NMBI CEO attends RCSI annual conference
The RCSI held its 40th annual nursing and midwifery conference online last month on the theme ‘Meeting the Needs of Modern Healthcare’.
NMBI Chief Executive Sheila McClelland gave the opening remarks on the discussion ‘Recovery and Wellness in a Covid-19 world’.
Joining the discussion – hosted by Professor Thomas Kearns, Executive Director at the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery - were world-renowned experts Professor Jean Watson and Professor Mary Jo Kreitzer. The discussion is online now and can be viewed at this link:
Meeting the Needs of Modern Healthcare on Vimeo
Nurses launch ‘Answers for Cancers’ podcast
Two oncology nurses have been using their spare time to help cancer patients through their new Podcast.
Anne-Marie Fay and Michelle Matthews work at the Mater Private Hospital in Dublin but their ‘Answers for Cancers’ podcast is available to everyone.
The podcasts aim to answer questions cancer patients might have about their diagnosis and treatment. The nurses are hoping it will help both cancer patients and their families.
Each week, they interview different medical practitioners who work with cancer patients, to discuss different topics such as fertility, new treatments, fatigue, and mental health.
You can read the full story as told to the Irish Examiner here.
Irishman’s legacy funds world-leading caesarean research in New Zealand
The legacy of an Irishman from humble beginnings who went on to make his fortune as a businessman in New Zealand is helping to fund pioneering research in the country.
Hugh Green passed away in Auckland in 2012 at the age of 80. He left the Donegal town of Raphoe aged 20 and went on to amass a fortune through farming and property deals. However, he gave most of his €250M fortune away, including to Irish charities.
Funding left by Mr Green through a foundation is now helping a research project led by Associate Professor Katie Groom and her team at the University of Auckland’s Liggins Institute. They believe a simple treatment will safely prevent short-term breathing problems that are more common in babies born by planned or elective caesarean section than in other new-borns.
You can read more on this story here.
Irish Association for Cancer Research Annual Conference
The Irish Association for Cancer Research (IACR) is holding its annual conference virtually from Wednesday 24 March until Friday 26 March. The conference programme is now available on the IACR website.
Sessions include:
- Covid-19 and Cancer
- Improving Treatment Outcomes: Rehabilitation and Nutritional Support
- Psycho-Social Oncology
- Clinical Trials: Access and Progress
- Health Implementation from Theory to Practice
There will also be workshops for early career researchers, nurses, and allied health professionals:
- Developing clinical-academic partnerships
The conference is an opportunity for researchers and clinical professionals to network, collaborate, and keep up-to-date on cutting-edge cancer research.
Attendance is free to IACR members and you can register here.
Hospital launches virtual Maternity Unit tour
Letterkenny University Hospital has filmed a virtual tour of its Maternity Unit to allow expectant mothers and partners/family members to view it and hear staff talk about maternity services there.
Evelyn Smith, Director of Midwifery at Letterkenny University Hospital said: “Unfortunately it is not possible for women and their birthing partners to tour the maternity unit in advance of giving birth at the moment due to the need to reduce footfall as part of our infection and prevention precautions for Covid-19.
“We know how important it is to be as prepared as possible for this life-changing event. The virtual tour gives an insight into the services in the Maternity Unit and introduces some of the people working here including midwives, clinical midwife specialists and an obstetrician. The tour includes the admission room, the birthing suite, the fetal assessment unit, the maternity theatre and the neonatal unit.”
You can take the tour here on the Donegal Woman website.
Irish Cancer Society launches Night Nurse recruitment drive
The Irish Cancer Society says due to hospital restrictions on visitors, more people than ever want to die at home. The Society is seeking to recruit more nurses to meet the increasing demand for its Night Nursing Service.
Demand for the Society’s Night Nursing Service, which provides end-of-life care to patients in their own home, jumped by over a fifth last year as patients sought to spend their final days in the company of their family.
Requests for the free service for patients being cared for by family and friends in their homes surged by as much as 76 per cent in Kildare, 70 per cent in Wicklow and 60 per cent in Dublin. Demand has continued into the early months of 2021 with more nurses needed in almost all parts of the country.
You can watch an RTE news report on the issues raised here.
Latest Covid-19 information from the Department of Health and HSE
Level 5: Ireland remains at Level 5 restrictions until 5 April, with any changes which may be introduced likely to be announced in the days beforehand. As always, the latest advice is available at gov-ie
Details of Level 5 restrictions can be viewed here.
Vaccine Updates: All the latest details on the vaccination roll-out, including details on the updated vaccination profile groups and Frequently Asked Questions can be viewed here.
Where to find Covid-19 Vaccination Information: We encourage everyone to read about the Covid-19 vaccine and to get their information from a factual, trusted source – here are the links to the pages with information on the vaccine:
Public Health Information: For the most up to date information and advice on Coronavirus, please go to the HSE website and HPSC website. Clinical and professional guidance relating to Covid-19 is available on the HPSC website where you’ll find up to date guidance for healthcare settings and non-clinical settings.
You can find the Covid-19 A-Z information here from the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
Please also check the Healthy Ireland site with further resources and information on the Keep Well campaign. You can view the latest information on how Ireland is responding to cases of Covid-19 here.
Ireland’s Covid-19 Data Hub is available here.
