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Annual Report 2004
Jan, 04
Reform of the Health Service has been one of the key issues for citizens and their political leaders during the past twelve months. The sweeping changes introduced by the Health Act 2004 have abolished the old Health Board system which had responsibility for health care delivery, and replaced it with a more centralised Health Service Executive (HSE).
Chairman's Report
Dr David Moore, Chairman, The Adelaide Hospital Society
Reform of the Health Service has been one of the key issues for citizens and their political leaders during the past twelve months. The sweeping changes introduced by the Health Act 2004 have abolished the old Health Board system which had responsibility for health care delivery, and replaced it with a more centralised Health Service Executive (HSE). This new body faces huge challenges in the years ahead in delivering the quantity and quality of healthcare that the Irish public have come to expect and demand. The Society lobbied actively during the brief period of discussion which was possible between publication of the Act and its passage through the Dáil. It seems fair to suggest that the obligation placed on the Health Services Executive (HSE) to have regard to the services provided by voluntary bodies in performing their functions owes something to the Adelaide Hospital Society's efforts in this arena. This provides the new legal framework in which the Charter of our Hospital will continue to govern our Hospital as a public voluntary teaching Hospital. We will do our utmost to build constructive and respectful relationships with the new HSE and to support it in developing our national health services.
Health and the services which provide elective and emergency care to those who are ill touches every citizen; the Society remains absolutely committed to the maintenance and development of voluntary involvement in this vital area. The Director's report details some of the wide range of activities that your Society has sponsored and participated in during 2004.
The Society, of course, remains principally focused on developments within the Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, incorporating The National Children's Hospital, and the past year has been busy and eventful.
All of our members and supporters will have been conscious of the appalling Accident and Emergency crisis which has afflicted the health services generally and which has impacted on our own Hospital more than most. The relentless problems with bed shortages are, of course, outside the Hospital's control, but have had serious adverse effects on the public's experience of the institution, not to mention a devastating impact on elective activity and a corrosive effect on staff morale. The roots of this ongoing crisis go back to the years of underfunding of the health services before this country's economic regeneration. Dramatic social changes in the last generation have inevitably increased the need for long-term care outside the family home, but provision for this simply has not developed in parallel with improved life expectancy and the general improvement in living standards which we have all enjoyed. Perhaps it is time for us to give greater emphasis to the caring aspects of healthcare delivery rather than concentrating exclusively on controlling the numbers treated and operations performed. The Society has taken the lead in highlighting issues of equity and access to the healthcare system and is in the process of bringing forward its own contribution to the national debate on this issue.
Behind the headlines and despite the bed crises, the work of the Hospital goes on and this Annual Report details the many activities in support of specific purposes in which the Society has been involved during the past year. Fundraising achievements in aid of the Women's Preventive Healthcare Unit highlight the dedication of those involved and allow us to fulfil the aim of supporting new and innovative measures which otherwise could not develop. We are not resting on our laurels and the Fundraising committee has now embarked on a new appeal for the Breast Unit at the Hospital, another vital and exciting initiative which will be of huge benefit to patients over coming years.
You will find confirmation in the Director's Report that the activities of the Society go far beyond simply fundraising and supporting the Hospital: the important contributions to the national debate on the future of healthcare and the wider Voluntary Sector within Irish Society are testimony to this wider remit. The Adelaide Hospital Society has always enjoyed tremendous support from its members and well wishers throughout the length and breadth of the country; I know many of you follow with interest the progress of your Society; may I take this opportunity to thank you most warmly for your support and to encourage sincerely your ongoing participation in and enthusiasm for our ambitious future.
Finally, it remains for me to thank the Society's redoubtable Director, Fergus O'Ferrall, without whose dynamism and perseverance the achievements of the past year would not have been possible; and also to gratefully acknowledge the hard work and cheerful efficiency of Roisin Whiting (aided by Heather Wright) who is for many the first point of contact with the Society.
Director's Report
Dr Fergus O'Ferrall, Director, The Adelaide Hospital Society
2004 was a year of achievement and change. The achievements of the Adelaide Hospital Society in relation to supporting new healthcare services, nursing and other staff in the Hospital, and in stimulating new initiatives and research to advance patient care, are briefly described in this Report. The major change in 2004 in respect of our health services was the passing of the Health Act, 2004, which established the Health Services Executive (HSE).
