Southern Branch AGM

Published: 31 August 2012

RCN Southern Branch AGM
Wednesday 17 October, 1.30pm
Boardroom, Craigavon Area Hospital

The Southern Branch of the RCN has had a busy and fulfilling year.  There has been a large number of site visits and information stands across the branch at venues including Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry, Craigavon Area Hospital and the South Tyrone Hospital in Dungannon. The branch has also promoted very successful Pensions/Financial Advice Seminars in association with Lighthouse Financial.
In the independent sector there was an extremely successful Fundamentals of Care seminar for HCAs hosted by Ashbrook Care Home, Coalisland on 9 May.  The guest speaker was Tom Rush from the RCN and over 70 healthcare assistants from a range of independent sector providers attended.  Special thanks to RCN Learning Rep, Gillian Larmour for her hard work in facilitating the event.

RCN Congress was particularly memorable for the Southern Branch. Congress was attended by Maureen Dolan, Francis Lavery, Brenda McIlmurry and Margaret Meehan in her role as a member of the Children’s Nursing Forum. For the first time ever the Southern Branch had an item accepted onto the agenda. This item, entitled ‘Cuts, or cuts to care?’ was submitted by Coleen White and presented by Maureen Dolan. The motion was carried unanimously.
Special mention should also be given to Brenda McIlmurry’s contribution to the HCA events at Congress where she too spoke eloquently.
At a national level Brenda became part of the UK HCA committee and has put her name forward for the first ever election for an HCA member of RCN Council. Margaret Meehan has continued to serve on the UK steering group of the Children’s Nursing Forum.

Finally, the Southern Branch area excelled at the RCN Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Awards. Fiona Patterson was a finalist in the overall Nurse of the Year Award. Stephanie McConville won the Health Care Support Worker Award and Aisling O’Neill was runner-up in this award. Margaret Dougan won The Public Health Award, Ann Butler was joint winner of the Bamford Vision Award and Carol Patton won the Transforming Care with Technology award.  This was a truly excellent result for the branch.

Current Branch Officials
Chair: Margaret Meehan
Secretary: Maureen Dolan
Treasurer: Coleen white
Board Member: Francis Lavery

New RCN reps:
Gillian Larmour

AGENDA

RCN Southern Branch
Annual General Meeting
17 October, 1.30pm
Boardroom, Craigavon Area Hospital,
                                  
1. Welcome, introductions and apologies
2. Minutes of the previous AGM and matters arising
3. Report from Branch Chair
4. Finance report from Branch Treasurer
5. Ratification of Elected Branch stewards, health & safety representatives and
    learning representatives
6. Election of Branch Officers
7. Any other business
    a. Update from RCN officer on RCN activity in Northern Ireland and nationally
    b. Congress 2013, Liverpool 
    c. Election process for Branch Representative to RCN Northern Ireland Board
8. Date, venue and time of next meeting(s)