Cross-Border Hospital Services: Emerging Findings Conference

Thursday 12 May, 2011
Crowne Plaza Hotel Dundalk
9.30am – 4.00pm

Exploring the Potential for Cross-Border Hospital Services in the Irish Border Region: A Prototype Modelling Tool for Planning Hospital Services

More than 60 health service professionals, public representatives and individuals attended the second Emerging Findings Conference: Exploring the Potential for Cross-Border Hospital Services in the Irish Border Region on Thursday 12 May 2011.

The conference was chaired by Mr Tom Daly, Director General of Cooperation and Working Together (CAWT) and Regional Development/European Officer with the Health Service Executive. Tom Daly has particular responsibilities in the areas of cross-border and all-island health and social care and is a HSE representative on the management board of  CAWT.  In his introductory remarks, Mr Daly set the context for the research – currently nearing completion – that has been commissioned by the Centre for Cross Border Studies with funding from the EU INTERREG IVA Programme. He warmly welcomed the Centre for Cross Border Studies’ contribution over many years in encouraging cross border co-operation in the field of health and social services. He also stressed the importance of building on the work of CAWT and others through continuing to take new initiatives and to mainstream cross-border services that have proven value.

The first speaker of the day was Mr Shane McQuillan, Partner with Horwath Bastow Charleton (HBC), the Dublin-based consultancy firm who, with Matrix Knowledge Ltd of London, are developing the Prototype Modelling Tool for Planning Hospital Services on a cross-border basis. Mr McQuillan elaborated on the purpose of the modelling tool as a decision-aiding, not decision-making tool.

An overview of the existing cross border work of CAWT was then presented by Ms Bernie McCrory, Chief Officer and Ms Edel O’Doherty, Deputy Chief Officer of CAWT. They demonstrated the very comprehensive geographical distribution of CAWT’s presence across the Border region and also the wide range of services that are being delivered through the network. Some of these projects are being delivered on behalf of the two Departments of Health and others are supported by a substantial grant from the EU INTERREG IVA programme.  Ms Linda Saunderson, Acute Programme Manager, CAWT, followed with a presentation on the cross-border ENT service as an example of how a flexible and innovative approach can provide a practical solution to a significant health need for service users in both jurisdictions.

Ms Valerie Hall, Consultant Nurse with the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) team at Belfast City Hospital and Mr Philip Watt, Chief Executive of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland made a joint presentation on the demand for additional CF services and the potential for a new CF unit based in Derry to meet future care needs for people in the border region living with CF.

Ms Vanya Sargent of Horwath Bastow Charleton and Mr David Wellbourn of Matrix Knowledge presented the key findings of the research to date and in particular the choice of representative specialisms that will be used to demonstrate the modelling tool. Mr Wellbourn explained some of the data issues that arise in the modelling process.

The final research report and modelling tool will be completed by mid-summer and a further announcement will be made by CCBS when this is publicly available.

See the presentations from Shane McQuillan and from CAWT (McCrory/O’Doherty) ,  ENT (Saunderson) and Cystic Fibrosis (Hall/Watt) .

For further information about the project contact Ruth Taillon, Deputy Director (Research) at r.taillon@qub.ac.uk or telephone 028 3751 1559.