News
Review of 'The Nurse' in Sunday Times January 29th
Last Updated: 31 Jan 2012
Aarticle : uploads/Anatomy of a.tif
Childens Rights Alliance Report Card 2012
Last Updated: 26 Jan 2012
Obesity Management toolkit
Last Updated: 26 Jan 2012
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/43574460/1-26-2012_AOM_Toolkit_D%20Eardley_K%20Monsen.pdf
Managing Obesity in Primary Care
Last Updated: 26 Jan 2012
National Clinical Effectiveness Commitee
Last Updated: 26 Jan 2012
For info
http://www.patientsafetyfirst.ie/index.php/national-clinical-effectiveness-committee.html
Crystal Clear Health Lteracy Awards
Last Updated: 21 Jan 2012
Download information : uploads/Crystal Clear Brochure 2012.pdf
Dept of Health ,Public Focus groups on Undergraduate Nursing & Midwifery Degree Programme
Last Updated: 19 Jan 2012
DOH Focus Groups on 'Review of Undergraduate Nursing & Midwifery Degree programmes
Last Updated: 19 Jan 2012
Vacancies in Cork, Letterkenny & Athlone
uploads/Focus Group Booking Forms.doc
Template for DOH Submission on Nursing Undergraduate programme
Last Updated: 13 Jan 2012
To download
Primary Palliative Care in Ireland 2012
Last Updated: 12 Jan 2012
Press release - Senator Healy Eames, ICHN Patron re 'The Nurse' series comm Thursday Jan 12th TE 1,
Last Updated: 12 Jan 2012
Wednesday, 11th January 2012
Television series on public health nurses honours Ireland’s unsung heroes - Healy Eames
Fine Gael Senator for Galway West, Fidelma Healy Eames, has welcomed a six part television series on public health nurses which starts tomorrow night (Thursday) on RTE One. Senator Healy Eames is a patron of the Institute of Community Health Nurses (ICHN).
“I am delighted that the work of public health nurses, who are some of Ireland’s greatest unsung heroes, is being shown to the country through this six part series on RTE.
“The programme shows the human face of public health nurses, who play an important, but largely unheralded role, in health provision. Public health nurses visit 10,000 individuals every day throughout the country and are present for some of life's key moments.
“As patron of the Institute of Community Health Nurses, I have been proud to advocate the work of public health nurses in the Oireachtas.
“The scale and impact of their work is immense and I know that very many public health nurses carry out their duties with a strong sense of vocation. I am glad that with the airing of this series, their work is now getting the attention it deserves.
“They are the eyes and ears of our health service because they perform their in homes throughout the country. They get through a huge amount of work everyday unbeknownst to most of us and their work is often unnoticed by the wider community.
“Public health nurses are best placed to identify health risks and offer support and treatment. In doing so they are preventing people from having to go to hospital. The value in health and indeed economic terms for the individuals and the Exchequer is immeasurable.”
Examining the Breast Feeding Support Resources of Public Health Nursing service in Ireland
Last Updated: 10 Jan 2012
Download
uploads/JCN publication Mulcahy, Phelan, Corcoran and Leahy-Warren, 2011.pdf
Miller Trust award 2012
Last Updated: 10 Jan 2012
Information Links
ICGP - Review of Primary Care Teams - A GP Perspective - Nov 2011
Last Updated: 17 Dec 2011
Press release - Senator Fidelma Healy Eames
Last Updated: 03 Dec 2011
Public Health Nurses are the eyes and ears of our health service - Healy Eames
Public health nurses represent the best investment for the State in order to keep older people out of hospital
Fine Gael Senator for Galway West, Fidelma Healy Eames, has highlighted the crucial role played by public health nurses in delivering health services. Senator Healy Eames, who is a patron of the Institute of Community Health Nurses (ICHN), made her comments yesterday (Thursday) during the first ever Public consultation with older people in the Seanad.
“During yesterday’s consultation in the Seanad, General Secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Liam Doran, made the crucial point that investment in public health nurses is the most effective way of keeping older people out of hospital. I concur with him entirely.
“Public health nurses are best placed to identify health risks and offer support and treatment in their own homes. In doing so they are preventing people from having to go to hospital. The value in health and indeed economic terms for the individuals and the Exchequer is inestimable.
“Public health nurses should be viewed as 'multipliers' of health. They visit 10,000 families per day and are present at key life moments. As the State's eyes and ears, we need to remind ourselves of the value of the service they provide. We would be foolish to overlook the huge impact of the work they do. It makes economic sense to sustain this workforce to deliver home care and reduce the costs of older people in acute or long term care.”
Adjournment Motion - Public Health Nursing
Last Updated: 03 Dec 2011
Adjournment Motion - Public Health Nursing
Senator Fidelma Healy Eames: When I tabled this matter I did not know we would only be taking it now, in the early hours of the morning. Given that public health nurses provide a universal service to all our children, will the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs outline the role they will play in the context of the new child and family support agency? The latter is extremely important and was only recently established. What steps will be taken to ensure that the service provided by public health nurses will be integrated with that of the new agency in order that children and families might have access to a seamless overall service?
Public health nurses provide a universal programme of child care for those from birth to 12 years. They are a unique group of individuals and they knock on 10,000 doors each day. The Institute of Community Health Nursing, ICHN, a professional and educational body which represents public health nurses and community registered general nurses working in primary care throughout the country, advocates for greater participation and improved systems for public health nursing that would be effective in supporting identified at-risk families. At this juncture I must declare an interest because I am a newly-appointed patron of the public health nurses. From that point of view, I wish to represent their interests and ensure that they will be included at the decision-making levels in the new child and family support agency.
