Eileen Murphy, wife of Pat, pictured in the ICU Departmen at Mercy Hospital Cork with one of the five bedside care trolleys which were purchased from the proceeds of a fun walk in Banteer last year. the fun walk also funded the purchase of two laryngoscopes.
Two laryngoscopes and five bedside care trolleys, purchased for the Mercy University Hospital through funds raised by the Banteer Family Fun Walk, are now in place in the ICU of the hospital, thanks to the Banteer Family Fun Walk which took place on January 2nd, 2017, in memory of the late Pat Murphy RIP, which raised €18,713.80 for the purchase of this new equipment. The family fun walk was organised by Pat’s wife Eileen, along with his family and friends, and Banteer Lyre GAA clubs. Pat passed away at the Mercy Hospital Cork on Sunday, May 29th, 2016, so it was fitting that funds raised went to the Mercy.
Two laryngoscopes were purchased with funds raised through the walk. Dr. Donall O’Croinin, Consultant Anaesthetist at the Mercy University Hospital said, “People who are having surgery, or who are critically ill, may need to have a breathing tube put into their trachea (windpipe). There are some people in whom it is very difficult to get the breathing tube into the correct position. The new laryngoscopes are potentially lifesaving pieces of equipment that will help me and my colleagues to deliver the best standards of care possible for our patients.”
The money raised was also used to purchase the five bedside care trolleys which will be used at the point of delivery of care in the ICU, replacing trolleys which are no longer fit for purpose. Funds raised enabled the ICU to purchase a unit with a specification that will allow all a patient’s bedside needs to be met at the bed space. Speaking about the new trolleys, Elaine Hanna, CNM2 ICU at the Mercy University Hospital said “The ICU environment can be challenging for families and patients so it is important that we have a space to store personal belongings such as gowns, slippers and their own personal toiletries, so that when we start to mobilise and rehabilitate the patient we have everything they need to hand. In addition, an essential need is the increased efficiency within the department, as when an emergency occurs, lifesaving equipment is readily available at the bed space in these high spec trollies.”
Eileen Murphy recently visited the ICU Unit in the Mercy to see the new equipment in situ. Micheál Sheridan, CEO of the Mercy Hospital Foundation, said, “Our mission is to inspire people to support advancements in research, diagnosis, treatments and care of patients at the Mercy University Hospital, the People’s Hospital. This is only possible through the help of supporters and donors like Eileen, and Pat’s family, friends and supporters from Banteer Lyre GAA Clubs that stepped out on January 2nd, honouring Pat’s memory.”