The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
THE provision of a new field hospital in the University of Limerick has been described as “amazing” by a local social worker.
Medical staff from Clare and the Mid-West will pool their expertise to operate the new intermediate care facility.
Joanne Hayes Inch outside Ennis is a medical social worker who will be working in UL as part of a multidisciplinary team with occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists.
She will play a key role in the safe discharge process of a patient to a step down facility or their own home.
Having met the patient, she will discuss their admission, experience in the facility and establish if they have any additional medical needs that need to be addressed when they are discharged at home.
She will discuss the patient’s needs with their family and organise community supports, if they are deemed necessary.
For the last four years, she has worked in the ED, rehabilitation of stroke patients and liased with families to put medical supports in place for those who needed it.
She is very impressed with the new medical facility in UL.
“I think it is amazing, I think people have done a very good job in the planning process. There is a gym and a full rehabilitation unit. Private spaces are available to take patients for a private consultation where they can speak freely.
“There will be lots of surveys and research opportunities to see how all this plays out and what the experience of patients who are receiving care will be,” she said.
Gráinne Griffey, Crusheen has just finished Second Year in Psychiatric Nursing at the University of Limerick, which is a four-year course.
Now working as a healthcare assistant in the new healthcare facility, she said this placement will provide her with a broader view of general nursing, which she can bring into her study and psychiatric care work.
She expects that the impact of Covid-19 on peoples’ mental health is a topic that will be examined during her third year psychiatric studies.
She believes that she will be on placement in UL for two or three months.
“I will be observing the nurses who are working here and also doing the healthcare assistant roles for patients with other healthcare assistants and nurses.
“It is a great opportunity to work in the first interim facility that has been opened in UL. It is an unique opportunity and I am very happy to be here. I am getting great support from all the nurses who are here,” she said.
They are joined by Anne Hegarty, Head of Medical Social Work, UL Hospitals Group’ who is from Kilnamona.
