Kerry General Hospital renamed PASSWORD

Kerry-General-Hospital-renamed-2 -- 19/2/16 Kerry General Hospital was today renamed " University Hospital Kerry " Leo Varadkar T.D. . The minister is pictured in the new stat of the art CT scanner room in the hopsital with The CT radiographer Niamh O'Sullivan from Firies Killarney Co Kerry . Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD © Tralee Co Kerry Ireland Phone Mobile 087 / 2672033 L/Line 066 71 22 981 E/mail - info@dwalshphoto.ie www.dwalshphoto.com Minister for Health launches University Hospital Kerry Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar has today (Friday, February 19th 2016) formally renamed Kerry General Hospital as University Hospital Kerry. The Minister also officially opened a number of recent service improvements including a new CT scanner, Diabetes Services and the hospital’s UCC Education Centre. And he visited the planned site for the new In-patient Palliative Care Unit. The formal renaming of Kerry General Hospital to University Hospital Kerry recognises the significant service provided to patients in the Kerry, North Cork and West Limerick areas as part of the South/South West Hospital Group. This links University Hospital Kerry formally to eight other acute hospitals in counties Kerry, Cork, Waterford, and South Tipperary, with Kilkreene Regional Orthopaedic Hospital in Kilkenny, and with UCC as the primary academic partner. Speaking at the renaming ceremony, Minister Varadkar said: “This is a really significant day and it’s great news for patients, for staff and for Kerry and the wider region. The hospital’s new role as University Hospital Kerry can only add to the quality of care available. It shows the real potential of hospital groups to share skills and experience across a region, and ensure that patients can access high standards of healthcare across the country. It also provides opportunities for medics to learn and train in one the most beautiful parts of Ireland, if not the world.” The partnership with UCC expands the hospital’s role as a teaching hospital, providing new teaching, research and education opportunities. The hospital’s new status will help in recruiting and retaining staff, a crucial factor in maintaining the highest clinical standards. Chair of the South/South West Hospital Group Professor Geraldine McCarthy said, “The formal renaming of University Hospital Kerry is a truly significant occasion. It represents the Hospital’s key role as part of the South/South West Hospital Group and the partnership with UCC, its primary academic partner. By optimising research, innovation, education and training we will ensure that the hospital has a highly trained team of staff to deliver excellent care to all its patients. The improved links and working relationship with UCC will attract and retain increased numbers of high-calibre professionals to the hospital.” Dr. Michael Murphy, President of UCC, said, "Hospitals have always occupied a central position in community life and University Hospital Kerry has occupied a unique place in the lives of the people of Kerry throughout the past 32 years. Today's renaming captures how University College Cork, as the primary academic partner of the South/South West Hospital Group, can support the development of a culture of quality, excellence and innovation throughout our hospital group. I strongly believe that hospitals which operate within the wider context of clinical service, education, training, research and innovation deliver an enduring dividend for society. In partnership with the staff of University Hospital Kerry, UCC looks forward to strengthening this new and more structured relationship and advancing the position of this fine hospital in the years to come." A new leading-edge CT scanner has been installed at University Hospital Kerry providing a much improved service to patients requiring CT. Professor McCarthy said “this CT scanner is the first one of its kind to be installed in an Irish hospital and will bring considerable benefits to patients.” This new scanner allows for a full cardiac CT scanning service and CT bowel colonoscopy service for the first time in the Kerry region. The scanner also emits lower radiation doses and a higher image quality than other scanners. In 2015, over 12,000 CT examinations were performed in University Hospital Kerry. The Radiology Department operates a 24/7 CT service, with emergency cover after 5pm and weekends. The CT service covers a broad range of referrals from consultants in the following areas; ED, neurology, oncology, general surgery, vascular surgery, general medicine, orthopaedics, paediatrics and care of the older person. The Minister is also opening the newly refurbished diabetes centre. Patients with diabetes can be seen by all members of the multi-disciplinary diabetes team during a single visit which is a much more patient-friendly approach. Dr Rob Landers, Chief Clinical Director for the SSWHG complimented the staff working in the centre particularly in the wide range of new services that they are providing. He said, “The Centre is now running specific services such as transition clinics for young adults, trouble-shooting clinics, pre-pregnancy counselling clinics, joint diabetes and nephrology clinics and paediatric clinics. Ongoing education programmes for patients and their families as well as healthcare professionals will also be part of the service.” The centre will accept patients referred from multiple sources including GPs, the Emergency Department and the Acute Medical Admission Unit in a timely fashion which will lead to reduced admission rates and inpatient bed utilisation. Due to its increased size and capacity, the service expects to increase patient activity from approximately 3,000 patient reviews and contacts per year to over 4,000. The UCC Education Centre at University Hospital Kerry provides education, training and clinical placement of students, trainees and HSE professionals. Dr. Claire O’Brien, Clinical Site Coordinator, who along with a surgical tutor and executive administrator, manages the educational activities of the medical students during their clinical placement at the hospital. Consultants, NCHDs and allied healthcare professionals contribute to the teaching of the undergraduate students. The Education Centre provides a dedicated structure, which enhances healthcare education and training from undergraduate to postgraduate including continued professional development. On-line communication tools and video conferencing facilities allow for easy connectivity to other institutes and other learning activities, which broadens the scope of education and training. The Centre has long-standing links with all relevant educational and research partners both in Ireland and internationally. Site visit to the new Specialist Inpatient Unit in Palliative Medicine Professor McCarthy accompanied the Minister on a visit to the site for the new 15 bed Specialist Inpatient Unit in Palliative Medicine, which is a joint project between University Hospital Kerry and the Kerry Hospice Foundation. It is expected that the unit will open in early 2016. According to Professor McCarthy, “The Kerry Hospice Foundation has been instrumental in bringing Palliative Care Services to Kerry. They have contributed approximately €6 million towards in capital funding as well as ongoing financial support towards running costs and the revenue cost is being provided by the HSE. “The construction of this new Inpatient Unit in Palliative Medicine is the second phase of a partnership arrangement with Kerry Hospice Foundation. A Palliative Care Day Unit was completed in 2007 and is among the busiest centres of its type in the country. The Kerry Hospice Foundation contributed €3.8 million towards the build and the HSE funds the staff and ongoing revenue costs. On behalf of the South / South West Hospital Group I wish to wholeheartedly thank the Foundation through its chair Mr Ted Moynihan for their ongoing efforts and generous support. This is a true example of how partnerships can work well to benefit patient care particularly in very difficult times for the patients and their families.” For further information please contact the HSE National Press Office at 01-6352840. Ends Issued by: HSE National Press Office, Dr. Steevens’ Hospital, Dublin 8 Tel: 01 635 2840 Email: press@hse.ie

Kerry General Hospital renamed PASSWORD