Ms. Paddie Blaney has been appointed Director of the newly established All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care.
The All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC), is an all island organisation, comprised of a Consortium of hospices and universities, all working to improve the experience of supportive, palliative and end-of-life care on the island of Ireland, by enhancing the capacity to develop knowledge, promote learning, influence policy and shape practice. The aim is to secure best care for those approaching end-of-life.
Her appointment as Director of the AIIHPC marks an exciting phase in the AIIHPC development. To date, the Consortium has laid the foundation for the establishment and scope of the Institute, which has secured funding for an initial five year period. With Blaney’s appointment, the Institute will now become operational. The AIIHPC sees its role as providing support to the existing organisations across the hospice and palliative care community. The Institute will serve as a centre of expertise and information on education, research, policy and practice in palliative and end-of-life care. A Director of Education and Training, a Director of Research and a Business Programme Manager will be appointed in the near future.
With a strong background in nursing and healthcare management, she brings with her a wealth of experience to the role having just completed two and a half years as an international nurse consultant with the International Council of Nurses (ICN), based in Geneva. The ICN is a federation of more than 130 national nursing associations representing some 13 million nurses worldwide. Blaney was the Director of the Leadership for Change Programme which aims to prepare nurses for strategic leadership roles within nursing and the broader healthcare sector. As well as this, she had corporate responsibility for nursing and health policy development, leadership, management, nursing cost effectiveness and health system reform.
The AIIHPC sees its role as providing support to the existing organisations across the hospice and palliative care community
Prior to joining the ICN, she was Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery (NIPEC). NIPEC, an executive non-departmental public body, was established in 2002 to promote best standards in the practice, education and professional development of nurses and midwives and to provide advice and guidance on matters pertaining to nursing and midwifery. As the first Chief Executive of the organisation, she was responsible for its establishment and strategic development, influencing and advising on all areas of nursing and midwifery both in Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
She has also held posts as Nursing Officer in the Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Group of the Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) in Northern Ireland where her remit included professional regulation, education and training, workforce and research and development. Other posts included Regional Facilitator for Nursing and for Multi-Professional Audit at the DHSSPS. She held a number of positions with the Altnaglevin Group Hospitals Trust including Patient Advocate and Business and Contracts Manager. Her clinical background is in nursing and she specialised in the field of trauma and orthopaedics.
Commenting on the appointment of Paddie Blaney, Mo Flynn, CEO, Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services and current Chairperson AIIHPC Management Committee said, “We are delighted with the appointment of Paddie Blaney as Director of the Institute. After much hard work by the dedicated Consortium members we are looking forward to the Institute officially starting its work and realising the goals and objectives agreed thus far. There is no doubt that an all Ireland approach is the most promising way of ensuring real and positive developments in end-of-life care on the island of Ireland. We look forward to this next phase of the Institute’s work and wish Paddie well on her appointment”.
