01/12/2022
Congratulations to Josephine Friel, Substance Misuse Liaison Nurse and Dr Colm Shahmohammadi based at Altnagelvin Hospital’s Emergency Department whose Take Home Nalozone Project has been named this year’s winner of the Davin Corrigan Legacy Award.
Colm and Josephine’s Take Home Naloxone project was the winning entry in this year’s Davin Corrigan Legacy Award, an annual competition that celebrates work within the Western Trust that promotes safety and coproduction.
Speaking about the Take Home Naloxone project Josephine said:
“We are delighted to be working towards the roll out of the Take Home Naloxone Programme as part of our Opioid Toxicity QI Project in Altnagelvin’s Emergency Department. Naloxone is a lifesaving drug which reverses opioid overdose therefore preventing overdose related deaths in our community. By having wide access to Naloxone Kits in our locality, more and more lives can be saved by the use of this drug which has almost immediate effects at the time of administration.
“Anyone who is trained in its use can administer Naloxone, which is a similar kit to that of an EpiPen. As a Trust, we endeavour to continue engaging with service users and their families. By having this practical and lifesaving solution at times of need, both service users and their loved ones will feel more assured and supported as they move through the struggle of addiction. More kits in our communities’ mean there is a greater chance of preventing opiate related deaths as well as increasing the knowledge of those living in our locality about Naloxone and its use.”