irish nurse vol 7, issue 8, september 2005
TRANSCRIPT
EDUCATION
Vol. 7 Issue 8 September 2005
RECRUITMENT
NEWS
FEATURES
CAREERS
TRAVEL
WHAT’S ON
Issued FREE to all healthcare professionals in
Northern Ireland andthe Republic of Ireland
Ireland’s ONLY independent magazine for nurses and midwives
Obesity inIreland
Flavour of India atLagan Valley
ROYAL DUBLIN SHOWGROUND28TH & 29TH SEPTEMBER
Nursing & HealthcareExhibition Dublin 2005
10am - 5pm both days
ROYAL DUBLIN SHOWGROUND28TH & 29TH SEPTEMBER
Nursing & HealthcareExhibition Dublin 2005
For further details call:
+44 (0)1292 284800or Email: [email protected]
For further details call:
+44 (0)1292 284800or Email: [email protected]
to nursing groups of 10 ormore, phone for details
to all healthcare professionalsFREEentry
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in attendance
See Pages 14/15
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The Information Needsof Suicidal People
Page 20
‘Return to Learn’ atAltnagelvin
Page 4
New Tool to improveManagement of Stroke
PatientsPage 19
As a reader of Irish Nurse we value your input and are alwayslooking for new articles to appear in our publication. Pleasesend your editorial, news articles, event details, press releasesetc., (including any photographs) to the Editor at the addressopposite.
4 News
10 What’s On
12 Tea Break Teasers
13 A Flavour of India
14 Irish Nurse Nursing & Healthcare Exhibition
16 Obesity in Ireland
19 New Tool in Management of Stroke Patients
20 Information Needs of Suicidal People
22 Product Focus
24 General Recruitment
27 Overseas Recruitment
30 Dublin 2005 Exhibitors
C O N T E N T S
4
NEWS
‘Return to Learn’ at Altnagelvin
“The first cohort of students who completed Return to Learn and Essential Skills through IT training which was run in Altnagelvin recentlyin partnership with UNISON. Presentations to the group were made by Mrs. Stella Burnside, former Chief Executive of Altnagelvin and
now Chief Executive of the HPSS Regulation and Improvement Authority( 4th right). Pictured with Mrs. Burnside are the successfulstudents, their managers, and members of Altnagelvin’s Work-Based Learning Steering Group.
Learning for allMarie Curie CancerCare is committedto improving accessto learningopportunities forboth its own staffand those workingin the NHS,voluntary andi n d e p e n d e n tsectors. Educationprogrammes areflexible andincorporate distance
learning and the use of information technology. They providebenefits for staff, not only in remote locations, but also for thosewho have difficulty in accessing ‘conventional’ educationprogrammes.
Degree programmes are offered in flexible, modular formatfrom Education Centres within Marie Curie hospices across the UKand are validated by Napier and Thames Valley Universities.
Anne Coyle, Palliative Care Practice Development Facilitatorwith the charity in Northern Ireland describes how the degreecourse fitted in with her busy lifestyle as nurse and mother andallowed her to develop her skills and knowledge:-
Anne writes: I became a Marie Curie nurse in May 1999.Previous to this I had been working in the cancer treatment unit inthe Belfast City Hospital and it was here that I developed aninterest in palliative care nursing. The Marie Curie Centre in Belfasthas an education department and my first experience of it wascompleting the Principles in Palliative care module as a conditionof my employment. This study benefited me professionally andpersonally, so I therefore decided to complete a degree in Palliative
care with the Marie Curie education department, and I happilygraduated in November 2003!
I found caring for the terminally ill at home both rewardingand challenging. Patients and families face many problems thatcan have a negative impact on their quality of life in the finalweeks and days. Knowing how to help with physical symptoms,such as pain or nausea, and the emotional distress associated withdying, are very important to a Marie Curie nurse. Studying for thedegree allowed me to learn more about the physical, social,psychological and spiritual impact of a terminal illness, helping toincrease my knowledge, skills and competence in order to bettercare for a person at this difficult time.
Finding the time to study when you are a busy mother andnurse can be difficult. However having previously studied atanother university, I found the flexible learning approach andsupport offered by the education department at Marie Curie to beexceptional and very suited to my family and working life. I wouldhighly recommend it!
The following modules will commence in Sept/Oct. 2005:Diploma level modules:Principles of Palliative Care; Communication Project.Degree level modules:Pain; Cancer Policy.Dissertation for students completing our BSc.Courses have been validated by Thames Valley University, London.
There will also be a range of multidisciplinary study days.Topics & dates have not been confirmed for these days yet.
For further information re.application procedure & confirmeddates please contact:Kathy Arthur, Education AdministratorEducation Department,Marie Curie Centre, Belfast BT5 6NFTelephone 028 9088 Ext. 2031. Fax 028 9088 2033.
NEWS
5
HSE Southern Area welcomes announcement of funding to alleviate A&Epressure in Cork
The Health Service Executive Southern Area has welcomed theannouncement by the HSE National Hospitals’ Office for e3,26million funding tobe made available to support A&E services in the region.
The funding is part of a e63 million package to alleviate pressures on hospitalA&E units around the country as part of the Ten Point Plan announced by theTánaiste and Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney, TD earlier thisyear.
Tony Long, Deputy General Manager of the Cork University Hospital Groupsaid, “The HSE Southern Area has been working on implementing the TenPoint Plan, which includes initiatives aimed at minimising the need for peopleto go to A&E and initiatives designed to free up hospital beds for peopleawaiting admission.”
The e3,26million funding, together with funding previously allocated under theA&E Ten Point Plan, will provide: ten high dependency nursing home beds
30 intermediate care beds - used to care for older people who are ready fordischarge from acute hospitals, but who are awaiting completion of thenecessary arrangements to allow them to return home or who are awaitingplacement in a long stay care unit of their choice.
35 home care packages
High Dependency Unit at Cork University Hospital (CUH) for improved accessfor A&E patients to high dependency care.
Further development of CUH’s Soft Tissue Trauma Clinic to reduce the need forhospital admission by patients with injuries such as skin lacerations.
Medical Assessment Unit at CUH – an eight-bed unit to reduce the need forhospital admission.
Intensive Care Unit bed at Cork University Hospital – to improve access tointensive treatment for A&E patients.
“These initiatives will further enhance our ability to facilitate the dischargefrom acute hospitals of people who have completed the acute phase of theirtreatment, but who have a need for further care or support,” said DaveDrohan, Acting Programme Manager for Community Services with the HSESouthern Area.
“A number of HSE Southern Area initiatives have already been identified andimplemented to support acute hospital discharges and assist in addressingservice pressures in the system as a whole.
“These include the Bed Capacity Initiative - where public beds werecontracted in private nursing homes; an Aged Care Evaluation Team appointedto assess older people’s needs, Home Care Grants introduced on a pilot basisand designed to supplement the existing community services already in placefor older people; and the Community Rehabilitation and Support Team whohelp older people rehabilitate in their home environment rather than inhospital,” he said.
“All of the initiatives approved yesterday will assist us in facilitating timelydischarge of patients, enhance throughput of patients and reduce admissionsto A&E; and will contribute to alleviating the pressure on emergencydepartments,” concluded Tony Long
HSE Southern Areawelcomes announcementof funding to alleviateA & E pressure in Cork Almost 100 newly qualified doctors got a taste of life as a ‘working’
doctor when they participated in an intensive two day practicaltraining course in Cork recently.
In what is the now the very last part of their training, the newlyqualified doctors will take part in the ‘Final MB Clinical Skills Course2005’, a course devised by Dr Chris Luke, Director of PostgraduateMedical Education at Cork University Hospital (CUH) and Prof. EamonQuigley, Head of Medical School, UCC.
The course is structured over two days with a series of workshops onbasic life support, defibrillation, catherisation, cannulation andcommon calls (there is a mock ward in UCC where students arepresented with ‘pretend’ patients with a number of symptoms and aretaken through ‘what to do next’), ECGs, ABG’s and good prescribing.
The doctors, who are due to take up roles as junior doctors inhospitals around the country, including CUH, will receive their practicaltraining from a host of specialist nurses, senior doctors andemergency medical technicians (EMTs).
Regarded as one of the best preparatory courses in real clinical skillsfor newly qualified doctors in the country, the course helps prepare thenew recruits in a practical and hands on way for life in the ‘real’ world.
“All the doctors on the course are finishing six years of study and thisis a really important junction in their career. The course, which is in4th year, has developed into what is now an intense and effective wayof preparing these young doctors for life in the working world,” said DrChris Luke, Director of Postgraduate Medical Education, CUH.
Unique to Cork, the course has been highly praised by the MedicalCouncil and by specialists in medical training and is regarded as amodel of best practice preparation for newly qualified doctors.
Dr Luke, said “we felt it was important to offer new doctors theopportunity of practical training before taking up post in a hospitalenvironment. Many interns in the past had expressed dissatisfactionat the level of practical training they receive and this course reallyaims to address this in the most hands on way possible. Starting lifeas a newly qualified doctor can be quite a harsh reality and we aim toalleviate some of the pressure and the anguish they face by givingthem an insight into ‘real’ working life.”
New doctors geta dose of reality
NEWS
6
Palliative care means continuing total care for a patient and his/herfamily when there is no longer a medical expectation of a cure. Itaims to provide the best quality of life possible for patient andfamily and to keep the patient free from pain as far as is possible.Palliative care responds to physical, psychological, social andspiritual needs and extends to support in bereavement
Maggie Ross, right, has joined the Down Lisburn Trust’spalliative care team as a community nurse specialist in palliativecare on a part time basis
Maggie will be working with Janis McCulla who has held theposition of community specialist for the past three and a halfyears. Janis and Maggie make up one full time equivalent in thisarea.
Maggie was previously employed as the Day TherapyManager for Marie Curie Cancer Care and was in charge of theday hospice provision in the Trust since the service started threeyears ago.
Maggie moved to Northern Ireland eight years ago fromScotland where she was employed as a Breast Care Liaison sister,responsible for the development of a breast care service.Sheobtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Cancer Nursing in 1986 andhas since completed a BSc Hons Degree in Cancer and PalliativeCare.
Liz Atkinson, left, is Day Therapy/Outpatient ServicesManager, at the Marie Curie Centre, Belfast. She will be workingwith Down Lisburn Trust as Marie Curie continues to provide anddevelop specialist palliative day therapy and outpatient clinics inLisburn and Downpatrick.
Liz has been a nurse since 1977 and undertook the OncologyNursing Course at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London in 1981.
After two years working as a district nurse, Liz became WardSister in Northern Ireland Hospice and worked in the Hospice from1985 to 2002 firstly as ward sister, then as Assistant NursingDirector and finally as Nursing Director.
She holds a BSc in Professional Development in Nursing andan MPhil in Medical Ethics in Law and has also worked part timewith Macmillan Cancer Relief as Nurse Consultant in NorthernIreland, setting up and supporting the early Macmillan posts inhospital and community.
Liz then worked with Action Cancer for two years as Director
of Services where she led and managed the service side of theorganisation including complementary therapy and counsellingprovision, health promotion and cancer prevention, the mobileclinic and the men’s and women’s early detection clinics.
She returned to palliative care in Marie Curie when shebecame Day Therapy/Outpatient Services Manager in April 2005.
New recruits strengthenPalliative Care Team
Liz Atkinson and Maggie Ross
A report recently launched by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland(FSAI) ‘Salt and Health: Review of the Scientific Evidence andRecommendations for Public Policy in Ireland’ has recommended thata major reduction in salt intake in Ireland is required, as the averagedaily intake is 10g, far in excess of the recommended dietaryallowance (RDA) of 4g.
Although salt is essential for the healthy functioning of thehuman body too much salt is bad news for health. According to theFSAI report there is a link between the amount of salt in the diet andblood pressure. High blood pressure is one of the major contributoryfactors to the development of heart disease and with heart diseaseresponsible for approximately 41% of all deaths in Ireland, the currentsituation cannot be allowed to continue. This mostly preventablecondition also contributes to the strain on the Health Service.
Children may be particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects ofhigh salt intake, and although data on salt intake in children in Irelandis lacking, data from the UK suggests that average daily salt intake inchildren aged 4-6 years and 7-10 years exceeds 5g and 7g respectively.The effects of high salt intake on children’s health, combined with thechildhood obesity problem currently being experienced in both Irelandand the UK, with its associated medical conditions (diabetes etc.), willfurther increase the burden on an already overburdened health serviceunless drastic action is taken.
In the end it boils down to manufacturers taking responsibilityand reducing the amount of salt added to their foods. Salt is a cheapway of increasing the flavour of a food, since salt is also a flavourenhancer. Therefore, it is up to manufacturers to find alternativeflavourings and seasonings to achieve the required flavour withoutadversely affecting health. The FSAI is currently working with allsectors of the food industry (manufacturers, retailers, caterers etc.)with a view to bringing about a reduction in the amount of salt usedin processed and prepared foods, to achieve an intake level of 6g perday. Although not as low as the 4g recommended as a daily intake ofsalt, 6g is seen as an achievable population target at this time.However, 4g should still form the basis of advice targeted atindividuals.
Measures taken to reduce average population salt intake will leadto lower average population blood pressure and reduce morbidityfrom heart disease including heart attack and stroke. The short termbenefits of salt restriction are likely to be most marked in the elderlybecause of the high risk of hypertension-related stroke and heartdisease in this age group.
For a copy of the report, see www.fsai.ie or call the FSAI advice-line on 1890 33 66 77.
Reduction in saltintake required
NEWS
7
Nora Geary, Manager of the Erinville Maternity Hospital, Cork,confirmed that quadruplets were born at the Hospital between09.14am and 09.16am on Tuesday 9th August.
The babies, two boys weighing 3lbs 9.9ozs and 4 lbs 1.2ozsand two girls weighing 3lbs 8.5ozs and 3lbs 8.5ozs were deliveredby caesarean section. A medical team consisting of ten doctorsand eight midwives ensured the safe delivery of the quadruplets.
The preparation for the birth of the quads has been underwayfor several weeks and a host of staff from midwives, medics,catering, portering, theatre, biomedical, stores radiographers,secretarial, administration and management were involved toensure everything was in order for the safe delivery of the babies.
Mother and babies, whose names are still to be decided, arestable and doing well.
Quadruplets born atErinville MaternityHospital, Cork
The Health Service Executive South Eastern Area is delighted toannounce the launch of a new Drop in Psychology service for parentsbased in Carlow and Kilkenny. The Carlow/Kilkenny Child &Adolescent Psychology Service will be offering this new and innovativeweekly service to parents from Wednesday 7th September 2005.
Genevieve Crosbie, Senior Clinical Psychologist forCarlow/Kilkenny Community Services says, "The Drop-In is a supportservice offered to parents without a prior appointment. It operates ona first come first seen basis. The Drop-In Service offers parents theopportunity to present difficulties / stresses they are experiencing withparenting and to get advice about managing these difficulties. Someof these difficulties include:• Managing challenging behaviour and emotional problems.• Relationship difficulties between parent and child.• General questions regarding a child's psychological well-being.• Managing the fall out from parental separation.• Parents feelings of isolation and lack of parenting support.• Issues around child development e.g. adolescence.
The Drop-In will be available to parents on a weekly basis everyWednesday morning from 10.00am - 12.30pm. In Kilkenny, the Drop-In will be located in the Community Services Centre, James' Green,Kilkenny and in Carlow it will be run from the Community ServicesOutreach Office in Castlehill, Carlow.
Parents are asked to attend without their children, as this is aparent only service. The Drop-In Service is not a screening orassessment appointment for children; it is a support service forparents. Children will continue to be referred by their family doctor.
New psychologysupport service forparents in Carlow/Kilkenny
Countrywide Care Network Grouplaunches new catalogueEstablished over 15 years ago, the Countrywide Care Network isan integrated group of specialist suppliers to the care homemarket. The Group comprises strategically located DistributionCentres throughout the UK and Ireland, providing a trulynationwide network with the added benefit of local warehousing,delivery fleets and helpful drivers to ensure a regular, efficient,reliable local service.
The CCN Group offers an unbeatable range of nursing andresidential supplies, offering a single source solution to customers.From hand washing to housekeeping; medical equipment tomobility aids; patient care to pressure care; our comprehensiverange of products and services backed by major supplier supportensures cost effective solutions, value for money, and servicewhich is second to none.
