UPDATE 71
Louth hospitals markWorld Sepsis Day
A new alliance aiming to boost the uptake of vaccines in Ireland was launched recently by Minister for Health Simon Harris. The Vaccine Alliance will comprise healthcare professionals, policymakers, patient advocates and representatives from groups affected by vaccine hesitancy. The alliance will ensure that parents have accurate, evidence-based informa- tion about vaccinations. A steering group made up of health- care professionals and a range of organisations such as Barnardos, Science Foundation Ireland and the Union of Students of Ireland, will guide the work of the alliance. Speaking at the launch, Minister Harris said: “Vaccination rates across the country are falling and diseases we had consigned to the history books are now making a comeback. We cannot afford to do Every year since 2012, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda and Louth County Hospital, Dundalk mark World Sepsis Day on September 13. The aim is to highlight the importance of prompt recognition of the signs of sep- sis, thus improving patient outcomes. A potentially life threatening condition, sepsis can occur when the body develops an infection that affects the vital organs. If not treated quickly, it can be fatal. There are around 15,000 cases in Ireland every year. As part of the awareness campaign in both hospitals, there was a public aware- ness stand in Marshes Shopping Centre, Dundalk on September 5 and in Drogheda town centre on September 6. Several landmark buildings were also lit up in pink, the international colour for sepsis awareness, including both hospitals in Dundalk and Drogheda from September 9-14 to raise awareness. For staff, the day involved expert presentations, including a story from a patient. There were also display stands from various disciplines within the hospi- tal, poster presentations and quizzes. Steps to sepsis awareness and preven- tion improvement in Our Lady of Lourdes and Louth County hospitals include:
Pictured at World Sepsis Day at Louth Community Hospital were (l-r): Siobhán McMahon,staff nurse,OLOL Drogheda; Mary Bedding, lead sepsis ADON,RCSI Hospital Group; Denise FlynnWalsh,CNM3,Louth County Hospital; Emma Ross,staff nurse,Louth County Hospital; and Emma Kirk,staff nurse,Louth County Hospital
Children’s palliative care conference The fourth International Children’s Palliative Care Conference will take place at NUI Galway on November 21-22. The conference will focus on the care of children with complex palliative care needs. Dr Julie Hauer from Boston Children’s Hospital will speak on the symptommanagement of children with severe neurological conditions. Consult- ant paediatrician Joanne Balfe will talk about cannabinoids, the location of care and the specific needs of adolescences and young adults. Bryan Nolan, com- munications specialist in end of life care, will discuss breaking bad news to fami- lies, while Dr Helen Kerr from Queen’s University Belfast will discuss the transition of children with life limiting conditions into adult services. For fur- ther information, see www.cpcconf.ie – Liz O’Donoghue, CNS in palliative care, CHI at Crumlin 2018 which included targeted education, sepsis awareness stands and dedicated information days on both hospital sites • Education for staff on ISBAR communi- cation tools, sepsis and screening forms • Education on sepsis on World Sepsis Day • Public sepsis awareness stands in hospi- tals and the local community. – Siobhán McMahon, clinical facilitator for deteriorating older persons
• Introduction of intradepartmental trans- fer form using ISBAR format • ISBAR stickers to standardise communi- cation when escalating patient care • Regular audit to monitor progress • A sepsis drawer in all clinical areas to ensure equipment for Sepsis 6 is available • A sepsis newsletter to raise awareness of sepsis throughout hospitals • The sepsis screening form launched in
New alliance aims to boost vaccine uptake
nothing. We cannot allow the success of our childhood immunisation programme become its enemy.” Mr Harris said that the alliance will try to build on the success of the HPV vaccine programme, which has seen vaccination rates increase from 51% to 70% in just over two years. The launch was attended by the parents of HPV campaigner, Laura Brennan, who died earlier this year having received a terminal cervical cancer diagnosis at the age of just 25. Mr Harris announced that the Royal Col- lege of Physicians of Ireland has agreed to rename its medal for patient advocacy the ‘Laura Brennan Advocacy Medal’, in recog- nition of her work in increasing uptake of the HPV vaccine. For more vaccination information, visit www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation
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