Annual Clinical Workshop on integrated care held at Sligo University Hospital

THE 16th Annual Clinical Workshop was held on January 27 in Medical Academy at Sligo University Hospital.

This was an integrated care workshop coordinated by Primary Care Sligo/Leitrim, Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo (CH CDLMS), GPs and Sligo University Hospital. The event was open to GPs and Consultants to attend. There was significant interest in the workshop with a full house on the day.

The sessions were jointly chaired by Dr David Swann, General Practitioner, Dr Heather Langan, Consultant Obstetrician/ Gynaecologist, Dr Sylvia Bernabeu, General Practitioner and Dr Katherine Finan, Consultant Respiratory Physician

The format of this workshop consisted of case presentations/ panel group discussion by paired Consultant/GP on four clinical topics: Cardiology, Emergency Medicine, Ophthalmology and Gynaecology. There were presentations on a range of topics including ovarian torsion, migraines, and minor injuries in ED.

According to Emma Ball, General Manager, Primary Care Sligo/ Leitrim, CH CDLMS: “This workshop enabled participants to have a better understanding of the interface between Primary Care and Acute and how to improve integration through all stages of the patient journey with particular reference to the clinical areas covered.

“I would like to thank Professor Nash Patil and Dr Michael Coleman in particular for their support in organising the excellent speakers on the day.”

Grainne McCann, Hospital Manager, SUH: stated: “This workshop enabled participants to have the opportunity to network with consultant colleagues, particularly newly appointed Consultants and establish contacts for future reference.” Professor Nash Patil, in his concluding remarks, mentioned that “it was always a delight to bring colleagues from General Practice together with Consultants at the Hospital, and noted that such interactions undoubtedly lead to improvements in patient care”. He said that the “Conference was now in its 16th year and was going from strength to strength.

Indeed, the attendance at this year’s meeting was higher than he had ever seen. He encouraged participants to continue to build the relationships that had been fostered at this event and thanked everyone for attending on a Saturday morning.

This long-standing conference is a valuable tool year on year to promote networking and information sharing with a view to improving integrated care delivered between Hospital, and Primary Care Services.