Ireland’s first hybrid Aphasia Conversation Group, located in Donegal, has won a national award.
HSE Bright Spark Awards, where frontline innovation is celebrated and rewarded, were presented on 15th June 2023 during the HSE’s Spark Summit at the Clayton Hotel, Cardiff Lane, Dublin.
The event is sponsored by National Doctors Training and Planning, the Office of Nursing and Midwifery Services Director and the National Health and Social Care Professionals Office.
The national Best Health and Social Care Profession (HSCP) Lead Project was awarded to Dr Louise Sterritt and team members Larry Masterson, Denise Duggan and Rory Kavanagh for Ireland’s first hybrid Aphasia Conversation Group.
The Aphasia Conversation Group, also known as an Aphasia Café, was established in Donegal in October 2022, following planning and collaboration between Dr. Louise Sterritt, Senior Speech and Language Therapist, and Larry Masterson, Aphasia Advocate and Stroke Survivor and Thriver. The initiative was facilitated and supported by Denise Duggan, Donegal Speech and Language Therapy Manager, and Rory Kavanagh, Community Health Network Manager Donegal North.
Aphasia is an acquired language impairment and the most common cause of aphasia is stroke. One in every three people who have a stroke will experience aphasia and it is estimated that approximately 100 people every year experience aphasia in Donegal.
Aphasia can affect understanding of language and/or the words and sentences used. Reading, writing and understanding numbers can also be affected by aphasia. As a consequence, aphasia can result in social isolation and low mood, since it is more difficult to have conversations. This can impact negatively on friendships, relationships, occupations and past times.
Mandy Doyle, HSE CH CDLMS Head of Service, Primary Care said “I’d like to congratulate Dr Sterritt, her team and all involved in the Aphasia Café in Donegal on winning this award. This group is a first of it’s kind in Ireland and is of enormous benefit to the community. I am delighted to see all of the hard work and commitment that went into it acknowledged on a national stage.”
Dr Louise Sterritt, Senior Speech & Language Therapist said “The aphasia conversation group in Donegal is the first of its kind in Ireland as the fortnightly meetings alternate between face-to-face meetings and online meetings using the Webex platform. This hybrid format has made the meetings more accessible to people living with aphasia all across Donegal. Some members prefer face-to-face meetings whereas others prefer joining from the comfort of their home.”
Currently the monthly face-to-face meetings take place in the Central Library, Letterkenny. However, the group hopes to travel to all the networks in the county as an aphasia café ‘roadshow, further increasing both accessibility for all as well as awareness of the group. For further information on the group or for information on the next meeting dates, contact Louise on louise.sterritt@hse.ie or 087 1047333.
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