Top award for Southern Trust Anaesthetist

A Southern Trust anaesthetist has been awarded the prestigious Dundee Medal Award 2016 from the Northern Ireland Society of Anaesthetists for her paediatric work.
Dr Leanne Laverty has been awarded the Dundee Medal for work on paedistric critical care transfers under Dr Kieran OConnors supervisionDr Leanne Laverty has been awarded the Dundee Medal for work on paedistric critical care transfers under Dr Kieran OConnors supervision
Dr Leanne Laverty has been awarded the Dundee Medal for work on paedistric critical care transfers under Dr Kieran OConnors supervision

Dr Leanne Laverty, a speciality trainee anaesthetist at Craigavon Area Hospital received the annual award in memory of Professor John W Dundee OBE, which is specifically for the development of a quality improvement project in the applicant’s chosen field.

Under the supervision of Dr Kieran O’Connor, Consultant Anaesthetist and lead for Paediatric Anaesthesia at Craigavon Hospital, Dr Laverty has developed new protocols for paediatric critical care transfers.

Commenting on Dr Laverty’s project, Dr O’Connor said: “Treating a critically ill child in an emergency situation is one of the most stressful situations for any healthcare professional to be involved in.

“It is absolutely vital that we are doing everything we can whilst they are in our care to ensure their safe transfer to the Regional Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital and the best possible outcome from their treatment there. Leanne’s project involved very meticulous auditing of all critically ill children who required stabilisation or resuscitation at Craigavon before being transferred to the Royal.

“She has developed a more simplified way of documenting vital information specifically for children in an emergency situation, identified training opportunities for professional colleagues and has plans to share this learning with other hospitals.”

Congratulating Dr Laverty on the award, Dr Charlie McAllister, Associate Medical Director for Anaesthetics, Theatres and Intensive Care at the Southern Trust said: “Leanne is the latest Southern Trust anaesthetist over the last number of years to receive the Dundee Medal. Supported by Dr O’Connor, she has developed a project which will help to improve safety and quality of paediatric patient care.”