Speech And Language Therapist, Clinical Specialist, Critical Care) , University Hospital

University Hospital Kerry (UHK) is a Level 3 Acute teaching Hospital, providing comprehensive medical and surgical services for adults and children and maternity services to women in the surrounding catchment area. The hospital has 273 inpatient beds and 24 day beds and provides acute hospital services to a catchment area of Kerry, North Cork & West Limerick it services a population of approx. over 180,554. In addition, the Kerry area has quite a large visiting population – Bord Fáilte/ Shannon Development estimate there are approximately 2 million tourists visiting this region annually, principally during the summer months. The 24/7 Emergency department cares for 36,000 Emergency presentations average annual activity levels of approximately 13,000 Inpatient discharges, 11,000 Day Cases Presentations and 54,000 Outpatient Attendances.

This Model 3 hospital also provides medical & surgical day OPD which facilitates visiting Consultants. University Hospital Kerry is continually investing and developing the clinical services, to include a new CCU/HDU 6 bedded unit, new extensive laboratory unit, 6th theatre suite and a new purpose built oncology day unit which will complement the following existing services;

· 24/7 Emergency Department

· 76 Bed Acute Medicine (including 4 Bed Acute Stroke Unit)

· 8 Bed Acute Medical Assessment Unit

· 15 Bed Surgical Day Ward

· 5 Bed Intensive Care Unit

· 4 Bed Coronary Care / High Dependency Unit

· 38 Bed Maternity Unit

· 10 Cot Special Care Baby Unit

· 29 Paediatric Beds

· 5 Operating Theatres

· 11 Bed Endoscopy Day Unit

· 13 Bed Oncology Day Ward

· 12 Bed Dialysis Unit

The Kerry Specialist Palliative Care Service (KSPCS) provided is currently lead by two consultants, 24/7 on-call service which has proven of immense value to the hospital and community in improving palliative care services. The service is currently provided in the following settings:

• Specialist Palliative In Patient Unit
• Specialist Palliative Day Care Service
• Specialist Palliative Community Care Service
• Specialist Palliative Acute Care Service

The primary academic partner for the group is University College Cork.

HSE South West

Six Health Regions have been established within the HSE, on the basis of the geographical boundaries agreed by the Government in July 2019 and they will be operational from 2024.

Each Health Region will be tasked with population specific planning resourcing and delivery of health and social care services for the needs of its unique population. This will result in improved accountability and governance in terms of finance and performance, while also bringing decision-making closer to the frontline.

Health Regions will enable and empower staff to provide services that are:

· Integrated, locally planned and delivered

· Easier to access and navigate

· Available closer to home

Health Regions are geographically-based units with clearly defined populations. They align community and hospital services within specific areas. The HSE will retain a strong but leaner central organisation, with more service provision developed at a local level.

The HSE South West health region will manage and deliver all public health and social care services in Cork and Kerry. HSE South West includes all hospital and community healthcare services in the region.

This includes:

· South / South West Hospital Group S/SWHG

· Cork Kerry Community Healthcare CKCH

· Midlands Louth Meath Community Health Organisation

· Community Healthcare Organisation Dublin North City and County

The Department of Population and Public Health is also now aligned with this health region.

Services in the South West health region

HSE Services working within this region include:

· Acute Hospitals

· Primary care services

· Community services

· Social care services

· Health and social care professionals

· Voluntary sector services

South / South West Hospital Group and Cork Kerry Community Healthcare will become part of HSE South West health region from 3rd March, 2025, and the transition to the new structures will be taking place throughout 2025.