July 2010

Plans are ongoing to improve autism services for children and adults in Northern Ireland.

The Regional Autism Spectrum Disorder Network was set up by the Health and Social Care Board to implement the Autism Action Plan published by Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey last autumn and already much progress has been made.

Siobhan Mawhirk, a Belfast Trust Specialist Speech & Language Therapist was recently awarded the prestigious Laura Millen Memorial Award by Autism NI.

Siobhan received the award for ‘Excellence in Speech & Language Therapy’ for her work in the Trust Autism Diagnostic Service and her research and intervention work within the Belfast Education and Library Board ASD Advisory Service.

This week, USA artist in residence Nevin Bossart, has been leading workshops in acrylic painting for patients, relatives and staff in the foyer of Cancer Centre and Bridgewater Suite, Belfast City Hospital.

Arts Care artist in residence Andrea Spencer has collated an exhibition of the artwork completed in the workshops with Nevin which will be displayed in the Arts Care Tower Gallery (Ground floor, Belfast City Hospital Tower). The exhibition will be officially opened by Geoff Hill (Co-Director, Cancer & Specialist Services) at 2pm on Friday 30 July.

FRESH is aimed at 12 to 14 year olds who are overweight. The children meet twice a week throughout their 12 week programme. Each session includes one hour of physical activity and the second hour about all aspects of lifestyle.

Nevin Bossart, artist from Lombardi Cancer Centre’s Arts and Humanities Programme, Washington DC will be leading workshops in acrylic painting for patients, relatives and staff in the foyer of Cancer Centre and Bridgewater Suite, Belfast City Hospital from Monday 26th – Thursday 29th July 2010.

This year the Belfast Trust will again sponsor a lecture at the West Belfast Festival. The lecture ' Learning from Glasgow’s experience: Inequalities and ill Health' - will be delivered by author of ‘ The Tears that made the Clyde’, Dr Carol Craig. The lecture will be held on Tuesday 3 August at 5pm in St Mary’s University College, Falls Road .

The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust is looking for your views on our largest public consultation to date. This consultation, called ‘Right Treatment, Right Place’ is on a proposal to reorganise the delivery of Acute Hospital Services in Belfast, and looks at how services can be reshaped to offer the highest standards of care to people in Belfast, and across Northern Ireland.

Department of Microbiology in Belfast Health and Social Care Trust have won the Elevations Diagnostics idea of the year award. The team have developed a rapid molecular test for early diagnosis of meningococcal disease (MD) resulting in earlier treatment.