to get under the and married. Far left: Sr Delia O’Toole who bed… the doodlebugs were the worse type lived in Texas for over 20 of bombs. They were aeroplanes without years before retiring to a pilot. You could hear the drone of them Ireland (below middle) approaching and when that noise stopped seen here with President they fell from the sky on top of whatever Mary McAleese. was below. They did terrible damage. There to take up a position as cook and was no warning, so no time to get to the air housekeeper in a large house there. There raid shelters. The only blessing was there were three other girls working there: ÈN\_X[X^ff[ were never children involved, as they had all Hannah, Mary and Peggy; they were all from jfZ`Xcc`]\kff%@lj\[ been evacuated to the country." Kerry. The house was beautiful, 22 rooms. The boss was Canadian – a gold mining kf^f[XeZ`e^kf + DELIA O’TOOLE WAS A NUN IN TEXAS engineer. They were lovely people to work k_\>Xckpdfi\#k_\ FOR MANY YEARS. for. The lady of the house always brought us "As a nun in the Sisters of Charity I was lovely presents when she returned from trips Ifle[Kfn\iXe[k_\ sent by my order to San Antonio, Texas, abroad and we always had nylon stockings in my early twenties. I had never seen an even when they were hard to get, she made J_XeefeYXcciffdj aeroplane before, never mind flown such a sure of that… we had a good social life too. Xe[Xcjfk_\9XdYX%@ long journey. It was very daunting – leaving I used to go dancing to the Galtymore, the all my family behind – with no idea when I Round Tower and the Shannon ballrooms cfm\[kf[XeZ\ would see them again. To be truthful, I was and also the Bamba. I loved to dance and Xe[j`e^%%%É terrified. We were told we’d get back in 10 sing. I also went to the cinema and the lady years but that didn’t happen… when I got of the house took us to all the West End used to the place I settled in very well. I also shows… I met Seamus in his aunt’s house. went to college while I was there. I was in He worked as a stonemason and when the Texas for over 20 years and I was never work got scarce in Ireland his aunt asked home in all that time." him to come over to England for work and stay with her. That’s how I met him. We lived + ANN AND SEAMUS REID. in England all our married life until Seamus ANN WORKED AS A COOK AND retired. I loved London and I still miss it. HOUSEKEEPER IN LONDON. The big house is now a stately home – "When I was 23 I went to Hampstead Haywood House." Celebrating 30 Years of Service Codex Office Products are Ireland’s largest independent office supplies company. Operating from our state of the art facility in Dublin we supply a wide range of office products, office furniture and printed stationery throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland. With our own vehicle fleet, the most innovative on line ordering facility in our market and one of the most experienced account management teams in the country we are well placed to offer the HSE exceptional service and value for money. Official Supplier to the HSE under the following categories: National Diary Contract Office Supplies HSE Eastern Region Codex Office Products, 89 Lagan Road, Dublin Industrial Estate, Glasnevin, Dublin 11 Sales Tel: (01) 88 22 022 Freefax: 1 800 307 300 Email: [email protected] Website: www.codexltd.com MEDCO LTD. GZa^VWanhjeean^c\i]Z]dhe^iVaVcY]ZVai]XVgZ ^cYjhign[dg(%nZVgh Service and Parts for DAF trucks 9^hedhVWaZ ;dgndjgcZZYhdjg Grove Motors Ltd. XdciVXiYZiV^ahVgZ Main Street BZYXdAiY# @^aaVgcZnGdVY Newtownmountkennedy BVXgddb 8d#8dg` Co. Wicklow Tel: 01 281 9803 lll#bZYXd#^Z ^c[d5bZYXd#^Z Fax: 01 281 9855 IZa%'+)&+-& Email: [email protected] ;Vm%'+)'*%( Web: wwww.grove-motors.net Health Matters 39 @EK Linn (interprovincial) medal with Leinster and I was the first Meath camogie player to be G8JJ@FEJ nominated for an All-Star. What’s the biggest title your team Sporting has won? The Meath team I captained in 2008 won the Nancy Murray championship (Junior B All-Ireland championship), the first All- HSE staff member Aileen Donnelly captained Meath to a Ireland title won by a Meath camogie team. National Camogie League Division 4. title in 2008. She also What are your sporting ambitions for gives it her all when she togs out for her club, Kilmessan. this year? Aileen, who works as a physiotherapist in Navan Hospital, For my club team to win the county championship and for Meath to win the tells Health Matters of her passion for the game. New Ireland Cup (Junior A All-Ireland championship). HM: When did you start playing Does being a sportsperson help you in camogie and who was the first team you your work, particularly in your work as a What famous sportsperson do you played for? physiotherapist? most admire? AD: I started playing with my club Kilmessan Yes, when it comes to patient assessment The Kilkenny hurling team would be my when I was six or seven. it helps when you know the mechanisms favourite sportspersons. I really admire their of most sports when diagnosing an injury. work rate for each