The role of public health nurses encompasses primary, secondary and tertiary care from birth until death. Although public health nursing emphasises a lifespan approach, in practice time involved in direct and indirect work is predominantly spent on older people and with child health groups. Effective public health nursing requires an ability to work in partnership with individuals, families and communities in their own environment and in a way which has due regard to the determinants of health. The HSE office of nursing and midwifery is currently reviewing the public health nursing service. It is good that the debate relating to child and family services is running alongside this review. At all times the welfare of the child is paramount and public health nurses, as part of the primary care teams, have been identified as "prime workers" with children at risk in the community. Public health nurses visit every family with a new infant and then return on a number of occasions during the course of the child"s life. Public health nurses' knowledge of local communities is critical to identifying supports and resources for families. For example, their specialist education and training enable them to identify when families require referral to the social work services. As a prominent referrer to child protective services under the Child Care Act 1991 and the policy guidelines issued by the then Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in 2010, a public health nurse will work with families by using an ecological approach to identifying need, risk factors and issues of concern in order to prevent a child from crossing the threshold of significant harm.
The great thing about public health nurses is that they act as a kind of early warning system. There are approximately 1,700 of these nurses throughout the country. As already stated, they knock on 10,000 doors each day and their knowledge must be fed into the system at the critical stage. If the latter is not done, then these nurses will be nothing other than a wasted resource. What I have learned about public health nurses in recent weeks has led me to conclude that they are an undervalued and under-used resource. Where child abuse concerns arise, public health nurses work with multidisciplinary teams in supporting and monitoring the families involved. In the context of safeguarding children one of the key activities that can be provided by a public health nurse is a universal health visiting service, with more intensive support for those in need to ensure all children have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
The ICHN recommends that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs task force on the new child and family support agency should consider how to capture, develop and integrate the work of public health nurses into the agency. It has set out four ways in which this could happen. These are that the public health nurse service would remain in the HSE, configured in the same way - that is, that each area in the country would be assigned a public health nurse who, in general, would have responsibility for the organisation of all nursing services within said area; that the service would, along with other services, be transferred to the child and family support agency, thereby positioning a universal service within the agency and ensuring a continuum of services and meaning that public health nurses would be the first line of service for all families as all new births are notified to them; that one public health nurse could be appointed to each county and that person would be responsible for ensuring that child protection services involving public health nurses operate according to best practice; or that the child protection aspect of public health nurses' work would be integrated into social work teams. The latter would require the appointment of somewhere in the region of 100 to 150 additional public health nurses and would be dependent on how the social work teams are organised.
Public health nurses do not believe themselves to be adequately valued at key decision-making levels.
Given that they are at the front line, they visit 10,000 families a day and they have such a key role in identifying families at risk, it seems a huge waste of a good human resource, human capital, not to use their professional experience and knowledge adequately.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child enshrines our collective commitment to ensuring that all children, including the most vulnerable, are properly cared for and protected from harm. While moral and social justice arguments are prominent in the rationale for focusing on prevention and early intervention, there is also compelling economic evidence for same. Evidence shows that it is possible to prevent abuse and neglect.
The Institute of Community Health Nursing believes that the public health nurse is a major stakeholder in the debate on the future direction of child and family services in Ireland and it urges the task force to fully engage with the public health nurse service in planning future services. My question is how does the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs plan to include public health nurses in the decision making layer of the new child and family agency and will she consider their inclusion in the task force? I thank the Minister for taking this matter.
Deputy Phil Hogan: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. I am pleased to have the opportunity to update the Seanad on work relating to the new child and family support agency.
In the programme for Government we made a commitment to fundamentally reform the delivery of child protection services by removing responsibility for child welfare and protection from the HSE and creating a dedicated child welfare and protection agency, reforming a model of service delivery and improving accountability to the Dáil. Accordingly, the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, established a task force on the child and family support agency in September 2011 under the chairmanship of Ms Maureen Lynott. The task force will advise the Department in regard to the necessary transition programme to establish a child and family support agency and will base its work on best practice in child welfare, family support and public administration, consistent with the Government's public sector reform agenda.
In regard to the agency, it has been asked to propose a vision and principles to guide operations; advise on the appropriate service responsibilities and the delivery of same; review existing financial staffing and corporate resources and propose a methodology for resource allocation; propose an organisational design and operating child welfare and protection service model; prepare a detailed implementation plan; identify the main priorities and co-relationships required; and oversee the implementation and monitor progress, pending establishment of the agency. As I have already outlined, the task force will advise on the appropriate service responsibilities for the agency during the course of its work from among those within the HSE that relate to children and family services or from within the relevant operational responsibilities of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs or its agencies.
In addition, the Senator will be aware of last week's Government statement on the public service reform plan. It confirmed that the family support agency will merge into the child and family support agency by 2013. The Government also stated that the role of the National Education Welfare Board will be reviewed by June 2012 in the context of the establishment of this new agency. No other decisions have been made in regard to other services for the new agency, either universal or targeted for children and families, including public health nursing services. It is clear that public health nurses have an important role to play in a range of child and family services.
I understand that a new public health strategy is currently being developed and it is the intention that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs will liaise with the Department of Health and the HSE with regard to any new developments in the context of the establishment of the new agency. A review of public health nursing is under way in the HSE, which includes community nursing in the context of the role to meet primary health care services, which will include children services. It is anticipated that a summary report will be finalised in January 2012 and it will specifically consider the role public health nurses can plan in supporting children's health care in the community.
The Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, looks forward to receiving the report of the work of the task force, which will inform preparations for the new agency, including the drafting of legislation. It is her intention, working with her colleague the Minister for Health, to establish a dedicated child and family programme within the HSE in 2012. This will provide for a dedicated management structure and a budget for children and family services. Management of these services will be led by the national director, Mr. Gordon Jeyes, who already has a very close working relationship with the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, and her Department. A considerable change programme has already been implemented by the HSE's national director of child and family services, aimed at strengthening organisational capacity, business processes and systems. These developments are an integral part of preparations for the new stand-alone agency.
The Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, is anxious to advance the full establishment of the agency at an early date subject to the work of the task force and the necessary legislative provision. It is envisaged that legislation will be tabled before the House next year to provide for the agency's establishment in 2013.
Senator Fidelma Healy Eames: The Minister probably does not know the answer to the question I am about to ask and it is not fair to expect him to be able to answer it. Will he ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if public health nurses will be included at a decision making level as opposed to only submissions being taken because they are a key stakeholder in child and family health? That is the key question.
Deputy Phil Hogan: As I said, it is a matter for the Senator to be able to bring this matter to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald. I will convey the Senator's view to the Minister and the Senator may be able to engage with her directly on this matter. I am not in a position to give that information to the Senator.
Senator Fidelma Healy Eames: I appreciate that.
Articles (2) on Health Visitors & Safeguarding Children
Last Updated: 23 Nov 2011
uploads/Role of HV in safeguarding Children.pdf
uploads/Early Intervention Safeguarding Nurse Pilot.pdf
Child protection Article - Susan Kent PHN
Last Updated: 23 Nov 2011
link uploads/Community Nurses child protection role views of PHNs in Ireland.pdf
Post Natal Depression - Suffering in Silence
Last Updated: 23 Nov 2011
Link to publication uploads/Suffering-in-Silence.pdf
TILDA report- Executive summary
Last Updated: 17 Nov 2011
Public Service Reform report Nov 17th 2011
Last Updated: 17 Nov 2011
ICHN Submission to DYCA Nov 2011
Last Updated: 17 Nov 2011
Link: uploads/ICHN Submission doc to DYCA Task force Nov 11(3).pdf
'Growing Up in Ireland' Research Report Novemebr 9th 2011
Last Updated: 10 Nov 2011
Latest research report from Growing Up in Ireland launched jointly by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD and Minister for Health James Reilly TD.
Link : http://www.growingup.ie/index.php?id=62
E Learning- irish Hospice Foundation
Last Updated: 09 Nov 2011
The E Learning Website allows subscribers to learn about best practice in bereavement support from recognised professionals in the field, and all from the comfort of their home or workplace. All that is needed is a computer with good access to the internet.
The first course that the E Learning Website is offering is Lost For Words – an introductory level training course on providing basic support to people who are bereaved. It is aimed at the general public and professionals who wish to learn more about the grieving process and how to provide effective support. It is particularly suitable and cost effective for organisations who wish to train staff in best practice bereavement support. The course is interactive and easy to use and participants receive a certificate of completion when they have finished the course. To sign up for the course simply go to:
http://elearningbook.hospice-foundation.ie
Special Launch Offer!!!!!
The cost of the course is normally €15 but until 30th Nov 2011 is only €10
If you would like to know more about the E Learning Website and the Lost For Words
course please contact Breffni Mc Guinness at 01 6730064 or
breffni.mcguinness@hospice-foundation.ie
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Irish Hospice Foundation - Enabling comfort and dignity at end of life.
New IHF Online Bereavement Support e-learning website
Click here for more information.
The Irish Hospice Foundation | Morrison Chambers | 32 Nassau Street | Dublin 2
Tel: +353(0)1 6793188 | Fax: +353(0)1 6730040 | www.hospice-foundation.ie
ICHN Submission to the Seanad on rights of Older people
Last Updated: 07 Nov 2011
uploads/Submission to the Seanad_doc on rights of older people.doc
ICHN submission to Joint Oireachtas Commitee on Health & Children
Last Updated: 07 Nov 2011
uploads/ICHN submission to the Joint Committee on Health & Children.doc
Interagency Working ,DYCA , Oct 2011
Last Updated: 26 Oct 2011
Early intervention supporting families with additional needs ,2010
Last Updated: 26 Oct 2011
uploads/Early intervention supporting families with additional needs 2010.pdf
WHO Social Determinants of Health, Rio De Janero Oct 2011
Last Updated: 26 Oct 2011
ICHN Submission on Healthier Ireland 2012-2020
Last Updated: 02 Oct 2011
To download ; uploads/Consultation for Public Health Policy Framework 2012 _3_.pdf
Population Health Information Tool
Last Updated: 12 Sep 2011
On behalf of the Executive,Council and membersof ICHN we wish to congratulate ICHN member Anne Mc Donald on the publication by the Office and Nursing & Midwfery Director, on her report on the Population Health Information Tool. uploads/20695 ONSMD PHIT Doc Final Publication.pdf
A Policy Framework for a Healthier Ireland 2012-2020 ,Department of Health
Last Updated: 12 Sep 2011
Briefing docuument uploads/YourHealthisYourWealthPolicyFrameworkAShortIntroduction.pdf
Consultation questionaire : uploads/ConsultationQuestionnaire.pdf
Weight Care Project
Last Updated: 23 Aug 2011
Nurses and GPs required to contribute in tackling Obesity
Nurses and GPs throughout Ireland are invited to participate in a research project, Weight Care Project.
A multidisciplinary team from the University of Ulster and the National University of Ireland, Galway is conducting an all-Ireland research project of health professionals’ attitudes and assessment of assessing body weight status.