Health Reforms
The HSE represents a major restructuring of our health services. The HSE is a single organisation in place of the previous Regional Health Boards and is to develop a national health service by integrating the delivery of health and personal services. It took legal responsibility under the new Act from 1 January 2005. In performing its functions under the Act, the HSE “shall have regard to services provided by voluntary and other bodies that are similar or ancillary to the services” it is authorised to provide.
A very significant challenge for the HSE is to seek an active partnership with the voluntary healthcare sector including the public voluntary hospitals such as The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, incorporating The National Children's Hospital. Our Hospital is governed by our Charter, approved by the Oireachtas in 1996, and the Tánaiste and Minister for Health & Children, Ms Mary Harney, TD, has assured the Hospital that the new Act does not affect the Charter in any way. The Hospital and the Society were very active during 2004 to make proposals as to how the Health Act, 2004, might optimise the contribution of voluntary healthcare organisations in active partnership with the HSE to the benefit of our patients. The Hospital and the Society are very willing to explore necessary changes and have taken the initiative to do thisin conjunction with St James's Hospital and Trinity College, Dublin. The objective is to ensure the best context for patient care, education and research consistent with the values and ethos of our Charter. University teaching hospitals such as ours have a special responsibility to lead and to ensure changes are proven and evidence-based and not determined by other considerations.
Hospital - Excellence and A+E 'black spot'
We would to record our appreciation of the close interest taken by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health & Children, Ms Mary Harney, TD, in the future of the Hospital. She recently unveiled the Excellence Award for Public Service in the Hospital. This award was uniquely achieved by our Hospital in recognition of the range of innovative developments undertaken by the Hospital staff which have led to better patient services.
The 'black spot' of our hospital services remain those of access and is shown by the unacceptable pressures on patients and staff in our Accident & Emergency service. We will be developing a new Medical Assessment Unit, as announced in the Budget 2005, and will be working with the HSE to provide more beds and better continuing-care facilities for those who need to leave our acute beds for more appropriate care. Until these changes happen, with appropriate Government funding, we simply cannot provide the quality of care so long associated with our Hospital and this is the most frustrating aspect for our wonderful doctors, nurses and other staff who have to cope with the current situation.
In October, members of our Board visited the Paediatric and Adult Accident & Emergency Departments as part of a Board Visitation Day. Mrs Rosemary French's written report to our Board is on page 12 of this report. Hopefully, 2004-2005 represents the lowest point in A+E and that improvements such as more acute beds and the Medical Assessment Unit will bring to an end the current intolerable situation.
Equity and Access in Irish Healthcare
The Society in 2004 has taken further the proceedings of our Public Conference held in 2003 on Equity and Access in Healthcare. A detailed draft policy document was produced by our Health Policy Committee and considered at an Expert Consultation Symposium held on 4 November 2004. The participants at this Symposium assisted in refining the policy document and the Society hopes to publish its own policy on Equity and Access in Irish Healthcare in 2005 as a considered contribution to ending the gross inequities and lack of access which are such detrimental features of our 'two-tier' healthcare system.
The Society enhances patient care at the Hospital
Women's Preventive Healthcare Unit
2004 marked the completion of the Appeal for €2100,000 to support the Women's Preventive Healthcare Unit led by Professor Walter Prendiville. This has been a very effective fund-raising campaign by members and supporters of the Society raising €221,000 to establish what is now a leader in the prevention of cervical cancer in Ireland. There were so many involved in a great number of events - coffee mornings, waterways walks, sponsored walks (including one to the Pyrenees 10-17 April 2004) and the Siemens Golf Classic on 16 September 2004, which was so successful. A grant of €20,000 from AIB Bank was very much appreciated.
Ms Karen Farrar, Colposcopy Nurse Specialist
The very serious accident which Ms Farrar incurred while on holiday in 2004 was deeply upsetting to all her colleagues and friends in the Hospital. We hope Karen will be back at work and assure her of our full support in the years ahead. We greatly admire her bravery and fortitude in dealing with her spinal injury.