other, their team play and Why did you start playing? It also helps me to recognise the need for their sheer skill is just awesome. I most likely started as a toddler at home, urgent treatment and rehabilitation when I can remember being out playing in the a sportsperson is trying to return for an What’s your favourite Irish backyard and in the garden with my family. important match or championship. sporting memory? I am the youngest of six children, my four My favourite Irish sporting memory is brothers and one sister all played hurling What’s your best sporting memory? probably when Sonia O’Sullivan won her or camogie for Kilmessan and Meath. My It’s very difficult to choose but probably silver medal at the 2000 Olympic games, parents also played for Kilmessan and 2007, the whole year was my best memory: after the 1996 disaster in Atlanta. For her to Meath so it’s a big tradition in our family. I captained my club team (who won the come back and perform the way she did with Meath championship) and my county team all that expectation on her just showed true What benefits does it bring to your life? who reached three finals. I got my first Gael sports star quality. Aside from the physical benefits, it’s a great stress buster and also a nice social outlet. All the friends I have made as a club juvenile, I’ve kept until now. Would you recommend camogie as a sport to others? Yes, I’d definitely recommend it. As a female sport, camogie is one of the best. It is Ireland’s most traditional sport, fast, skilful and very enjoyable. Being part of a team gives you a sense of belonging and in a club like ours the whole community is involved. + Far Left: A victory smile… How do you avoid getting injuries? Aileen lifts the Cup after winning It is very difficult to prevent injuries in a the National Camogie League contact sport like camogie but by wearing Division 4 Final in Blanchardstown, protective equipment such as helmets, shin Dublin in April 2008. Above: guards, hand guard etc, you lessen the risk. Aileen in action against Clare Curley of Roscommon in the Also, being taught at a young age how to National Camogie League Division tackle and defend yourself properly is an 4 Final, April 2008. Left: Getting important aspect of the game. stuck in! 40 Health Matters \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ E ;L9C@ED@;$C<@EJK * Carolan Diettrick, Mairead Aherne, Cara Gray and Pauline Dunne who are all HSE Community * Pictured at the HSE information stand to Dietitians based in mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day at Dublin Mid-Leinster. the Bridge Centre, Tullamore are (from left to right) Carmel Broghan and Moira Tysall, who A 2005 INSTITUTE of Public Health This has allowed for: both work for the HSE in the area of elder report found that more than 10 per cent • more patients to be seen in the abuse prevention. of the government’s healthcare spend is community setting; diabetes-related. • reduction in waiting time for a community NFIC; DLCC@E>8IJ8KL N ullamore Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis > A NEW DISABILITY health facility for the The completed development cost around Counselling Service has trained 11 Athlone area was opened last month. `7.5m. The HSE provided `5.9m for the Tnew support workers to provide The new centre, which will enhance the resource centre, while Pobail funded `1.4m the psychological support to women and care of people with disabilities, is located towards the crèche. men who present for forensic examination close to the planned Clonbrusk Primary following sexual assault at the new Care Unit. Sexual Assault and Treatment Unit (SATU) The purpose-built facility comprises of in Mullingar. a day service for adults with physical and The support workers are operating as sensory disabilities. It houses a range of part of a multi-disciplinary team involving therapy services for both children and the Gardaí, forensic examiners and nurses. adults with varying disabilities. There is also Support workers stay with the survivor a crèche. before and after the forensic medical “This is two years’ work by a multi- examination, to comfort her/him and agency project team,” explained Joseph ensure that she/he is well informed about Ruane, Local Health Manager, Longford/ * From left to right: Jeffrey Palmer, the various procedures involved, including Westmeath. Security Officer; Tresina Smith, advice on any follow-up needed from their Services will be delivered by the Administrator IWA; Richard Ross, Acting GP and others. Where necessary, they also HSE in partnership with a number of Service Co Ordinator IWA; Vicky Sweeney, advocate on the survivor’s behalf with the organisations, including the Irish Wheelchair Senior Occupational Therapist; Rhoda Gardai or the forensic clinical examiner in Association, MS Ireland, the NCBI and Hogan, Senior Speech and Language the case. the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary. therapist; Maura Morgan, General Manager Evidence would suggest that the Core services will include