The health professional groups that are invited to participate:
1. Public Health Nurses (community; postnatal home/clinic visits and developmental checks);
2. Public Health Nurses (Schools);
3. GPs and Practice Nurses (primary care);
4. Occupational health nurses (workplace).
At present, we are completing data collection on the final two strands of the project:
1. Online Survey
We are conducting an online survey to assess the attitudes, current practices/behaviours and knowledge of key health professional groups in assessing body weight status. This survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.
The link to the online survey is as follows: www.science.ulster.ac.uk/weightcareproject/survey
2. New online programme to assess health professionals’ ability to identity body weight status
We have developed a new tool to assess health professionals’ ability to identify body weight categories in both adults and children. This new tool is incorporated into this online study, which will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.
The link to the online programme is as follows: www.science.ulster.ac.uk/weightcareproject/onlinestudy
Further information on the research project and the information sheets for the above studies can be found on the project’s website: www.science.ulster.ac.uk/weightcareproject
Everyone completing either of above studies will be invited to enter their name and contact details for a lottery draw, and the winning individual for each study will receive a prize of £200/200 Euros.
Ethical approval has been obtained for this project.
Contact details
If you would like further information or to discuss participating in any of the above studies please do not hesitate to contact the Weight Care Team using the following contact details:
Website: www.science.ulster.ac.uk/weightcareproject
E-mail: weightcareproject@ulster.ac.uk
Tele: +44 (0) 28 9036 8905
Dr. Anne Moorhead (Principal Investigator) & Weight Care Team
Children First ,July 2011, Department of Children & Youth Affairs
Last Updated: 21 Jul 2011
Children First
Children First is Ireland's national guidance for the protection and welfare of children.The aim of Children First is to promote the safety and well-being of children. Parents and guardians have the main responsibility for the care and protection of children.
Click the link on the right to download the report: uploads/Children First July 2011.pdf
HSE/ICGP Weight Management for Primary Care staff
Last Updated: 24 Jun 2011
Tools: :uploads/BMI chart (web).pdf
Review of Population Health Research & Health Services Research in Ireand: Health Research Board, 2011, Vol 1 & 2
Last Updated: 16 Jun 2011
Download Vol 1 uploads/Review_of_population_health_research___health_services_research_in_Ireland_Vol1.pdf
Download Vol 2 uploads/Review_of_population_health_research___health_services_research_in_Ireland_Vol2.pdf
Supporting the Childrens Services Commitees Initatives in Ireland 2010
Last Updated: 13 Jun 2011
Down load: uploads/Supporting the Childrens Services Committees Initiative.pdf
THe Munroe Review on Child Protection - Final Report - May 2011
Last Updated: 25 May 2011
To download : uploads/Munro Final Report May 2011 (2).pdf
ICHN National Interest Group -Care of the Adult
Last Updated: 28 Apr 2011
Chairperson: Amanda Phelan UCD amanda.phelan@ucd.ie
Secretary : Helena Heagney ADPHN helena.heagney@hse.ie
Priorities:
o Care packages
o Hospital discharges
o Standardised assessment of the adult client
ICHN National Population Health Interest Group
Last Updated: 28 Apr 2011
Chairperson ; Patricia Marteinsson RPHN: patriciamarteinsson@hse.ie
Secretary: Marianne Healy DPHN ; marianne.healy@hse.ie
Priorities:
o Research other groups involved in population health
o Raise profile of role of PHN in Population Health
o Education on Population health for Community Nurses
o Implementation of PHIT
ICHN National Child & Family Health Interest Group
Last Updated: 28 Apr 2011
Chairperson: Bridget Catterson DPHN bridget.catterson@hse.ie
Secretary : Lorraine Dillon RPHN lorraine.dillon@hse.ie
Priorities:
o Implementation of National Child health screening in all LHO areas
o Clarity on timing of core visits
o Education on audio logy screening
o The role of the school PHN
o To share the Child & Family assessment of need developed in Dublin Mid - Leinster
Anne Fynn Memorial Fund ICHN 2011
Last Updated: 28 Apr 2011
The Council and Professional Forum of the Institute are pleased to announce an Education & Training fund this year 2011 for its members. The Closing date is july 21st 2011
Download application form : uploads/ICHN Application for Funding(3).doc
Health visitor implementation plan 2011-15: a call to action, February 2011
Last Updated: 31 Mar 2011
Health visitor implementation plan 2011-15: a call to action, February 2011
Author: Department of Health
Published date: 8 February 2011
Gateway reference: 15182
Copyright holder: Crown
This Health Visitor Implementation Plan sets out a call to action to expand and strengthen health visiting services.
Link
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_124202
Getting it right for children and young people: Overcoming cultural barriers in the NHS so as to meet their needs
Last Updated: 09 Mar 2011
Getting it right for children and young people: Overcoming cultural barriers in the NHS so as to meet their needs
Author: Professor Sir Ian Kennedy
uploads/getting it right for children and young peple.pdf
A review by Professor Sir Ian Kennedy
Sir David Nicholson asked Professor Sir Ian Kennedy to undertake this independent review amid widespread concern about the services provided by the NHS to children and young people.
The review concentrates on understanding the role of culture in the NHS. It focuses on those areas where there are cultural barriers to change and improvement. It examines the NHS’s position in a wider system of care and support, so as to understand and improve the NHS’s provision of services to children and young people.
The review has uncovered many cultural barriers standing in the way of improving services for children and young people. These were created, and operate, at a number of levels, from Whitehall, through regional and local organisations, to contacts between individual professionals, and with children, young people and those looking after them. Sir Ian makes several recommendations for improvement.
