Working life with Karn Cliffe
Today I’m in Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore doing a combined flu and sepsis awareness event with the multidisciplinary team. We are launching the flu campaign to encourage uptake of the flu vaccination among healthcare workers.
I’m currently working with the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group and a former county hurler and All Star producing a video on how flu came close to taking his life a few years ago.
I’ve correspondence to get through in relation to our upcoming fifth Sepsis Summit at Dublin Castle on September 25.
Among our speakers are internationally renowned experts on sepsis as well as sepsis survivors recounting their stories, which is vital for the success of our national clinical programme.
One of the main reasons for the sepsis summit is to enable hospitals across the country to showcase their work in this area.
As the midwife lead for sepsis, I am very involved with the maternity sepsis programme. I’m currently co-writing the national sepsis maternity guideline.
Sepsis is relatively uncommon in pregnancy but can be serious, so early recognition is important. My job takes me to hospitals in Dublin, Portlaoise, and Tullamore.
A huge part of my job is raising awareness of the dangers of sepsis and ensuring staff recognise the early signs. Many hospitals, through their sepsis committees, organise awareness-raising events for healthcare workers and members of the public through the month of September.
I attended the National Ploughing Championships this week where we had the opportunity to talk to members of the public on sepsis recognition and the importance of seeking timely medical advice.
I manage to have an extremely busy out-of-work life too. I believe in working hard and playing hard.
I am a runner and triathlete and at the moment I am training for a triathlon and the Dublin City Marathon. Training keeps me sane.
In 2016, along with two sepsis assistant director colleagues, a sepsis survivor, I completed the Dublin City Marathon.
While I do not have children, I am a devoted auntie to six fabulous nieces and nephews whom I see on a regular basis and who definitely keep me grounded.
