Bon Secours Health System launched its Inaugural Conference today entitled “Patients, Partnership and Planning”. The Conference brought together health leaders from around the world including the Mayo Clinic, UPMC, RCSI, the NHS and all major Private Health Insurers and Public Hospital CEO’s, to share their knowledge and expertise with one aim, how to improve services for patients. The Conference was opened by the American Ambassador, Mr Kevin O’ Malley who stressed the importance of healthcare links between Ireland and the United States and the importance of partnership working. “Creative thinkers will, through the use of technology and collaborations, make our healthcare systems stronger, more connected and more efficient, with the result of generating better and longer lasting outcomes for patients everywhere”.
Bill Maher, CEO, outlined the importance of partnerships particularly with colleagues in the Public Sector so that we can collectively meet the challenges facing the Health System and deliver service for patients. Mr Maher said: “This conference is all about patients, they are at the centre of all we do – whether we are in the Public Sector or the Private Sector”. He emphasised the importance of working together with industry and academia “so that together we can provide the best possible services for our patients”.
Speaking at the Conference, Mr. Maher, launched the Bon Secours Health System’s ambitious “2020 Plan” to develop services for patients and to continue to invest in Advanced Medicine Exceptional Care. He continued: The “2020 Plan” outlines our strategic goals and initiatives which will see a €150m capital investment across all hospitals in our group, in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Tralee and the Care Village in Cork. As Ireland’s largest Private Healthcare provider, headquartered in Cork and a not for profit organization, our aim remains to provide “good help to those in need” and invest in our staff and services for the future”.
There were a number of other major announcements at the Conference as part of the “2020 Plan” which included news of a joint venture with UPMC to establish the Radiotherapy Centre in Cork. Speaking at the Conference, Mr Chuck Bogosta, President of UPMC International announced the joint venture to provide one of the country’s most advanced radiation therapy centres for cancer patients. “The new centre will combine the expertise of BSHS, with UPMC’s world-renowned model of cancer care that brings the latest and best radiation therapy treatments to patients. We’re excited to work with such a highly regarded clinical partner as Bon Secours Hospital Cork to reach more patients in Ireland with world-class care close to home,” said Charles Bogosta. Echoing Mr. Bogosta’s statement, Mr Maher said “This partnership builds upon the world-class medical and surgical oncology services we already offer in Cork and, in partnership with UPMC, we will soon enhance our cancer services by providing access to leading-edge radiation technology and clinical protocols.”
The Radiotherapy Centre will be built on the Bon Secours campus in Cork as part of a new, six-story expansion currently under construction. The new Radiotherapy Centre will open in January 2019 and expects to treat patients with two advanced Varian TrueBeam Radiotherapy System, providing image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Used for a variety of cancers, these approaches are designed to improve patient outcomes while minimizing side-effects.
Bon Secours Hospital Cork has been providing health care for over 100 years and is Ireland’s largest private hospital. Cancer treatments are a key part of the hospital’s clinical services. Bon Secours Hospital Cork is one of only a few hospitals in Ireland to be accredited by the European Society of Medical Oncology. “The new Radiotherapy Centre is an exciting development for the hospital and our patients” said Harry Canning, Hospital Manager. “The treatments available to our patients will be truly world class and we look forward to working with our partners UPMC over the next couple of years to open the service”. Completion of the agreement is contingent on the approval of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission of Ireland.
Mr. Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government spoke about the announcement: “I welcome the €150m investment in services across the country which include a new Cath Lab in Galway, new theatres and consultant suites in Tralee, the development of Endoscopy and Day Services in Dublin, 33 additional beds and an €11m investment in the Care Village. The news of €64 million investment in new theatres, additional beds and a state of the art Radiotherapy Centre in Bon Secours Hospital Cork is an additional asset to improving Cancer Care in Ireland. I look forward to performing the “sod turning” ceremony for the €11m investment in the Care Village in Cork in December this year. I also look forward to hearing more about Bon Secours Health System’s ambitious plans outlined in their “2020 Plan”.
