2019

The Western Trust Family Nurse Partnership programme held a Christmas celebration event held on Thursday 19 December 2019 in the Guildhall, Derry/Londonderry to celebrate 9th Year of the programme.

The Western Trust Health Improvement, Equality and Involvement Department organised a ‘Supporting babies who are born premature’ event to highlight the important care for babies who are born premature and who spend time in the neo-natal unit. The event held in the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital, Omagh recently aimed at staff who support pre-term babies and their families in the Western Trust area.

The Western Trust has officially opened a new ‘Changing Places’ facility, which provides a fully accessible toilet and changing facilities for  people with disabilities at the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen.

The Western Trust Sexual Health Service based at Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry have recently commenced a pilot programme of providing HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP.

The pupils at Denamona PS in Fintona have been very busy over the past few weeks hand making beautiful Christmas Cards which will be posted out to older people in their local community.  This is being supported by the Western Trust Older People’s Team based at the Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex and is helping young people connect with the older generation in their local community.

An exhibition featuring the arts and craft based creations of Andrea Edwards and friends, who all attend Killadeas Day Care and Day Opportunities, was held recently at Enniskillen Castle.  The exhibition was widely attended by service users, parents, families, Western Trust management and staff, members of the public and Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, who hosted the event.

Derry City and Strabane District Council in partnership with the Western Health and Social Care Trust and the Public Health Agency hosted a special launch event in the Guildhall on Monday December 2nd to mark the start of a week long programme of events to celebrate International Celebration of Persons with Disabilities Week.

World AIDs Day 2019:  Undetectable = Untransmittable

Altnagelvin Hospital is celebrating after being named as a National Joint Registry (NJR) Quality Data Provider after successfully completing a national programme of local data audits.

During the winter months, infections such as Norovirus (vomiting bug) are very common and easily spread. The Western Trust is asking everyone to help stop the spread of infection by following a few simple steps.

Following the success of “Let’s Do Panto” last Christmas, Lilliput Theatre Company were compelled to create a sequel for 2019.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Trades Union members will take Strike Action on Wednesday 8 January. The Western Trust anticipates some disruption to services during the planned 12-hour strike period.

The Western Trust Sensory Services Team is delighted to launch a new booklet  “Sensory Support Services” a guide to services offered across the Western Trust area. 

An information video for new patients attending the North West Cancer Centre has been launched today by the Western Trust.

Florence Sharkey, Lead Nurse for Research and Development at the Western Trust in partnership with Ulster University colleague’s Dr Paul Slater, Dr Felicity Hasson and Dr Kevin Moore have come together to undertake research on ‘The impact of a Virtual Reality Training Programme in relation to dementia.

Congratulations Trauma and Orthopaedic Ward Manager Sister Nichola Cairns and Niall Millar, Meet and Great Volunteer at Omagh Hospital who were highly commended at this year's Helpfore Champion's Awards.

Last week in Enniskillen the mPower project hosted a joint cross border event for over 50 clinicians and health professionals across HSE, Southern Trust and Western Trust. The event which explored the delivery of Respiratory Care best practice, pathways and technology aimed to provide information, education and shared experience of effective Respiratory Care whilst integrating eHeath interventions, treatment and self-management.

The Western Trust Facilities Management Training and Quality Team are celebrating being named finalists in this year’s BICSc (The British Institute of Cleaning Science) 2019 held on 26 September 2019 at Whittlebury Hall & Spa, Whittlebury, Towcester.

The Western Trust and Health and Social Care NI, in partnership with Adoption UK are urgently seeking new adopters as the numbers of enquiries and applications continue to fall.

The Western Trust Rossdowney Recovery Team are delighted to launch a special CD by the ‘Song for the Soul’ Choir today Monday, 7th October 2019 in The Playhouse, Derry/Londonderry.

The Western Trust Recovery College is delighted to launch their new resource booklet ‘Finding Hope’ Mental Health and Wellbeing – A Guide to Help & Support in the Western Trust area, published with the support of the Public Health Agency (PHA).

The Western Trust Allied Health Profession Palliative Care Support Team are delighted to launch ‘’Fans Support You’ Campaign from 7 October to 13 October 2019 with the support of sporting organisations across the Western Trust area.