Launch of Public Health Nursing Clinical Guideline Development February 8th 2011
Last Updated: 15 Feb 2011
Public Health Nursing Clinical Guideline Development
Introduction
Patient Safety and quality of health service provision are the key driving forces for the HSE in the development of health care practice.
To support a culture of patient safety within the public health nursing profession and the values underpinning the vision for an Irish health service (DOHC 2008) the National Director of Public Health Nursing Group commissioned a project team to collect, collate and to advise on dissemination, training and governance in relation to clinical policies, procedures protocols and guidelines (PPPGs) for public health nursing teams .The overall aim was to compile all of the Public Health nursing PPGs which have been developed and approved nationally and produce a PPG resource which may be used or adapted by PHNs/Community RGNs nationally.The PPG resource will be printed in CD ROM format and housed on the HSE website.
Background
Knowledgeable patients receiving safe and effective care from skilled professionals in appropriate environments with assessed outcomes is the vision or framework on which the Irish health system should be based (DOHC 2008). Good governance is key to the implementation and operation of such a framework and the principles underpinning good governance are clear lines of accountability at individual, team and system level within an organisation with accountability to employers, professional bodies, patients and the public (DOHC2008). Clinical guidelines increase practitioner’s accountability by identifying best practice and reasonable action and serve to
• Promote best practice
• Standardise practice and service delivery
• Ensure that legislative and regulatory requirements are met
• Ensure employees and line managers are clear on their roles and responsibilities
• Facilitate effective staff induction
• Act as educational tools
• Act as a basis for audit and evaluation
(Health Services Executive 2009)
They represent a statement reflecting an expected standard of care which can be introduced in law as evidence of the standard of care expected (An Bord Altranais 2000b) and are also one of the principles for determining practice expansion enshrined in the scope of practice framework (An Bord Altranais 2000a).
The recent Nurses and Midwives Bill (DOHC 2010) will ‘provide for a modern, efficient, transparent and accountable system for the regulation of the nursing and midwifery professions, which will satisfy the public and these professions that all nurses and midwives are appropriately qualified and competent to practice in a safe manner on an ongoing basis’ (An Bord Altranais 2010). Requirements and standards for public health nursing registration education requires that PHNs practice in accordance with legislation affecting nursing practice which includes implementing and contributing to the development and / or critical review of philosophies, policies, protocols and standards of practice to improve health and social well being (Domain 1.1, An Bord Altranais 2005). In response to the above PHNs nationally have developed, audited and revised suites of PPPGs to assist local clinicians in getting evidence into practice. However, lack of a web enabled or other system for communicating and sharing national PPPG’s has resulted in the duplication of many of the topics which are core to public health nursing and in the use of a variety of templates to guide PPPG development.
The National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery supports guideline adaptation to prevent further duplication of developed guidelines and has published a guideline to facilitate this approach (NCNM 2009). The Health Services Executive has developed a standard national procedural template for use by all clinicians and it is now HSE policy that all PPPGs are developed using this procedure (HSE 2009). Both of these documents are available in Section 7 of the CD.
The rationale for this project is to compile a current compilation of national PPPGs which may be used or adapted for use by PHNs nationally but an acknowledged limitation is the fact that this is a once off exercise and therefore does not provide a pathway for future PPPG upgrade. It was beyond the scope of the group to quality proof the PPGs that have been presented for publication.All PPGs within three years of development and approved locally were accepted.
Glossary of Terms
A comprehensive glossary of terms and definitions is to be found in the HSE Procedure for developing PPPGs (HSE 2009) which will help you discern the difference between policy, protocol, procedure and guideline, it is located in Section 7 of the CD with other identified documents which will be needed for guideline use / adaptation.
Explanatory Memo
This comprehensive but not exhaustive list has divided PPPG topics into the following 5 major categories and each category will hold some duplicated topics: Family and Child Health, Adult Health, Health and Safety, Infection Control and Practice Management.
All listed PPPGs are and each PPPG has its own individual date of review which will need to be checked. Any adapted document will need permission from the authors and acknowledgement of adaptation / use. A governance framework for implementation at Local Health Office level is below.
This CD compilation is separated into the following ten sections:
1 Introduction, Explanatory Memo and Governance
2 Family and Child Health
3 Adult Health
4 Health and Safety
5 Infection Control
6 Practice Management
7 Cork/Kerry PPGs –in PDF Format only
8 Cavan/Monaghan-in PDF Format only
9 Wexford Management PPGs in PDF Format only
10 Publications : PPG Template etc.
11
Disclaimer
The PPGs used in the CD ROM were developed and approved within a number of different public health nursing services in the HSE.The aim of this CD ROM is to assist Public Health Nursing services develop their own suite of PPGs to support clinical practice .As with all clinical policies, procedures ,protocols and guidelines the evidence provided in the attached PPGs may not be appropriate for use in all circumstances.Decisions to adopt any of the evidence submitted in the PPGs in the development of local ones must be made by the PHN service in light of an assessment of the most up to date evidence.
Acknowledgements
The National Directors of Public Health Nursing extend their gratitude to the National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery who funded this project.Appreciation is also extended to the nurses who submitted their PPGs for inclusion and sharing and to all the members of the project team..Thanks also to Marie Kehoe,Regional General Manager Quality ,HSE South and to the Institute of Community Health Nursing for their advice and support with this development.Finally thanks is extended toms Marian Wyer (Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development Unit,Tullamore) who acted as project officer and collated the PPGs on behalf of the project group.
