Health Board: Upcoming conferences, talks, campaigns and events

1) Saint John of God Hospital's public lecture series runs from Monday, March 25th to Monday, April 15th in Stillorgan, Co Dublin. Admission to these lectures – which take place in the hospital on Monday evenings from 8pm to 9.30pm – is free. Members of the general public, health professionals and the media are welcome to attend. Pre-registration is not required. For more information, see stjohnofgodhospital.ie.

March 25th – The Meaning of Life: A Young Person's Perspective (Kim Penna, senior occupational therapist, and Karen Mertig, senior social worker).
April 1st – Empty Nest Syndrome: Coping with the Changing Landscape (Orlaith Donoghue, head of occupational therapy).
April 8th – Aging Well in the Modern World: What Psychology Tells Us (Dr Nicola McGlade, senior clinical psychologist, and Dr Beth McEvoy, clinical psychologist).
April 15th – Let's Talk Health and Wellbeing (Tracey McDonagh, health promotion nurse).

2) ARC Cancer Support Centres has announced a event for men diagnosed with prostate cancer. The event gets under way at its Eccles Street centre in Dublin on Friday, March 29th from 10.30am-12.30pm and aims to provide support to men who have been diagnosed with the disease. The programme addresses a range of topics including developments in research, physical health and well-being, stress management and emotional health, sexual matters and relationships. The programme is free, but limited to 40 participants, so those interested should contact Amy on (01) 8307 333. For more details, see arccancersupport.ie.

3) Irish community organisations, projects, charities and sports clubs have until the end of this month to enter the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2019. The national awards ceremony celebrate groups that make a difference in communities all over Ireland. The awards have seven categories – Sport, Health and Well Being, Arts/Culture, Heritage, Community, Youth Affairs, and Irish Language. Each category winner will receive €10,000 and the overall "Good Cause of the Year" gets an additional €25,000. More information at lottery.ie/goodcausesawards.

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4) The Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) Human Milk Bank located at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen is asking more new mums to donate breast milk as stocks are low. "We are encouraging new mothers to help with the increase in demand for breast milk and to ensure we have an adequate supply for neonatal units across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland," says Jacinta Boyle, co-ordinator of the Western Trust Milk Bank. If you would like find out more about the Milk Bank and becoming a donor, contact the Milk Bank on (028) 6862 8333 or email TMB.SWAH@westerntrust.hscni.net.

5) Lymphoedema Ireland has invited patients across the country to register for a national support day on Saturday, March 30th. The national support day will take place at the Aisling Hotel in Dublin and those interested can register at lymphireland.com. Some 15,000 people in Ireland live with the condition which involves painful swelling of fluid in the body's tissues.

6) Cystic Fibrosis Ireland is holding its annual conference in the Mount Wolseley Hotel, Carlow, on Saturday, March 30th. The event, 2009-2019: A Decade of Progress but Many Challenges Ahead, will be of particular interest to family members, friends and the wider CF community. Among the speakers will be Prof Barry Plant, Cork University Hospital, who will address new CF drug therapies in the pipeline, while Dr Michelle Murray, Mater hospital, will update on transplants and organ donor consent developments. Registration now open at cfireland.ie. The conference takes place ahead of CFI's annual fundraising flag day, 65 Roses Day, on Friday, April 12th, when people are urged to buy a purple rose for €2 or donate online at 65rosesday.ie.

7) Engage 2019 – the 11th International Dementia Conference – will be held in Croke Park, Dublin, April 1st and 2nd. Engaging Dementia (formerly Sonas apc) is a registered charity which provides training and resources for those who care for people with dementia in residential care, day centres, hospitals or the family home. Tickets – €150 (day 1), €125 (day 2), or €250 for both days – are available from engagingdementia.ie.

8) Pioneering educator in lifestyle medicine, Dr Beth Frates will visit Dublin for an RCSI MyHealth public lecture on Paving the Path to Wellness at 6pm on Tuesday, April 2nd. The event is free, but you must register to attend. Further details at rcsi.com/dublin/events.