occupational Disability Services; Lisa Ann Roche, involvement of support workers at an early therapy, physiotherapy, speech and Speech and Language therapist; Anne stage will reduce the risk of Post Traumatic language therapy, nursing and psychology. Naughton, Resource Centre Manager; Stress Disorder and will increase the uptake Associated dietetic services will also be Barry Reid, Driving instructor, IWA; Lenore of ongoing support services such as those accessed here. McLoughlin, Senior Occupational provided by rape crisis centres. Maura Morgan, General Manager of Therapist; David Kelly, Senior The support workers were trained by the Disability Services, highlighted the value of a Physiotherapist; Sarah Jane Whelan, Dublin Rape Crisis team and will be on call ‘one-stop shop’ which provides a model of acting senior Physiotherapist; Dereck to ensure 24-hour cover, 365 days a year. best practice for clients and their families. Carolan, NCBI. :FDDLE@:8K@FEJNFIBJ?FG=FI RELATING WELL TO Residents staff nurses, household staff and in End-of-Life Care, an innovative care assistants also focused on communications project, is communication skills with residents run by the Hospice Friendly and relatives on end-of-life issues. Hospitals Programme. The end-of-course evaluations Supported by the Health and follow-on interviews, which Services National Partnership were conducted four to six Forum, staff from the Meath weeks after the workshops, were Community Unit in Dublin extremely positive and showed that took part. participants greatly appreciated The project aims to improve having space and time to think and build staff skill level in about communication and how to handling residents and difficult improve their skills. communication situations. For further information please * Staff and management of the Meath Community Unit The day-and-a-half-long course contact Helen Harnett; who participated in the pilot communications project at for nurse managers, porters, Tel: 01 490 6346. the facility recently. 42 Health Matters \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ E E new Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and MRI facility were officially opened (''#'''k_M@J@KFIKFI<>@FE8C Arecently at Cavan General Hospital. The SCBU facilities include three intensive <;L:8K@FE: :FEEFCCP?FJG@K8CC8LE:? ÈK_\]X`igifm`[\[Xefggfikle`kp kf`ekif[lZ\k_\e\n8j_kfne& * From left to right: Stephanie Manahan, Director of Allied Health Professions, Norma EXmXeIfX[Gi`dXip?\Xck_:Xi\ Cronin, Health Promotion Manager, Irish Cancer Society. (Back row): Dr Fenton Howell, Director of Public Health, and Dr Liam Cormican, Respiratory Consultant, K\Xdkfk_\Zfddle`kpÉ Connolly Hospital. :? G8@EJ:8C<GFC@:P @EKIF;L:<;@E:FIB ELIJ CF:8C?<8CK?F==@:<8E;:FIB:FLEKP:FLE:@CK<8DLG=FI G THE HOUSING GRANT for people with Disabilities (HGD) is a government initiative that aims to improve the accessibility of Ireland’s housing stock. Staff in the Occupational Therapy department recognise this grant as a substantial resource. It enables people to source funding to enhance their environment. Occupational therapists regularly carried out assessments and reports for applicants who were on their client list. In 2003, Cork County Council (CCC) acknowledged that the involvement of an occupational therapist led to better outcomes for their clients, cost effi ciencies and better use of public funds. The success of this scheme, however, led to an increase in demand. A potential obstacle to the scheme was the local shortage of occupational therapy posts. As a result, CCC agreed to fund half an occupational therapy * Front row left to right: Rosemary Murray (OT), Dorothy Quinlan (OT Manager), post into the HSE for the west Cork area in Finola Sexton (CCC), Marian Salter (SEO, CCC). Back row left to right: OTs Niamh order to process these grants. The scheme is McCutcheon, Lisa Coughlan, Corinne Maguire. working well for both agencies. Health Matters 45 JFLK?ooo :I<8K@E>=I@ THE NATIONAL ADDICTION TRAINING Paul Goff, Substance Misuse Liaison of interventions to patients by nurses and other PROGRAMME, emergency department (ED) Offi cer at WRH, says that over 25 per cent healthcare professionals in the emergency staff at Waterford Regional Hospital (WRH), the of presentations to emergency departments department. The training programme offered HSE’s Regional Drug Co-ordination Unit and are alcohol-related. The ‘SAOR’ programme onsite training on a rolling basis, and was the Nursing Department at Waterford Institute devised by the various parties had a pilot phase delivered two mornings per week over a four of Technology have combined to mitigate the at WRH, and is presently being evaluated. It month period in the ED, at times allocated for negative consequences of alcohol misuse. provides a step-by-step guide for the delivery continuing professional development. 