The Western Trust's Cardiac Assessment Unit at Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex is marking its 10th Anniversary milestone this week with a celebration tea party for former and current staff who have been instrumental in the success of this award winning Unit.

The Western Trust in partnership with  lead partners, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, South West Age Partnership, Public Health Agency and other community and voluntary organisations are working together to promote Positive Ageing Month throughout the west in October 2019.

The Western Trust is supporting Baby Loss Awareness Week (9-15 October 2019) by holding two Services of Thanksgiving and Acknowledgment for babies and children hosted jointly by the Maternity and Neonatal teams in conjunction with the Chaplaincy Team.

Cardiovascular patients in the Western Trust are reaping the benefits of an innovative lifestyle cardiology programme. The unique ‘Our Hearts, Our Minds’ 12 week programme, which is part of Northern Ireland’s Health Transformation agenda, has been seeing positive changes to the patients who have completed the programme since its launch in April 2019 by Mr Richard Pengelly, Permanent Secretary for the Department of Health.

With the launch of the new Autumn 2019 prospectus for recovery courses, people in the North West now have the opportunity to learn new skills in their journey of mental health recovery. The Western Trust’s Recovery College and the CAWT cross border Innovation Recovery Project have been working together to develop the new prospectus which is enabling people to access the courses in both the Trust area and across Donegal. This cross border Innovation Recovery Project is supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.

The Western Trust are supporting the Public Health Agency (PHA) HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccine programme which commences across the region from Monday 16 September 2019.

The World Health Organization (WHO) will host the first World Patient Safety Day on Tuesday 17 September

This year the Clinical Translational Research and Innovation Centre (C-TRIC) celebrates 10 years of a unique partnership between Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC), Ulster University (UU) and the NHS through the Western Trust.

Creating the link between World Suicide Prevention Day, Tuesday 10 September 2019 and World Mental Health Day, Thursday 10 October 2019. #ElephantTalk

The Western Trust is supporting the 6th annual Palliative Care Week  (8-14 September 2019) facilitated by All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care.

The Western Trust have officially re-opened Drumclay Care Facility this week providing a new care model for older people, designed to provide a high quality care experience during transition from hospital to community care.

This Organ Donation Week (2 – 8 September 2019) the Western Trust is focussed on encouraging people to have a conversation with those closest to them about organ donation. If you want to be an organ donor, pass on the message to you family. Many people don’t realise that their family’s support is needed for organ donation to go ahead.

The Western Trust together with the Public Health Agency and Department of Health are supporting the latest phase of the ‘START’ campaign; a five-year public health awareness campaign from Safefood which runs from the 27 August to 21 September 2019.

The Western Trust Paediatric Diabetes Team based at the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen held an exciting educational event recently at Johnny Rockos in Irvinestown for those patients with Type 1 diabetes moving from P7 to Secondary School.

The Cellular Pathology Laboratory at the Western Trust’s Altnagelvin Hospital in association with The Rainbow Project, has launched a self-sampling initiative aimed at improving access to cervical screening (smear tests).

The Western Trust is inviting members of the public to attend free ‘Stress Control’ weekly classes in Omagh, Derry/Londonderry and Enniskillen.

The Western Trust Human Milk Bank located at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen is asking more new mums to donate breast milk as stocks are getting low, particularly over the summer months.

The Macmillan Health and Well Being Campus, based on the Altnagelvin Hospital site, is now offering art therapy for people affected by cancer and long term conditions.  This service is delivered by an Art Therapist trainee under the supervision of the Western Trust Art Therapist, Brendan O’Neill and the Clinical Psychology Team.

The Western Trust is the first HSC Trust in Northern Ireland to be recognised by the Perinatal Institute for their work in preventing stillbirths.

The Western Trust is delighted to hear that Bernie Michaelides MBE, Head of Intermediate Care/Lead Nurse Adult Community Nursing has been given the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse (QN) by community nursing charity The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI).

Congratulations to the Western Trust’s Couch25K participants who have completed the 8xweek programme across the Western Trust area over the past two months co-ordinated by Lesley Finlay and Shauna Healy from the Western Trust’s Health Improvement Equality and Involvement Department.