The CCN Group operate and nationwide team of nurse advisorsand sales staff who are trained to meet the needs of care homeproviders. In addition to this our distribution centres provideunrivalled combinations of knowledge and expertise and ourequipment maintenance programme is operated in accordancewith Health and Safety Commission Codes of Practice, to ensurethe safety of care home clients and staff.
The new CCN Catalogue is now available andincludes and host of top brand names plus manynew products. Easy to follow indexing willeffortlessly guide you to the products and servicesyou require, so for your FREE copy, don‘t delay,please telephone 0800 174643.
NEWS
8
Patients, relatives and staff were among the welcoming party atAltnagelvin Hospital when the President of Ireland, Mary McAleesepaid a visit to the hospital during a one-day visit to the cityrecently. It was the first time an Irish President had visited thehospital in its 45 years of existence. The President met staff andpatients in the newly opened Surgical Unit and went on to visitSpruce House, a long-stay facility for people with a range ofseverely disabling conditions.
Welcoming President McAleese, Trust Chairman, GerardGuckian expressed his delight that she had taken time out of herbusy schedule to come to Altnagelvin. He added: “I am proud towelcome someone who has clearly become identified with so
many of the principles and values that we here at Altnagelvin holddear. I know that the theme of President McAleese’s presidencyhas been about building bridges, about treating every citizen withequal respect, and about instilling a real sense of community -without diluting individual rights and talents. Whilst clearly caringpassionately for the most vulnerable and isolated members of oursociety, the President has eloquently espoused a “can-do”philosophy, to help create a people and a country that is bothconfident and resourceful,” said Mr. Guckian.
Mr. Guckian continued: “I am delighted that not only have wehad the opportunity to show off our new Surgical Unit, which willbe the standard for all of our wards in the £100m redevelopmentof the hospital over the next eight years, but that staff andpatients in Spruce House have also had the opportunity to meetthe President. Our thanks are due to President McAleese forbringing a lot of excitement and joy to the hospital today.”
President McAleese was presented with a Derry City Crystalpaperweight depicting an engraving of the hospital, along with aCD of the hospital’s award winning choir, as mementos of her visit.
Altnagelvin welcomes thePresident of Ireland
President McAleese with (L-R) Gerard Guckian, Chairman Altnagelvin Trust Board,Dr. Martin McAleese, Elaine Way, Chief Executive of Altnagelvin and Dr. Geoff
Nesbitt, Medical Director, Altnagelvin.
Meeting some of the staff
NEWS
9
IT and clinical staff from Musgrave Park Hospital collaborated todevelop a theatres information management system that won aUK-wide award. The Belfast Orthopaedic Information System(BOIS) was awarded first place in the category of ‘Best Use of IT inSecondary Care ‘ by the Healthcare IT Effectiveness Consortium.
Anne Mulgrew, former nurse, now Clinical Systems Co-ordinator, IT Business Unit, Green Park Healthcare Trust said: “Theproject provided an opportunity to combine my theatre nursingbackground with software project management. This dual
experience was invaluable when meeting the frequent challengespresented by the project. A combination of clinical and technicalknowledge was essential when agreement was required to providedirection and to resolve conflicts between the needs of clinicalstaff and the reality of technology and software restraints”.
BOIS allows staff at Musgrave to respond to bottlenecks in thesystem quickly, getting improved use of theatre facilities, recoverybeds, equipment and staff. Other benefits of BOIS, which capturedthe judges’ attention, were: • Real-time process management – patient’s progress can be
monitored from ward to theatre to high dependency unit.
• Full theatre scheduling - improved efficiency by anticipating andallocating appropriate staff and theatre resources.
• Improved control of joint implant stock – automates stockreordering using ‘just-in-time’ controls.
• Improved tracking and traceability of surgical equipment.• Input to the national joint implant register – improving national
research on patient outcomes. • Bone graft harvesting data – provides donor to recipient
traceability.
• Surgical site surveillance and reporting – delivers all the dataneeded to monitor and improve the management of infectioncontrol.
• Powerful auditing and reporting tool.
Awarding judges commented: “This project is a primeexample of understanding the user’s requirements; thisunderstanding enabled the IT Business Unit to give its users accessto real-time progress of what is happening within theatres andprovides up-to-date patient information. It showed admirable jointworking between IT and clinicians”.
Award-winning TheatreManagement Systemfor Musgrave Park Hospital
Left- right: Andrew Cooke, Senior Analyst Programmer; Anne Mulgrew, Clinical Systems Coordinator; and Olwyn Kernahan, Staff Nurse discuss the BOIS system which wasawarded first place in the 'Best Use of IT in Secondary Care' by the Healthcare IT Effectiveness Consortium.
WHAT’S ON
10
Bouncing Back: Latex revisited• 5 October 2005• McKinney Hall, Musgrave Park HospitalFollowing the success of Northern Ireland’s first latex conference in
2003, we are now presenting an update on the sharing of knowl-edge and advancements in latex issues. The conference will focus onthe multidisciplinary approach to the management of latex sensiti-sation, both in the workplace and at home.
For more information, contact Brenda Mason on: 028 9090 2060 oremail
Department of Education & Research Our Lady’s Hospice Limited, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6WHospice Approach to Care of the Older Person For Registered
Nurses31 Aug, 1,2 Sept 2005 Time 9 - 4.00 Our Lady’s Hospice, Haroldís CrossTel 01-4068 806 [email protected]: €280.00 (incl lunch)
SEPTEMBER 2005Introduction to Palliative Care for Registered NursesDate: 5-9th September (3 days) Time 9.00-4.00 pmVenue: Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s CrossContact: 01-4068 806 / 810 [email protected]: €380.00 (incl lunch)
Rheumatology for Nurses (2 days)Date: 19, 20 September Time 10.00 - 4.00 pmVenue: Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s CrossContact: 01-4068 806 / 810 [email protected]” Fee: €180.00 (incl lunch)
Struggle Against RestraintDate: 22 September Time 10.00 - 4.00 pmVenue: Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’ s CrossContact: 01-4068 806 / 810 [email protected]” Fee: €95.00 (incl lunch)
Exploring Healing Evening Class (Term 1)Date: Starts 22nd Sept 2005 (3 terms) 5.30 - 7.30 pmVenue: Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s CrossContact: 01-4068 806 / 810 [email protected]”
Syringe Driver WorkshopDate: 29 September Time 1.30 - 4.30 pmVenue: Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s CrossContact: 01-4068 806 / 810 [email protected]” Fee: €50.00
IRISH ANAESTHETIC AND RECOVERY NURSES ASSOCIATION4th NATIONAL CONFERENCEat the Ardilaun Hotel, Galway15th October, 2005Enquiries to: Breeda MaddenPortiuncula HospitalEmail: [email protected]
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES - GOOD PRACTICE IN RISKMANAGEMENT
Knockbracken Hall, Knockbracken Health Park, BelfastThursday, 8th September, 2005Keynote Speaker: Steven Morgan “Positive Risk Taking - Working With
People - Working With Risk”Fee £25 incl., full details from: Nursing Service, Belfast City Hospital.
Tel: (028) 90263646 or Email: [email protected]
Centre for Colorectal Disease 12th International Meeting.Venue, Friday 9th September, 2005. Education and ResearchCentre, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin. Registration 1pm.International guest lecturer Prof David F Ransohoff. For furtherinformation contact Betty McArdle on 01-277 4913 or fax 01-2838123.
Robert Graves Postgraduate Centre 18th Annual Robert MayneLecture, Thursday, 15th September, 2005 – AccountableHealthcare in the Information Age. Venue: Trinity Centre LectureTheatre, Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24 at 7pm. ByProf Aidan Halligan, Director of Clinical Governance for the NHS, StJohn’s House, Leicester, UK. For further information contact ImeldaO’Brien at 01-414 2883 or fax 01-414 2697.
UCC Medical Alumni Association Scientific Conference. Venue:new Thursday 15 - Friday 16th September, 2005 - BrookfieldHealth Sciences Complex, University College Cork. For further infor-mation contact Emily O’Brien at 021-490 1587.
WHAT’S ON
11
Osteoporosis -An Evidence
Base forPractice
Venue:
EDUCATION CENTRE,AMNCH, Tallaght,
Co. Dublin 24Saturday, 17th September, 2005
For further information contact:Teresa Quinn 01- 414 3225
Email: [email protected]
Helen Roche 01 - 414 3240Email: [email protected]
08.00 - 09.10 Opening and welcome.09.10 - 10.00 A fresh approach to falls and black-outs in
older people.Professor Rose Anne KennyChair of Geriatric Medicine, Trinity College
10.15 - 10.45 Coffee.
10.45 - 11.15 Screening for Osteoporosis.Susan Van derKampClinical Nurse Specialist Osteoporosis11.15 - 12.00 Overview of Osteoporosis.Dr. Miriam CaseyConsultant Rheumatologist, St. James’s Hospital12.00 - 12.30 Medication use in Osteoporosis.Ms Anne Allan (to be confirmed)12.30 - 12.45 Questions.
12.45 - 13.45 Lunch.
13.45 - 14.45 Falls Clinic and Dexa Scanner.Ms Cathy Kirby, RGNMS Niamh Mahar, RGN, MScGerontological Nursing14.15 - 15.00 Multi-disciplinary Team Management.Anne-Marie Scanlon, MISCP, MCSPMargaret McGrath, BSc(Hons) Cur. Occ, MAOTISiobhan Healy, MINDIDCU (to be confirmed)15.00 - 15.15 Questions.15.15 - 15.30 Round-up and Close.
AN BORD ALTRANAIS
CATEGORY ONE APPROVAL
Cost: €50 incl. Lunch
Quickie Quiz1. ‘Planet Earth’ is blue, and there’s nothing I can do
- name the song
2. What is the more common name for AuroraBorealis?
3. What were the Christian names of the BluesBrothers?
4. How do you make a White Russian cocktail?
5. What is name of Derek Trotter’s local?
6. Who declared the 1936 Olympic Games officiallyopen?
7. Which band had an album called Different Class?
8. From which country do Volvos originate?
9. What animal does tripe come from?
10. What is the once place in all of Great Britain thatThe Queen cannot visit?
Word Builder
L M A
R EHow many words of three or more letters, including plurals,can you make from the five letters, using each letter onlyonce? No foreign words or ones beginning with a capitalare allowed. There’s at least one five letter word. Good - 9 Excellent - 12 Amazing - 14
August Crossword
Across1 A shelf inside a fireplace
4 _____ Art
7 Peseta, abbr.
10 In the style of (2 wds.)
11 Nocturnal bird
12 Sense organ
13 _____ non grata
15 Airport code for Rome, Italy
16 Sports structures
18 Greatest in degree
21 Bold
24 Sprints
26 Ascended
27 Thoroughfare
29 Walk a short distance
30 Immature
32 Current unit
34 To guide ceremoniously
38 Chum
39 Bauxite, for example
40 Crooked
41 Before, poetic
42 Doze
43 Affirmative
Down1 Fortune, archaic2 Heard at bullfights3 Saloon4 Inferior5 Possessed6 Flat7 To be tenacious in someactivity8 Based upon the teachingsof Lao-tse9 Fortify14 Cotton fabric with satin fin-ish17 Originates18 _____ Doubtfire19 _____ Bran20 Qualm22 Hillary Clinton, _____Rodham23 Economic stat.25 Religious speech28 Jewelled headpiece31 _____ School32 Tailless primate33 Damage35 Rte.36 You _____ what you eat37 Fleur-de-_____
2 3
• Answers on Page 22 •
13
Three Downpatrick children were the stars of the recent‘Flavour of India’ event held at the Lagan Valley Hospital,Lisburn, to mark the second anniversary of the arrival of ouroverseas nurses from India.
Two years on, Down Lisburn Trust has 47 nurses workingthroughout our acute hospitals. There are seven in theDowne Hospital, five in Thompson House Hospital and theremainder working throughout the Lagan Valley.
Alan Finn, Director of Acute Services and Nursing, says,“Our recruitment programme was necessary because of theshortage of trained nursing staff throughout NorthernIreland. All these nurses from India have completed anadaptation programme and work as staff nurses on thewards and departments. They have contributed to the
continuation of services in our hospitals. We have beenhappy to welcome them as they brought with them a varietyof skills and knowledge which has been adapted to workingwithin the UK National Health Service. Many have settled
here with their families and their children attend localschools.”
On 5th November a theme lunch was prepared by LaganValley Hospital’s Support Services staff, with some adviceand help from the Indian nurses. The authentic Indian menuwas enjoyed by all staff in the dining rooms on the Downeand Lagan Valley hospital sites.
Later the same day, the nurses organised a function inLagan Valley main auditorium where a programme of musicand dance was enjoyed by all.
The Belfast Indian Community Centre contributed to theprogramme and the audience was enthralled by Leena Paul,Merin Antony and Sherin Antony who sang and danced tocontemporary and traditional music. Speakers includedSuzanne McCartney from Down Lisburn Trust’s Diversity inAction Group, the Community Liaison Police Officer,representatives from the RCN and UNISON and closingremarks from Alan Finn, who thanked the nurses for thepatient care they provided on the wards and wished themsuccess in their future careers.
Parts of the programme were chaired by Mrs Simmi Francis,Staff Nurse, and Mrs Mini Thompson, Staff Nurse, whothanked Mr Finn and the Trust for giving the nurses theopportunity of working in Northern Ireland, and for thesupport they have received.
The delicious meal was organised by the nurses and theirfamilies and supplied by the Moghul Restaurant Belfast. MrFinn concluded, “As time goes by we hope that our nurseswill be fully integrated into our local community, which willenable them to continue to support our hospital servicesfor the foreseeable future.”
A flavour of India at theLagan Valley Hospital
A great evening was had by all - as our pictures show.
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INTRODUCING OUR 8TH ANNUAL
Nursing & HealthcareExhibition Dublin 2005ROYAL DUBLIN SHOWGROUND28TH & 29TH SEPTEMBERROYAL DUBLIN SHOWGROUND28TH & 29TH SEPTEMBER
FREE ENTRY to all healthcare professionals
FREE SEMINARS
FREE TRAVEL to nursing groups of 10 or more, phone for details
Nursing & HealthcareExhibition Dublin 2005
A comprehensive range of national as well as international agencies and hospitals will be exhibiting at the show, including:
Assignment America • Chancellor Care Ltd. • Triad Hospitals (The Beacon Hospital) • Addenbrookes Hospital NHS Trust• Rotunda Hospital • Smartfish Medical Ltd. • Horizon Housing Group • Alliance Nurses Agency • Pembrokeshire &Derwen NHS Trust • Nursing USA • Irish Blood Transfusion Service • Greystone Healthcare USA • National MaternityHospital • Welsh Assembly • Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health NHS Trust • West Kent & Social Care NHS Trust • O’GradyPeyton • Grafton Healthcare • Brynyevadd Hospital • Royal Brompton Hospital • Ultralase • Dublin Academic TeachingHospital • Mid Essex Hospital • NHS Lothian • Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust • Bon Secours Hospital • Health ServiceExecutive (HSE) Ireland • National Cancer Register • Blackrock Clinic • Nottinghamshire Healthcare
For further details call:
+44 (0)1292 284800For further details call:
+44 (0)1292 284800or Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
WEDNESDAY 28th SEPTEMBER10.30 - 12 midday: ‘Family Centred Care in Changing Times’Anne Marie Cullinane, RGN, RSCN; MSc., Clinical Education Facilitator,Children’s University Hospital,Temple Street 12.30 midday - 1.30pm: ‘The Role of the Advanced Nurse Practitionerin the Emergency Department’Louise Lynam, RGN; MSc, Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Emergency Nursing,Adelaide and Meath Hospitals incorporating the National Children’s Hospital,Tallaght2 - 3.30pm: ‘Implementation of the Tidal Model of Mental HealthNursing in Cork Mental Health Services’Ann Coughlan, RPN, BA (HONS) Psychology, MSc, Nursing PracticeDevelopment Co-ordinator, West Cork/South Lee/North Lee and North CorkMental Health Services4 - 5pm: ‘Refocusing Acute Psychiatry – implications for the role ofthe psychiatric nurse’P.J. Hartnett, RMN, MBS in Health Service Management (UCC) in progress,Nursing Practice Development Co-ordinator, Kerry Mental Health Services
THURSDAY 29th SEPTEMBER10.30 - 12 midday: ‘Prevention of Hospital Acquired Infections’Siobhan Prout. RGN, MSc. (Hon) in Environmental Health Risk Management,Director, Biological Safety Advisory Practice (BSAP)
12.30 - 1.30pm: ‘Inoculation Injuries’Siobhan Prout. RGN, MSc.
