TeamTalk 8th May 2023

Written on 08/05/2023
Mikeala McMahon



Intravenous Care (IVC) team 

The IVC team at UHL is one of two teams nationally selected to participate in a HSE AMRIC quality improvement initiative.

The aim of this initiative is to improve patient safety and comfort by reducing intravenous catheter associated infections & other adverse effects.

This is achieved by:

•Supporting practices to limit the use of intravenous catheter where possible and ensure prompt removal.
•Training and education of staff in intravenous catheter care.
•Implementation of HSE AMRIC intravenous catheter care bundles.
•Audit & evaluation of intravenous catheter clinical practice.


Pictured: The IVC team commenced on Sept 5th, 2022, with one CNM3 & four Staff Nurses.

Brendan McAuliffe Hickey, Margaret Deely, Margaret Carroll, Juby George and Linda Loftus.


 



Heart Failure Awareness Week 

It was Heart Failure Awareness Week last week. Our cardiology colleagues in collaboration with the NPDU ‘Nursing in Practice’ initiative visited medical & surgical wards at UHL.  They also held  education sessions for nurses and an information stand with health promotion advice for all staff and service users.

Clinical nurse specialist in heart failure, Ciara Cahill also wrote an education piece for local media which gives some health promotion advice and includes some local data on what we are seeing in our own clinics. You can read the full article here.

You can also listen here to our colleague Catherine McNamara Hannon CNS Heart Failure on Clare FM discussing Heart Failure and its causes.  



Pictured: In the Cath Lab on the Cardiology Day Ward, Heart Failure Clinical Nurse Specialists Mairead Keary, Margaret Ramsbottom and Ciara Cahill


 



Be Summer Ready

Be Summer Ready campaign is part of the Government of Ireland initiative to provide information to the general public on issues which may affect them during the summer months in Ireland.

As part of the campaign a booklet and leaflet have been developed and have useful information on being prepared and staying safe during the summer months.

For more information on becoming summer ready visit the website.


 



Your Opinion Counts Staff Survey 2023

Take Your Opinion Counts Staff Survey here or on any device at any time on www.hse.ie/staffsurvey

•It takes 15 minutes to complete.
•The survey is anonymous. You will be asked for your name and work email address to verify you are a health services employee. It will not link you to your completed survey in any way.
•If you don’t have a work email address you can still participate. Call the helpline on 091 775953 for a single-use access code.
•You can enter a draw to win one of six €300 One4All vouchers.


Pictured: Amy Frost, Recruitment and Valerie Enright, Employee Relations Manager at an information stand in UHL. There will be an information stand all sites during May.


 



ULHG Staff Webinar

The first staff webinar of 2023 took place recently. Thank you to all who joined us and engaged in the Q&A. Topics presented on included capital development plans and the national service plan, employee engagement and operational changes.

Topics discussed in the Q&A included:

•Outpatients in Croom
•Working from home local policy
•Staff movement and retention
•Health and wellbeing centre UHL

 As promised a recording of the webinar is now available to watch here or scan the QR Code. 





 



Our People Our Services 

Our People Our Services promotes our services to our community and acknowledges the work of our colleagues. We post video, meet the team graphics and a “A day in the Life” blog on our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn channels as well as on our staff app.

•During National Arthritis Week recently, we focused on our Rheumatology service.
•Mairead Duane, CNM2 spoke about her role in the Rheumatology Infusion Unit in Croom in her 'A Day in the Life' blog,
•A video featuring Dr Joe Devlin, Consultant Rheumatologist offered an insight into his day.

To find out more contact ulhgcommunications@hse.ie  




 




Dr Damien Ryan : Associate Clinical Director, Medicine Directorate



William Shire: General Manager, Medicine Directorate



Maria Quirke: General Manager, Operational Services Directorate


 



Patient flow Co-Ordinators Key Success

Patient Flow Co-Ordinators assist with improving hospital flow, improving patient experience and reducing ED pressures. The patient flow coordinators have been focused on ensuring timely and safe discharge of patients. The below figures show pre 4pm discharges for the months of February, March & April, 2022 v’s 2023.




 



Assisted Decision-Making

Assisted Decision Making is about supporting decision-making to maximise a person’s capacity to make decisions. This Act applies to everyone and is relevant to all health and social care services.

The commencement date for the Act was 26th April 2023.

The National office for Human Rights & Equality Policy have done a presentation walking through the resources that are available to healthcare workers to understand the new responsibilities under the Act.

To view the presentation recording visit the website where you will also find useful resources.


 



Steps to Avoid Pay Related Overpayments

All staff should be aware of the impact of the main causes of pay related overpayments and the steps required to avoid this issue.




 



Geriatrics HST Study Day

The Geriatrics HST Study Day held on the 28th April 2023 organized by Dr Colin Quinn, Consultant Geriatrician was a great success. More than 40 trainee doctors on RCPI HST scheme attended this full day event from all over the country.

Trainees enjoyed a diverse programme consisting of eight presenters, with topics on IT strategies for geriatricians, leadership challenges, procurement, research, information on preparing a business case and recent service development.



Pictured: Prof Declan Lyons, ANP Nora Cunningham and Dr John Mc Manus presented at Geriatrics HST Study Day



Pictured: Dr John Mc Manus presenting on Service Development Through the Years



Pictured: Thank you to Dr Colin Quinn and SpR Dr Nur Atikah  Mohd Asri for organising the Study Day


 



UHL catering team, scores highly in national survey

In 2022 Ireland’s fifth National Inpatient Experience Survey (NIES) was carried out. 77% of patients were satisfied with their care across ULHG.

At a recent event, the UHL Patient Experience Committee presented the results to members of the UHL catering staff who scored very well in the survey.

The survey showed that:

•70% of respondents rated the food at UHL as ‘good & very good’.
•93% said they were offered a choice of food (above the national average)
•67% were ‘sometimes or always’ offered replacement meals (above the national average). This has increased year on year since the survey began.

Read the full results of the 2022 NIES here 



Catering  staff, pictured in the CERC, UHL with Niamh Hogan & Sheila Bowers, UHL Patient Experience Committee and Mike Conlon, Head of Services.