A new age related rehabilitation unit was opened at Peamount Healthcare, Newcastle, Co Dublin earlier this year.
The Aberdeen Centre caters for patients over the age of 65 following a stroke, hip fractures or following an acute illness and will support people to return home.
The opening of 12 beds on the new unit is funded by the HSE Winter Capacity Fund Initiative and supported by Tallaght University Hospital, the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group and HSE Community Healthcare (HSE Dublin South, Kildare & West Wicklow Community Healthcare) and the commitment and dedication of all teams in Peamount Healthcare.
Chief Executive of Peamount Healthcare, Shona Schneemann said, “The team has worked tirelessly over the past number of weeks to ensure all operational and patient care requirements have been put in place. I want to commend the staff who have committed to supporting this unit and also welcome new staff to Peamount Healthcare. We know the additional beds will greatly assist Tallaght University Hospital in managing patient flow and is a first step to ensuring that the 50 additional beds will be fully operational in 2020.”
Trevor O’Callaghan, CEO of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group welcoming the additional capacity said, “I would like to acknowledge the foresight of Tallaght University Hospital, Peamount Healthcare and our community partners in addressing the capacity challenges that exist for our hospitals, at a time when services are under particular pressure. Improving capacity in the greater Dublin area is a key enabler in the delivery of an integrated model of care which will provide continuity of patient care in the right place, and at the right time. We look forward to building on this strong collaborative relationship and improving integrated health planning with the opening of 50 additional beds in Peamount in 2020, which remains a key priority for the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.
Lucy Nugent, Chief Executive of Tallaght University Hospital said “We are delighted to see these rehabilitation beds open so early in the year, our hospital is consistently under pressure to accommodate the increasing number and acuity of patients presenting to the Hospital. By expanding the number of offsite rehabilitation beds available to TUH patients we can reduce waiting times for acutely unwell patients to move from the Emergency Department to a bed and reduce our waiting lists for elective patients to be admitted.”
The next phase of this programme includes a Community Response Team which would support older people to avoid hospital admission and expand the current Reablement Programme within the local community.
Peamount Healthcare was founded in 1912 as a Tuberculosis Sanatorium by Lady Ishbel Aberdeen, on behalf of the Women’s National Health Association. With the decline in the incidence of TB in later years, more accommodation became available for other services. In 1963, at the request of the Department of Health, a residential unit for people with an intellectual disability was opened. Over time, as the needs of the community changed, Peamount developed a wider range of healthcare services. The focus of the Peamount Healthcare’s current strategy is to enable individuals to live more independently through the delivery of effective health and social care services.
• Pictured from left to right at the opening of Unit 3, one of four 25 bed units in the Aberdeen Centre which opened at Peamount Healthcare were Lucy Nugent, Chief Executive of Tallaght University Hospital, Shona Schneemann, Chief Executive of Peamount Healthcare and Eileen Whelan, Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.
• Members of the multidisciplinary team of staff on Unit Three, the new Age Related Rehabilitation Unit in the Aberdeen Centre at Peamount Healthcare. Pictured from left to right staff on Unit Three including Louise McCarron, Physiotherapist; Catherine Slattery, Director of Rehabilitation at Peamount; Aoife Jordan, Clinical Nurse Manager 2; Michael Keegan, Physiotherapy Assistant; Professor Des O’Neill, Consultant Geriatrician at TUH, Dr Anna McDonagh, Registrar at TUH and Tara Delaney a member of the new units Household Staff.
• Pictured during a tour of the opening of Unit 3 in the Aberdeen Centre in Peamount Healthcare were; Carol Cuffe, CHO 7, Aoife Jordan, Clinical Nurse Manager 2; Shona Schneemann, Chief Executive of Peamount Healthcare, Lucy Nugent, Chief Executive of Tallaght University Hospital; Professor Des O’Neill, Consultant Geriatrician at TUH and Eileen Whelan, Chief Director of Nursing & Midwifery at the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group The new Rehabilitation Unit is one of four 25 bed units in the Aberdeen Centre in Peamount.