2 - 3.30pm: ‘Domino: - ‘Babies or Pizza?’ – An overview of the homeand domino birth scheme, National Maternity Hospital, Holles StreetMargaret Hanahoe, RGN, RMN. Dip. In Management.(RCSI), CNM3; Co-ordi-nator of home and domino birth scheme. National Maternity Hospital, HollesStreet
4 - 5pm: ‘Clinical Audit as a Quality Improvement Process’Eithne Ni Dhomhnaill, (‘Nursing Matters’) RGN, MSc., Independent NurseConsultant/Researcher
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Irish Nurse Nursing & HealthcareExhibition Dublin 2005
supported by:
Lothian
Exhibition Registration FormTo pre-register and avoid the queues please complete the form and fax or post to
the address below
Title First name Surname
Job title/function
Hospital/Clinic (if applicable)
Address
Town County
Postcode Email address
Telephone Fax
✁
I am unable to attend this year’s Irish Nurse Recruitment Fair in Dublin, but would like you to keep me updated on:
❑ Glasgow 2006 ❑ Dublin 2006
Please fax to: +44 (0)1292 288559. Post to: Strathayr Publishing, 88 Green Street, Ayr, ScotlandKA8 8BG. Tel: +44 (0)1292 284800.
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In Ireland, as in the rest of the UK, rates of obesity are increasing. Datafrom the North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey (2001), whichstudied over 1300 subjects, found that weight, height and body massindex (BMI) had significantly increased since last measured in 1988 and1990. Within 10 years obesity in men had more than doubled, from 8% to20%, and in women obesity rates had increased from 13% to 16%. Weighthas increased dramatically more in men than women, equating to anincrease of 0.55kg per year for men and 0.33kg per year for women. Ahigh waist circumference was identified in almost half the population(47%) indicating an increased risk of coronary heart disease. Thesefigures are similar for both North and South Ireland.
However, despite the statistics, it appears that “obesity is under-recognised in primary care’ and ‘weight management appears to bebased on brief opportunistic intervention undertaken mainly by practicenurses. While clinicians report the use of external sources of support,few patients are referred, with practice-based counselling being the mostcommon intervention” (Gibbs et al, 2004). This recent study highlights theessential role nurses play in the treatment of obesity and, in addition,nurses are well placed to recognise those at risk and can therefore helpin the prevention of obesity.
Recognising obesity and those at risk of developing bbesityThe World Health Organisation (2000) has defined ‘overweight’ or ‘pre-obese’ as those with a Body Mass Index (BMI = weight/height2) between25-29.9kg/m2 and ‘obesity’ as those with a BMI over 30kg/m2. HoweverBMI considers total body weight in relation to height and does not takebody composition into account. Therefore a very muscular man couldhave the same BMI as a very fat man but have very different health risks.Alternatively, a measure of waist circumference can assess centralobesity and hence health risk. The categories for assessing centralobesity with recommendations for action are presented below (SIGN,1996).
This quick and simple measure of waist circumference (measuredhalfway between the lower rib and the top of the hip bone) can indicateto the nurse whether the patient has central obesity or is at risk ofdeveloping it.
What are the health risks?The risks of being overweight or obese are substantial and these risksincrease with increasing weight. It has been estimated that for everykilogram of weight gain, the risk of type 2 diabetes increases by almost5%. The obese, and in particular those who are centrally obese, are alsoat greater risk of cardiovascular disease, cancers, osteoarthritis, joint andback pain, infertility, sexual dysfunction and psycho-social problems. The
National Audit Office (2001) has linked deaths caused by obesity to ashortened lifespan of nine years. It may be that the overweight or obesepatient is unaware of these risks and this may be a place to start in thecounselling of the patient by the nurse. The benefits of moderate weightloss should also be emphasised and should not be under-estimated. A 5-10% reduction in weight has been associated with health benefits suchas reduced cardiovascular risk factors, improved glucose tolerance,reduced angina and reduced joint pain.
What has caused the obesity epidemic?The causes of obesity are multi-factorial and result from a combination ofgenetics, environment and lifestyle. Although it is accepted that geneticsare not responsible for the exponential rise in obesity over the last 20-30years, it is acknowledged that some individuals are more susceptible toweight gain than others. The environment we live in has been termed‘obesogenic’ owing to the huge availability of energy dense, high fatfoods promoting excess energy intakes, and the number of labour savingdevices limiting our energy expenditure. However, the individual can takeresponsibility for their lifestyle - in order to maintain a healthy weight andultimately maintain their health. In order to make the appropriate lifestylechoices, the individual must have access to information and advice whichis effective. Nurses are in an excellent position to disseminate suchadvice.
The role of dietEvery day the public is being bombarded with messages to cut down onthis, that and the other, so it is not a surprise to learn that they areconfused about what they can eat. In addition, every week there appearsto be a new ‘fad’ diet in the media, promising miraculous ‘quick-fix’weight losses. The role of the nurse, therefore, is to advise on dietarystrategies, which are evidence-based and have been shown to be mosteffective for weight loss in the long term. The most commonly acceptedstrategy for weight loss is a low-fat (<30% energy from fat) diet (Lindstromet al, 2005). A recent meta analysis of over 16 studies has shown thateven without conscious energy restriction, weight losses of over 4kg canbe achieved by reducing the fat content by 10% (Astrup et al, 2001). Foods that are high in fat tend to be energy dense, i.e. contain a highnumber of calories per gram (fat = 9 kcals/g). Energy dense diets tend topromote over-consumption of energy, resulting in weight gain. Therefore,substituting foods which are less energy dense, such as protein foods(protein = 4 kcals/g) and carbohydrate foods (starches and sugars = 3.75kcals/g) results in a diet which is less energy dense, limiting total energyintake.
In addition, fatty foods have a very weak effect on satiety - they don’t fillyou up – whereas carbohydrate and protein foods have a stronger effect
by Dr. Sandra DrummondLecturer in Human Nutrition & Public Health NutritionDietetics, Nutrition and Biological SciencesQueen Margaret University College, Edinburgh
Obesity in Ireland
Waist Circumference Risk/Action to be taken
Men Greater than 94 cm Prevent further weight gain
Greater than 102cm Encourage weight loss
Women Greater than 80cm Prevent further weight gain
Greater than 88cm Encourage weight loss
Obesity in Ireland
These resources are provided as a service to health care professionals through an educational grant from
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on satiety, again helping to limit total energy intake. Epidemiologicalevidence confirms a strong positive association between high fat dietsand high BMI, whereas there is a negative association betweencarbohydrate intake and BMI. There also appears to be an inverserelationship between dietary fat and simple carbohydrates – sugar –where individuals achieving a low fat diet tend to consume a higherproportion of sugar than those consuming a high fat diet (Bolton-Smith &Woodward, 1994). It may be that the inclusion of sugar improves thepalatability of a low fat diet and promotes long-term compliance.The challenge for the nurse is to come to a consensus with the patient onrealistic dietary changes. The advice must be personalised, practical andrealistic for it to be effective. Suggesting healthy alternatives rather thanjust highlighting the foods to avoid is a positive approach and may bemore effective in changing the behaviour of the patient. Diets which areoverly restrictive and unpalatable are difficult to comply with. Lessrestrictive dietary strategies which prioritise a reduction in dietary fat,whilst promoting carbohydrate (including sucrose) have been shown tobe effective long term (Drummond et al 2004; Saris et al, 2000).
The advice given by the nurse could start by encouraging smallachievable dietary changes based on the patient’s likes and dislikes aspatients will find it difficult to comply with a diet which is very differentfrom their habitual diet. For example:• Focus on foods which should be included in the diet – lean cuts of
meat, bulky low energy dense carbohydrate foods such as fruit andvegetables, pasta, boiled rice, baked potatoes, breads and cereals.
• Encourage a high carbohydrate breakfast to start the day – whether itis toast and marmalade, Frosties, Weetabix, muesli or Crunchy NutCornflakes with low fat milk – all are low fat options.
• Advise to switch to a lower fat version of milk and dairy products – ifcurrently taking full fat milk – switch to semi-skimmed; if taking semi-skimmed – switch to fully skimmed.
• Avoid the ‘starve and binge’ approach to dieting! Do not skip meals!There is evidence to suggest that a few small meals and snacks ratherthan two or three large meals help to control appetite. However ensureportion sizes are small – there is also evidence to suggest that the‘normal’ portion size has increased in recent years.
• Include one or two low-fat, high-carbohydrate snacks per day, such asfruit, low fat yogurt, bagel with jam, dried raisons or apricots, currentbun, low fat cereal bar. This will improve the palatability of the diet.
• Fat on meat is easy to recognise, as is butter on bread, but alsohighlight high fat foods which are more difficult to recognise, such aspies and pastries, sausages and burgers, mayonnaise and saladdressings.
• Encourage healthier cooking methods – fried streaky bacon should beavoided but grilled lean back bacon is very acceptable.
• Encourage variety in the diet – at least 5 portions of fruit andvegetables should be eaten a day – encourage the patient to try newfruits and vegetables (fresh, tinned or frozen) for variety.
By focusing on a reduction of dietary fat and allowing other foods whichmay not normally be associated with a ‘diet’ (such as a small scone andjam for a mid morning snack), allows the adoption of an eating patternmore in line with the patient’s normal eating pattern and is more likely tosucceed in the long term.
The role of activityAlthough the Irish population is getting fatter, there has not been muchchange in reported energy intake in the Irish population over the past 10-12 years (McGowan et al 2001). However there is evidence that obeseindividuals have a reduced physical activity (both work activity andrecreational activity) and view more television than the non-obese(Livingstone et al 2001). It is commonly accepted that as a nation weshould be more active, but how much activity is enough to promoteweight loss and prevent weight gain? Although the jury is still out on thisone, the consensus appears to be between 45-60 minutes of moderateintensity activity per day (Wareham et al, 2005) will help prevent thetransition from overweight to obesity. This may appear daunting to thepatient who currently does little or no activity. The advice, therefore,
would be to work up to this level of activity over a few weeks. In addition,the activity can be accumulated over the course of the day, so a brisk 20minute walk three times a day may be more acceptable and easier to fitinto a busy lifestyle than a solid hour of walking.
Again, as with dietary advice, the nurse must give practical advicetailored to the individual. If the patient mentions a favourite activity suchas football or swimming, encourage them to get the whole family involvedor team up with an ‘activity buddy’ as activity is more easily sustainable ifexercising with others. Or if the patient has a garden, encourage morelabour intensive gardening. If the patient works full-time and protests thatthey have no time to exercise, encourage them to be active in their lunchor coffee breaks or walk part of the way to work. Or if they have a dog,advise them to walk the dog more often! It is important that they agreeon a strategy they feel they can fit into their lifestyle – if it is too ambitiousit is more likely to fail. The effect of increased activity (or reducing theamount of time they are sedentary) on energy expenditure in promotingweight loss and weight control, can not be stressed enough. Studies haveshown that those who include exercise in a weight reducing strategymaintain the weight lost and are less likely to regain the weight in thelong term (Van Baak et al, 2003).
In ConclusionThe scale of the obesity problem in Ireland is now so large that itcannot be dealt with by a few specialists alone. The potential rolefor nurses in the treatment of weight problems in the primary caresetting should not be underestimated. By providing simple positiveadvice on diet and activity, nurses can offer the help and supportpatients need to motivate themselves to bring their weight undercontrol and to reap the health benefits.
ReferencesAstrup A. The role of dietary fat in the prevention and treatment of obesity. Efficacy
and safety of low-fat diets. International Journal of Obesity, 2001; 25, S46-S50Bolton Smith C, & Woodward M. Dietary composition and fat to sugar ratios in relation
to obesity. International Journal of Obesity, 1994; 18, 820-828Drummond S, Dixon K, Griffin J, de Looy AE. Weight loss on an energy restricted low-
fat sugar-containing diet in overweight sedentary men. International Journal ofFood Science and Nutrition.2004; 55 (4), 279-290.
Gibbs HD, Broom J, Brown J, Laws RA, Reckless JPD, Noble PA, Kumar S, MontazeriA. Current approaches to obesity management in UK primary care: TheCounterweight Programme. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 2004; 17(3),183-190.
Lindstrom J, Peltonen M, Tuomilehto J. Lifestyle strategies for weight control:experience from the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study. Proceedings of theNutrition Society, 2005; 64, 81-88
Livingstone M, Robson P, McCarthy S, Kiely M, Harrington K, Browne P, Galvin M,Wareham N, Rennie K. Physical Activity patterns in a nationally representativesample of adults in Ireland. Public Health Nutrition, 2001; 4(5A), 1107-1116
McCarthy S, Harrington K, Kiely M, Flynn A, Robson P, Livingstone M, Gibney M.Analyses of the anthropometric data from the North/South Ireland FoodConsumption Survey. Public Health Nutrition, 2001; 4(5A), 1099-1106
McGowan M, Harrington K, Kiely M, Robson P, Livingstone M, Gibney M. An evaluationof energy intakes and the ratio of energy intake to estimated metabolic rate(EI/BMRest) in the North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey. Public HealthNutrition, 2001; 4(5A), 1043-1150
National Audit Office. Tackling Obesity in England 2001, London: National Audit OfficeSaris WH, Astrup A et al. Randomised controlled trial of changes in dietary
carbohydrate/fat ratio and simple vs complex carbohydrates on body weight andblood lipids: the CARMEN study. International Journal of Obesity, 2000; 24, 1310-1318
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. Obesity in Scotland: integratingprevention with weight management. Edinburgh SIGN, 1996
Van Baak MA, van Mil E, Astrup AV et al. Leisure-time activity is an importantdeterminant of long-term weight maintenance after weight loss in the SibutramineTrial on Obesity Reduction and Maintenance (STORM). American Journal ofClinical Nutrition 2003; 78, 209-14
Wareham NJ, van Sluijs EMF, Ekelund U. Physical activity and obesity prevention: areview of the current evidence. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2005; 64,229-47.
World Health Organisation. Obesity: preventing and managing a global epidemic.Report of a WHO consultation. WHO Technical Report Series 894, 2000.
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The Stroke Transfer of Care (ToC) document was launchednationally today, following a successful pilot, to improve thedelivery and continuity of care for those who have suffered astroke. The Stroke ToC document was developed by Dr Tony Rudd,Chair of the Intercollegiate Stroke Group and Associate Directorof the Royal College of Physicians Clinical Effectiveness andEvaluation Unit, and Dr George Kassianos, a GP from Bracknell,Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners and Actionfor Stroke Group member, to facilitate the smooth transfer ofstroke patients from secondary to primary care.
Stroke is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the UK,affecting over 130,000 people each year.1 About a third are likelyto be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. Much of theresponsibility for delivering effective secondary prevention andmanaging longer term problems associated with stroke falls tothe primary care team.1
Nevertheless, the 2004 Sentinel Stroke Audit by the RCP revealedthat standards for the treatment of stroke in some places remainbehind those for other major conditions such as cancer and heartdisease.
Continuity of care is crucial to ensure a successful outcome forthe stroke patient, and a key part of the management process isthe transfer of care from the secondary to primary careenvironment.
Dr Rudd said: “It is essential that secondary and primary careservices work effectively together to achieve the best patientcare. One of the most common complaints patients have is thatthey feel abandoned when they leave hospital. Often this is dueto failure to communicate effectively. This new document is auseful tool to ensure that essential information does not get lostwhen care is transferred after a devastating illness.”
The Stroke ToC document captures in a concise and accessibleformat the information essential to seamlessly transfer strokepatients to primary care, including key information regarding:
Initial diagnosis.Investigations undertaken.Assessments on transfer.Medications (including secondary prevention).Lifestyle advice.Rehabilitation and follow-up appointments.Home care arrangements.
Dr Kassianos commented: “This is a very important tool thatensures the details of excellent and comprehensive care of strokepatients can be recorded and passed on to primary care so thatbest care can continue.”
Successful pilotThe Stroke ToC document has been successfully piloted in primaryand secondary care. A significant proportion of the consultants(78%) would recommend it to their colleagues and nearly all ofthe GPs (88%) said the document helped them manage theirpatients more effectively. Also, the document highlights keyindicators related to the GMS contract, helping the GP to achieveGMS targets and related financial rewards.
