Croí bedside support initiative for patients in UHG Heart Unit

0
2037
GALWAY DAILY NEWS CROÍ uhg collaboration for heart health
Pictured from left outside University Hospital Galway (UHG): Katie McCormack, Clinical Nurse Manager, Coronary Care Unit, UHG; Sarah Molloy, Senior Staff Nurse, Coronary Care Unit, UHG; Annie Costelloe, Croí Patient and Community Engagement Manager; Dr Lisa Hynes, Croí Head of Health Programmes; and Maeve Frawley, Croí Cardiovascular Nurse Specialist and Heartlink West Nurse Lead.

Croí has announced a special collaboration with the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) in University Hospital Galway as part of the charity’s Heartlink West support service for people living with cardiovascular disease.

Working with the team in the Heart Unit, the local heart and stroke charity produced a series of special videos for patients who are receiving care in the Hospital CCU.

Patients can now watch these informational videos on iPads donated by Croí, with videos covering a wide range of topics, including cardiac rehabilitation, diet and exercise post-cardiac event, emotional impact of a cardiac event or procedure, and advice on smoking cessation.

Croí’s Head of Health Programme, Dr Lisa Hynes, said that they are delighted to provide this new educational video support for patients in the CCU.

“These videos give patients more information and advice on life post-cardiac event or their heart procedure, and we hope this service will be a support to the incredible medical and nursing team in the CCU, which is such a busy environment,” she said.

Katie McCormack, CCU Clinical Nurse Manager, said the team at University Hospital Galway are also thrilled to collaborate with Croí on this project.

“In facilitating these informational videos, Croí’s Heartlink West service is supporting not just the patients, but also the CCU team to deliver the very best care to our patients,” said Katie McCormack.

“The great thing about this project is that these patients and their families can also follow up with Croí’s HeartLink West nurse when they go home with any further questions or concerns they might have.”

Croí plans to expand this support service later this year to more coronary care units in the west of Ireland, with additional video content being developed in the coming months.

Croí’s Heartlink West support service also offers a free telephone helpline, Monday to Friday from 9am – 5:30pm on 091-544310. Learn more about the work at Croí by visiting www.croi.ie.