References
An Bord Altranais (2000a) Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework, An Bord Altranais Dublin
An Bord Altranais (2000b) Guidance to Nurses and Midwives on the Development of Policies, Guidelines and Protocols, An Bord Altranais, Dublin
An Bord Altranais (2005) Requirements and Standards for Public Health Nurse Registration Education Programmes, An Bord Altranais, Dublin
An Bord Altranais (2010) Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010, An Bord Altranais News, Vol 22, No 2 Summer 2010, An Bord Altranais, Dublin
Department of Health and Children (2008) Building a culture of patient safety, Report of the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance, Government Publications, Dublin
Health Services Executive (2009) HSE Procedure for developing Policies, Procedure, Protocols and Guidelines
National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (2009) Guidance on the Adaptation of Clinical Practice Guidelines: Getting Evidence into Practice, 6-7 Manor Street Business Park, Manor Street, Dublin 7
Note: The Cds are avaiable from the Directors of Public Health Nnursing in your area
'Implementing Social Health Insurance in Ireland': Anthony Staines , School of Nursing, DCU
Last Updated: 13 Feb 2011
Link to article: uploads/Implementing SHI report.pdf
Article - "Creating a Brand Image for Public Health Nursing"
Last Updated: 03 Feb 2011
Link @ /uploads/j 1525-1446 2010 00899 x Creating a Brand Image for PHN'S.pdf
Article ; Public Health Nurse perception of Empowerment and Advocacy in Child Health Surveillance in West Ireland
Last Updated: 03 Feb 2011
The Role of the Public Health Nurse in a changing Society
Last Updated: 02 Dec 2010
Nic Philbin et al 2010, The Role of the Public Health Nurse in a changing Society,Journal of Advanced Nursing 2010
Strengthening Public Health Nursing could help prevent future Roscommon cases
Last Updated: 31 Oct 2010
See Link :
www.fidelmahealyeames.ie/2010/10/strengthening-public-health-nursing-could-help-prevent-future-roscommon-cases-healy-eames/
ICHN Response to Nurses & Midwives Bill
Last Updated: 25 Oct 2010
NCNM 'Clinica;l Outcomes - Discussion Paper' June 2010
Last Updated: 20 Oct 2010
NCNM 'Clinica;l Outcomes - Discussion Paper' June 2010 .Clinical outcomes - promoting patient safety and quality of care: implications for nurses and midwives
Link : www.ncnm.ie/default.asp
RCN 'Pillars of the Community' August 2010
Last Updated: 18 Oct 2010
Pillars of the community:
the RCN’s UK position on the development of the
registered nursing workforce in the community
HIQA - Draft National Standards for Safer,Better Health Care - Sept 2010
Last Updated: 04 Oct 2010
Community Mothers Programme, Annual Report 2009
Last Updated: 30 Aug 2010
Guidelines for the Management of Pre Gestational and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus , August 2010
Last Updated: 18 Aug 2010
Link:
Launch of HSE National Nursing and Midwifery Clinical Leadership Needs- Analysis , July 2010
Last Updated: 18 Aug 2010
Link :
ICHN Funding Application for Education & Research
Last Updated: 13 Aug 2010
Completed Applications to be submited by July 31st 2010 (for Members of ICHN)
Funding Application form: uploads/ICHN Application for Funding.doc
Clinical Leadership in Primary Care - UCD
Last Updated: 13 Aug 2010
Proposed Time Table : uploads/Timetable Combined L HS and CL PC doc1.doc
Module Title: Clinical Leadership in Primary Care:uploads/Clinical Leadership in Primary Care briefing sheet final copy May 2010.doc
Module Code: NMHS
Module Coordinator: Philip J Larkin
Credits: ECTS: 15
Level: 9 (UCD 4) Semester: 1
Module Places 20-25
Module Dependencies: 0
Indicative Module Description: Recent developments in community and primary care aim to strengthening models of service delivery and improving outcomes for service users. This 15 ECTS multidisciplinary module developed in partnership with the Institute of Community Health Nursing will utilise an action learning approach to critically appraise development of multidisciplinary primary care teams, the emergence of caseload management as a method of improving population health, the emphasis on transformational leadership and the creation of integrated care pathways and clinical directorates.
Indicative Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this module students should be able to:
• Demonstrate transformational leadership in practice
• Provide for innovative approaches to caseload management
• Develop a culture of clinical excellence in the community setting
• Identify and promote expertise in relation to clinical governance
• Foster a population health approach to clinical case management
Indicative Student Workload: Indicative Hours
Class Contact: Lectures 34
Class Contact: Small Group 34
Class Contact: Practical 28
Specified learning activities:
24
Autonomous student learning:
180
Total Hours 300 hours
Programme to commence at UCD ,September 2010.
For further details contact: Professor Philip Larkin, Health Sciences Centre, UCD
philip.larkin@ucd.ie : 017166438
'Community Nurses and Home Helps show how to run a Health Service' by Fergus Finlay : Irish Examiner, July 20th 2010
Last Updated: 20 Jul 2010
Link to Article : www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/fergus-finlay/community-nurses-and-home-helps-show-how-to-run-a-health-service-125532.html
"Open your Eyes" HSE Elder Abuse Services 2009 (May 2010)
Last Updated: 12 Jul 2010
Link to report : www.hse.ie/portal/eng/services/Publications/services/Older/openyoureyes.pdf
"The Future for Neurological Conditions in Ireland: A challenge for health; an opportunity for change"
Last Updated: 12 Jul 2010
Link to download report ; http://www.nai.ie/Ease/servlet/DynamicPageBuild?siteID=1842&categoryID=127
Office of the Ombudsman : Annual Report 2009
Last Updated: 01 Jul 2010
Link to report ; www.ombudsman.gov.ie/en/Reports/AnnualReports/AnnualReportoftheOmbudsman2009/media/Ombudsman%20AR%20ENG.pdf
Parenting Perspectives on Parenting Styles and Diciplining Children ,Minister for Children & Youth Affairs June 2010
Last Updated: 01 Jul 2010
Link to Publication : www.esri.ie/UserFiles/publications/BKMNEXT147.pdf
Forget Me Not- A study of PHNs and informal Carers of People with Dementia and Alzheimer's in Co. Galway
Last Updated: 30 Jun 2010
To download : uploads/Forget Me Not pdf June 2010.pdf
Cervical Check- The National Cervical Screening Programme
Last Updated: 29 Jun 2010
CervicalCheck – The National Cervical Screening Programme
The National Cervical Screening Programme became available to over 1.1 million eligible women aged 25 to 60 on 1 September 2008. CervicalCheck provides free smear tests to women aged 25 to 60. A smear test is a simple procedure that only takes minutes and is the most effective way to detect changes in the cells of the cervix.