Interestingly, the pilot revealed that almost all of theparticipating GPs (92%) stated that they did not receive adocument similar to the ToC protocol when their patients lefthospital.
Dr Michael Power, Consultant Physician in Geriatric Medicine, theUlster Hospital, Belfast, who participated in the pilot, stated “Thisdocument is excellent. It tells GPs exactly what they need toknow to confidently continue the management of their strokepatients once they leave hospital. I will definitely recommend theStroke ToC document to my colleagues.”
The document includes a form to be completed by the hospitalconsultant, who then provides a copy to the GP as well as thepatient. Evidence shows that patient-held records may enhancethe patient’s understanding and involvement in their care, andreduce the stress frequently associated with the dischargeprocess.2
The Stroke ToC document is supplied with a card for the patient,which provides clear information regarding their medication,lifestyle advice and aftercare arrangements.
Dr Andy Mimnagh, Chairman of the Action for Stroke Group(ASG), said: “The Stroke ToC document is excellent, bridging a realcommunications gap and meeting the needs both of the patientand the primary care practitioners.”
“I would strongly advise every physician treating stroke patientsto use this document. It is a concise and accessible tool that willprovide significant practical help for the primary care team inmanaging stroke patients.”
“This will be of real value to all parties involved in the strokemanagement process and contribute to raising the standards ofcare.”
Getting hold of copiesA limited number of free copies are available. Physicians mayobtain free copies by emailing their name, work address, andcontact telephone number to [email protected], they may contact Berit Sund at Avenue HKM on020 8747 4424.
A downloadable version is also available via the RCP websitewww.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/pub_print_bytitle.htm.
The RCP website also contains information on how to orderfurther paper copies.
ReferencesPrimary Care Concise Guidelines for Stroke 2004(www.rcplondon.ac.uk)www.sign.ac.uk/guidelines
Effective new tool to improveManagement of Stroke Patients
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The Information Needs ofSuicidal People and theirSignificant Others:A Review of the Literature
IN THIS piece the authors also wish to examine the literature from relatedfields of empirical enquiry. Material pertinent to the care give to significant
others of those who commit or attempt suicide will be addressed alongsideliterature relating to the onerous task of caring for someone who is mentallyill.
Magne-Ingvar and Ojehagen (1999) followed up the significant othersof 84 suicide attempters. This qualitative analysis utilized semi-structuredinterviews to elicit the opinions of the subject group. Results indicated that63% of those who had attempted suicide had mental health problems and80% of the sample cited more socially based issues, for example, relationshipworries, financial worries or problems with substance misuse. This studyrevealed that significant others experience considerable anxiety about thepotential repetition of their relative’s self-harming behaviour. Despite this42% of them had never talked to their relative about the self-harm in theintervening year. A need for more information was expressed, however itseems that the sample of significant others were apparently unable orunwilling to directly approach their relative on the subject of self harm.Furthermore 20% of those who has attempted suicide had not spoken toanyone about the event.
Almost half of these significant others would have liked professionalinput of some sort preferably very soon after the event. Almost the entiresample found the process of being professionally interviewed as supportive.In this study the researchers also compared the views of those who hadattempted suicide with the views of their significant others. On manyoccasions there was a disparity between the patient’s version of events andthat of their significant others. It seems that the act of attempting suicidenegatively impacted on the capacity of either group to access their socialsupport networks. The most significant finding here was that the majority ofrespondents found they were not given enough information and were not
sufficiently involved in the treatment of their relative. Magne-Ingvar andOjehagen (1999) concluded that offering support and information tosignificant others may ease their burden of stress and enable them to supportthe patient appropriately. This study was limited by the fact that theinterviews were conducted by telephone. It may be that a clearer picture ofthe needs of significant others could have been achieved via face-to-facecontact.
Nirui and Chenoweth (1999) conducted a small qualitative studyfocusing on the family and close friends of 15 young people who took theirown lives. Lack of information about suicide and its associated risk factorsnot being readily available was a common theme. The respondents oftenfound that the people they turned to for information, in particular theirGeneral Practitioners were unable to supply it. The significant othersinterpreted this lack of information as a lack of interest and concern on thepart of their doctor and was seen as a significant barrier. This communicationopportunity with a hitherto trusted health professional had the potential toease the suffering of those were bereft by suicide. One respondent talkedemotively about the guilt and shame she experienced in the wake of her son’ssuicide which so easily could have been avoided by furnishing her with theright information at the right time.
For the participants in this study their relationship with someonecontemplating or committing suicide placed them in the unpleasant positionof not knowing how to give or secure help for their relative. A key theme inthe study was the notion that people become suicidal in their unique socialcontexts yet existing services made little attempt to help the suicidalindividual by providing adequate information to relatives. Nirui andChenoweth (1999) conclude by making a number of recommendationsintended to minimize negative experiences for those at risk of suicide andtheir significant others: Included in their recommendations was the need toeducate relatives and society in general about the risk factors associated withsuicide.
Providing information to those who attempt suicide and their significantothers may offer a protective function for both parties. One obviousadvantage would be that if a significant other receives appropriateinformation they may feel less stigmatized by their relative’s suicidalbehaviour. Relatives of people with mental illnesses do sometimes feelstigmatized. Ostman and Kjellin (2002) established that the majority ofrelatives experienced some degree of stigma by association. The impact of asuicide prevention education programme delivered to parents of high schoolstudents was measured by Toumborou and Gregg (2002). The positiveeffects of educating carers was apparent in that a reduction in risk factors forsuicide was achieved simply by offering information to those already withinthe social network of the school children. We must aim towards makinginformation about suicide as widely available as possible. Providing adequateinformation to relatives may go some way towards preventing them fromthemselves becoming ill. Being a carer can be a stressful experience. There isalso evidence to suggest that having a relative who attempts suicide is a riskfactor for suicide in itself (Blaauw et al, 2002).
Eagles et al (2003) developed and administered a semi-structuredinterview schedule with the aim of eliciting mentally ill patients’ views onsuicide prevention. While most of the patients declared that contact withprofessionals was helpful, the results also indicated that enhancing thepatient’s social networks and reducing stigma might also be useful. It may bethat providing accessible, high quality, widely available information aboutmanaging suicidal thoughts could address these perceived needs particularlyin light of the large numbers of suicidal people who are not accessingprofessional help.
The needs of people who have attempted suicide or had suicidalthoughts were investigated by pirkis et al (2001). A clustered probabilitysample was identified and the data gathered by trained, non-professionalresearchers. This strategy may have been highly facilitative in encouragingpeople to talk openly about their experiences with professionals. Both groupsof respondents evidenced similar experiences in terms of their informationneeds. Around 50% of both groups expressed some need for information and50% felt their needs went unmet (n-1326).
Young people are increasingly associated with suicide. Coggan et al(1997) used a qualitative methodology involving focus groups to elicit theviews of young people on the subject.
The young people were affiliated with schools and technical collegesand ranged in age from 15 through to 25 years. Twelve groups in total werefacilitated by one trained facilitator. The results indicated that most of theyoung people said they were more likely to turn to a friend or peer for helpas opposed to family members. The provision of information in the form ofposters or pamphlets was also viewed as positive in that it allows for theanonymous accessing of information. There was general agreement that anyattempt to make the subject of suicide less taboo was broadly welcomed but
There is an apparent dearth of empirical research availableaddressing the information needs of those who attempt suicideand their significant others. Very little research focuses on thedevelopment of an evidenced-based way of delivering relevant,accessible and timely information to this unique cohort. Whatis evident from the existing literature is that people cast in therole of caring for someone who is suicidal and/or mentally illoften experience considerable psychological burden.Supporting the well-being of carers would potentially bebeneficial to both the carer and the person requiring care. Thisis particularly relevant in the case of the suicidal person wheresocial context and access to social support networks are keyelements underpinning recovery. The existing literature islargely qualitative in nature however this empirical mediumfacilitates the capturing of subjective narrative and livedpersonal experience. After all living with suicidal thoughts orwith a loved one who is suicidal is a wholly subjectiveexperience. Any information which helps a sufferer or theirsignificant others to manage and cope with the impact of theexperience is eminently worthwhile in the authors’ opinion.Keywords: Suicide, Significant Others, Information Needs,Literature Review
David Martin is a Registered Mental Nurse (part 3) andPart Time Lecturer. Stephen Hamilton is a RegisteredMental Nurse (part 3) and Lecturer in HealthCommunication both of the University of Ulster atJordanstown.
Martin, D.J. and Hamilton, S.J.
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there was concern that it should not be “glamorized” or “normalized” in anyway. Glamorization could lead to suicide being interpreted as attractive insome way. Equally normalization may result in some individuals not seekingthe professional help they need. The sample of young people generated whatthey considered to be warning signs of impending suicide namely, personalitychanges, risk taking behaviours and unusual actions. These participants alsohighlighted that lack of information is a barrier to the successful accessing ofrelevant services and other resources. There are considerable clinicalimplications for health professionals of all disciplines pertaining to the way inwhich they provide and present the information.
Mann et al (2004) describe the critical role that poor self-esteem has inthe development of mental illness and its underpinning of high riskbehaviours. They go on to say that improved self-esteem is positivelycorrelated with developing more effective coping strategies. There is alsoevidence that low self-esteem is associated with suicidal behaviours(Overholser et al, 1995). The Government recognizes the need for highquality carer-focused information (Department of Health, 1999). Thisdocument acknowledges that carers often found it difficult to accessinformation needs.
Sung et al (2004) compared the psycho-educational needs of patientsand relatives in the pre-discharge phase of a psychiatric inpatient admission.For patients and their relatives information needs about medication, ways ofmanaging stress and coping with suicidal thoughts were among the top tentopics identified. Chien et al (2003) looked at the educational needs offamilies of schizophrenia sufferers. The needs highlighted includedinformation about early warning signs of relapse or illness and the effects ofmedication. In a qualitative study exploring the emotional and support needsof family carers, Chambers et al (2001) found that the experience of caringwas one of constant searching for information and support. Nurses were seenas key figures in helping carers access the relevant information.
The education needs of families of mentally ill adults were examined byGasque-Carter and Curlee (1999). They noted that mental health services donot generally engage with families of people with mental illness despite thefact that families often fill supportive gaps in service delivery. The authors ofthis piece state that although families can provide a wealth of first handexperiential knowledge of the patient, they are under-utilized at theassessment stage and give little factual information about their relative’spresentation. The caregivers in this study cited professionals as being bestplaced to meet their education and information needs. Some 66% of thesample said they needed information about the signs and symptoms of mentalillness. The single greatest need however was information on how to engagehealth professionals effectively in their role as advocate for an ill relative.Professionals often cite concerns about patient confidentiality as a barrier totalking to relatives about various issues and problems. Alternative ways ofdelivering information in a non-threatening fashion should therefore besought.
The information needs of other mental health client caregivers arerepresented in the literature albeit sparingly. Wackerbarth and Johnson(2002) attempted to identify the information and support needs of caregiversof dementia sufferers. The data in this study was gathered via a self-administered semi-structured survey. The information seen as essential bythese caregivers included how to find the best care and what to expect fromtheir relatives in light of their illness. It is perilously easy to overwhelmcaregivers with information and therefore greater attention should be paid tothe accessibility and quality of the information offered.
In a qualitative study using the focus group approach, Boyle andChambers (2000) looked at medication compliance in older depressedpeople. They purport that information about the illness and its treatment is aprimary need for the patient and their relatives. Carers are often expected tofacilitate medication compliance based on very little knowledge. Lack ofinformation was seen as a barrier to compliance. Furthermore, theaccessibility of information was singled out as vital. The informationprovided in medication leaflets was viewed by this sample as unhelpful dueto the way in which the material was presented. They felt this was likely tocause alarm and actually militate against compliance. Doornbos (2001)studied the experiences of caregivers of young adults with serious mentalillness. An important need expressed by caregivers was for information aboutthe illness and the resources available with which they could preparethemselves for their caring role.
Cujipers and Stam (2000) looked at burnout in relatives of psychiatricpatients who were attending education groups. The findings in this casestrongly suggest that information aimed at helping relatives to cope withrelationship strain had the potential to reduce the burden on relatives.Providing appropriate information for carers has long been essentialespecially since carers are expected to be effectively engaged in caring andmaintaining their own physical and psychological well-being. The King’s
Fund Audit for Carers (1988) states that carers require detailed knowledgeconcerning diagnosis, progress and prognosis.
Chien et al (2001) studied the specific educational needs of patients withschizophrenia by adapting a recognized survey tool for use with thispopulation. They concluded that assessment of mental health consumer’sunique educational needs was essential adding that specific strategies shouldbe developed to meet those needs. It must be remembered that the expressedneeds of various mental health service user groups can vary significantly.Meusser et al (1992) for example elucidated the educational needs of peoplewith affective disorder and found they most valued information on how tocope with stress and manage suicidal thoughts. As Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), a 19th century Danish philosopher asserts:
“Nowadays not even a suicide kills himself in desperation. Before takingthe step he deliberates so long and so carefully that he literally chokes withthought. It is even questionable whether he ought to be called a suicide, sinceit is really thought which takes his life. He does not die with deliberation butfrom deliberation.”(http://en.thinkexist.com/quotation)
ReferencesBoyle,E. and Chambers,M.(2000) Medication compliance in older individuals
with depression: gaining the views of family carers. Journal of Psychiatricand Mental Health Nursing 7, 515-522.
Chambers, M.,Ryan, A.A. and Connor, S.L.(2001) Exploring the emotionalsupport needs and coping strategies of family carers. Journal of Psychiatricand Mental Health Nursing 8, 99-106.
Chien,W-T., Kam, C-W and Lee, I.(2001) An assessment of the patients’ needs inmental health education. Journal of Advanced Nursing 34(3), 304-31.
Chien,W-T. and Norman, I.(2003) Educational needs of families caring forChinese patients with schizophrenia. Journal of Advanced Nursing 44(5),490-498.
Coggan, C.,Patterson, P. and Fill,J. (1997) Suicide: qualitative data from focusgroup interviews with youth. Social Sciences Medicine 45(10), 1563-1570.
Cujipers, P and Stam,H (2000) Burnout among relatives of psychiatric patientsattending psycho educational support groups. Psychiatric Services 51(3):375-379.
Department of Health (1999) Caring about carers: a national strategy for carers.London: H.M.S.O.
Doornbos, M.M.(2001) The 24-7-52 job: family care giving for young adults withserious and persistent mental illness. Journal of Family Nursing 7(4),328-334.
Eagles,J.M., Carson, D.P., Begg,A. and Naji, S.A. (2003) Suicide prevention: astudy of patient’s views. British Journal of Psychiatry 182, 261-265.
Gasque-Carter, K.O. and Curlee,M. (1999) The educational needs of families ofmentally ill adults: The South Carolina experience. Psychiatric Services50(4): 520-524.
Kings Fund (1998) The King’s Fund audit for carers. London: Kings Fund.Magne-Ingvar, U. and Ojehagan,A. (1999) One year follow-up of significant
others of suicide attempters. Social Psychiatry and PsychiatricEpidemiology 34, 470-476.
Mann,M.,Horman,C.M.H., Schaalma, H.P. and de Vries, N.K.(2004) Self-esteemin a broad spectrum approach for mental health promotion. HealthEducation Research 19(4), 357-372.
Mueser,K.T.,Bellack, A.S., Wade, J.H., Sayers, S.L. and Rosenthal, C.K.(1992)An assessment of the educational needs of chronic psychiatric patients andtheir relatives. British Journal of Psychiatry 160, 674-680.
Nirui,M. and Chenoweth,L. (1999) The response of healthcare services to peopleat risk of suicide: a qualitative study. Australia and New Zealand Journal ofPsychiatry 33,361-371.
Ostman,M. and Kjellin,L.(2002) Stigma by association: psychological factors inrelatives of people with mental illness. British Journal of Psychiatry 181,494-498.
Overholsen,J.C., Adams, D.M., Lehnert, K.L. and Brinkman, D.C. (1995) Self-esteem deficits and suicidal tendencies among adolescents. Journal of theAmerican Academy of Adolescent Psychiatry 34, 919-928.
Pirkis,J.,Burgess, P., Meadows, G. and Dunt, D. (2001) Self-reported needs forcare among persons who have suicidal ideation or who have attemptedsuicide. Psychiatric Services 52(3), 381-383.
