Hospice Friendly Hospital Awareness Day at Galway University Hospitals

The End of Life Care Committee in Galway University Hospitals (GUH) held a very successful information day to raise awareness of the work of both the committee and the Hospice Friendly Hospitals (HFH) Programme yesterday, Monday 21 July in the foyer of University Hospital Galway.
The HFH network is an end-of-life care programme developed by the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) which is linked to 40 acute hospitals across Ireland including GUH. The HFH aims to support front line staff who are delivering end of life care to ensure the best possible care for the patient when they are reaching the end of their life’s journey, so that patients die with dignity and respect and to help their families to cope.
Colette Goonan, Children’s Outreach Nurse and member of the End of Life Care Committee at GUH said, “The aim of the information day was to raise awareness of the work which has been undertaken at the hospital around end-of-life care and emphasise the importance of dignity and respect for patients and their families at this difficult stage of life.
“End-of-life care refers to all care at end of life from the clinical care through to the support provided by hospital staff including dealing with the administration involved. End-of-life care also includes the care and support provided by staff to families and friends and care of the body of the deceased and for the bereaved who live on.
“We also launched our updated ‘Bereavement Booklet’ which was initially developed by our first End of Life Committee over a decade ago. This booklet is a valuable source of information for all individuals dealing with grief in their own lives and includes additional information specifically for children and updated practical information in relation to tax and other legal issues that may arise.”
Sharon Foley, CEO of the Irish Hospice Foundation, commented, “The simple aim of the Hospice Friendly Hospitals Programme is to embed hospice principles into hospital practice. We are delighted at the positive reaction of hospital staff in Galway University Hospitals to the various initiatives that have been introduced. We hope that patients and families will feel the benefit of the training and education when it matters most to them.”
Photo Details:
The End of Life Committee at Galway University Hospitals launched an updated ‘Bereavement Booklet’ as part of an information day to raise awareness of the work of both the committee and the Hospice Friendly Hospitals Programme on Monday 21 July in UHG. From left: Colette Goonan, Outreach Nurse for Children with Life Limiting Conditions; Adrienne Newell, Senior Social Worker; and Cathriona Greally, Clinical Nurse Manager, High Dependency Unit.