The Western Trust has been embarking on a new-look Marketing campaign with the launch of #WTHeroes and has already delivered a number of initiatives to build the profile of choosing a career pathway in Health and Social Care.

The Western Trust Health Improvement, Equality and Involvement Department, have published their latest training brochure. This brochure offers free training courses taking place right across the Trust between September 2019 and March 2020.

The Western Trust Emergency Medicine staff at the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen in conjunction with the local Northern Ireland Fire Service and PSNI recently delivered a unique learning experience for local young drivers aimed at understanding the importance of road safety at Old Rossory Church Community Centre, Enniskillen.

The Western Trust’s Treatment Room Services for the four GP Practices at Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex have relocated recently to the new premises within the Primary Care Centre.

The Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) Medical Education Department at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen are hosting a first ever Mini Medical School. The new initiative is aimed at Year 13 Students, from a number of local schools, with the objective of inspiring a new generation of Medical Students from the area.

Biomedical science staff at Altnagelvin Hospital and the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen marked Biomedical Science Day (19 June) to raise awareness the vital role and value of biomedical science to healthcare.

200 employees from all areas of the Western Trust recently completed the ‘Choose to Lose’ 12 week work-based weight loss and healthy lifestyle programme, collectively losing almost 111 stone (704kg) and 10 metres from their waist lines – that’s the height of two giraffes!

Following presentation of the Pathfinder Update Report and approval at Trust Board, the Pathfinder Project is now moving into the next phase towards delivering outcomes.
 

During #Carers Week 2019 which runs from the 10 June to 16 June 2019 the Western Trust has been celebrating all those informal Carers of all ages who are the back bone of the health and social care service at a number of special events.

The Western Trust are preparing to launch an innovative example of a ‘connected communities’ project with the re-opening of Drumclay Care Facility.

The Western Trust Podiatry Department are celebrating success as part of the HSCNI Podiatry succession-planning programme which has won the Best Talent Management Initiative at the prestigious CIPD NI HR awards ceremony held at Titanic Belfast. The recent event celebrated the contribution of HR and people management across the private and public sector.

The Western Trust marked Infant Mental Health Week, (10th June – 15th June 2019), with an event called, “Supporting babies who are born premature”

A group of local babies and their families were congratulated recently for their contribution to teaching the internationally recognised “Roots of Empathy” (ROE) classroom programme to children from local schools.

End of Treatment Bell’ provides a symbol of hope for patients treated at the North West Cancer Centre

Two Western Trust Midwives based at the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen have been honoured at the Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) Mentor of the Year 2019.

The Western Trust’s Equality and Involvement Team held its 6th Annual Celebration/ Engagement Event in the Mellon Country Hotel, Omagh on the 22nd May 2019.

The Western Trust recently delivered training to support staff of the Foyle Hospice.  This opportunity has provided the Hospice with accredited training for their cleaning staff for the first time.

The Western Trust recently hosted the first Western Trust PPANI Conference entitled, Sharing the Learning. The purpose of the conference was to raise awareness of arrangements in place to protect the public from domestic and sexual abuse.

The Western Trust were delighted to host the regional launch of Think Family Northern Ireland, E-learning Foundation Programme at the Mellon Country Hotel, Omagh recently organised by the Western Trust’s Training Development and Governance Team.

The Western Trust is delighted to launch the Harvey’s Gang initiative at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen and Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry/Londonderry.

The Western Trust School Nursing Team held a very successful first Interactive Fun Health Check Event for year 3 and 4 pupils at Omagh Integrated Primary School this week as part of Nursing Now Northern Ireland.

The Western Trust are supporting Brain Injury Awareness Week from Monday 20 May to Sunday 26 May 2019. This year the specific issue being highlighted is FATIGUE – or excessive tiredness – one of the most commonly experienced effects of brain injury. Indeed, it is the most commonly cited effect of brain injury reported by clients using community brain injury services.

Nursing and midwifery staff across the Western Trust, including staff at Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry; South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen and Omagh Hospital & Primary Care Complex, along with staff working in the local community celebrated the contribution the professions make to quality patient care on International Nurses Day 12 May 2019.

A wonderful group of babies and their families from the Tyrone and Fermanagh area were congratulated at a celebration event in the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen for their contribution to teaching the internationally recognised “Roots of Empathy” (ROE) classroom programme to children from local schools.