Sung, S., Hixson, A. and Yorker, B.C.(2004) Predischarge psycho educationalneeds in Taiwan: comparisons of psychiatric patients, relatives andprofessionals. Issues in Mental Health Nursing 25, 579-588.
Tambourou, J.W. and Gregg, E. (2002) Impact of an empowerment based parenteducation program on the reduction of youth suicide risk factors. Journal ofAdolescent Health 31, 277-285.
Wackerbath, S.B. and Johnson, M.M.S. (2002) Essential information andsupport needs of family caregivers. Patient Education and Counselling 47,95-100.
http://en.thinkexist.com/quotation - Accessed 20/06/05.
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Nicorette (nicotine) re-launches innovative tool to helphealthcare professionals in the fight against smoking
‘Where there’s a will there’s a way’ - CDROM helps healthcareprofessionals and smokers who want to stop smoking work in part-nership.
The highly successful ‘Where there‘s a will there’s a way’CDROM has been re-launched by the UK’s leading selling nicotinereplacement therapy (NRT) brand, Nicorette. This informative andpractical tool, now updated and improved, is designed to help health-care professionals engage in productive dialogue with smokers who want to stop,encouraging them to examine their relationship with cigarettes, leading to the ultimate goal ofcomplete cessation.
By recommending stop smoking products best suited to the individual alongsidebehavioural support, the chances of a smoker giving up can be increased. Evidence showsthat smokers attempting to stop through willpower alone have a 3% chance of stopping. Thisdoubles to 6% with NRT and rises to around 20% with NRT combined with advice and supportfrom a healthcare professional.
As the UK’s number one selling NRT brand, Nicorette has the widest range of NRTproducts, including the 16-hour patch that is specifically designed to release nicotine whensmokers are most vulnerable to relapse which is in the afternoon and evening.
REGENT MEDICAL SELECTS INTRAVENOIntraveno and Regent Medical enter a distributor and partner arrangement to supply Biogel and Hibi tothe Republic of Ireland.
Regent Medical is pleased to announce a distributor and partner agreement with Intraveno, aUnited Drug company based in Dublin. From July Regent and Intraveno will supply the market-leadingBiogel range of gloves and Hibi antiseptics to the Republic of Ireland.
Intraveno was founded in 1980, specialising in the distribution of critical care devices, surgical-related equipment and consumables to the hospital sector in Ireland. Intraveno has built up areputation as a credible and professional distributor of quality products with the ability to assist itscustomers with the highest level of clinical and technical support.
Sharon King, Sales Director of UK and Export at Regent Medical says”We are delighted to haveIntraveno on board as a new distributor of our Biogel gloves and Hibi antiseptics. We can continue tosupply the Republic of Ireland, providing valuable support to customers backed by Intraveno’s broaddistribution capability and professional sales team.”
John Murray, General Manager at Intraveno says “We are very pleased to have signed this agree-ment with Regent Medical to sell and distribute Biogel and Hibi. To best serve Regent’s loyal customerbase and wide product portfolio the company operates as distinct divisions to allow its sales team tospecialise in clinical sectors, enabling customers to draw from a reservoir of experience.”www.regentmedical.comwww.intraveno.com
“The Facts About ActivHeal® -Cutting Costs - Not Corners”
A new leaflet is available from MedLogic that explains therationale behind the ActivHeal® range of first-choice‘Advanced Woundcare’ products.
In it, the issues surrounding the need to include costas an element of clinical choice are discussed, and how aradically different way of selling to the NHS has enabledActivHeal® to maintain the highest standards of quality and per-formance whilst still offering cost savings of up to 40% compared to otherbranded products! It also describes how the savings gained from using a first-choice range of products can be used to fund new, high-technology productsfor more complex clinical conditions.
To request copies of “The Facts About ActivHeal®”, call MedLogicCustomer Support on 01752 209955
PRODUCT FOCUS
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H O B P O P P T A
A L A O W L E A R
P E R S O N A R O M
A R E N A S
M O S T D A R I N G
R A C E S R I S E N
S T R E E T S T E P
U N R I P E
A M P M A R S H A L
P A L O R E W R Y
E R E N A P Y E S
Crossword Answers Quickie QuizAnswers
1. Space Oddity.2. The Northern Lights.3. Jake and Elwood.4. Vodka, kahlua and milk.5. Nag’s Head.6. Adolf Hitler.7. Pulp.8. Sweden.9. Sheep.
10. House of Commons.
PRODUCT FOCUS
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TWO NEW STUDIES PUBLISHED THIS MONTH PROVIDE FURTHER EVIDENCEFOR THE USE OF RISPERDAL CONSTA® ▼ (RISPERDAL LONG-ACTING
INJECTION) AND RISPERDAL ORAL FOR THE TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA• Changing to Risperdal Consta® ▼ from other antipsychotic treatments
improves symptoms and reduces relapse in schizophrenia.• Benefits of first episode treatment with Risperdal Oral.
The First Study, a two year European-wide study involving 1876patients published for the first time in this month’s International Journal ofClinical Psychopharmacology, showed that people with schizophrenia whochanged their antipsychotic treatment to Risperdal Consta experiencedsignificant improvements in symptoms, health-related quality of life and patient satisfaction, regardlessof the severity of symptoms at the start of the study.
These findings are the results for the pan-European, open, single-arm “StoRMi” study* whichconcluded that Risperdal Consta is effective and well tolerated, providing an advance in the treatmentoptions for a wide range of patients requiring long-term antipsychotic therapy.
The Second Study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry this month, showed that whentreated with oral Risperdal early in psychotic illness, patients were less likely to relapse and wererelapse free for longer, compared with haloperidol. The study (looking at 555 patients from 11 countries)demonstrated that early initiation of oral Risperdal in first episode psychosis induced significantly fewerabnormal movements than haloperidol, adding to the already extensive package of data in support offirst-line Risperdal therapy. The data also indicated no significant difference in weight gain between thetwo treatments at the end of the study.
NEW STUDY ADDS WEIGHT TO CLINICAL MERIT OF MENOPUR IN IVF
“Approximately five more pregnancies per 100 women treated” withMENOPUR compared to recombinant treatment
New data presented at the ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction andEmbryology) congress supports the efficacy of MENOPUR (menotrophin), a highlypurified, naturally-derived infertility treatment belonging to the class of drugsknown as gonadotrophins, in IVF therapy.
MERiT (Menotrophin vs. Recombinant FSH in vitro Fertilisation Trial), thelargest, prospective, randomised assessor-blind trial in IVF, is a head-to-headcomparison of MENOPUR, a treatment containing both FSH (follicle stimulatinghormone) and the hCG-driven (human chorionic gonadotrophin) LH-activity(luteinizing hormone) and Gonal-F, which contains only recombinant FSH (rFSH).MENOPUR
MENOPUR is well-tolerated, high quality and cost-effective treatment associated with a signifi-cantly higher ongoing pregnancy rate in IVF cycles compared with that seen for women treated withrFSH alone. It belongs to a class of drugs known as gonadotrophins and contains both FSH (follicle stim-ulating hormone) and hCG-driven (human chorionic gonadotrophin) LH-activity (luteinizing hormone).MENOPUR is used to stimulate the development of multiple follicles in women participating in anAssisted Reproductive Technology (ART) programme. MENOPUR is also used to treat infertility inwomen caused by anovulation (low-level production of eggs). To learn more about Ferring or ourproducts please visit www.ferring.com
YOUR SOLE SOLUTION FROM SCHOLLSpending long periods of time on your feet can lead to tired and aching legs. Fear not- help is now at hand from Scholl’s range of insoles which are designed to combatfoot discomfort, putting a spring back in your step!
Scholl’s Busy Feet Spring Action inserts are developed for women who do a lotof leg work. Whether your job requires you to be on the move, if you’re an active per-son or simply enjoy shopping all day and partying all night, Busy Feet inserts are thebusiness! These slimline and discreet inserts are ideal for all types of footwear. Theyprovide flexible support for the arch of the foot and cushion the balls of the feet andheel area.
The revolutionary new Scholl Adjustable Gel Arch Supports are suitable forboth men and women and offer cushioning support for flat feet and weak or fallenarches. The unique system of interchangeable gel inserts - which are easy to insert,remove and change - means you can select the level of support you need underfootand change it as required.
Scholl unisex Lambswool Comfort Insoles are perfect for keeping feet toasty. Their naturallambswool, super soft feel helps reduce the discomfort that cold weather can have on feet - particularly for older people. They are also perfect for those who enjoy the great outdoors and help keepfeet warm whether you are climbing up mountains or standing on the terrace watching your local rugbyteam. Scholl has over 100 years experience in the footcare and footwear arena and understands feetbetter than anyone. Make sure you slip a pair of Scholl insoles into your shoes and boots to ensure yourfeet remain happy and healthy.
The Tristel Purple Promotion - a collaboration betweenTristel plc and Karl Storz Endoscopy (UK) Ltd
In a unique collaboration, Tristel plc and Karl Storz Endoscopy (UK) Ltd arecombining the popular Tristel Sterilising Wipe and the Karl Storz 11101 RP1nasendoscope to take the pressure off busy ENT outpatient departments.The Tristel Sterilising Wipe has proved very popular within ENT since itslaunch in January 2004. Not only is it rapidly sporicidal, but it is quick andeasy to use and can be employed with the Tristel Pre-Clean Wipes andTristel Rinse Wipes, together with Tristel’s traceability system.
Karl Storz Endoscopy is the UK’s leading supplier of endoscopes and endoscopic instrumentationto the ENT speciality. The Karl Storz 11101 RP1 flexible NasoLaryngoPharyngoscope benefits from hav-ing a 30cm working length with a 3.7mm outer diameter for better patient tolerance, a new and improvedtorque stable insertion shaft with a higher degree of flexibility which facilitates a full and completeexamination of the larynx and pharynx. Deflection of the distal tip is 180 degrees and 90 degrees with a70 degree field of view. Benefiting from exceptional image quality, resistant construction with robustmechanical components the 11101 RP1 is guaranteed long, trouble free use.
The issue of decontaminating flexible nasendoscopes in the ENT outpatient setting has alwaysbeen a difficult one. With this unique collaboration between Tristel and Karl Storz Endoscopy there isnow a complete solution to the decontamination issue and at the same time extra flexible nasendo-scopes can be provided to the department.
93% OF DRUG WORKERS SURVEYEDPREFER PEN DEVICE TO NEEDLE &SYRINGE FOR HEP C TREATMENT
New research in the UK has revealed that ofthose surveyed 93% of drug workers, 83% ofhospital specialists and 77% of clients prefera pen device to a needle and syringe for the administration of pegylatedinterferon for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
73% of drug workers surveyed perceived the needle and syringe deliverysystem to have negative associations with drug abuse because of theresemblance to drug-injecting paraphernalia. Of these, 36% felt that the use ofa needle and syringe could trigger a drug-abuse relapse. This data is ofparticular significance as current and past injecting drug users are at thehighest risk of contracting the hepatitis C virus (HCV), with a 91.1% risk factoraccording to the Department of Health’s Hepatitis C – Action Plan for Englandwhich also estimated that 38% of injecting drug users in contact with healthservices are infected with the virus. The prevalence of infection is higher inlong-term users, those no longer in contact with services and homeless drugusers.
The pen device outperformed a needle and syringe combination acrossall of the specified attributes, scoring particularly highly in terms of ease ofuse, discretion of use and not acting as a reminder of drug abuse. Clientsreported that confidence in dosing and an ability to use the device withoutmedical supervision, two characteristics offered by pen delivery systems,were the most important attributes of treatment.
Commenting on the findings Craig Adams of plus ve (an organisation thatprovides up to date information for both patients and medical professionals inthe fields of viral hepatitis, HIV, sexual health and TB) said: “Recoveringinjecting drug users face a lifelong battle in overcoming their addiction, addedto living with HCV. So clinicians need to ensure that administration ofmedication is as straightforward as possible without reminding them of theirformer addictions; new findings show that drug workers and clients preferpen delivery systems to needles and syringes. Meeting these preferencesmay improve adherence and, therefore, help reduce the debilitating andsometimes fatal effects associated with HCV.”
Women need to take more Vitamin Dto protect against Osteoporosis
Women need to find ways of gettingmore Vitamin D to help strengthen theirbones, particularly after themenopause, to combat osteoporosis.
Two major studies have shown thatmore than half of post-menopausalwomen with osteoporosis across theworld have inadequate levels of vitaminD. This could mean they absorb lesscalcium into their system, and this inturn could lead to weaker bones and the fractures that makeosteoporosis so debilitating.
This adds to mounting evidence of the global scale of the problem,dispelling the myth that the sun is a sufficient natural source of thevitamin.
Dr David Hosking, Consultant Physician in the Division of MineralMetabolism at Nottingham City Hospital, was one of the principalinvestigators in the study. He recently presented the findings to theannual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR) in Vienna, Austria.
“Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium and for the build-ing of strong, healthy bones which helps, in turn, to prevent fractures,”explained Dr Hosking. “These study results clearly show that, regardlessof age, geographic region or latitude, many women with osteoporosis arenot getting enough vitamin D.”
Osteoporosis is a chronic condition that leads to bone loss and makespeople susceptible to fractures. It affects approx 200 million womenworldwide; approx one-third of women aged 60-70 and two thirds ofwomen aged over 80 have the condition. Many older men are alsoaffected by osteoporosis.
It is critical that women find ways to get more vitamin D, along withtheir current osteoporosis medications, to ensure that they get the fullbenefits of therapy, ultimately enhancing bone strength and preventingagainst fractures.
The above image shows the percentage of inadequate levels ofvitamin D by region in the two studies.
Source: Studies involving 2,821 postmenopausalwomen with osteoporosis.Courtesy of Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited.
24
GENERAL RECRUITMENT
Our Lady’s Hospice Limited, Harold’s CrossFounded 1879 in the spirit of love and care
A healthier future starts here...Our Lady’s Hospice Limited, Harold’s Cross was founded in 1879 by the Sisters of Charity. We provide specialist
multi-disciplinary services in Extended Care of the Elderly, Community Reablement for Older Persons, Rheumatology
Rehabilitation and Specialist Palliative Medicine.
Blackrock Hospice (The Venerable Louis and Zelie Martin Hospice), is situated on Sweetman’s Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin
and managed by Our Lady’s Hospice Limited, Harold’s Cross. We provide specialist Palliative Medicine in our 12 bed in-patient,
Home Care and Day Hospice services.
Are you interested in: A Career Change? Returning to Work?
OUR LADY’S HOSPICE LIMITED & BLACKROCK HOSPICE HAVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARISING IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
• Nursing • Healthcare Assistants
For informal enquiries please contact the offi ce of the Director of Nursing, Tel: +353 1 4068824.
Our Lady’s Hospice Limited and Blackrock Hospice are equal opportunities employers and support a
smoke free environment.
WE CAN OFFER YOU:
opportunity to work in a modern, inclusive and friendly environment
opportunity to work in an environment that promotes a
work-life balance
fl exible working hours and fl exi-time options
pension and sick pay scheme
on-going education and career pathway development
credit union (voluntary participation)
private health care scheme (voluntary participation)
on-site parking
restaurant with subsidised meals
GENERAL RECRUITMENT
25
RMN Staff Nurses -Mental HealthD Grade salary up to £26,061paE Grade salary up to £30,338pa
incl. London Weighting, excl. enhancements
As one of 13 Cygnet clinics, Cygnet Clinic Beckton is anacute psychiatric unit providing emergency admissionbeds to a number of London NHS Trusts. Due toexpansion and continuing high occupancy, we areactively recruiting additional psychiatric Staff Nursesacross our four wards.
New Dawn is a specialist service caring for women whoself harm by using Dialectical Behavioural Therapy(DBT). Most inpatients will have been assigned thediagnosis of borderline personality disorder.
Cob Ward offers long-term treatment and rehabilitationfor men suffering from severe and enduring mental healthproblems. The service balances the needs of therapy andsecurity and is designed to prepare patients to lead fulland independent lives.
Bewick Ward offers long term treatment and rehabilita-tion for women suffering from severe and enduringmental health problems. Patients may have a history ofhospital admission, exhibit dangerous or challengingbehaviour or require prolonged detention under MentalHealth legislation.
Hooper Ward provides intensive care for acutelydisturbed male and female patients with an emphasis intreating mentally ill patients from within the criminaljustice system.
