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HSE Community Programmes

Programme Partner, HSE will be targeting to influence health outcomes for citizen by way of several community-based health interventions and supports. This will be achieved through programmes such as Social Prescribing, Smoking Cessation, Healthy Food Made Easy, and Parenting.

Below is a list of the programmes and contact staff based in Westmeath.

Joanne Naughton (Social Prescriber Link Worker) Phone: 085 852 9019 Email: socialprescriber@afrc.ie

FRC and Slaintecare Logos

Social Prescribing is a free, HSE service provided in partnership with NICHE Health Project Cork CLG, which helps to link you with sources of support and social activities within your community.

  • These include
  • Physical activity
  • Reading groups/books for health
  • Self-help programmes such as the Stress Control Programme
  • Men’s Sheds
  • Community gardening
  • Arts and creativity

It is for any person of 18 years or over.

Social Prescribing is for you if:

  • you feel that you need some support to mind your health and wellbeing
  • you feel isolated, stressed, anxious or depressed
  • you simply feel you need the service.
  • About the programme

First you will meet with the Social Prescribing Coordinator. S/he will help you to identify activities or groups you would like to try.

Then you will link with a designated person participating in the activity, to try it out.

After a number of weeks you will have a review with your Social Prescribing Coordinator.

At this stage, if you wish, you may try different activities or groups, to find something that you enjoy. The Social Prescribing coordinator will give you guidance and support.
Your Social Prescribing Link Worker Can Provide:

Free one to one support to help you if you are feeling isolated:

  • To connect with people,
  • To connect with services,
  • To connect with activities in your area.

You can be referred to the local Social Prescribing Link Worker through your G.P. or other health/social care professionals or you can make direct contact.

For further information please click here or contact Joanne Naughton, (Social Prescriber Link Worker)

Phone: 085 852 9019
Email: socialprescriber@afrc.ie
Address: Athlone Family Resource Centre, Act Business Development Centre, CLG, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, N37 C8W6
Website: https://www.afrc.ie/

Eileen McArdle (Facilitator) Phone: 087 791 7993 Email: wcq@youthworkmidlands.org

QUIT and SHC Logos

We Can Quit is a free, friendly, and supportive 12-week programme for anyone, who smoke and who want support to quit smoking. The programme offers free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), a weekly stop smoking group and one to one support.

The programme is being offered by the HSE in partnership with Youth Work Ireland Midlands

For further information please click here or contact We Can Quit

Name: Eileen McArdle (Facilitator)

Phone: 087 791 7993

Email: wcq@youthworkmidlands.org

Address: Youth Work Ireland Midlands, Inis Oir, Golden Island, 17-18, Loughanaskin, Athlone, Co. Westmeath

HF and FRC Logos

Healthy Food Made Easy is a food & nutrition cooking programme delivered within local communities. Courses are planned and coordinated by local community agencies and delivered by tutors who have been selected & trained by HSE Community Dietitians. Courses are interactive with small class sizes and aim to improve nutrition knowledge, dietary behaviours, cooking skills & confidence.

‘Healthy Food Made Easy’ encourages discussions about other health-related topics, such as smoking, weight management and mental health through the informal setting of cooking & eating food together; this increases awareness of other community-based supports.

‘Healthy Food Made Easy’ is delivered over 6 weekly 2½hrs sessions.

Athlone: Managed by Athlone Family Resource Centre.

Contact: Delores Crerar (Manager) 085 8423738 coordinator@afrc.ie

Fiona Fitzgerald (Project Leader) Mobile: 086 7397663 Email: fiona.fitzgerald@barnardos.ie 

Barnardos and SHC Logos

Triple P aims to promote positive caring relationships between children teenagers and their parents and to support parents in managing common behaviour and development issues through enhancing parents’ knowledge, skills and confidence. 

Younger Programme (2 – 10 years): Triple P teaches parents skills to: encourage and support their child’s social and language skills, emotional self-regulation, independence and problem-solving skills. Teen Programme (11 – 15 years) 

Triple P teachers parents how to encourage emotional self-regulation, how to support their teenager to develop the social skills to get along with others and to do well in school and community.

For further information please visit the Triple P Positive Parenting Programmes

Contact Name: Fiona Fitzgerald (Project Leader)

Phone: 086 7397663 Barnardos Athlone 090 6476422, Barnardos Lir Mullingar 044 9335282

Mobile: 086 7397663

Email: fiona.fitzgerald@barnardos.ie 

Address: 7 Ashdale, Clonbrusk, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, N37 RW31

Gail McNeill, HSE Health Promotion & Improvement Officer Phone: 086 815 7708 Email: gail.mcneill@hse.ie

Smoking Cessation Officer HSE

Your Stop Smoking Advisor will:

Provide one-to-one and group support to help people quit

Provide free stop smoking medication

For further information please click here or contact Stop Smoking Clinic (Athlone)

Name: Dr Gail McNeill, HSE Health Promotion & Improvement Officer

Phone: 086 815 7708

Email: gail.mcneill@hse.ie

Address: Health Promotion & Improvement, Health & Wellbeing‌

Contact Details not provided

Making Every Contact Count and SHC Logos

Making Every Contact Count was established to support the implementation of Healthy Ireland in our health services and help people to make healthier lifestyle choices.

Through the programme, health professionals will support patients make healthier lifestyle choices.

During routine consultations, health professionals ask patients about lifestyle behaviours related to chronic disease. The goal of these 'contacts' is to address risk factors for chronic disease. Through these contacts, health professionals will help patients achieve positive long-term behaviour change.

The Making Every Contact programme covers the following topic areas:

  • Tobacco use
  • Alcohol and drug use
  • Healthy eating
  • Physical activity
  • Overweight and Obesity
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing

For further information please click here or contact https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/healthwellbeing/making-every-contact-count/

Brigid Geoghegan, Slaintecare Healthy Communities Local Development Officer

Direct Line: 044 9338918

Mobile Phone: 087-6157052

Email: bgeoghegan@westmeathcoco.ie

Address: Community Development Section, Westmeath County Council, Áras an Chontae, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, N91 FH4N