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Nurses receive scholarships in
memory of Moville baby
20.03.17
TWO student nurses
specialising in child palliative care have received
scholarships in memory of an Inishowen baby who died
of a rare and terminal illness.
The School of Nursing and Midwifery at NUI Galway
recently hosted the inaugural launch of ‘The
Victoria Thompson Scholarships’.
Comedian and TV presenter Tommy Tiernan presented
the first two proud recipients - Anne Browne and
Aisling Devitt - with their €1,000 scholarship
cheques. |
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Pictured from left, Brian Thompson,
Anne Browne, Tommy Tiernan, Aisling Devitt and
Sharon Thompson at the presentation of the first
Victoria Thompson Scholarships to both nurses who
are studying for a Masters in Children’s Palliative
and Complex Care at NUI Galway. |
The two nurses are
undertaking a postgraduate Masters degree in Health
Sciences specialising in children’s palliative and
complex care at NUIG.
Baby Victoria, from Moville, died aged nine months
in 2012 of a severely painful disease that left her
nerve endings uninsulated.
The new scholarship programme has been set up and is
overseen by her parents Sharon and Brian Thompson.
“When we were told Victoria’s condition was rare and
terminal, we found it difficult to find specialised
nursing care for her," said Sharon."In her memory we
highlight the need for rural palliative care
services for children. Families should automatically
get access to options of care for a child with
complex or palliative medical needs. Skilled nurses
and this new course at NUI Galway are key to this
happening for children all over the country.” |
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Victoria pictured with mum Sharon and
dad Brian. |
Ms Devitt added: “It
can be difficult to work with children and families
in such tough circumstances and the more education
we have about palliative and complex care can only
help us to become better practitioners.
"It is also an honour to receive the Victoria
Thompson Scholarship and I am delighted to be able
to put it towards the second year of the programme
this September.”
Applications for the second intake of the NUIG
programme are being accepted from Spring 2017 at:
www.nuigalway.ie . |
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