All posts offer an exciting opportunity to join a dynamicarea and a supportive team within a pleasant workingenvironment and orientation, training, appraisal andclinical supervision. Career development is activelyencouraged and in the case of the posts with the NewDawn ward there is a requirement for you to undertakeDBT training.
Located in east London, the clinic is close to centralLondon and has excellent transport links. We offerexcellent salaries, 20 days of annual leave, eight days ofBank holidays per year, paid birthday leave, paidanniversary leave, contributory pension scheme & freelife assurance. A generous relocation allowance may alsobe available.
Cygnet Health CareBeckton, East London
To find out more please contact Janine MacAulay,Recruitment Manager on 020 8547 1271,email your enquiry to: [email protected] visit our websiteat: www.cygnethealth.co.uk
North West Hospice Ltd.
Applications are invited for the above postswhich are whole-time and part-time.
Successful candidates will preferably have apalliative care qualification or mustdemonstrate proven experience.
You will join a multi-disciplinary service whichis currently in transition to being Consultant-led. You will be committed to offering a highstandard of care and support to those withadvanced disease and to their carers.
Posts are open to male and female applicants.Secondment considered.
Short-listing may apply. Panels may beformed for future vacancies.
Please submit current CV, in writing or byemail: [email protected]
Please submit CV immediately to:North West Hospice Ltd.PO Box 294,Sligo,Republic of Ireland
OUR COMPANY CULTURE is of a highly
motivated and widely respected voluntary hospice
which offers specialist palliative care services within a
50 miles radius. Specialist Home Care services
commenced in 1989 and our eight-bed palliative
care unit commissioned in 1998. These services are
offered in partnership with the HSE North West.
PALLIATIVE CARE NURSES
(In-Patient Unit)
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYERCANVASSING WILL DISQUALIFY
GENERAL RECRUITMENT
26
Freephone: 1800 77 1640Email: [email protected]: +44 (0)20 7629 1948
13 & 26 week RN assignments in the UK...
Continental Travelnurse
• all ages, most specialties
• travel money
• company housing
•employee benefits
• UK registration not necessary
Continental Travelnurse ... the way it ought to be!
Work as many assignments as you like in as many locations as you like!
Fife NHS is an equal opportunities employerand operates a no smoking policy.
NHS Fife - NursingOpportunitiesHere at NHS Fife, we are totally committed to helping youget the best from your working life. That’s why we offer ourNurses flexible shift patterns to help create a betterwork/home balance. This, coupled with ongoing trainingand professional development, gives you the tools to build arewarding career.
We have opportunities for D and E Grade Nurses as well asmore senior posts across Fife. We can offer full time and parttime posts. The majority of posts are internal rotationincorporating day and night duty, although some day andnight duty posts are available.
If you are interested in working in NHS Fife please visit ourrecruitment websites, which are updated weekly.
NHS Scotland Recruitment:http://www.jobs.scot.nhs.uk/Click on the map of Fife or follow the links to NHS Fife.
Return to Scotland:http://www.returntoscotland.com/Follow the links to the NHS Fife vacancies.
Thank you for your interest in NHS Fife.
Nurse On Call Agency &Recruitment, Dublin 6.Tel: 00 353 1 4965199Fax: 00 353 1 4965690
E-mail: [email protected]: www.nurseoncall.ie
GALWAY CLINIC
THEATRE STAFFrequired immediately
RGNs & ODPsContact Sinead Flynn on +353 (0)91 785700 or send CV
Galway Clinic, Doughiska, Galway, Irelandwww.galwayclinic.com
The School of Health and Social CareLeaders in Care Training
Now enrolling for the following courses:
FULL-TIME• Health Care Assistants Training Course - FETAC Certification• Free Accommodation Scheme
FULL-TIME COURSES• Care of the Older Person - FETAC• Caring for the Child and Adult with a disability• Introduction to Nursing - FETAC• Safety and Health at Work - FETAC
Part-time Courses delivered in Athlone, Cork, Dregheda, Galway, Limerick,Sligo, Tipperary and Waterford
Home Study Courses also available
Courses Nationally and Internationally Accredited
For more details please contact us at:The School of Health and Social Care27 - 29 Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co. DublinTel: 01488 4300 www.healthandsocialcare.ie
‘ T h e P o w e r o f P a r t n e r s h i p ’
is a rapidly growing and dynamicorganisation that seeks QUALIFIED NURSES from all disciplines to work inthe UK, N.I., or Eire as:
• Full-time • Part-time • Flexi-time (Bank Nurses)
Duties include Patient Audit and Assessment Clinics in General Practiceand/or to provide Drug Administration & Device Training for Patients athome.
We offer excellent rates of pay/benefits. Please email your CV + coveringletter to [email protected]
For further information, please call Brian Stack on +44 (0)1455 233312.
GENERAL / OVERSEAS RECRUITMENT
27
NURSING JOBS IN BRITAIN
Paediatric, ITU, HDU and Neuro NursesJoin Britain’s leading provider of in-home acute care to spinal and neuropatients. You will join a team providing care to highly dependant patients athome. This is a great opportunity to develop your skills outside hospital. Thisis for autonomous and independent nurses.
Locations in Portsmouth, Birmingham, South West and elsewhere.
• Excellent Salary • Car • First Class Accommodation • Holidays • Allowance• Outstanding Benefits • Career Development •
Contact: Sarah Pressley in [email protected] +44 208 400 6280 www.adevia.com
Adevia Health, LondonSpecialists in Healthcare Recruitment
PRINCIPLE MEDICAL SERVICESrequire on a nationwide basis
NURSES all gradespart-time/full-time, to undertake ad-hoc
insurance assessments takingapproximately 30 minutes
Tel: 01522 561560www.principlemedical.co.uk
OVERSEAS RECRUITMENT
OVERSEAS RECRUITMENT
28
Summer work in the MedMark Warner is a leading and exclusive tour operator with hotels
operating across the Mediterranean
We are currently looking for QUALIFIED NURSESand FIRST AID OFFICERS for Summer 2006
In addition to a fun and rewarding season we will provide you witha competitive package including full board, medical insurance,
travel expenses and use of watersport and activity facilities.For information contact:
the Resorts Recruitment Department on 08700 330 750or visit www.markwarner.co.uk/recruitment
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OVERSEAS RECRUITMENT
29
Security Forces Hospital Program (SFHP) is one of the leading health care providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a renowned teachinghospital. Equipped with advanced and state-of-the-art integrated facilities, the 500-bed hospital has a mission to provide the highest quality careto employees (and dependents) of the Ministry of Interior, while promoting health education, research, and be a partner in the development ofthe Saudi healthcare system.
Accredited by the Canadian Council for Health Services Accreditation, the Security Forces Hospital is supported by a highly trainedmedical staff and auxillary team that is key to excellence in patient care. Integrated facilities and systems: primary care and specialty care clin-ics, the medical, clinical, and ancillary systems, along with advanced surgical facilties, earns Security Forces Hospital a distinct reputation asa leader in delivery of world-class health services.
Security Forces Hospital wishes to employ highly qualified people for the following positions:Director of NursingSalary: SR 396,000 p.a. (approx £56,000 p.a. tax free)Position entails overall supervision of entire nursing staff, liaises with chiefs of clinical services, department heads, medical staff, and hospitalboard members, and reports directly to the Assistant Program Director General for Medical Affairs.Requirements:• Current license (country of professional practice).• Masters or Ph.D. in nursing management.• Certification in specialty is preferred.• Minimum three years progressive/recent experience as DON in acute 300-bed facility.• University or teaching hospital experience preferred.• Current continuing education program certificates.• Active memberships in professional nursing associations.
Nursing Supervisor – OR/Day Surgery UnitSalary: SR 228,000 p.a. (approx £32,500 p.a. tax free)Nursing Supervisor provides professional leadership, managerial support and clinical expertise to all staff of OR/DSU, promote the continuingprofessional development of staff and ensure the provision of the best quality patient care within the available resources.Requirements:• Registered Nurse with current license from country of professional practice.• Certification in a specialty is desired.• Diploma in Nursing Management or nursing training following the Bachelor degree or equivalent western qualifications recognized in the
Kingdom.• Extensive OR/DSU experience.• Knowledge of and practical experience in the application of theatre systems.• Documentation of current continuing education in both nursing management and administrative knowledge as well as in his/her clinical area.• Middle East work experience desirable.
Nursing Education CoordinatorSalary: SR 192,000 (approx £27,000 p.a. tax free)The Nursing Education Coordinator has the authority, responsibility and accountability to direct the planning, implementation of educationalactivities related to nursing for the Department of Education & Training Affairs.Requirements:• Registered Nurse with current license from country of professional practice.• BSN; Masters degree in nursing/education preferred.• Current continuing education.• Six years experience as RN in medical/surgical hospital nursing.• Two years of additional experience as clinical instructor in an education department of at least 350+ bed acute care hospital.• Three years of additional nursing management experience, head nurse/nursing supervisor/education coordinator level.• Current clinical knowledge of medical/surgical nursing practice.• Current knowledge of teaching/learning theory and adult education principles.
Head NursesSalary: SR 192,000 – 204,000 p.a. (approx £27,000 - 29,000 p.a. tax free)Positions are available in E.R., labor & delivery, OR/Day Surgery, female medical, pediatric medical, pediatrics surgical and special ward.Head Nurse is responsible for all nursing staff, ward clerks/interpreters, and general aides assigned to the ward/unit. Head Nurse is expectedto provide leadership, managerial support and clinical expertise to all staff in assigned areas, and to continuously promote professional devel-opment of staff to ensure provision of the highest quality patient care. Position reports to ADON and DON. Requirements:• Registered nurse with relevant diploma/degree • Post-registration clinical qualification (if relevant)• Current license (country of professional practice) • Midwife qualification (required for labor & delivery)
Senior Staff MidwifeSalary: SR 180,000 p.a. (approx £25,700 p.a. tax free)Senior Staff Midwife provides individualized nursing care to both pre and post partum patients including the newborn infant. Responsible forpatient care during labour, conducts deliveries and recognizes abnormal situations and intervenes appropriately until arrival of the obstetrician.Functions as Midwife incharge as assigned coordinating unit administrative and clinical functions for the particular shift.Requirements:• Graduate of Professional School of Nursing (BSN/RN/RGN).• Graduate of an accredited Midwifery School.• Registered Nurse or Midwife with recognized Western qualifications.• Current license from country of professional practice.• Minimum two years as general registered nurse.• Minimum three years recent labour ward experience.
Security Forces Hospital ProgramRiyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Benefits include tax free salary with yearly increment, 30 days paid vacation + 10 days holidays with round yearly trip ticket, furnished housing accommodation, freetransportation to and from work, end of service bonus, opportunity to travel and lots of sunshine all year round!.Visit our website at www.sfh.med.sa or contact us for information on our facility: Tel 9661 477-4480 ext. 3412/3414 or email at [email protected]
DUBLIN 2005 EXHIBITOR
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www.careersinhealthcare.ie
Staff Nurses, Midwives & Specialist Nurses
■ Cardiology ■ Emergency Medicine ■ General Medical/Surgical■ Haematology ■ ICU/CCU ■ Neonatal■ Neuro Medical/Surgical ■ Obstetrics/Gynaecology ■ Oncology■ Orthopaedics ■ Palliative Care ■ Phlebotomy■ Renal ■ Respiratory ■ TheatreOpportunities are also available for:
Staff Nurses RGN – Community Hospitals, District Hospitals, Nursing Units
Staff Nurses RNMH
Staff Nurses RPN
Come meet with us at the Nursing, Midwifery & Healthcare Recruitment Exhibition, RDS – Dublin, Stand 7,
28th & 29th September 2005
Careers with the Health Service ExecutiveWORKING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE PROGRESSIVE HEALTHCARE. AS PART OF OUR ONGOING DEVELOPMENT WE CURRENTLY HAVE
THE FOLLOWING OPPORTUNITIES:
Bringing healthcare forward
Careers in Healthcare
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Bon Secours Hospital, Glasnevin is a private, acute-care facility renowned for the quality ofits service provision. It was the first hospital in Ireland to receive formal QualityAccreditation by Joint Commission International. Comprising 150 beds, 3 major & 2 minorOperating Theatres, Endoscopy Suite, and a comprehensive range of ancillary diagnostic,treatment and support services, the Hospital provides care for almost 26,000 patients perannum across a wide range of medical and surgical specialties. Over 100 Consultants haveprivileges at the Hospital. A major development programme is currently taking place,expanding clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic capability and capacity. This project is due forcompletion by end-2005.
Staff Nurses (Day & Night)Theatre Nurses
(Full-Time & Part-Time posts)
Vacancies currently exist in various disciplines for enthusiastic Registered General Nurses who wish towork as part of our excellent Nursing Team.
Clinical Practice Development Nurse (CNM 111) (Full-Time )
The successful candidate will act as a role model in promoting a culture of innovation and excellencein the continued implementation of evidenced based practice, thus linking theory to practice. S/he willbe responsible for the development and maintenance of clinical standards with the ability to facilitateresearch, clinical effectiveness and quality initiatives
The successful candidate, who must be registered with An Bord Altranais, will have proven clinical,managerial, leadership and communication skills. Working knowledge of JCI Quality AccreditationSystem or similar would be a distinct advantage.
Occupational Health Nurse Part time (20 hours p.w.)
The successful candidate will be responsible for the development, implementation, maintenance andevaluation of a comprehensive & pro-active occupational health service at the Hospital.Candidates must:
• Be a RGN with 3-5 years experience. • Have completed a Diploma in Occupational Health.• Ideally have previous experience in a similar role.
Informal enquiries to Clare Cunningham: Tel : 8065332.
Interested applicants should submit a letter and C.V., together with the names of two referees, (oneshould be your current employer), to the Director of Nursing , Bon Secours Hospital, Glasnevin,Dublin 9 or [email protected]
www.bonsecours.org/ie
In 2004, just short of 6,600 babies were born in the Hospital. The Hospital is situated in the heart of Dublin within30 minutes of Dublin Airport and convenient to bus and rail services. The Hospital is committed to the recruitment,development and retention of the highest calibre of staff, in order to provide the best quality health care to all of itspatients. A midwife working in the Hospital has the opportunity to practice normal midwifery as well as experience awide complexity of pregnancy related conditions.
Recent additions to our services is an integrated model of Community and Hospital care facilitating the DOMINO andEarly Transfer Home models of care. A number of community based antenatal clinics already exist and plans areadvanced to introduce "midwife-led" booking and review community clinics.
The Hospital also has a wide range of specialty pregnancy clinics including:
• teenage pregnancy
• diabetic
• cardiac
• metabolic and
• a range of paediatric and gynaecology clinics.
A range of day care facilities, which include maternal and fetal assessment, is available. The ultrasound depart-ment facilitates a full range of pregnancy and gynaecology assessment. An early pregnancy unit is designed to min-imise the distress of women and their partners, who experience pregnancy loss. A full range of maternity impatientservices is available including a Delivery Unit of 9 individual rooms with a 5 bed ward for induction of labour.
Opportunities for midwives to engage in both in-house and external education programmes exist - The School ofMidwifery is linked to the University of Dublin, Trinity College. A Clinical Skills Facilitator is employed with the specificremit of working with newly qualified or newly appointed midwives to support their development within the hospital.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MIDWIVES
Founded in 1745, The Rotunda Hospital is the oldest maternity hospital in Ireland. With a complement of 189beds and over 800 staff, the Hospital is a provider of a comprehensive range of specialist services in the
treatment, education and care of mothers and babies. A public voluntary Hospital, its mission is to achieve theoptimal health and well-being of the women and infants for whom it is responsible.
Currently there are vacancies for MIDWIVES who wish to work either full or part-timein all areas of the Rotunda Hospital .
• Limited accommodation in the Nurses Home is available at very competitive rates.• Advice on employment terms and conditions is available on request.
If you would like to know more about the hospital please visit our website onwww.rotunda.ie or contact Ms Pauline Treanor, Director of Midwifery and Nursing,Rotunda Hospital, Dublin 1.
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The Irish Blood Transusion Service is the National body for the collection and distribution ofblood and blood products. The IBTS is committed to excellence in meeting patients’ needsthrough the professionalism of our staff and the generosity of our donors. Currently we havethe following job opportunities:
THERAPEUTIC APHERESIS SERVICENational Blood Centre, DublinThe Irish Blood Transfusion Service wishes to recruitnurses to join their Therapeutic Apheresis team. You willbe part of a multidisciplinary team providing apheresisprocedures to patients in the major Dublin hospitals.The procedures performed are:
• Plasma Exchange.• Red Cell Exchange.• Leucoreduction.• Red Cell Reduction.