Breast Unit Appeal
The Society launched in 2004 a new Breast Unit Appeal to raise €150,000. This is to support the development of a new Family Risk Assessment Clinic - the first such clinic in Ireland - to provide prevention and early detection services for women at risk. Nurse Vicky Lee, who is responsible for the development of the Clinic under Mr James Geraghty, Consultant Surgeon, describes briefly this great step forward on page 10 in this Report. We commend this Appeal to all our members, friends and supporters as a great cause to support. We are happy to make presentations on breast cancer anywhere throughout Ireland. This programme of local meetings started in 2004 with local meetings organised by Mothers Unions in Athlone, Johnstown, Co Kilkenny and Tullamore.
The Appeal has been successful to date raising €42,000 in 2004. The CD Anam Cara � Soul Friend produced by Gifford and Joe Whittle and their friends was a tremendous success and has raised €27,000 so far. Gifford's leadership and commitment has been an inspiration to everyone.
The Society supports Nursing Staff and Students
In 2004 the Society continued its key role in admitting nursing students to the Adelaide School of Nursing. The Society held interviews for over 150 applicants and through the Central Applications Office (CAO) admitted 38 students. Of these, 10 received student nurse bursaries from the Society and 10 continuing student nurses also received bursaries. The total expended by the Society on student bursaries in 2004 was €47,500. These bursaries are crucial in enabling students to take their nursing degrees at Trinity College, Dublin, and receive their clinical training at the Adelaide and Meath Hospital. We are very pleased at the high quality of entrant to the Adelaide School of Nursing and believe our investment in our selection process to be very valuable for both the applicants and for the future of nursing. The Hannah McDowall Scholarship was awarded to Student Nurse Ms Daire Ward for her distinguished performance in her first year TCD examinations.
The Society has agreed to fund a four-year research study into the effectiveness of modes of selection for nurses led by Ms Mary Mooney, Ms Catherine Treacy and Dr Michele Glacken, of Trinity College School of Nursing and Midwifery. It is important that independent study and evaluation occurs into this important aspect of nurse education.
Nursing Scholarships
In 2004 the Society awarded the following Nursing Scholarships, which are open to our nursing staff and staff of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, TCD:
The Eileen Mansfield Scholarship
€4,450 Ms Louise McDonnell
The Caroline Sharkey Scholarship
€1,270 Ms Áine Lynch
The Dorothy & David Mitchell Scholarship
€1,270 Mr Esmat Swallmeh
Special Society Scholarship
€2,500 Dr Michele Glacken
We commend the Nursing Development Fund which supports these bursaries and scholarships from voluntary funds for support either through bequests or fund-raising. The form of bequest is at the back of this Annual Report.
Chair in Clinical Genetics - Appeal
The Appeal Committee, chaired by Senator Mary Henry, which is seeking to raise an endowment for a new Chair in Clinical Genetics at the Hospital, continued its very active work and has produced an outstanding publication setting out the urgent need for clinical genetics in order to provide proper healthcare for patients. The members of the Appeal Committee are:
Senator Mary Henry (Chair)
Mr Gerry Brady
Dr Michael Comer
Professor Kevin Conlon
Mrs Rosemary French
Mr James Geraghty
Professor Ian Graham
Professor David McConnell
Dr Fergus O'Ferrall
Professor Colm O'Morain
Mrs Melissa Webb.
The task is to raise funds of the order of €6-7millions. We need donors big and small to consider seriously this great and necessary development in Irish healthcare and we will be very happy to make presentations on the need for the new Chair. The future quality of patient care across all the range of diseases now depends upon genetic diagnosis and counselling.
New Initiatives Grants 2004
The Society, through its Health Policy Committee, awards a range of grants to Hospital staff in order to assist them improve patient care. In 2004 a total of €25,665 was awarded as follows:
Introduction of High Scope Curriculum to Hospital Crèche
(Shirley Comerford, Crèche Project) €6,861
Pilates Exercise Classes for Patients and Staff for preventing lower back pain
(Grace Cooke, Physiotherapy Dept) €3,600
To set up OT project in A+E
(Stephanie Manahan/Carol Diskin, Occupational Therapy Dept) €4,386
To pilot an information leaflet on feeding for parents of children under 5
(Charlotte McCoubrey, Speech & Language Therapy Dept & Mairead O'Sullivan, Nutrition & Dietetics Dept) €1,818
'Patient Voices' A Creative Writing Project
(Hilary Moss/Sarah Dobbs, Arts Officer) €5,000
Patient Weight Management Service
(Sinead Feehan, Nutrition & Dietetics Dept) €4,000
The evaluation of the grants for 2003 indicates that these projects are of great assistance to staff who need to pilot or demonstrate how changes or improvements will assist patients.
