Progress

Miss Katie Walsh, Speech and Language Therapist with a stroke patient

€230,000 of our targeted €250,000 has now been donated and the generous donations received have already enabled investment in priority equipment for the stroke service as outlined below.

Dr Harbison and the team are deeply grateful for all support received.

Transcranial Doppler
Status: Purchased
A Transcranial Doppler was a priority for the stroke service and was the first item purchased from donations. This portable ultrasound system can be used anywhere in the hospital to show the flow of blood through the major blood vessels in the brain. This allows doctors to assess patients, too sick to be easily moved, before deciding whether an urgent operation is required. This essential device supports decision-making during the critical hours following a patient’s arrival in hospital.

Seating
Status: Purchased
Safe, supportive and versatile seating for patients allows early rehabilitation for patients. A range of new specialist seating has now been bought for the hospital. For more information, please .

Fibre-Optic Endoscope
Status: Purchased
Endoscopes are used by speech therapists to evaluate vocal cord movement during speech and peoples’ ability to swallow. The purchase of a portable endoscope, which can be brought to patients’ bedsides, has eliminated the need for speech therapists to wait until patients can be moved to the X-Ray Department before assessing them. This essential device supports decision-making that can mean the difference for patients between recovery and disability. For more information, please .

Education for physiotherapy staff
Status: Purchased
Fees to support the advanced education of two senior physiotherapists who specialise in stroke physiotherapy have been provided. One has undertaken a Bobath course that has provided the department with additional skills in assisting patients with posture and movement, thus improving patients’ overall functional ability ad quality of life. The other has received a contribution to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland MSc in Neurology & Gerontology that he is currently undertaking; his research will look at establishing a relationship between trunk and upper extremity recovery in acute stroke patients. This will benefit the stroke service – enabling more realistic goal setting, appropriate resource allocation and more effective rehabilitation.

Contact Us

St. James’s Hospital Foundation
St. James’s Hospital
James’s Street
Dublin 8

Telephone 01 428 4086
Email foundation@stjames.ie