Anne Gallen – HSE Director of Nursing & Midwifery Planning & Development

Alan Corry Finn – WHSCT Director of Nursing Primary Care & Older People

1 Dec 2014

Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT)

Cross Border Senior Nursing and Midwifery

Forum

CAWT Co-operation and Working

Together (CAWT) is a cross border health partnership, comprised of the statutory health and social care services in both jurisdictions in the border region of Ireland/Northern Ireland.

Established in 1992

Role and Function of CAWT

Enable health services to be more accessible within border areas

Attract EU funding to support the development of ‘additional’ services, based on local need

Innovate – pioneer new ways of delivering health services and improving health and social care on a cross border basis

CAWT partner organisations

Republic of Ireland Health Service Executive border

countiesNorthern Ireland

Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Western Health and Social Care Trust

Health and Social Care Board Public Health Agency

Cross Border Senior Nurses & Midwives Forum

• Established 2013• Western Health & Social Care Trust & HSE

North West• Catalyst for its creation:• “the worst national disaster to hit any Irish

hospital in the history of the island of Ireland”DDTV: CAUGHT ON CAMERA - MOMENT FLOOD WATERS CAME THROUGH LETTERKENNY HOSPITAL - YouTube

Main hospital corridor

New A/E only opened 4 months

More Flood Scenes

From Crisis to Opportunity

EVERY CRISIS PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY

FOR US TO DO THINGS THAT

WE COULD NOT DO BEFORE

Nurses & Midwivesled

the change

WHSCT and HSE (NW) Proximity

WHSCT Population: 300,000

HSE West Population:

Donegal 147,000

Sligo/Leitrim 100,000

Distances: Derry to Letterkenny 22 miles / 36 kilometres (30 minute drive)

Enniskillen to Sligo 41 miles / 66 kilometres (1 hour drive)

Implications of LGH FloodED in Letterkenny GH rendered non functionalEmergency patients re-directed to Altnagelvin

HospitalAltnagelvin was already at full capacity &

under pressure ED and inpatient wards were overwhelmed Staffing, quality and safety were concerning

and not sustainable in the medium termInitial contact made with professional

colleagues at Letterkenny GH to seek additional nursing support

Registration was a huge issue and barrierRole of NMC

WHSCT/HSE (NW) Proximity - considerations

Health and social care governed by borders but not always recognised by the population or their needs

Examples of issues challenging quality of patient careChild with nut allergyChildbirth and early discharge Cancer and palliative care patients – cross border NW

Radiotherapy CentreTissue ViabilityMental Health patients

Establishment of Cross border Forum

CAWT Cross Border Senior Nursing and Midwifery Forum

Established in 2013Facilitated by Directors of Nursing in

WHSCT and HSE Aims is to engage in joint working

which will result in practical benefits to nursing and midwifery services and enhance the patient/client experience

Terms of Reference Objectives Priority ThemesMembership and subgroupsEstablishment of Task and Finish Group

Acute Care in the Community Quality Improvement Person and Patient Centred Care Workforce Planning and Education Complex Care for Children Informal Networking and sharing of

information Common challenges irrespective of border Enthusiasm and willingness to work together

Cross Border Professional Practice in Nursing and Midwifery

Common themesSharing of Best PracticeResearch and Development Workforce Planning, Training,

Registration, CPD, RevalidationSupporting Supervision and RegulationE/Nursing Records

Current and future prioritiesRegistrationDementia CareCancer CarePalliative CareIntellectual DisabilityPaediatric CareLeadership Development Education and TrainingWorkforce Planning and Development

Next StepsPartnership is establishedEmpowered leadershipFacilitation of appropriate flow of patientsEnabling and supporting patient safety and

quality improvement across border corridorShared learning resulting in enhanced

knowledge and skillsWorkforce flexibility and potential for

joint appointments

www.cawt.comhttp://www.youtube.com/cawtpartnership

Cross Border Senior Nursing and Midwifery Forum

‘Enabling Patients, Communities and Professionals in Practice’