Volunteers who support the Western Trust Macmillan Information and Support Service have been named regional winners of the Macmillan Service Team of the Year 2019.

The inspirational stories of David, Elvis, Marie and Sheila, who saved multiple lives through organ donation after their deaths, are now on display at Altnagelvin Hospital and the South West Acute Hospital. 

Diabetes Specialist Dietitians receive national recognition in the 2019 UK Advancing healthcare awards for Allied Health Professionals

Following one of the most comprehensive Community Engagement processes ever undertaken for health and Social Care, the Western Trust Pathfinder process has now commenced the next phase of reform in the region as a period of action gets underway.

Calling local students to come along to a Midwifery taster event at Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex

Changing your lifestyle for the better is much easier, more enjoyable and longer lasting when you can do it with the support of your partner/relative. This is one of the simple, yet effective key concepts from a new and innovative preventive cardiology programme launched by the Western Trust.

The Western Trust Macmillan Information and Support Team hosted a very successful information event at the Macmillan Health and Well Being Campus, Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry, for women who recently had or are currently being treated for a gynaecological cancer.

The Western Trust is inviting members of the public to attend free ‘Stress Control’ weekly classes in Strabane Enterprise Centre. Classes will run from Thursday 2nd May 2019 from 6:30pm – 8:00pm to Thursday 13th June 2019.

The Western Trust Diabetes Team which supports people with diabetes living in the Fermanagh and Omagh areas are holding a ‘Live the life you want with Type 1 Diabetes’ information event. The event is on Wednesday 24th April 2019 in the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen. Registration starts at 7.00pm.

‘It’s time for action’ was the key message of the Fermanagh and West Tyrone Health Summit 09 April 2019 at the Ardhowen Theatre in Enniskillen.  Health and social care leaders from across the province joined with community and public representatives to listen to the findings of one of the biggest engagement events ever in the field of health and social care in Northern Ireland, the Fermanagh and West Tyrone Pathfinder project.

The Western Trust Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and VOYPIC Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) are delighted to launch 'CAMHS Young Minds Matter' information for young people in the Western Trust area who require support to deal with mental health issues.

The Western Trust is hosting free Asthma, Diabetes, Epilepsy and awareness evenings to educate those involved with young people outside of school, about these conditions.

Speaking ahead of the meeting of the Western Trust Board this week, Dr Anne Kilgallen, Western Trust Chief Executive said: “The Department of Health is leading on the Stroke Consultation and all health and  social care trusts have been actively involved in the discussions in preparation. We in the Western Trust are very pleased that both the South West Acute and Altnagelvin Hospitals are part of the options being considered.

Following one of the most comprehensive engagement programmes ever undertaken by the Western Trust through Pathfinder, a number of themes have been very clearly highlighted by the public as crucial for ensuring best delivery of Health and Social Care Services in Fermanagh and West Tyrone.

The Western Trust's Renal Units at Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex and Altnagelvin Hospital, Londerry relaunched their Shared Haemodialysis Care programmes recently.

Three local families from the Western Trust area are helping to raise awareness of Organ Donation as part of World Kidney Day on 14 March 2019 organised by Renal Unit staff at the Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex. World Kidney Day is an annual event to raises awareness of the importance of good kidney health to slow down or prevent further damage to your kidneys.

A meeting to coordinate all respective agency plans to support those affected by the major incident at the Greenvale Hotel was hosted by Mid Ulster Council on Tuesday 19 March 2019.

The Western Trust Health Improvement, Equality and Involvement Department hosted an update session for all of the Volunteer Peer Support Mums in the Northern Sector of the Western Trust recently.

The Western Trust welcomes the Department of Health (DoH) announcement  today in respect of Bariatric Surgery and will be actively contribute to the work of the planning group. The service planning group will be jointly headed by consultant surgeon Mark Taylor and Alastair Campbell, Director of Hospital Services Reform in the Department.

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Over 80 people attended an engagement event involving the Western Trust, mPower partners, CAWT along with representatives from the community and voluntary sector at the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen, to get involved in a new cross border EU INTERREG VA funded project called mPower.

The Western Trust's Smoking Cessation Team are encouraging smokers to quit smoking and reap the health and financial benefits on this No Smoking Day (Wednesday 13 March 2019).

