1) Dr Beth Frates, a pioneering educator in lifestyle medicine, 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.
2) 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, Éibhín Eviston & Dave McGinley, State Lights an Martin Daws, plus special guests. Tickets from ticketmaster.ie or Ticketmaster outlets from €28. You can also phone 0818-719330.
3) 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. There will a panel discussion and an opportunity to ask questions. See mariekeating.ie
4) The Irish Skin Foundation's fourth annual Dermatology Study Day takes place on Saturday April 6th in the Ashling Hotel, Dublin 8 from 9am-4pm. The programme is designed for hospital, community-based, GP practice, public health nurses, pharmacists and others involved in providing first-line management of skin conditions/diseases. The programme will cover first-line management of: Burns & Abrasions; Paediatric Skin Conditions; Rosacea; Alopecia; Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS); and Skin Cancer Recognition. The registration fee is €75 and tickets can be downloaded from Eventbrite.
5) Researchers at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin are seeking to interview people about their experiences of presenting to emergency departments in Ireland following an episode of self-harm or suicidal behaviour. The study is funded by the 3Ts charity (Turn the Tide of Suicide) and is looking for adults who have presented to an emergency department for self-harm/suicidal behaviour more than three months ago, but within the past five years. Contact Dr Louise Doyle for more information about the study (louise.doyle@tcd.ie, 01-8963102).
6) To coincide with Parkinson's Awareness Week (April 8th-14th), the Parkinson's Association has published a booklet, Parkinson's . . . Planning Your Journey, which details the symptoms, treatments and how to live well with this neurological condition. Copies available from: The Parkinson's Association, Carmichael House, North Brunswick St, Dublin 7 or phone 01-8722234. Awareness-raising events also take place nationwide. For details go to parkinsons.ie/SaveTheDateParkinsonsAwarenessWeek.
7) Northridge House Education and Research Centre, part of St Luke's Home Cork, is hosting its 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 call Claire 021-4536551.
8) 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.
9) 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, Adults €9 (discounts for families). See crokepark.ie/easter
10) Cork charity Ag Éisteacht 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 021-4536556.
11) Around 10,000 people will descend on Cork City on the June bank holiday weekend to take part in the annual Irish Examiner Cork City Marathon. Race organisers are encouraging individuals of all fitness levels and running ability to step up this year. Apart from the full marathon (€65) on Saturday June 2nd, there is also a half-marathon (€42) , relay (€97) and youth challenge. Register at corkcitymarathon.ie.
12) Saint John of God Hospital's public lecture series runs until 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.
April 1st – Empty Nest Syndrome: Coping with the Changing Landscape (Orlaith Donoghue, head of occupational therapy).
April 8th – Ageing 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).
13) 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 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.
14) 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) 68628333 or email TMB.SWAH@westerntrust.hscni.net.
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