Winners at National Healthcare Awards

MAYO University Hospital (MUH), in collaboration with Mayo Primary Care, Community Healthcare West, was presented with the award for Best Use of Information Technology at the Irish Healthcare Centre Awards held in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

The team from MUH and Primary Care Services were presented with the award for their project to fully integrate the radiology service between the Primary Care Centre in Castlebar and Mayo University Hospital.

This new innovative service means that GPs can refer patients for x-ray to the Primary Care Centre Castlebar, leading to elimination of waiting times for patients for plain radiology in Mayo.

It offers a faster, more efficient and higher quality service to patients and GPs while generating more capacity in the main hospital radiology department for patients with acute illnesses.

Commenting, Catherine Donohoe, general manager, MUH, said: “I am really proud of this initiative which was developed and delivered in full partnership with our colleagues in primary care services. It is a great example of integration which is patient focused and driven by quality.

“Where required patients can still be facilitated in the main radiology department in MUH, the service based in the Primary Care Centre Castlebar offers a less congested environment for patients and staff alike.”

Patient referrals for this innovative new service are coordinated and booked centrally by the radiology administrative staff in MUH radiology department and clinical governance remains with the Radiology Directorate in MUH. This initiative builds on the plain radiology service already in place in Belmullet Community Hospital and Ballina District Hospital.