South Eastern Trust welcomes Royal College Registrar to Ulster Hospital paediatric and neonatal units

The South Eastern Trust was honoured to host a visit from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Registrar, Dr Jan Dudley, to the Paediatric and Neonatal Units at the Ulster Hospital.

During the visit, Dr Dudley toured the Children’s Outpatients Unit, Short Stay Paediatric Assessment Unit, Inpatient Wards, Day Procedure Unit and the Neonatal Unit, meeting with clinical teams and learning more about the services provided to children and young people across the South Eastern Trust area.

Welcoming Dr Dudley to the Unit were Assistant Director of Acute Paediatrics and Clinical Support Services, Kieran Quinn, Associate Clinical Director for Paediatrics and Consultant Paediatrician, Dr Karen Courtenay and Consultant Paediatrician, Dr Naomi Kirk. Dr Dudley was joined by colleagues from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health during the visit.

The aim of the visit was to gain first-hand insight into Paediatric Services in Northern Ireland, to understand the challenges facing frontline teams and to explore how the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health can further support Paediatricians in delivering high-quality care to children and families.

Dawn Stokes (RCPCH Membership Engagement Manager), Ruth Mullan  (Assistant Director for Membership, RCPH), Dr Naomi Kirk (Consultant Paediatrician, South Eastern Trust), Dr Thomas Bourke (RCPCH Officer for Ireland), Dr Karen Courtenay (Associate Clinical Director & Consultant Paediatrician, South Eastern Trust), Dr Jan Dudley (RCPCH Registrar) and Kieran Quinn (Assistant Director of Acute Paediatrics & Clinical Support Services, South Eastern Trust). Pic credit: SEHSCTplaceholder image
Dawn Stokes (RCPCH Membership Engagement Manager), Ruth Mullan (Assistant Director for Membership, RCPH), Dr Naomi Kirk (Consultant Paediatrician, South Eastern Trust), Dr Thomas Bourke (RCPCH Officer for Ireland), Dr Karen Courtenay (Associate Clinical Director & Consultant Paediatrician, South Eastern Trust), Dr Jan Dudley (RCPCH Registrar) and Kieran Quinn (Assistant Director of Acute Paediatrics & Clinical Support Services, South Eastern Trust). Pic credit: SEHSCT

Dr Dudley said: “It is fantastic to be here in Belfast to see what Paediatricians across the United Kingdom are doing for their communities and populations. We will be talking throughout the day about what we at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health can do to help Paediatricians achieve those aims.

“It is really important to get first-hand experience of what is happening at ground level and to understand the challenges which we know exist across the whole of the United Kingdom.

"While those challenges may present in different ways, coming together to see what we can do to address them is incredibly important.”

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Thanking the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health for attending, Dr Karen Courtenay stated: “It has been an absolute pleasure to host colleagues from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

"The visit has given us the opportunity to highlight both the excellent work taking place here at the Ulster Hospital and the challenges we face in Northern Ireland.

"We look forward to continued engagement with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health as we advocate for the wellbeing of children and young people in our community.”

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