Jul 10
19
Public Service Excellence Award presented to Letterkenny Hospital
Dr Anne Flood, Director of Nursing & Midwifery, Letterkenny General Hospital with the 2010 Taoiseach’s Public Service Excellence Award. From left: Dr Susan Miner, Rape Crisis Centre; Dr Martina McBride, the State Forensic Laboratory; An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, T.D.; Moira Dolan, Clinical Midwife Manager 2, SATU, Rotunda Hospital; Dr Mary Holohan, Consultant in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, SATU, Rotunda Hospital; Dr Anne Flood; and Anne McHugh, Project Manager, Higher Diploma Forensic Nursing, Rotunda Hospital.
A project by the HSE to develop care and services for patients who disclose recent rape or sexual assault has won a 2010 Taoiseach’s Public Service Excellence Award. The Award was presented to Ms Anne McHugh, Project Manager and Dr Anne Flood, Director of Nursing & Midwifery, Letterkenny General Hospital at a ceremony in Dublin Castle on July 8th.
The Taoiseach’s Public Service Excellence Awards take place every two years and aim to showcase and celebrate public service projects and promote innovation and excellence.
The award winning project was developed by staff in Letterkenny General Hospital, HSE West, with the aim of providing an appropriate environment for treatment of patients who disclose recent rape or sexual assault, meeting staff educational needs, addressing guidelines for practice and ensuring the provision of a dedicated service.
Dr Anne Flood, Director of Nursing & Midwifery, Letterkenny General Hospital commented, “The staff in the Emergency Department identified the need to enhance, improve and transform the care of patients who disclosed recent rape or sexual assault This project is the culmination of a 13 year process to meet the unique needs of these patients and involved not only Letterkenny General Hospital but also hospitals and agencies throughout the country. I would like to recognise and thank all those whose collective support made this development a reality”.
A significant development was the introduction of the Higher Diploma in Nursing in Sexual Assault Forensic Examination in 2008. The eight Forensic Nurse Examiners who graduated in April 2009 are currently employed in Sexual Assault Treatment Units around the country. The Forensic Nurse Examiners are responsible for carrying out forensic clinical examinations, provide holistic care and are the main carer from when the patient enters the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit.
The project to develop the Higher Diploma was co-ordinated by the HSE’s Office for Nursing Services and was a major collaborative venture between the HSE, the Department of Health & Children, The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the Rotunda Hospital. The project also involved the co-operation of the Gardaí, the wider criminal justice system and the many support organisations.
A needs analysis was carried out in 2002 encompassing all Emergency Departments in Ireland and this identified an urgent need for guidelines for care of patients who disclose recent sexual assault. In 2006, following collaboration between key stakeholders including The Rotunda Hospital, Dublin; the Forensic Science Laboratory; An Garda Síochána. (Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Investigation Unit); and Rape Crisis Network Ireland, inter-agency guidelines Recent Rape/Sexual Assault: National Guidelines on Referral and Forensic Clinical Examination in Ireland were issued. These guidelines are currently being updated.
In addition to Letterkenny General Hospital, there are five other Sexual Assault Treatment Units around the country: The Rotunda Hospital (Dublin); South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (Cork); Waterford Regional Hospital; Midlands Hospital (Mullingar); and Galway University Hospital. These units allow equity of access and care for men and women who have been raped or sexually assaulted and provide medical and forensic care and links to advocacy groups for longer-term support.
