Staff in the Regional Day Procedure Unit in Lagan Valley Hospital were delighted when a surprise visitor popped in yesterday – the Health Minister!
Robbie Butler MLA, took time out of his busy schedule to say a massive congratulations and thanks to all the staff following its recent Getting it Right First Time accreditation (GIRFT). This is the first time this prestigious accolade has been awarded to a facility of its kind in Ireland.
Health Minister, Robbie Butler MLA said, “Lagan Valley has always been a hospital that has been close to my heart because I am from Lisburn. It is fundamentally a part of the wider Regional provision.
“It is really good to see what is happening here in terms of a world class service. It has helped me achieve the commitments we have made to reduce our waiting times. We have got a turnaround for patients and clients getting world class service here in theatres like this in Lagan Valley. So it is really good to be able to see this hospital being used to its full potential and making a difference for the patients that we all want to serve.
South Eastern Trust, Director of Surgery, Elective Care, Paediatrics and Maternity, Brian McFetridge added, “The Health Minister’s visit recognised the significant contribution the staff have made in improving access to patients across the Region.
“The staff were very surprised whenever the Health Minister walked in and they were very grateful to see him and congratulate them on their recent achievement. He spent a lot of time talking with the medical and nursing staff, admin and support services. It gave them all a real lift.”
Earlier in the day, Minister Butler visited the Lagan Valley Primary and Community Care Centre (LPCCC) where he met District Nursing staff, Physiotherapists, the Home Treatment Team, Dr Clive Patterson, GP from Lisburn City Practice and the Community Children’s Service Team.
Minister Butler was given a tour of the Centre which brings together GP Practices, Multi-professional Trust Teams, Mental Health Services, Children’s Services and Community Care professionals within a single modern facility. This co-location supports closer collaboration between professionals, improves patient pathways and helps make services more accessible to local people closer to home.
The Minister also met one of Northern Ireland’s first Consultant District Nurses Andrea Beeks and heard about the vital role District Nursing Teams play in supporting people to remain as independent as possible in their own homes.
Lisburn Primary and Community Care Centre also brings together eight Community Adult Mental Health services which were previously dispersed across four separate locations. Bringing these services together improves coordination, streamlines patient journeys and supports a more cohesive multidisciplinary approach to mental health care.
LPCCC also enables Children’s Disability Services, Children’s Nursing Services and Family and Childcare Services to operate from a single location. While these services have historically worked closely together, their co-location strengthens collaborative working, supports joined-up care planning and enhances the experience of children and families using the services.
The integrated model at the centre supports earlier intervention, better clinical coordination and improved management of chronic and complex health conditions. Having healthcare professionals from different disciplines working alongside one another also enables timely decision-making and a more holistic approach to patient care.
Minister Butler stated, “It was a pleasure to visit the Centre and meet the staff who are delivering such a wide range of services for the local community. Bringing primary, community and specialist services together in one place is a great example of integrated working and helps ensure people can access the right care, closer to home.”
South Eastern Trust Director of Primary Care and Older People, Veronica Cleland, welcomed the opportunity for the Minister to meet staff and see the integrated services operating from the centre.
Veronica stated, “It is wonderful that the Minister has taken time out of such a busy schedule to come and engage with our staff and see the services they provide. It makes such a difference to our practitioners and teams to have that opportunity and we are very grateful to him for taking the time to join us.
“Having our multidisciplinary services together under one roof is absolutely critical. We have been working alongside GP Teams for some time and the ability to communicate with one another, know one another and have those local conversations really helps to break down barriers. It means we can strengthen referrals between services and provide a more joined-up experience for our local population and communities.
“This is a fantastic way of working and we look forward to further establishing and developing the Integrated Neighbourhood Team and neighbourhood model as we move forward. Our ambition is to build on what we have now, bringing more services into the community and making sure people receive the right service, from the right person, in the right place at the right time.”
Veronica continued, “This is a beautiful facility and many years of work have gone into making it what it is today. Having so many services together under one roof provides a fantastic opportunity to continue to grow and develop care for the Lisburn community.”
Dr Clive Patterson from Lisburn City Practice said meeting the Minister provided an important opportunity to discuss the realities facing General Practice.
Dr Patterson remarked, “It was good to meet the Minister and to have the opportunity to talk about the pressures GPs are under and the difference between primary and secondary care.
“You can look at statistics and say how many patients you see, how much is being done or how long you spend doing something. But to actually have that human contact, which is something we are very used to in General Practice, is important. It is appreciated and it was good to see him.”