46 Health Matters \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ E GLCDFE8IPI @EK he intermediate care service teams in >8CN8P;@89 JKIFB THE NEW PRIMARY CARE Manager, Roscommon, there this case, the people CENTRE in Strokestown was are three main advantages of Strokestown and its offi cially opened in May at a of the primary care team environs; cost of E1.54m, and is one approach, namely: • As the primary care team of the fi rst of 200 primary • HSE staff and local general in Strokestown develops, care centres which are practitioners will be members of the local being developed by the HSE facilitated in working more community will be able throughout the country. The closely together – sharing to become involved in * Pictured (left to right) Frank Murphy, Local new centre will bring together a information and jointly the identifi cation of health Health Manager, Roscommon, Eamon Hannon, range of primary care services, planning care for people who priorities and to contribute Support Services Manager, Roscommon, Minister including GP services, public live in the Strokestown area; to the planning and delivery of State Michael Finneran T.D. and Joy Synnott, health nursing, occupational • Services such as of services to meet those Primary Care Development Officer, Roscommon. therapy, physiotherapy, speech physiotherapy, occupational needs. Deputy Finneran is Minister of State at the and language and mental therapy, public health nursing The HSE is in the process Department of the Environment, Heritage and health care, all in a one-stop- and speech and language of developing a total of Local Government with special responsibility for shop location. According to therapy are dedicated to six primary care teams in Housing and Local Areas. Frank Murphy, Local Health a defi ned population – in Co. Roscommon. 48 Health Matters DLJ@:8CK? + Main Pic: Choir members Gertie Kiersey, Rosaleen Curtis and Bridie Clemenger are pictured making music at one of the weekly sessions. Above: Christine Fay is pictured at choir practice in the Meath Community Unit in Dublin 8. Above left: Meath Community Unit residents and day care clients enjoying the weekly choir session. Left: Giving it her all… Gertie Kiersey at the music session. Below left: Some 17 clients from Meath Community Unit and Day Care Centre in Dublin Hitting a 8 get together every week to sing and make music. therapy is a versatile treatment modality ?@>?EFK< which can focus on physiological, cognitive, psychosocial, emotional and spiritual domains. An increasing body of research supports music therapy as an effective Members of the Meath Community Unit choir in Dublin are treatment intervention for older adults with tapping into their musical fl air. Members of the choir, who are a a variety of health care needs. Singing in a choir stimulates the immune system, mixture of residential and day care clients, are taking part in a promotes physical, emotional and spiritual funded music therapy research project which examines the role of health, improves lung capacity, boosts choral therapy in improving quality of life. energy, builds confidence, encourages self expression and can lower depression.’’ usic is definitely soothing the souls The feedback from the participants The community choir and music therapy of the members of the Meath has been really positive. Over half of the services will continue over the coming MCommunity Unit choir. Some 17 singers said the music sessions enhance months until January 2010 and participants elderly clients from the unit and daycare their mood while 71 per cent said there are will be assessed for changes in functioning, centre in Dublin 8 are getting together on a physical benefits from the regular singing mood and quality of life. weekly basis to sing and make music. such as improved speech, motor skills and It is hoped that the research will The members of the choir, who are a breath control. strengthen and validate the role music mixture of residential and day care clients, Some of the singers also said that the therapy has to play as part of the are taking part in a funded music therapy choir has increased their confidence and multidisciplinary treatment and services research project which examines the role self-esteem and has reduced their levels of provided in care settings for older persons of choral therapy in improving quality of life stress and anxiety. in Ireland. and reducing depression. For three months the participants have Music therapist Bill Ahessy, who set up been engaging in meditation and relaxation, For further information regarding the the project, feels that the mixture of jazz, vocal improvisation and singing repertoire project or the Meath Community Choir classical and pop numbers is helping some drawn from spiritual, jazz, classical and please contact music therapist Bill members of the choir to sing their way out popular genres. Outlining the benefits for Ahessy at the Meath Community Unit by of the blues. the choir members Bill Ahessy said: ‘‘Music email at [email protected]. Visit Ashley Ford today and discover the great deals we have to offer! 