The overall aim of CervicalCheck is to reduce the incidence rate of cervical cancer by detecting cell changes before they become cancerous. Over time, a successful national, quality assured cervical screening programme in Ireland has the potential to significantly reduce mortality rates in the screened population. In Finland, mortality rates have dropped by 80 per cent over the last four decades.
Screening is recommended every three years for women aged 25 to 44 and following two consecutive ‘no abnormality detected’ results at three yearly intervals, every five years for women aged 45 to 60, in line with best international practice. A woman can choose to have a free smear test with any registered smeartaker (GP or Practice Nurse), in any location of her choice, such as GP practices, Women’s Health, Family Planning and Well Woman Clinics. Over 4,150 GPs, practice nurses and medical practitioners in over 1,400 locations are registered to take smear tests as part of the Programme.
Since launched on 1 September 2008, CervicalCheck has proved very successful.
The response from women nationwide to the Programme has been exceptional, with uptake remaining consistently high. In 2009 alone, almost 281,000 women received a CervicalCheck smear test.
The CervicalCheck Register
CervicalCheck has developed a register (list) of eligible women nationwide aged 25 to 60 through up-to-date information received from the Department of Social and Family Affairs and also from women who have self-registered.
CervicalCheck sends an invitation by post to all women on this list during each three year screening round.
Women who have never had a CervicalCheck Smear Test
Women who have never had a CervicalCheck smear test need a letter of invitation from CervicalCheck to have a free smear test. With an invitation letter, women can have a free smear test with any smeartaker that is registered with CervicalCheck.
Women who Have Not Had a Smear Test in the Last Three Years
Any woman who has not had a smear test in the last three years can self-register and request an early invitation letter from CervicalCheck by registering online at www.cervicalcheck.ie or completing and returning a Freepost self-registration form or by calling Freephone1800 45 45 55.
Cervical Screening and Pregnancy
Having a smear test during pregnancy may be psychologically difficult or inappropriate for women. The same can be said of having a smear test shortly after pregnancy.
Women do not need to have a cervical smear test postnatally unless they are due to have one within a usual call, re-call period. The call, re-call period is every three years for women aged 25 to 44 and every five years for women aged 45 to 60.
Women who are pregnant and who have gone three years without having a smear test and who have not had an abnormal smear test result can have their smear test deferred. The smeartaker will complete a deferral form and send it to CervicalCheck. CervicalCheck will advise the woman when her next smear test is due.
If a woman receives a letter of invitation from CervicalCheck to have a free smear test and she is pregnant the smear test can also be deferred and again a deferral form will be completed by the smeartaker and sent to CervicalCheck.
If a woman had a previous smear test that had an abnormal result and in the interim becomes pregnant the test can be taken mid trimester unless there is a medical reason not to take the smear test.
The Screening Promotion Team
CervicalCheck has a designated team of Screening Promotion Officers based in different areas across the country. Individual team members are based in Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick. The Screening Promotion team is available to work Public Health Nurses and Community RGNS who would like to collaborate in order to increase awareness and reduce barriers which prevent women from accessing the Programme. If you have a query in relation to the work of the Screening Promotion team or if you would like to contact the Screening Promotion Officer in your area please email screening.promotion@cancerscreening.ie
For further information
www.cervicalcheck.ie Freephone: 1800 45 45 55
For promotional leaflets, self registration forms and posters contact screening.promotion@cancerscreening.ie
Review of Adequacy of Childrens Services, HSE , 2008
Last Updated: 18 Jun 2010
Link : uploads/chss audit.pdf
Child Protection
Last Updated: 02 Jun 2010
Third report of the Special rapporteur on Child Protection
In June 2006, the Government appointed Professor Finbarr McAuley and Mr Geoffrey Shannon as Special Rapporteurs on Child Protection. The Rapporteurs are independent legal experts whose functions are to keep under review and to audit legal developments for the protection of children; assess what impact, if any, litigation in national and international courts will have on child protection and to prepare, annually, a report to be submitted to the Oireachtas, setting out the results of the previous year's work. This is the second report of Mr Geoffrey Shannon and was submitted to the Oireachtas for consideration in December 2008. The views expressed in the report are those of the author.
http://www.omc.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?Docid=1306&CatID=13&mn=&StartDate=1+January+2010
HSE Review of the Delivery and Management of Children and Family Services
uploads/PA-Report-October-09-ppt.pdf
An Bord Altranais National Conference Report ( May 18th 2010)
Last Updated: 31 May 2010
Conference ReportsNational Conference 2010
24/5/2010 - The National Conference, organised by An Bord Altranais, was held on Tuesday 18th May at the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. The title for the conference was Patient Safety Regulating to Safeguard the Patient.
