Principal Medical Social Workers Group

2010 / 11            Chairperson:     Kieran Buckley

                              Secretary:             Loretto Reilly

 The Principal Medical Social Worker Group provides a forum for Principal Medical Social Workers to discuss issues and developments in social work relevant to the Hospital setting. It also provides an opportunity to address continuing professional development and training issues required in this social work setting and the connections with colleagues in community care. 

The Chairperson for the Group is Kieran Buckley from St. Vincent’s Hospital, Siobhan Nunn is Secretary and is Principal Social Worker in St. James’s Hospital.  The Group met bi-monthly in 2010 and was attended by members nationwide.  

Loretto Reilly continued to represent the Group on the IASW Council. New members, John Brennan, who was appointed Principal Social Worker in the Mater Hospital and Siobhan Nunn, Principal social Worker, St. James’s Hospital, have joined the group. Angela Keane retired from St James and the group wishes her well in her new life. 

Issues of concern: The Medical Social Workers continued to address the issues for the hospitals affected following the introduction of the Nursing Home support scheme in October 2009.  

The Chairperson of the Group wrote to the Department of Health in relation to individual resident complaints in Nursing homes. This action was taken as no body currently responsible for dealing with complaints. The Chairperson on behalf of the Group also linked in with Directorates responsible for addressing issues in respiratory illness, AMU and stroke etc. 

In 2011 the Group will continue to address issues arising in these challenging times.  

Mary Heffernan, our esteemed colleague who had retired after many years as Head Medical Social Worker in Crumlin Children’s Hospital in 2009, sadly died in July 2010. Mary’s contribution to social work and her warmth and support to colleagues is missed.  Mostly we’ll miss Mary’s wit and good humour which never failed to brighten the day’