The patients are referred from a variety of specialitiese.g.
• Haematology (Sickle Cell Anaemia, TTP).• Neurology (Myasthenia Gravis).• Renal (Goodpastures Syndrome).
The majority of these cases are carried out within corehours of 9-5 Monday to Friday with some requirement forovertime and an on-call roster within the team for week-ends. This is an opportunity to get involved with agrowing innovative area of nursing and medicine, whereexpansion into novel treatments is envisaged as theservice expands.
CLINICAL NURSE MANAGER 1 – THEREPEUTICAPHERESISAs a you will join a CNM1 you will join a team responsi-ble for the delivery of a therapeutic apheresis service tothe main Dublin hospitals. The successful candidate willbe expected to assist the Therapeutic Apheresis Service ina professional and efficient manner within their scope ofwork.Essential Requirements:
• Registered General Nurse with An Bord Altranais• To have at least five years’ post registration clinical
experience.• A post graduate qualification in the area of Renal
or ICU nursingThe salary scale attached to the post is €40,047 to€47,486 per annum. Entry point onto the salary scale willbe dependent upon relevant public sector experience.
STAFF NURSE – THERAPEUTIC APHERESISThe Irish Blood Transfusion Service wishes to recruitnurses to join their Therapeutic Apheresis team. Thesuccessful candidates will have excellent communicationand time management skills. The appointees will be join-ing a multidisciplinary team, therefore a flexibleapproach to work is essential in providing apheresisprocedures to patients in the major Dublin Hospitals.
Essential Requirements: • Registered General Nurse with An Bord Altranais • A minimum of three years’ post-registration
experience • A post graduate qualification or experience in the
area of Renal, Haematology, Critical Care or ICUnursing
The salary scale attached to the post is €27,757 to€40,528 (inc. LSI). Entry point onto the scale is dependentupon relevant public sector experience.
STAFF NURSE PANEL – BLOOD COLLECTION CLINICSDublin, Ardee, Tuam, Carlow, Limerick and CorkPermanent/Temporary Full-time & Part-time Positions The successful candidate will join the blood collectionteam and carry out the role of Staff Nurse which involvesthe assessment and care of donors including detaileddonor interviews and performance of venepunctures.These positions include frequent travel involving periodsaway from home. Full in-service training is provided.
Essential Requirements: Registered General Nurse with An Bord Altranais with aminimum of one year’s clinical experience post-registra-tion.The salary scale attached to the post is €27,757 to€40,528 (inc. LSI). Entry point onto the scale is dependentupon relevant public sector experience.Following existing vacancies being filled, any other suit-ably qualified candidates will be placed on a Panel forsuitable future positions that may arise. These panels willremain in existence for one year.Interested applicants should visit the IBTS websitewww.ibts.ie for the IBTS application form, job descriptionand further information.The closing date for receipt of applications (5 copies) is5pm on Friday 9th September 2005 and these should besent to the Human Resources Department, NationalBlood Centre, James’s Street, Dublin 8.Intending applicants should note that short listing ofapplicants, will be in accordance with the recruitmentand selection criteria stated above and as outlined in therelevant job description. Satisfactory evidence of beingable to fulfil the requirements of the job and meet thepersonal profile criteria set out in this notice is essentialand must be clearly demonstrated in the application.Online and late applications will not be accepted.Canvassing will disqualify.
The IBTS is an equal opportunities employer.www.ibts.ie
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DUBLIN 2005 EXHIBITOR
35
Are you interested in working as a Registered Nurse in a large University Teaching
Hospital in Dublin, Ireland?
The Dublin AcademicTeaching Hospitals
The Dublin Academic Teaching Hospitals consist of the following:
• The Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Dublin incorporating The National Children’s Hospital.• Beaumont Hospital.• James Connolly Memorial Hospital.• The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.• St. James’s Hospital.• St. Vincent’s University Hospital.
As major teaching hospitals, opportunities exist in almost all specialties and these are some ofthe benefits you can expect to receive:Subsidized Canteen, Group Medical and Credit Union Schemes, Flexible Working Hours,Ongoing Educational Programmes, Pension and Sick Leave Schemes, Maternity/ParentalLeave and Career Breaks.
For further information please contact: the Dublin Academic Teaching Hospitals Group (DATH’s ) onany of the following numbers:The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin incorporating the National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght,Dublin 24.Enquiries to Nursing Admin. Tel: (01) 4142000, (01) 4142154, (01) 4144780, www.amnch.ie
Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9.Enquiries to Nursing Admin. Tel: (01) 8093381, (01) 8092138, [email protected]
Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown Dublin 15.Enquiries to Nursing Admin. Tel: (01) 8213844, ext 5123/5121
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.Enquiries to Nursing Admin: (01) 8032285 www.mater.ie E-mail: [email protected]
St. James’s Hospital, Dublin 8.Enquiries to Nursing Admin; Tel (01) 4162457, (01) 4162267 www.stjames.ieE-mail: [email protected]
St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin 4.Enquiries to Nursing Admin; Tel: (01) 2094605, (01) 2094180 www.st-vincents.ie
Come see us at Stand 33 at the Dublin 2005 Healthcare Exhibition at the RDSShowground, Ballsbridge on 28th and 29th September.
Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut DelawareAlabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware
Washington DC Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana IowaWashington DC Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa
Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan MinnesotaKansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota
Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New MexicoMississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico
New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode IslandNew York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island
South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont US Virgin Islands VirginiaSouth Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont US Virgin Islands Virginia
Washington West Virginia Wisconsin WyomingWashington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
www.myassignmentamerica.com
International Nurses • U.S. Destinations Assignment America and
YOU
Visit us at Dublin 2005 — Stand 12, September 28 & 29
Where Opportunity BeginsWhere Opportunity Begins
Call the Assignment America team freephone from: Sth. Ireland (1800) 556-755 • Nth. Ireland (0800) 169-6215 • E-mail: [email protected]
DUBLIN 2005 EXHIBITOR
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Envis ion yoursel f being one of the first to join a brand new
hospital with technologically advanced equipment. Working with
colleagues who share your commitment to the highest standards of
patient care, safety and quality. Working with managers who support
you in your professional growth and job satisfaction. Working
alongside consultants who are among the best in their fields.
Hir ing starts in Spr ing 2006
Check our website often to keep current on our latest developments
www.beaconhospital.ie
To learn more about opportunities and the growing medical services sponsored by
Beacon Medical Group at Beacon Court, Sandyford, visit www.beaconmedicalgroup.ie
Beacon HospitalOpening in Sandyford, Dublin in 2006
join our team
vision
plan
build hope
DUBLIN 2005 EXHIBITOR
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Smartfish Medical. Net theBig One!
If it takes one company to re-design medical recruitment, we are that company!
Smartfish Medical has been established in Brighton since January 2003.
In that time, we have built up a solid client base through a professional and fresh approach to recruitment.
We cover Permanent Medical employment. Our experienced Medical Consultants are always happy togive careers advice and advice on CV’s.
This will be the first recruitment fair that Smartfish Medical has attended and we are eager to meet youand assist with your search for the right job. We will help match your skills to those required by our largedatabase of clients.
The Brighton branch of Smartfish is a pilot branch, testing out recruitment procedures and practices withthe plan to launch a nationwide network of franchised offices throughout the UK – so we can share thesuccess of Smartfish with you, wherever you are.
For information on the jobs that we are currently recruiting for, visit us on stand 17 at the Royal DublinShowground.
Residential Managers £23,000 - £30,000 UK and Ireland
RGN Care Managers £28,000 - £40,000 UK and Ireland
Peripatetic Managers £35,000 - £45,000 UK and Ireland
Operational Managers £40,000 - £50,000 UK and Ireland
Clinical Managers £30,000 - £38,000 UK and Ireland
RMN Care Managers £28,000 - £40, 00 UK and Ireland
Deputy Managers £23,000 - £30,000 UK and Ireland
RGNS £20,000 - £25,000 UK and Ireland
RMNS £20,000 - £25,000 UK and Ireland
HCAs £6.50 - £7.50 per hr. UK and Ireland
For more information on these and more jobs, please call
Paul, Ruth or Debbie on 01273 749111
or e-mail [email protected]
Nurturing Talent.
Registered Mental Nurse - Domus Care£23,548 - £28,944 pa (dependent on experience)
As an RMN, you’ll have dedicated yourself to a career in Nursing because you want to make a difference to people’s lives. But to really make a difference, you
need an employer that’s just as committed to providing excellent care as you are.
At Horizon Housing we look after our elderly client group in small, intensively staffed units known as Domuses, each of which takes a maximum of just 16
residents with complex enduring mental health needs. By limiting numbers in this way we can ensure that every single one of our clients gets the highest level of
individual care and attention possible.
Based in South East London, all the Domuses are in easy commuting distance of central London and enjoy excellent public transport links. So, if you’re interested
in working for a leading edge organisation that provides excellent terms, conditions, support and development opportunities, not to mention flexible working
opportunities, get in touch now.
We will have a stall at the Nurse Recruitment Fair in Dublin on the 28th and 29th September 2005 and would love
you to come and visit us on either day. We’ll be holding interviews and conducting Criminal Records Bureau checks there and then, so make
sure you bring along a CV and, for the CRB checks, your passport or a valid photo identity card. In addition we need confirmation of your past
addresses, so please also bring your most recent utility bills, bank statements or credit card bills. Finally, we may need to see a marriage
certificate and, if necessary, a visa demonstrating that you are able to work in the EU (a requirement of the Care Standards Act 2000).
If you want to complete an application form prior to the event, please contact Andrew Thatcher on +44 20 8726 8639, e-mail [email protected], or fax +44 20 8726 8603.
We offer a flexible working policy and are working to implement our equality policy.
The Horizon Housing Group
www.horizon-hg.org.uk
The Horizon Housing Group Ltd is committed to providing quality, affordable housing in
London and the South East. With a portfolio of more than 15,000 homes, we’re proud of our
reputation for regeneration, renewal and the support services we offer our tenants.
Care and SupportThe Horizon Housing Group grew out of South London Family Housing Association - an organisation with a proud history and a proven track
record as a provider of affordable housing, associated care and support services.
Today Horizon Housing Group Ltd is the umbrella organisation for a number of social landlords and businesses, each member has a proud
record of providing quality affordable housing in London and the South East of England.
Our Care and Support department provides services to more than 700 service users in 90 properties. The department employs around 200
staff, including 21 Registered Nurses, while the supported housing service employs 45 staff.
The reasons for people needing support or care are varied. Care and Support’s directly managed services focus on meeting the needs of four
main groups - older adults, people with a learning disability, those with mental health problems and single homeless people who are
vulnerable. A broader spectrum of need is being met through services delivered in partnership with managing agents.
At one end of the needs spectrum we provide intensive nursing care for older adults who, in almost all cases, will need to be supported for the
remainder of their lives. This type of care is provided in our registered independent hospitals and care homes, known as Domuses.
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Alliance Nurses Agency
Alliance Nurses Agency
Alliance Nurses Agency
Alliance Nurses Agency is the leading provider of Agency Nursing work in Dublin and theMidlands area. We have work in all areas and specialties of nursing and pay as recommendedby the Irish Nurses Organisation.
• General.• Midwifery.• Psychiatry.• Intellectual Disability.• Intensive Care.• Paediatric / Neonatal Care.• Coronary Cae.• Palliative Care.• Theatre / Recovery• Addiction Services.• Occupational Health.
• Extensive Client List in Dublin and Midlands.• Flexibility to suit your lifestyle and commitments - work around your
college course.• Weekly Payment - per INO recommended rates.• Professional development (CPR and Moving and Handling).• Referral bonus - introduce a friend.• Paid Holidays - including Public Holidays.
Benefits include:
Let us provide you with a professional service that understands and meetsyour needs and commitments.
Visit our Stand at the Recruitment Exhibition in the RDS on28th and 29th September, 2005.
or
Call Avril Murphy at 1850 687737 or Email: [email protected]
Alliance Nurses Agency, 59 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
The Pembrokeshire & Derwen NHS Trust operates in an area of outstanding natural beauty, on the south west coast of Wales, within the UK’s only coastal national park, which has award-winning beaches, and scenery that will simply take your breath away. There is excellent ferry access to Ireland. But that’s not the only vision we want to share with you. We hold the Gold Corporate Health Standard award, which recognises our continuous commitment to a great work/life balance, so not only will you be able to enjoy the sights and sounds that make up our wonderful environment, you’ll have plenty of time to get out there and become part of it.
In a culture that aims to always put patients fi rst, you will contribute to the continuing development of nursing, and be responsible for the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of nursing care for a group of patients. You’ll help contribute to ensuring the smooth running of the relevant unit, co-ordinating and organising your own work as a member of the unit team and delivering clinical and cost effective care.
Highly-motivated and innovative in your approach to nursing, you’ll be confi dent in your own decisions and able to contribute to the modernisation of services. As a Registered Nurse, you’ll have good all-round experience
working as a member of a multi-disciplinary team and a willingness to develop your skills further. Assertive, with excellent communication skills, you’ll also be able to work fl exibly in a busy ward environment.
If you feel you’d like to fi nd out which areas we have vacancies in and about our Trust, please come and visit us at Stand No. 20 at the Royal Dublin Showground, Dublin on the 28/29 September 2005 or please visit www.pdt-tr.wales.nhs.uk or alternatively, please telephone Huw Davies, Recruitment Offi cer on 01437 773198.
Band 5 Nurses (Equivalent to D and E Grade)Withybush General Hospital, Haverfordwest. Salary £16,389 - £24,198 pa
Share our vision
DUBLIN 2005 EXHIBITOR
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• Excellent pay rates• Free health, dental & life insurance• Free shared, furnished accommodation• License & NCLEX assistance• VisaScreen assistance
• Retirement plan with company match• Relocation assistance• $1,000 Referral Bonus program• No Cost Green Card sponsorship
Your U.S.A. Nursing Resource
t e l e p h o n e : 0 8 7 2 5 8 4 1 0 6 • w w w . n u r s i n g u s a . c o m • s m c c a b e @ n u r s i n g u s a . c o m
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Irish Nurse Nursing & Healthcare ExhibitionDublin 2005
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The Kent Forensic Psychiatry Service
MENTAL HEALTH NURSES
The service covers the whole county of Kent, population 1.5 million. It is basedat the Trevor Gibbens Unit at Maidstone Hospital. This is a “regional secure unit”,offering a medium level of security, between high security services such asBroadmoor Hospital and local mental health services.
We are opening up 26 new beds and are looking for enthusiastic and motivatednurses who have an interest in providing care to this group who often haveprofound needs, which can sometimes be expressed in challenging ways.The work involved is difficult but rewarding. We are committed to providingclinical supervision, appraisals, and preceptorship to newly qualified staff.
We are looking for:
Clinical Managers BAND 7 (€32,600-50,000) DAY DUTY
Team Leaders BAND 6 (€28,300-42,670)
Staff Nurses BAND 5 (€24,000-34,530)
Contact:Kevin Halpin or Maggie Hall at the Trevor Gibbens Unit, Hermitage Lane,Maidstone, Kent ME16 9QQ. Tel: 01622 723142
To find out more about working at our Trust visit: www.recruitment-awp.nhs.uk
Patient caredoesn’t always fall under
one umbrella......but at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust we can offer you a colourful range of opportunities within a wide variety ofspecialties. So why not brighten up your dayby joining us under the umbrella of one ofthe UK’s largest mental health NHS Trusts?
Band 5 Staff Nurses Ref: IN/MM/001
Band 6 Charge Nurses Ref: IN/MM/002
All posts include a competitive salary, NHS benefits and acost of living allowance.
Fromeside, Bristol
Fromeside is a new 80-bed medium secure unit due toopen shortly. It is already set to become one of the mostinnovative mental health units in the UK. The unit hasbeen designed with input from leading clinicians andservice users from the site’s existing clinic. Successfulapplicants will also benefit from a regional secure unitpayment of up to £2,046.
Long Fox, North Somerset Older Adult Unit
This 25-bed unit is currently under construction and isdue to open in June 2006 when it will provide inpatientmulti-disciplinary assessment and treatment for olderadults across the whole of North Somerset.