The Western Trust Health Improvement, Equality and Involvement Department, have published their latest training brochure. This brochure offers free training courses taking place right across the Trust between April 2019 and September 2019.

As part of Lymphoedema Awareness Week (3-9th March 2019) the Western Trust Lymphoedema Service are encouraging staff members throughout the Trust to wear odd socks to “sock it to Lymphoedema” to raise awareness of the condition.

Brenda McCabe, a midwife for South West Acute Hospital in Northern Ireland, has been awarded the Emma’s Diary Mums’ Midwife of the Year 2019. Brenda was nominated by Sarah Griffiths for the incredible support she gave her during her pregnancy, birth and beyond. The prestigious award is one of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Annual Midwifery Awards, recognising the incredible work done by exceptional midwives across the country.

Staff from the Western Trust met at St Michael’s College, Enniskillen, to share their work experiences with hundreds of students as part of a Careers Convention.

The Western Trust Human Milk Bank located at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen is asking more new mums to donate breast milk as stocks are getting low.

The Western Trust supported by the Department for Communities are inviting members of the public to a number of recruitment events across the Western Trust area.  The vacancies are within Support Services, a very important service area that is responsible for catering, cleaning and laundry.

The Western Trust has launched a revised version of its Carers Handbook in conjunction with Carers Northern Ireland. The handbook is a carer’s resource to health and wellbeing and how to access support. 

The Western Trust held an engagement event at the Mellon Country Hotel, Omagh on Wednesday 19 February 2019 for younger people and their families across the Western Trust area who are experiencing some of the signs and symptoms of Dementia.

The Western Trust is inviting members of the public to attend free ‘Stress Control’ weekly classes in Fermanagh House in Enniskillen and Rose Valley Arts and Cultural Centre in Limavady.

Young people who have been in care most of their lives were celebrated on Friday 15 February 2019 at a very special event, held at the Guildhall, Londonderry.

The shape of a heart has long been the symbol for Valentine's Day. This Valentine’s Day the Western Trust is promoting organ donation and asking the public to consider registering for an organ donor card as well as buying a Valentine’s Day card..

The Western Trust Health Improvement Equality and Involvement Department are working with the Regional Sexual Health Network to support Northern Ireland’s Sexual Health Week from Monday 11 February to Friday 15 February 2019.

The Western Trust Recovery College has this week launched their Spring prospectus with details of their range of free educational courses and workshops which are all designed to promote mental health well-being and recovery.

The Western Trust is delighted to confirmed that the first phase of the new North Wing building at Altnagelvin Hospital is now complete. Phase 1 delivers three new inpatient wards which will be used to relocate services from the Tower Block and Care of the Elderly building.

Martha Magee, Macmillan Information and Support Manager for the Western Trust has recently been awarded the Macmillan Volunteering Quality Standards (MVQS) Certificate, the charity’s quality standard for good practice in volunteer management.

An event was held in the Guildhall, Derry/Londonderry on Thursday 31st January to recognise the incredible contribution of Young Carers across the Western Trust area.

Nominated by local mum Sarah Griffiths from Rosslea, Co Fermanagh, Brenda McCabe, Community Midwife Team Lead for Southern Sector has been honoured as Emma’s Diary Mums’ Midwife of the Year 2019 for the Northern Ireland region.

The Western Trust is inviting members of the public to attend free ‘Stress Control’ weekly classes in Omagh Enterprise Centre.

Service users in the Western Trust can now avail of first class recovery and rehabilitation services following the opening of Rathview Mews on the Drumnakilly Road, Omagh.

The Western Trust has launched the ‘Together as One’ Parents Forum, consisting of 11 parents, social workers and senior managers from Safeguarding Family Support and Looked After Services within the Western Trust.

The Western Trust is inviting members of the public to attend free ‘Stress Control’ weekly classes in Foyle Arena, Derry/Londonderry. Classes will run from Thursday 10th January 2019 from 6:30pm – 8:00pm to Thursday 14th February 2019.

The Western Trust Health Improvement, Equality and Involvement Department are working in partnership with the Public Health Agency to promote the Choose to Live Better Obesity Prevention Campaign 2019.