Mental Health Nursing Conference 2018
The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and Ulster University jointly hosted a Mental Health
Nursing Conference at the Great Hall in Downshire Hospital in Downpatrick in September.
The event, which was eloquently facilitated by
Mr Victor Robinson, who works as a Lecturer
Practitioner with the University and Trust, was
opened by Mr Don Bradley, Assistant Director in
Mental Health Services.
Key note addresses were delivered by Professor
Tanya McCance, an internationally renowned
leader in person-centred nursing care and
Professor Siobhan O'Neill who is leading on a
significant research project examining suicide
in Northern Ireland.
Mr Rodney Morton, the Deputy Chief Nursing
Officer at the Department of Health outlined some
of the detail contained within the forthcoming
regional Mental Health Nursing Strategy, calling
for colleagues to embrace the strategy's vision
and recommendations.
Nicki Patterson, the Trust's Director of Nursing,
Primary Care and Older People also spoke at
the conference, recounting the substantial
progress she has witnessed in the development
of nursing over the last 30 years.
Eileen Shevlin delivered a passionate
presentation on recovery, peer support and
co-production, providing a unique insight from
the lived experience perspective.
Jackie O'Neill, a South Eastern HSC Trust
Midwife, discussed the successful Early
Intervention Transformation Programme that is
helping to support the health and wellbeing of
parents.
The day was particularly marked with numerous
presentations and displays of excellence in the
delivery of mental health care from Trust nurses.
Damien Brannigan, the Trust's Lead Mental Health Nurse, brought a close to the conference with an
exhort to action, challenging mental health nurses to embrace the current period of transformation to
further enhance the delivery of services to patients and their families.
Speakers at the Conference
(L - R) Nicki Patterson, Director of Nursing,
Primary Care and Older People;
Victor Robinson, Lecturer Practitioner;
Rodney Morton, Deputy Chief Nursing
Officer at the Department of Health and
Mr Damien Brannigan, Community Mental
Health Services Manager and Lead Nurse.
Conference Organising Committee
(L - R) Clare Marie Dickson, Nursing
Modernisation Manager for Workforce and
Education; Leanne Jones, Mental Health
Team Leader; Lee Baxter, Mental Health
Team Leader; Mr Damien Brannigan,
Community Mental Health Services Manager
and Lead Nurse; Mr Victor Robinson,
Lecturer Practitioner and Mrs Anne Gordon,
Ward Sister.
Mental Health
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