After spending her whole life in healthcare, Viral Hepatitis Specialist Nurse Karen Patterson has retired. On behalf of all of the patients she has cared for over the years Chairman of the RVH Liver Support Group, Jim Kilpatrick, wished her a long and pleasant retirement.
You might have heard the word “encompass” recently; you may have seen a little about it on TV too. This is the new digital recording system that has been rolled out within the Trust on June 6th. It means that, from this date, all patient records in the hospitals will be recorded digitally and there will no longer be patients paper notes. In the fullness of time patients will be able to access their records on their phone or tablet computer and see their blood results and results of scans and hospital appointments.
In the picture opposite we can see Sister Carol Harper along with some of her staff in the Regional Liver Unit (Ward 6D) getting to grips with encompass.
Sunday June 9th saw the RVHLSG summer member lunch take place at the Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena. The event was again well attended and everyone met with new friends and old. The service and the quality of the food provided by the hotel was faultless.
Press release from Mayor’s Office.
Outgoing Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Mark Cooper BEM welcomed his three chosen charities to Mossley Mill to present them with a cheque following his fundraising efforts during his Mayoral term. A superb total of £36,965 was raised for the charities: RVH Liver Support Group, Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice and Action Deaf Youth.
Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Mark Cooper commented, “Each of these three charities provide a vital service to those in need and I am delighted to be able to support their work. Throughout my term I have hosted many fundraising activities for these charities and I am delighted that together, we have raised nearly £37,000 which I know will benefit them greatly.
“I have always been a strong supporter of the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice and commend all of the work that they do. Those who know me, will be aware that I am also a passionate advocate for the Deaf Community. It is a huge honour to be able to donate £10,315 to each of these fantastic charities, who I know put the money raised to good use.
“The RVH Liver Support Group is a charity that my family and I have experienced first-hand. On top of the £10,315, I am delighted to donate a further £6,020 to them from a Gala Ball I hosted earlier this year specifically for the charity. The team provide an exceptional service and I am delighted that these much needed funds can go towards supporting their vital work.
“I would like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout the year and donated to these worthwhile causes.”
Today, May 30th 2024, Sr Georgie Fennell had her last day as Sister of 6B Outpatients Department. On behalf of the RVH Liver Support Group we would like to take this opportunity to thank Georgie so much for her sterling work with all of our liver patients who have had occasion to visit 6B. We are sure that many will know her personally.
The painting, presented by her family, deserves a special mention here. It represents her career in nursing from the first day she started work in the RVH back in 1975 to today. Georgie said, she came in on her bicycle wearing a cape to cover her from the rain. She left the bicycle in the bicycle rack and went to her work.
We wish Georgie the best of luck in her retirement.
The RVH Liver Support Group continues to roll out the “coffee morning” patient get togethers, this time in the Everglades Hotel Derry/Londonderry on Monday May 20th. The event was, once again, well attended. We will continue to organise and promote these right around the Province.
Belfast City Marathon took place today, Sunday May 5th with over 19,000 participants, the largest ever in the history of the marathon. Of course the RVH Liver Support Group took part too with many members and supporters taking part in the full marathon the relay and the 8 mile walk. We were joined by many members from the medical team from the Royal Victoria Hospital and we are very thankful for their support!!
Another successful coffee morning took place at the Woodlawn Garden Centre in Carryduff recently. We had over 20 patients come along providing lots of chat on their journeys and experiences. Look out for the next one!!
Yesterday our Group Chairman, Jim Kilpatrick, travelled with his family to Windsor Castle to be presented with his MBE by The Princess Royal, Princess Anne. Jim received his award for services to liver patients and their families in Northern Ireland.
Jim said “I was delighted to be here in Windsor Castle today with my family to receive my MBE from the Princess Royal, for services to liver patients across Northern Ireland. It’s not only a recognition of my personal work, but also all that the Liver Support Group does, and has done, for the past 26 years, which we are all very proud of.”
As a Group we are very proud of Jim and delighted that he has received his MBE as recognition for all the hard work that he does 💙