9) On Sunday, April 7th, a group of Irish music acts will come together in Dublin's Olympia Theatre for A Night for Aware, a concert in aid of mental health charity Aware. Taking to the stage on the night are Ryan Sheridan, An Emotional Fish, In Tua Nua, The Blizzards, Sack, The Henry Girls, Eibhin Eviston & Dave McGinley, State Lights, Martin Daws, plus special guests. Tickets from ticketmaster.ie or Ticketmaster outlets from €28. You can also phone 0818-719330.

10) An information seminar for women at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer, and their families, will be held at the Clayton Hotel Leopardstown, Dublin, on Friday, April 5th, 9.30am-4pm. Experts will cover topics such as a patient's journey from screening to surgery; gynaecological surgical options for disease prevention; and strengthening self-care and resilience; and there will a panel discussion and an opportunity to ask questions. See mariekeating.ie

11) Northridge House Education and Research Centre, part of St Luke's Home Cork, is hosting their seventh annual conference in the Radisson Blu Hotel on April 11th. The conference theme is "Enhancing Quality of life in Unrestricted Healthcare Environments" and speakers include Prof Tony O'Brien (Marymount University Hospice), Prof Amanda Phelan (UCD) and Dr Suzanne Timmons (Cork Geriatrician). For more see northridgehouse.ie or Claire (021) 453 6551.

12) Breast Cancer Ireland's "Battle of the Stars", supported by the Joe Duffy Group, takes place at Dublin's Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, on Saturday, April 13th. Competing will be seven breast cancer survivors. Now in its sixth year, Battle of the Stars has become an annual event where performers dance and lip sync in front of an audience of 450 people. RTÉ's Eoghan McDermott will MC and a celebrity judging panel will assess the entertainment value. Tickets are ¤150 from breastcancerireland.com.

13) The Croke Park Stadium Tour has added an Easter twist for families from April 18th-22nd. As well as the usual behind-the-scenes access to the players' lounge, dressingrooms, warm-up area, media centre, etc and the GAA Museum, children follow clues around Europe's third-largest stadium to earn an Easter egg. Children: €11. Adult: €9 (discounts for families). See crokepark.ie/easter

14) Cork charity Ag Eisteacht is running a second Able brief intervention training course in Cork this May for practitioners working in health, social care and community settings. Able (Adopt a relational approach, Build, Listen and Empower) training provides a framework and builds skills to help practitioners to engage with, "listen to understand" and empower patients/clients by embedding a relational approach into their practice. The training is approved for CPD purposes by Social Care Ireland, NMBI, IASW, Irish College of General Practitioners, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at RCSI and the Department of Education. The three-day course takes place on May 14th, 28th and 29th at Northridge House Education Centre, Castle Road, Mahon, Cork. Tickets €250-€300, via Eventbrite or 021 453 6556.

15) Tallaght University Hospital's schedule for its spring/summer series of community health talks "Let's Talk Health" – run in partnership with the Patient Community Advisory Council – consists of talks on a wide range of health issues.
Tuesday, March 26th: COPD – How to Manage this Chronic Lung Disease. Speaker: Dr John Cullen, consultant in general internal and respiratory medicine. Location: Killinarden Community Centre at 11am.
Tuesday, April 2nd: Minding the Skin You Are In. Speaker: Carmel Blake, clinical nurse specialist in dermatology. Location: Lower Assembly Area, Old Bawn Community School at 7.30pm.
Wednesday, April 10th: Arthritis, What Is It & What You Can Do About It. Speaker: Patricia O'Neill, clinical nurse manager, and Stephanie Naramore, candidate advanced nurse practitioner in rheumatology. Location: Durkan Suite – An Cosán at 11am.
Thursday, April 25th: Stroke: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment. Speaker: Prof Rónán Collins, director of stroke services. Location: Kilnamanagh Family Recreation Centre at 11am.
Wednesday, May 15th: Men's Health Looking Under the Bonnet. Speaker: Mr Rob Flynn, consultant urologist. Location: Firhouse Community & Leisure Centre at 6.15pm.

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