Health Service Executive

Connie McGilloway is an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Forensic Clinical Examiner, based in the Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATU) in Letterkenny, Co Donegal. She provides responsive, holistic, patient-centred medical and forensic care, including on-site psychological support, for people aged 14 years and over who have experienced sexual violence. This includes cervical screening.  “The aim of our service is to promote recovery and health for people who have experienced sexual violence. By offering women cervical screening at the SATU we are working to make screening accessible in a way that meets the needs of the women we see” Connie explains. Between 2018 and 2023, 72 eligible women participated in screening at the Donegal SATU. Of these, 17 women (24%) were referred for follow-up to colposcopy services. The close collaboration with gynaecological and colposcopy services at Letterkenny University Hospital has been key in meeting this need. In addition, recognition of this trauma-informed screening initiative is significant and is being rolled-out nationally in SATUs across Ireland. Read more: https://bit.ly/40q9LvH #OurHealthService #SATUs #AdvancedNursing #CervicalScreening #ChooseScreening #CervicalCancerPreventionWeek  National Screening Service, HSE

“I want to demystify the colposcopy process for women so they can feel more confident about it,” says Natasha Mahon, Clinical Midwife Manager (CMM2) and accredited colposcopist working at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin. Having initially trained in midwifery and post-natal care, Natasha established a “real interest in colposcopy and cervical cancer treatment and prevention.” Natasha works closely with a multidisciplinary team, who she says are “compassionate, encouraging, and supportive of women’s healthcare.” Explaining that it’s a “rewarding job,” Natasha outlines how, when she meets a woman and begins taking her medical history, her focus on putting her mind at ease. Women are offered a colposcopy appointment if their CervicalCheck screening test finds they have the human papillomavirus (HPV) and abnormal cells in the cervix, or if HPV is found on successive screening tests where cell changes have not been evident. Colposcopy is an examination to look at the cervix to check if further treatment is needed. Read more: https://bit.ly/4gV2Bql #OurHealthService | #CervicalCheck | #HPVScreening | #NMH

On this week’s Talking Health & Wellbeing Podcast, we speak with Dr. John McNamara from Teagasc, and Finola Colgan from Mental Health Ireland about Farmer Wellbeing. Key topics include prioritising health and mental health in rural areas, the significance of community engagement, and programmes like Farm Connect and On Feirm Ground, that provide resources and training to improve farmers' mental health and overall wellbeing. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts: Podbean: https://bit.ly/40xuA9D Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3C7tok6 Apple: https://apple.co/4ahuUNc YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eV3dcvku

The HSE, in partnership with people living with HIV, recently launched ‘You, Me and HIV’ - a new nationwide campaign aimed at addressing misconceptions around HIV and help reduce the stigma. The campaign features people living with HIV in Ireland and their loved ones. It was developed in close collaboration with these individuals along with community and voluntary groups. “Knowing your HIV status allows you to get access to essential treatment and care to live a healthy life. Advancements in treatment for HIV mean that people on effective treatment cannot pass HIV to sexual partners. In a recent survey, 71% of Irish adults were unaware of these advances in treatment. In addition, effective treatment in pregnancy prevents HIV transmission to babies.” Research has found that late diagnosis is often related to fear of diagnosis and stigma, highlighting the need to reduce stigma around HIV and testing. The latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) show a decrease in the rate of first-time HIV diagnoses in Ireland in 2023. However, nearly two in five people - 39% - were diagnosed late. Read more: https://bit.ly/4gTCHTH #OurHealthService | #YouMeAndHIV | #HPSC |#HIVStigma |#HIVTreatment

Did you know that if you're on effective HIV treatment, you can't pass it on? Aoife, a staff nurse from Galway and HIV activist, joined in the launch of the You, Me and HIV campaign which was developed with people living with HIV, community and voluntary groups. Aoife wanted to be part of the campaign "to raise awareness of HIV and to reduce the stigma within HIV." Learn more at HSE.ie/HIV #YouMeAndHIV

Nurses working in the community are making a huge difference to patients and to our health service. Sasikala Velappan, originally from Kerala state in India is working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Diabetes at the Chronic Disease Management Hub, Glasnevin, Dublin North Central. Applications for the Public Health Nurse Sponsorship Programme 2025/2026 close this Thursday, January 16th. Information and the application can be found here: https://bit.ly/3ZAhEhN

💫 Applications for #HSESpark Impact 2025 are now OPEN! Are you a frontline healthcare worker with a transformative idea to tackle pressing healthcare challenges? The #HSESpark Impact initiative provides funding ranging from €5,000 to €90,000 to support innovative projects that can deliver real change. Join us for our information webinar to find out more! 📅 Key Dates: Information Webinar:January 23rd, 1 PM https://lnkd.in/eMEHg4Yx Application Deadline: February 14th, 2025 🖥️ Learn more: 💻 Application Form https://lnkd.in/eCzDpNgR 📚 Application Guide https://lnkd.in/eiMNPKF9 📧 Need help? Contact our team: spark@hse.ie Let’s work together to drive healthcare innovation and create a brighter future for all. Spread the word and let’s innovate together! 🚀 #HSESparkImpact2025 #HealthcareInnovation National Doctors Training & Planning (NDTP) National Health & Social Care Professions Office (NHSCPO) Dr. Maureen A Flynn Jared Gormly Caitriona Heffernan Siobhan Power Claire McElvanna Dermot Burke Catherine Marsh Michelle Howard Eve Stanley Muthu Thangaramanujam Alanna Allen Health Service Executive Bernard Gloster

The Public Health Nursing service and Community Nursing teams provide care in their communites while empowering patients to manage their health and promote independence. Lorraine Cleary works as a Public Health Nurse in Grangegorman, Dublin. Applications for the Public Health Nurse Sponsorship Programme 2025/2026 close on January 16th. Information and the application can be found here: https://bit.ly/3ZAhEhN

Located in the Sligo Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons Ambulatory Hub , the Memory Assessment Support Service (MASS) team is part of the wider integrated care team for older persons. This service provides supports for people who are experiencing cognitive issues and/or suspected onset of dementia. The MASS service in Sligo has had over 350 referrals per year since July 2022. The service is one of nine services funded under the Enhanced Community Care programme. Their work involves carrying out a comprehensive assessment where there are concerns about suspected dementia or a mild cognitive impairment. The MASS team also provides post-diagnostic support and follow-up through a specialist dementia post-diagnostic service and a brain health service. According to Dr Catherine Dolan, Consultant Co-Lead, MASS, Sligo, the service is provided on an integrated basis: “I work in conjunction with my colleagues from the acute hospital, community mental health and older persons services. We are very proud in Sligo to have this new memory service. It provides education and support around dementia itself, but also links people into various local services and signposts them to various agencies as deemed appropriate.” Read more: https://bit.ly/3DNje8C #OurHealthService | #MASS | #IntegratedCare |#CommunityHealthcare |#ECC | #Dementia

On this week’s HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast, host Noreen Turley speaks with John Wall, a healthcare campaigner, about his personal journey as a patient advocate. John highlights the significance of Patient Partnership in healthcare decision-making and discusses his role on the local Programme Improvement Board. We hear about the growing inclusion of patient voices, and the importance of clear communication and mutual respect between healthcare professionals and patients. Listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts👇 Podbean: https://bit.ly/3DXqSgD Spotify: https://spoti.fi/40nCAdc Apple: https://apple.co/4h548Ka   YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eri_HyCe