Frailty is a common real life condition with up to 30% of people >75 years being affected. To meet the complex needs of older people requires our healthcare systems to adapt and recognise frailty as a real life condition. This is particularly relevant for Roscommon University Hospital (RUH) which serves the West/Northwest and which has shown to have the largest population of residing older adults in Ireland (DOH, 2016).
The Saolta University Health Care Group has this week published its five year strategy which outlines the vision and framework for the Group’s strategic development from 2019 to 2023. The Saolta Group comprises Galway University Hospitals (University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital), Letterkenny University Hospital, Sligo University Hospital, Mayo University Hospital, Portiuncula University Hospital and Roscommon University Hospital.
Galway University Hospitals (GUH) is delighted to announce that the second Staff Recognition Award was presented to Joe Kelly who has been providing the regional printing service for the hospital and other HSE services in the West for many years. Joe was presented with his award shortly before his retirement this week after 38 years of service.
Dr Johannes Buca Letshwiti has recently been appointed as a Consultant Neonatologist at Galway University Hospitals (GUH).
Of his appointment, Dr Letshwiti commented, “I’m excited about the prospect of expanding the neonatal services in the West of Ireland and I’m looking forward to being part of the team leading on this field within the Saolta Group. I have a special interest in quality improvement projects and neonatal haemodynamics.”
For the next 10 weeks (until 10 May) there will be a special focus on getting patients, who are well enough, to get out of bed, get dressed and get moving. Patients are being encouraged, where possible, to get out of bed during the day as they would at home.
Roscommon University Hospital (RUH) welcomes Niamh Bates, the first Phlebotomist to be appointed to the hospital. Niamh joins the Laboratory Department and her addition to the service will provide all departments within the hospital with more timely access to blood results.
Phlebotomists are trained to draw blood from a patient (mostly from veins) for clinical or medical testing.
Sligo University Hospital held a Falls Prevention Awareness Event for the public in the main foyer of the hospital on Tuesday 05 March. The aim of the day was to increase awareness of the preventable nature of falls and to empower older people and their families and friends to reduce the risk of falling where possible.
Professor Derek O’Keeffe, Consultant Endocrinologist at Galway University Hospitals (GUH) and Professor of Medical Device Technology at NUI Galway took part in the Medtech Pulse event hosted by the university on 21 February. The event, in partnership with Bank of Ireland and Atlantic Bridge University Fund, offered insights into the medtech sector in Galway including the role of education, research, acceleration and commercialisation.
The Maternity Unit at Portiuncula University Hospital (PUH) held a very successful information sharing event for staff and former and current patients of the unit, last Friday 01 March in Ballinasloe.
Bernadette Finneran, born in Manchester and living in County Roscommon for the last 30 years has been appointed as a Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner (RANP) in Plastic Surgery at Roscommon University Hospital. Bernadette is the first RANP specialising in skin cancer in Ireland and is only one of three RANP posts in Plastic Surgery nationally. RANPs are the highest level of clinical experts in the nursing profession in Ireland today.