Speakers presented papers on a wide range of topics ranging from theoretical considerations for patient safety to practical examples for increasing patient safety in the clinical setting. The presentations made by conference speakers are available for download below in a single PDF file or as individual presentations.
Conference topics and speakers included:
Patient Safety: Policy Actions at a European Level Dr Eugene Donoghue, Chief Executive Officer on behalf of Dr. Theodoros Koutroubas, Associate Professor UC Louvain, Brussels and Senior Policy Adviser, FEPI (European Council of Nursing Regulators)
Patient Safety –Theoretical Considerations Ms. Jacqueline Burke, Board Member, An Bord Altranais and Lecturer, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin
Patient Safety in the Curricula of Health Care Professionals (WHO Initiative) Ms. Margaret Brennan, Project Lead, Education and Training Project, Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance
Reducing Medication Round Interruptions through Implementation of the Safety Vest Ms. Eileen Relihan, Medication Safety Facilitator and Ms. Sharon O’Hara, CNM2, Acute Medical Unit, St James’s Hospital
Correct Site Surgery Experience Ms. Emma Cooney, CNM3, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin
Person Centred Care in Older Person setting - do we need it and what does it mean? Ms. Michele Hardiman, Assistant Director of Nursing, Clare Mental Health Service for Older People
Building a Consensus Model for Regulating Advanced Nurse Practitioners – the US Experience Ms. Kathy Apple, Chief Executive Officer, The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, USA
An Bord Altranais – Regulating Advanced Nurse Practitioners/Advanced Midwife Practitioners in Ireland Dr. Anne-Marie Ryan, Chief Education Officer, An Bord Altranais
Patient Safety and Nursing – The CIS Perspective Dr. Ailis Quinlan, Head of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme (CIS)
An Bord Altranais National Conference.pdf (1.95 MB)
Downloads uploads/An_Bord_Altranais_National_Conference[1].pdf
Forum on End of life in Ireland- Public Consultation on Draft Action Plan
Last Updated: 25 May 2010
Ireland needs a national end-of-life strategy, transparent decision making at end of life, advanced care planning,and the implementation of national policies on palliative care. These are among the prominent themes and issues raised in the report of the Forum on End of Life in Ireland and which have now been included in the Forum’s draft action plan.
The report and draft action plan deal with many social, ethical, legal, medical, administrative, policy and spiritual issues. They give a clear guide to what people in Ireland believe are the issues at end of life. It stresses that death issues are everybody’s business and that death is an issue at all ages.
The report and the draft action plan will be the basis for the work of the newly established National Council of the Forum being chaired by Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness. The council’s structure will reflect the need to engage with all sectors of society on death issues. The Forum will also have an annual event to address issues, act as a sounding board and learn about progress in implementing the action plan.
The public is invited to comment on Forum report and the draft action plan until Friday June 18, 2010, www.endoflife.ie
The Forum, an initiative of the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) - was formally launched by the President, Mrs McAleese on March 11, 2009. It was the first time any country has asked its citizens nationally to state their views on death, dying and bereavement.
The period of public consultation on the Draft Action Plan, arising out of the work of the Forum during 2009, has now begun. It will continue until Friday, June 18, 2010. Your views and comments on this document will help to guide the work of the new National Council of the Forum on End of Life in Ireland, which is being established under the chairmanship of Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness.
Link to Forum Web site: www.endoflife.ie/home.aspx
Link to Draft Action Plan report : www.endoflife.ie/alist/draft-action-plan.aspx
DOHC Nurses & Midwives Bill 2010
Last Updated: 23 Apr 2010
Link to press launch 22/04/2010 : www.dohc.ie/press/releases/2010/20100422.html
Link to Bill :uploads/nurses_midwives_bill2010.pdf
Community Mothers Report 2010
Last Updated: 02 Aug 2011
Fourth Report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection : Geoffrey Shannon
Last Updated: 20 Jun 2011
To download : uploads/4th Rapporteur-Report-2010.pdf
Miller Trust Award 2011 - Cork
Last Updated: 28 Apr 2011
The Institute of Community Health Nursing is pleased to again announce the Miller Trust Award 2011. We encourage all the nurses working in the community to consider making an application. The project must be undertaken in Cork city and/or county. The application can be made by either an individual nurse or a team of nurses.
The closing date for the receipt of the application form is Friday 27th May 2011. The details are attached and we are looking forward to your interest in this exciting opportunity.
The awards will be presented on Thurs. June 9th 2011 at Oriel House Hotel, 3-5pm at the AGM of the Southern Branch of the Institute of Community Health Nursing. We hope that you can attend on that day to support the award recipients and hear their project proposals.
For further information please contact:
Margaret Keohane, Hon. Chairperson MargaretM.Keohane@hse.ie
Sheila Cahalane, Hon. Vice Chairperson sheila.cahalane@hse.ie
Download application form : uploads/ICHN_CMT 2011.doc
Article on 'Community Mothers'
Last Updated: 23 Feb 2011
Recent article in 'Health Matters'
Introducing 'PARTNERS'
Last Updated: 23 Feb 2011
PARTNERS is an acronym for Participatory Action Research To develop Nursing Electronic healthcare RecordS.
Within the name PARTNERSCT - CT refers to the identification and selection of those concepts and terms which are required to achieve integrated patient care.The profession of nursing, within Ireland, needs to engage with nursing informatics to ensure that it remains at the forefront of the proposed transformational health care programme.PARTNERS is a collaborative learning community with representatives from the acute, primary and continuing care sector from the Dublin North East area.Their prime objective is towards knowledge development and dissemination relating to health informatics standards with particular reference to concepts and terminology
Web address : http://www.partnersct.com/