Research Programme: Health Research Board, Irish School of Ecumenics, TCD, and the Society
The Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College, Dublin, (ISE) with the support of the Society and the Hospital won a research grant for a research study to commence in 2005 entitled Health Policy Formation in a Christian Culture with Religious Minorities. Given the very diverse nature of Irish society and the need to provide healthcare as patients themselves would wish, this research study will be particularly important. It is led by Dr Linda Hogan of the ISE.
Society and Board Development
New Video
All of the work of the Society in advancing healthcare depends upon members, friends and supporters. In 2004 the Society provided a short video on the work of the Society and we will be delighted to speak about the Society and show the video at meetings throughout Ireland. This can be combined with a specialist talk on an aspect of healthcare such as breast cancer. We thank Mr Tom Walsh and Mr Shane Duggan at our Clinical Photography Department for their very fine production of the video.
New Board Members / Life Governor
The Society was delighted to welcome as new member of the Board in 2004:
Mr Stephen Franck
Dr Rosemary Hamill
Ms Gillan Rufli
and as new Life Governor:
Ms Janet Cooke.
Board members and Governors play the crucial leadership role in any voluntary organisation and the Adelaide Board is very much a working Board!
New Officers
In 2004 the Board elected new Officers as follows:
Dr David Moore, Chairman
Mrs Rosemary French, Vice-Chairperson
Archdeacon Gordon Linney, Hon Secretary
Mr Alan McCollum, Hon Treasurer.
The Society greatly appreciates the contribution over the previous three years of the outgoing Officers:
Mr Richard Greene, Chairman
Mrs Judy Chambers, Hon Secretary
Dr David Moore, Hon Treasurer.
Presentations to Board
The Board, in advancing healthcare, requires to keep abreast of changes and developments. There were three key presentations to the Board since our last Annual Report given by Professor Kevin Conlon, Chair of Surgery in the Hospital on his vision for the future of his work in the Hospital, Mr Frank Ahern, Assistant Secretary, Department of Health and Children, on the health reform process and Professor Tom O'Dowd on the reform of medical education.
Distinguished by their Contribution to Healthcare
Three people have died who made a very distinguished contribution to Irish healthcare and to the Adelaide Hospital Society, and their passing is recorded with the very deepest regret. Ms Marjorie Douglas, who died on 22nd October 2004 was a former Matron of The Adelaide Hospital and a loyal supporter of the Adelaide Hospital Society. Mrs Jane Baker, who died on 21st October 2004, was a Vice-President of the Adelaide Hospital Society and she made an enormous contribution in her lay service on the Board of the Adelaide Hospital. Dr. Liam Diskin, who died on 26th February 2005, was an outstanding Governor and former Board member of the Society as well as a much loved and very remarkable doctor.
The Adelaide Hospital Society owes a great deal to these three wonderful people for a long and loyal contribution to advancing Irish healthcare. We offer our deepest sympathy to their families and friends. We will miss them very much.
The Director
The Director, Dr Fergus O'Ferrall, was invited to give papers at two European Conferences in 2004. He gave a keynote paper on the citizen and healthcare to the 3rd International Meeting on Public Management in May in Paris which was organised by the OECD and the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry. The Director also gave a paper on citizen empowerment to the European Health Management Association Annual Conference in June in Berlin. He was invited to give a presentation to the ISQua Forum for Policy Leaders and Decision Makers in Amsterdam on public and patient participation in healthcare in October.
Dr O'Ferrall was also awarded one of five places in the Republic on the US State Department/Boston College Non-Profit Leadership programme in 2004.
The Director has also represented the Society on The Wheel, a social partnership organisation founded in 1999 to support, connect and lead the Irish community and voluntary sector. He has served as Chair of The Wheel and represents the Society on the Health Spoke of The Wheel which is very active in representing the common policy interests of over 400 voluntary healthcare organisations. The Wheel published the first Director of Community and Voluntary Healthcare Organisations in 2004. The Director was appointed by the Government to be a member of the National Economic and Social Forum in 2004 which advises the Government on policy matters. It is important for the Adelaide Hospital Society to be at the forefront of policy development in respect of advancing healthcare.
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