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IN THIS ISSUE PROFESSOR RICHARD FIRTH FROM THE MATER HOSPITAL DESCRIBES HOW INCREASING NUMBERS OF PATIENTS WITH DIABETES ARE OPTING TO USE INSULIN PUMPS. he insulin pump has 4 per cent in Ireland and the been around since United Kingdom. Thus, pump Tthe early 1980s, usage in Ireland appears to be but is currently enjoying a lagging behind, but demand is resurgence in popularity among increasing dramatically. those with Type I diabetes In our unit in the Mater (insulin dependent). Hospital we have currently The principle of the pump over 200 patients using is that it mimics the insulin insulin pumps. Other units, secretion pattern of the in particular the paediatric beta cell in the non-diabetic diabetes units, report rapidly pancreas. increasing numbers. Demand Thus, in the non-diabetic for the pump is often patient- the pancreas produces a small driven and in our experience the steady background supply of chief indications have been for insulin, known as ‘basal’ insulin. an improved quality of life, for In addition to this basal insulin unrecognised hypoglycaemia, the pancreas also secretes for greater lifestyle flexibility and extra insulin when we eat, in improved diabetes control. order to utilise the contents of The pump is not suitable for that meal for energy production all with Type I diabetes – there or storage purposes. This extra @EJLC@EGLDG are consensus guidelines for meal-related insulin is known as the selection of patients who ‘bolus’ insulin. are likely to benefit from insulin Modern multiple daily Bring your skills to the developing world with We provide practical Viatores Christi! solutions to complex SOLICITORS If you find yourself healthcare issues. 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The new range of appliances for cooking, cooling, dishwashing, vacuuming and laundry are categorised in four distinct ascending IQ Series, namely IQ100, IQ300, IQ500 & top-of-the-range IQ700. This enables the consumer to clearly distinguish between different products within each category and co-ordinate appliances according to preferred design and style. A highlight of the new collection includes…the world’s most energy saving tumble dryer Siemens is celebrating their fi rst-to-market ‘A’ rated condenser tumble dryer which uses 40% less energy than any other standard ‘A’ rated dryer in the world. Peace of mind is guaranteed for consumers, particularly the eco- conscious, because its energy effi ciency does not decrease; it is maintained at the same level over the lifetime of the appliance. Thanks to its self-cleaning heat exchanger, the Siemens tumble dryer automatically cleans itself every time For brochures & stockists contact: it’s used and this ensures energy consumption does not increase. Tel. 01 1890 626041 or log onto www.siemens-home.com/ie Health Matters 53 @DGIFM@E>FLIJ iving a voice to those who use our 8GFN N@E1 ;@>@K8C 8G8DG Health Matters is offering a prize to the EYES ON THE PRIZE Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa in West winner of our new Digital Photography Canon PowerShot SX110 IS Cork has added a new and exclusive Competition. To enter all you need do is Digital Compact Camera treatment to its spa menu – the Island Spa email us an image taken locally of a scene of The 9.0 Megapixel PowerShot SX110 Tropical Ritual. Using traditional Hawaiian natural beauty in your area. We will publish IS brings special moments closer with a Lomi Lomi massage techniques throughout, the winning photograph in the next edition of 10x zoom. Face Detection and anti-blur the treatment is powered by the essence Health Matters . technologies make great people shots of vanilla, jasmine and coconut ingredients, effortless. guaranteed to energise and relax body and As always when submitting photographs mind. To celebrate the launch of this truly to Health Matters , it is important to ensure Features tropical treatment, Inchydoney Island Lodge that they are of print quality. Low resolution • 10x optical zoom with IS & Spa is giving one lucky reader the chance images can work successfully on the web • 9.0 Megapixels to win a luxurious weekend trip for two. The but they will not be of sufficient quality for • Face Detection prize includes two nights accommodation in print and therefore cannot be published. • Auto Red-Eye Correction an Ocean View room with views overlooking • Motion Detection Technology the Atlantic Ocean, a sumptuous buffet CAMERA SETTINGS • 3.0” LCD Screen breakfast each morning and an Island Spa Digital cameras have picture quality settings. • 20 shooting modes Tropical Ritual each. For more information To avoid being disappointed at the non- • VGA and LP movies log onto www.inchydoneyisland.com appearance of your photographs in Health Matters always ensure that your digital Canon SELPHY ES2 For a chance to win this fantastic prize, just camera is set to: Compact Photo Printer answer the following true or false question: Minimum quality of 3 megapixels Experience freedom of choice with the Q. Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa is Image Size: Minimum of 800kb SELPHY ES2. Print from your computer, located in West Cork. Resolution: 300dpi camera, or phone. Choose your layout, True or False? correct red eye and apply creative effects. CAPTIONS Share the fun at home or on the go. Email your answer with your name, address Finally, we’ll need captions with your and telephone number to photographs. Captions must be emailed Features [email protected] with with your image entry and must be supplied • Integrated Ink and Media cassette ‘Inchydoney Competition’ in Word format. • Compact, vertical design with handle in the subject line. • 3.0" LCD Screen COMPETITION ENTRY • Wireless printing To enter our Digital Photography • Optional battery pack Competition email your photograph to • Red-Eye Correction [email protected]. • Creative Print button One entry per reader. • 100-year prints Closing date is Saturday, October 21, 2009 for all competition entries in this issue. One entry per person. Entries by email only. Staff who don’t have access to email at work can enter via an external computer using a personal email address. Health Matters 55 :FDG N@E 8JKPC@J?J@ CL:BPI<8; Getting to BEFNPFL%%% These investigations give me a great WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE FILM AND opportunity to work with other HSE WHAT DID YOU LOVE ABOUT IT? ‘The NAME: Stephen Murphy professionals such as Senior Medical Officers Good, The Bad and the Ugly’. Directed by JOB TITLE: Senior Environmental Health and also to co-operate with officials from Sergio Leone. I loved the three main actors, Officer (EHO). Cork’s County and City Councils regarding the the scenery but mostly Ennio Morricone’s BASE: North Lee Community Care Area, provision of a safe drinking water supply. unforgettable film score. Floor 3, 26 South Mall, Cork. HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB? WHAT TEAM WOULD YOU DIE FOR? None, WITH THE HSE? Since September There’s a wide range of areas of responsibility but I do live for the Kerry Gaelic Football and 1994. for a Senior EHO in the North Lee office the Everton Premiership Football teams. DESCRIBE YOUR JOB IN FIVE and the resultant number of opportunities WORDS? Promoting and Protecting available for me to continually develop as FAVOURITE SPORTING MEMORY? There Public Health. a professional. are many but I think that Kerry’s empathic defeat of Cork in the 2007 All-Ireland Gaelic IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING Football Final will be very hard to beat. WHAT’S YOUR AVERAGE WORKING DAY ABOUT YOUR JOB WHAT WOULD IT BE? LIKE? One of the great things about my Return to an era whereupon a larger number WHO HAS INSPIRED YOU THE MOST? job is that it is so varied and it’s rarely if ever of Food Safety Inspections were possible and My parents, brothers and sisters and my average. A major part of my working day is not have to take cognisance of all manner of wife Adrienne. taken up with the scheduling and carrying out guidance, protocols, procedures and not to of Food Safety inspections of a variety of food mention all the other records required upon PET HATE? Gossip Articles/Magazines. businesses including hospitals, restaurants, return to the office. hotels and butcher shops. These inspections, TOP THING ON YOUR DREAM LIST IF YOU which are primarily unannounced, concentrate WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK AND WON THE LOTTO? I would like to think that I on the ability of the Food Business Operator WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT IT? ‘The Rise would stay much the same! I would continue to demonstrate their compliance with various and Fall of the Third Reich’ by William L. to work for the HSE. I would financially pieces of national and European food safety Shirer. (Washington Post). It’s a 1300-page support my wider family, any local good law. Whereas, these inspections and any indictment of the evil and barbarity that the causes in West Cork and purchase a lifelong follow-up enforcement actions will protect Nazis perpetrated in Europe and elsewhere. season ticket for Goodison Park, Liverpool, public health, a large part of each inspection home of Everton football club. incorporates an educational role whereby I advise and promote best food safety practice and encourage the people working in the business to participate in Food Safety Training Courses run by some of my colleagues or other food safety training agencies. I advise my EHO colleagues on an almost daily basis on matters relating to Food Safety Legislation and Control, Bacteriological and Compositional Food Sampling, Food Labelling, Food Premises Planning and Poisons. I co-ordinate the investigation of + If he won the Lotto, Stephen (pictured above at his sporadic (single) cases or more widespread desk) would buy a lifelong season ticket for Goodison (outbreaks) of Infectious Diseases linked Park, Liverpool (far left) home of Everton football club. with the consumption of foodstuffs and/or Above: ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ is Stephen’s drinking water. favourite fi lm.