South/South West Hospital Group has today (Wednesday 24th June) hosted a thank you ceremony for members of the Defence Forces who provided support during Covid-19. The ceremony will be held on Kennedy Quay dock alongside LÉ Eithne, which is currently docked at the quay. The ceremony will also include a bidding farewell to LÉ Eithne and the Defence Forces, who provided Covid-19 related support on Kennedy Quay.
Since 20th March, members of the Defence Forces provided essential support in response to Covid-19 that included:
- Provision of personnel to assist with COVID-19 swabbing at Testing Centres across Cork and Kerry
- Assisting with the establishment and `set up` of mobile testing centres
- Modification to Defence Force vehicles with requisite partitions in order to transport members of the general public to Testing Centres throughout Cork and Kerry, in addition to the assessment hub in Cork city
- Manufacture of personal protective equipment (PPE) `visors` for healthcare workers in conjunction with external organisation `Benchspace`
- Distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), alcohol hand sanitisers and associated equipment to healthcare facilities
- Provision and development of additional structures, associated equipment and resources on site at healthcare facilities such as Mercy University Hospital in order to increase COVID-19 response and management capacity
- Establishment of a dedicated co-ordination centre in Collins Barracks Cork, in order to manage requests from the Principal Response Agencies (PRAs) of the Health Service Executive (HSE), An Garda Síochána and Local Authorities of Cork city Council, Cork County Council and Kerry County Council
- Training of Port of Cork Pilots and staff in the donning and doffing of PPE
Geraldine McCarthy, Chairperson, South/South West Hospital Group said: “On behalf of the South/South West Hospital Group I would like to thank the Defence Forces for their invaluable help to the HSE across Cork and Kerry during the Covid-19 pandemic. The support provided to hospitals and medical outlets were vital in helping to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in the region.”
Gerry O’Dwyer, Group CEO, South/South West Hospital Group said: “As a result of the support provided by the Defence Forces, over three hundred people were transported to testing centres. Defence Force members were also fully prepared to assist the HSE with essential maintenance and support services, in the event of significant staff shortages. During the pandemic, skilled specialist personnel were on-hand to construct and progress specialised structures to create additional space to enable social distancing. This was a critical service provided to Mercy University Hospital, which as a city centre location has limited space. It is important that the SSWHG acknowledges the great work carried out by the Defence Forces and we are delighted to have an opportunity to thank them and bid farewell to LÉ Eithne from Kennedy Quay.”
