Board of the West / North West Hospitals Group meets in Mayo General Hospital

The Board of the West / North West Hospitals Group met in Mayo General Hospital today, Tuesday 22 October. This was the sixth meeting of the Board this year and the first visit of the Board to Mayo.
 
Mr Noel Daly, chairman of the Board of the Group, stated, “Today’s visit to Mayo General Hospital was an opportunity for the Board members to see first-hand how the hospital plays an essential role as part of a Group of hospitals. Earlier this year we had Board meetings in Galway, Roscommon, Portiuncula and Letterkenny and we have a meeting scheduled for Sligo before the end of the year. Two of the meetings – in Galway and Letterkenny – were held in public.
 
“Our visit to Mayo was very productive. As part of our briefing we were advised that Mayo General Hospital is very close to meeting the waiting list targets and that there has been a reduction of 83% in the length of time patients wait for admission from the Emergency Department since June, compared with the same time last year – both developments are to be commended.”
 
Colette Cowan, Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery gave a briefing on the Healthy Ireland Initiative and the work underway in the Group to build a healthy population through partnerships across the community. Aramark Healthcare presented a programme for staff aimed promoting healthy eating habits, lifestyle and wellness; the programme launched in Galway University Hospitals this week and a similar awareness programme will commence at Mayo General on 11 November. The Healthy Ireland initiatives will be progressed across all hospitals in the Group in collaboration with the General Managers and the Directors of Nursing.
 
Charlie Meehan, General Manager, Mayo General Hospital, commented on the Board’s visit. He said, “I was delighted on behalf of all the staff in the hospital to have an opportunity to showcase the hospital to the Board today. Mayo General Hospital is well placed to play a key role in the development of the hospital group, where we can focus on the strengths of this hospital and continue to develop services which the people of Mayo will be proud of.
 
“We have a number of capital projects underway and nearing completion which will further enhance the services we provide to patients including a new Renal Dialysis Unit, a new clinical room for Speech and Language Therapy, extending the Endoscopy Department, an upgrade of the Emergency Department (which will include extending the waiting area, improvements to the entrance area and replacement x-ray facilities), upgrading A Ward and a new family room outside the ICU as part of the Hospice Friendly Hospital initiative.
 
“The progress we have made in reducing trolley waits has been recognised by the Special Delivery Unit and it is a credit to all the staff who are working hard to improve our patients’ journey into and through the hospital.”
 
Photo Details:
The Board of the West / North West Hospitals Group met at Mayo General Hospital on Tuesday 22 October. Standing from left: Phyllis MacNamara, non-Executive Director; Ray Mitchell, Asst National Director HSE; Dr Michael O’Neill, Clinical Director, MGH; Tony Canavan, Group Chief Operating Officer; Sharon Moohan, non-Executive Director; Gerry McManus, non-Executive Director; Catherine Donohoe, Director of Nursing and Midwifery, MGH; Fiona McHugh, Head of Corporate Development for the Group; Zubair Javeed, non-Executive Director; Dr Pat Nash, Group Clinical Director. Seated from left: Dr John Killeen, non-Executive Director; Maurice Power, Group Chief Financial Officer; Colette Cowan, Group Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery; Noel Daly, Chair of the Board; Charlie Meehan, General Manager, MGH; Bill Maher, CEO of the Group; and Colam O’Neill, non-Executive Director.