ICP Awareness Event: Beaumont Hospital

Thanks, Hello, and Love

The Speech and Language Therapy Department at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, hosted an awareness event on December 17 to highlight the key messages from the ICP project and to encourage staff to sign the ICP pledge.

The department sought to highlight their role in working with people living with communication difficulties to hospital staff. The event coincided with the hospital staff Christmas lunch, and fortunately, their stand was located right outside of the hospital canteen—making it a perfect opportunity to meet with various staff members that day.

Speech and Language Therapy Department members, along with representatives from O’Neill Healthcare Ltd, spoke with staff.

Colourful resources—including awareness posters, copies of the pledge, and a number of low- and high-tech communication devices—enticed their audience; while a steady supply of chocolates also helped to attract a crowd!

A wide and varied group attended the event, including management, communications staff, medical secretaries, doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, portering staff, and family members. The event sparked a number of interesting conversations related to communication and communication difficulties; not only in relation to hospital patients, but also in relation to staff and family.

Staff members were encouraged to identify their own “top three words” by writing them on a piece of coloured paper; which were later connected to form a communication chain.

In full, 273 strips of paper were submitted, with a grand total of approximately 820 “top words” identified by hospital staff. The chain measured approximately 1,150 cm in length! The three most popular words identified by staff were “thanks,” “hello,” and “love.”

The department would like to thank all who helped organise and participate in the event. They hope similar events will be run by the Speech and Language Therapy Department at Beaumont Hospital again soon!