Specialist Drug and Alcohol Services
We operate wide ranging multi-disciplinary services thatwill see you make a valuable contribution to the welfareof local drug and alcohol users.
In-patient Acute Services
We have a wide range of in-patient acute servicessituated throughout our Trust. Stretching from FountainWay Hospital in Salisbury, across Sandalwood Court inSwindon and Green Lane Hospital in Devizes, and theninto Barrow and Southmead Hospitals in central Bristol.Wherever you decide to live in our region there will be asite nearby that can offer exciting career opportunitieswithin this specialty.
For more details please contact Moira McMurran,Nursing Recruitment Consultant on e-mail:[email protected] or 01225 731686.
Alternatively, come and meet us at Stand 26during Dublin 2005 at the Royal DublinShowground on the 28th or 29th September.
a brighter future
The Trust is committed to improving working lives and there areopportunities for flexible working. The Trust is a pilot organisation forAgenda for Change.
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ACAREER in a medium secure mental health service can be an intimidating prospect for mental health nurses without previousexperience. Myths abound. The reality of working in a medium secure service is a very different and much more positive than
popular belief allows.
The Fromeside Clinic in Bristol is a 27-bedded medium secure service managed by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health PartnershipNHS Trust (AWP). From October this year the service is expanding to 80 beds across eight ward areas - including a new service forwomen - and will be accommodated in a brand new, clinician-designed building, next door to the current clinic building.
Ward Manager Mike Grout, is enthusiastic about working in the service. “We have a great team environment – very supportive”he explains. “There is a great structure in place for training and development, and we work in close partnership with the Universityof the West of England to provide our nursing staff, unqualified as well as RMNs, with excellent opportunities to progress theircareers and develop their skills. AWP has an excellent research & development department, and staff at all levels are able to getinvolved in research projects.”
Mike is keen to dispel the myths about secure services. “Contrary to popular belief, the police do not drop people off at mediumsecure units in the middle of the night. Admissions to Fromeside are carefully planned following a period of thorough assessment.
“Another myth is that staff in medium secure units experience frequent violence from patients and all our patients have violenthistories. Again this is not true. In reality the incidence of violence in our service is low. We rarely need to use seclusion atFromeside – just once in the last 18 months. The new women’s service will not have a seclusion room - it simply isn’t required.
“Our service user group come from a range of backgrounds and their histories of involvement with the criminal justice system vary.Where patients do have a conviction for a violent offence these are often isolated incidents, relating to particular relationships,triggered by specific circumstances, which took place in the context of an undiagnosed or untreated severe mental health problem.”
Mike stresses that such circumstances are unlikely to occur in a medium secure setting.
Another misconception is that secure mental health hospitals are like prisons. They are not. Patients go to Fromeside to receive careand treatment. Mike explains: “We provide patients with care and treatment to help them to manage their mental health problemsas part their everyday lives. Alongside this we help them to develop the everyday skills that they will need for independent living inthe community, to rebuild their self-esteem and confidence, and to access education and vocational training to help them to enteremployment once they leave our service”.
“Our patients are free to move around within their ward area and have access to gardens. The majority have leave to go into thelarger hospital grounds, and many are granted regular leave to visit their families and to take part in activities such as shopping,going to concerts or using local sports facilities.” Mike continues: “Whilst many of our patients are escorted by staff on these trips,as they progress through the service and their health improves individuals are able to go on unescorted leave to attend college,take up work experience opportunities and to make weekend visits home to their families”.
The environment is also of great importance. Fromeside is part of the campus for Blackberry Hill Hospital, which is located in thebusy Fishponds area of Bristol, close to local shops and direct bus routes to the city centre. But the site itself is peaceful, green andleafy.
An important aspect of the culture at Fromeside is the value placed on the views of service users. Service users were consulted onmany aspects of the design for the new service and are encouraged to give their views and make suggestions about the service.There is a full time service user involvement worker in the unit. This not only contributes to the ongoing development of theservice but helps to develop the confidence of service users, some of whom have attended and spoken at Trust-wide and externalseminars and conferences.
“We a seeking more nursing staff for our service expansion. Living in Bristol or the surrounding area is attractive in itself. Thequality of the facilities in our new building will be outstanding and are a real pull for ambitious mental health professionals. Thereis a service-user run café, a large gym, a central therapies centre, occupational therapy rooms on each ward, gardens includingallotments and education and learning facilities for both patients and staff. Far from fitting the myth of a dingy spaceaccommodating dangerous and violent no-hopers, the future at Fromeside really is bright, for staff as much as for our patients.”
Hands upif you want from
your Agency...
...PROFESSIONAL RECRUITMENT
FROM NURSING PROFESSIONALS?
All grades of registered nurses, nurse specialists,nurse managers, healthcare sales professionals...
Dublin 1890946228Belfast +44 (028) 9066 [email protected]
Grafton Healthcare is part of Grafton esp
The Mental Health Directorate have a number of opportunities for Registered Nurses based within:
For further information please contact: Eifion Williams, Head of Nursing,on 01248 682508
RECRUITMENT EXHIBITIONRoyal Dublin Showground, 28th & 29th September (Stand 30)
Cardiothoracic SurgeryRespiratory Medicine
Critical Care/ITU
Cardiology
Operating Theatres
Transplantation
Paediatrics
DEVELOPING YOUR
CAREERTHROUGH LEARNINGwww.rbh.nthames.nhs.uk
Temporary opportunities also exist across both sites. We promote diversity within our workforce.We operate a no smoking policy.
Royal Brompton & HarefieldNHS Trust
The Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust is the UK's largest post-graduate specialist heart and lung centre. We are a worldfamous three star organisation with a proud history in the investigation, treatment and research of heart and lung disease.From our two sites - in Chelsea, London and Harefield, Middlesex - we strive to develop our staff both personally andprofessionally to ensure our patients get the first class service they deserve.
Royal Brompton Hospital Chelsea, London
Royal Brompton is a 300-bed hospital internationally renowned in the treatment of cardio-respiratory disease. We have expertise in invasive cardiology,cardiothoracic surgery (with dedicated high dependency), a unique Grown Up Congenital Heart Unit and specialised Adult and Paediatric Intensive Care Units. We are also pioneering robotic and minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Our work in the field of respiratory medicine is recognised throughout the world. The Respiratory Medicine Directorate provides care for patients with acute, chronic and rare lung diseases. We have the largest Cystic Fibrosis Unit in Europeand the largest non-invasive ventilatory support service in the UK.
Harefield Hospital Harefield, Middlesex
Joining Harefield means becoming part of an 800 strong team dedicated to superb patient care. Pioneers in the areas of heart and lung transplant surgery, our expertise ranges from cardiothoracic surgery, cardiac transplantation, invasive cardiology, artificial hearts and beyond. Situated on our own 47 acre grounds,20 miles to the west of London, we are surrounded by green fields and open spaces, yet our excellent transport links mean travel to central London or furtherafield is quick and easy.
Cardiothoracic Surgery - Both sitesCaring for patients undergoing investigations and a mix of cardiothoracicsurgery, we have private patients wards on both sites and integral HighDependency Units. This directorate offers you excellent experience in thisexciting field of nursing.
Operating Theatres - Both sitesWith 10 theatres spread throughout the Trust we cover everything fromcoronary artery bypass graft, Ventricular Assist Devices, cardiopulmonarytransplantation and robotic surgery. We have a wide variety of careeropportunities within this exciting and dynamic directorate.
Cardiology - Both sitesUndertaking the full range of procedures and investigations, this busydirectorate has a core of very experienced staff to support and develop newstaff. Join us here and you will experience everything possible in invasive andnon-invasive cardiology.
Critical Care/ITU - Both sitesWith 38 beds spread over our two sites, this unique directorate will give youthe opportunity to work with a team of dedicated and highly skilledprofessionals. We have a very successful and well-established induction mentorprogramme for all new staff irrespective of experience and grade and webelieve in encouraging our Nurses to develop and proceed at their own pace.
Respiratory Medicine - Royal BromptonWe are a world leader in the diagnosis and management of lung disease. We cover asthma, occupational and environmental lung disease, fibrosinglung disease, chronic lung infections, acute respiratory failure, ventilation andsleep disorders. We have the largest centre in Europe for research into thetreatment of cystic fibrosis.
Transplantation - HarefieldOur Heart & Lung Transplant Unit is the largest and most experienced centreof its kind in Europe. We've carried out over 2,500 operations since 1980 andour transplant population now numbers over 1,200 patients. Join us andyou'll be involved in everything from left ventricle assist devices,haemofiltration and intra aortic balloon pumps to care of the surgical andmedical patient.
Paediatrics - Royal BromptonThe Directorate’s philosophy is that each and every child has the right toreceive treatment which is centered around partnership in care with the familyled by specifically trained Paediatric Doctors and Nurses. The care is plannedusing the Anne Casey framework, in an environment that encourageseducation and research to support professional and personal growth. TheStaff recognise that the speed of a child’s recovery is dependent on thepresence of parents and family, and actively welcome their participation in thechild’s care.
We're committed to the professional and educational development of our staff, which is why we offer secondments for BSc,MSc, post registration specialist courses and a variety of other external and in-house training opportunities.
We have so much information to give you, so please come and visit us at Stand 31.
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We are seeking experienced midwives to work in a range of settings in our maternity servicesthroughout Mid Essex.
As a Trust committed to providing choice for our patients, our integrated midwifery service canmeet individual needs and also offer choice in birthing environments. Choice also extends toour midwives - to work in a Consultant or Midwifery led unit, in an acute environment or in adedicated birthing or low risk unit. The choice is yours at Mid Essex - there’s something for everymidwife.
. . . or you can rotate between the main Consultant Unit or Low Risk Units,again the choice is yours.
All our Midwives are actively encouraged to participate in decision making, to take forward midwiferyservices and to develop the role of the midwife. We offer family friendly policies, support and developmentopportunities and a friendly team environment in which to work.
Our Midwife led units are based in the traditional towns of Braintree and Maldon. Braintree is a markettown with a popular out of town shopping centre and Maldon is an ‘olde worlde’ seaside town on theeast coast. Both are surrounded by beautiful countryside and close to the town of Chelmsford, the home ofSt John’s Hospital. Chelmsford is a growing town with numerous shopping and leisure facilities and directrail link to London (30 minutes). Stansted Airport is a short distance away and the area is home to anumber of excellent schools including a number of grammar schools.
To find out more please contact Jacinta Freeman, General Manager/Head of Midwifery on01245 513220 or 07889 036323.
MidwivesObstetrics & Gynaecological Clinical Directorate
If you prefer to work in a Consultant Unit, youcould join us at St John’s in Chelmsford. St John’sHospital provides a wide range of Child andMidwifery Services to the community of MidEssex. A friendly atmosphere working closely withConsultants it provides an innovative environmentin which to develop in your career. It’s also greattime to join us, as by 2008 all services will bebased at the main Broomfield site, providing acohesive service and advanced facilities for bothpatients and staff.
E & F Grades
If you prefer to work in a Midwife Led Unit, youcould join us at St Peter’s in Maldon or the WilliamJulien Courtauld in Braintree. These units providea home from home environment within thecommunity for low risk mothers and enhancethe birthing experience. The teams at both unitsare extremely friendly, work closely together andprovide an enjoyable and fulfilling place to work.
F Grades
How to apply:24-hour Job Vacancy Line on 01245 514847
e-mail: [email protected]: 4285 E Grade / 4286 F Grade
Human Resources Department, Galbraith House,Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 7ET
DUBLIN 2005 EXHIBITOR
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It’s easy to see why nurses dream ofworking in the big city.
Career-wise it’s brilliant.Between them, our four famous
hospitals offer over 60 specialities, manydoing ground-breaking research and ledby equally famous consultants.
As you’d expect, opportunities forprofessional development are excellent,both internally and through our stronglinks with universities.
We encourage you to join courses, takestudy leave and advance your qualifica-tions and if you’re just returning tonursing after a break, we run a specialprogramme to get you back in smoothly.
Finally, because of our size there arealways loads of job and promotionchances going.
Outside work it’s pretty good too.We’re in West London, close enough to
all the bright lights, but not bang in allthe hustle and bustle.
Many of our nurses live in low costaccommodation at Charing Cross hospitalin Fulham Palace Road (see picture for theview!) and if you already live here or wantto take advantage of our relocationpackage, we’re easy to get to from a widearea.
We try to offer flexible working hours,so if you want to make time for yourfamily or just get the most of being here,you can.
It all helps make it the best place tonurse in London.
Why not pay Kat Cowhig Recruitment avisit on Stand No. 36 at the Irish NurseMagazine Healthcare RecruitmentExhibition, 28th and 29th September, 2005at the Royal Dublin Showground.Alternatively, call Recruitment Services on0208 8461487 and tell us what kind of jobyou’re looking for, or visit usonline at:
www.nursejobfinder.com
HAMMERSMITH HOSPITALS NHS TRUST
The bestplace to nurse
in London.
CHARING CROSS,HAMMERSMITH, QUEEN
CHARLOTTE‘S & CHELSEAAND ACTON HOSPITALS
DUBLIN 2005 EXHIBITOR
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The National Cancer was set up by the Department of Health & Children in 1991 to recordinformation on all cancer cases and cancer deaths occurring in the Republic of Ireland. The Registry isfunded by the Department of Health & Children.
Currently there are thirty nine people employed by the Registry together with three externally fundedresearchers. There are nineteen staff members based in hospitals throughout the country.
The Registry operates with a budget in excess of €2m.
The Registry collects cancer related data from all counties in the Republic of Ireland which has a population ofover 3.9 million people.
Functions
The Registry was established in 1991 by the Minister for Health under The National Cancer Registry BoardEstablishment Order.
The National Cancer Registry Board was established by the Minister for Health in 1991, by Statutory Instrument.Its functions were laid down in its Establishment Order as follows:
1. to identify, collect, classify, record, store and analyse information relating to the incidence and preva-lence of cancer and related tumours in Ireland;
2. to collect, classify, record and store information in relation to each newly diagnosed individual cancerpatient and in relation to each tumour which occurs;
3. to promote and facilitate the use of the data thus collected in approved research and in the planningand management of services;
4. to publish an annual report based on the activities of the Registry;
5. to furnish advice, information and assistance in relation to any aspect of such service to the Minister.
Job Vacancies
The National Cancer Registry is currently accepting applications from suitably qualified nurses to form apanel of Tumour Registration Officers. These TROs are key staff involved in the collection of data fromhospitals throughout the Republic of Ireland. Reporting to the Data Manager, the persons appointedwill have responsibility for identifying, coding and recording all newly diagnosed cancer cases in thedesignated area. Applicants must have an RGN or equivalent nursing qualification, keyboard skills, fullclean driving licence and own transport.
Salary: Staff nurse salary scale will apply - €27,757 - €40,528.
Job descriptions are available at www.ncri.ie or from the HR department at 021 4318014.
Interested applicants should submit three copies of curriculum vitae to the following address:
HR Department, National Cancer Registry, Elm Court, Boreenmanna Road, Cork
59
Blackrock Clinic would like to invite YOU to attend our first ever Nursing Open Day
on Saturday 22nd October 2005, at Rock Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
We have full-time and part-time nursing positions available in many Departments
and we’d very much like to talk to you! NOW!
Why should you want to work with us? Here are just some of the compelling reasons:
• FLEXIBLE WORKING HOURS
- Come and tell us how and when you’d prefer to work!
• FINANCIAL SUPPORT for your ongoing Professional Development
• ANNUAL BONUS
• ON-SITE CAR PARKING at nominal rates
• ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
• MODERN, ATTRACTIVE, CHEERFUL WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Blackrock Clinic is an extremely progressive organization. We pride ourselves on
recruiting and retaining the best people, working as part of a dedicated team in a
caring and friendly atmosphere.
So please make a date - come and meet with us at our Open Day on Saturday
October 22nd any time between 10am and 3pm - even if you’re not thinking of a job
change at this particular time.
OR if you cannot make it
• call us on 01-206 4303
• e-mail us on [email protected]
• write to us at The Nurse Recruitment Team,
Blackrock Clinic, Rock Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin
Unlock the Potential of Your Career in Nursing
We will also have ongoing Information Workshops throughout the day on:
• Work-Life Balance for Nurses - How to Get It Right !
• Financial and Property Issues - Some Simple Solutions!
Visit www.blackrock-clinic.com