UCC Anaesthesiology Newsletter
Welcome to the Winter Edition
Hello and welcome to the winter edition of the UCC Anaesthesiology Newsletter.
We hope that you can reflect with pride on your clinical, academic and personal achievements in 2025- in particular those of you who have had recent exam success. We hope that you all enjoyed some well earned time with family and friends over the festive period and we wish you all a very happy and successful 2026.
As always, this edition brings you academic, educational and social updates from the region. Dr Roisin Devane includes a report on the beloved CUH Anaesthesia Record Keeping (ARK) system which has been recently replaced after 30 years of service. We also provide a survivor account of the recent annual December CUH Anaesthesia charity swim (photo). We thank the members of the UCC Emergency Society for contributing to an article on the recent student SimWars.
We welcome submissions for the Spring edition of the UCC Anaesthesiology Newsletter. yesuccanews@gmail.com
CAI Simulation Program, ASSERT, UCC:
The College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland Simulation Program provides anaesthesia trainees with an opportunity to develop clinical and non-clinical skills required to manage critical events. An ARREST (Anaesthesiology Related Rare Emergencies Simulation Training) course was held at the ASSERT Center, UCC, on November 19th (first photo), a COAST (Crisis in Obstetric Anaesthesia) course was held on November 20th (second photo) and an AE (Anaesthetic Emergencies) course on December 17th (third photo).
Course Leads Dr Murray Connolly (COAST), Dr Niamh Feely (SICC), Dr Oonagh Hickey (ARREST) and Dr Owen O’Sullivan (AE) would like to thank the participants for their enthusiasm in engaging with the courses in 2025. They would like to thank the faculty at the Simulation Centre, CAI, and at the ASSERT Center, UCC. The leads would like to particularly thank the anaesthesia faculty who continue to be so generous with their time and expertise, and without whom the courses could not be delivered.
ACLS/PLS for experienced providers:
Parallel ACLS and PLS courses for experienced providers were held on November 15th at the Kingsley Hotel, Cork City, delivered by Critical Care Training Ireland. The faculty included Dr Niamh Feely (Course Medical Director and Consultant Anaesthesiologist, UHK), Dr Heike Bruell (Consultant Paediatric Intensivist and Retrieval Medicine, CHI), Ms Fiona Barton (Course Director), Ms Linda Farren (Paediatric Director, Critical Care Training Ireland), Mr Eoin Gilmore (Senior Cardiac Physiologist, UHK) and Mr Dave Henley (Critical Care and HEMS Lead, NAS)- who demonstrated the LUCAS Chest Compression System (photo above).
Candidates included Consultant Anaesthesiologists from the UHK, the SIVUH, the MUH, the CUH and the Bons Secours, Cork.
The courses were tailored to the skill level of the group. Included was a lecture by Dr Bruell on the Irish Paediatric Acute Transfer Service (IPATS) and its website which includes some very useful resources. This lecture was particularly timely given the expected increase in the number of transfers of very ill children to paediatric critical care centres during the winter months.
https://criticalcaretraining.ie/courses/
PROMPT:
Another successful PRactical Obstetric Multi-Professional Training (PROMPT) course was held on December 3rd at the Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH). PROMPT focuses on multidisciplinary team training in the management of obstetric emergencies and has been shown to improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
The course consists of on-line and in-person lectures and workshops. The faculty for the Maternal Collapse and Anaesthetic Emergencies Workshop included Ms Mary Prince (Clinical Skills Facilitator), Dr Gavin O’Connor (SAT 2), Dr Matthew Brohan (SHO) and Dr Oonagh Hickey (Consultant Anaesthesiologist).
Professor Tim Draycott, one of the founders of PROMPT, passed away recently. A minute's silence was observed at the start of the course to acknowledge his contribution to the development of multi-disciplinary team training to improve the delivery of safe obstetric care.
https://www.promptmaternity.org/News/professor-tim-draycott
ISOA:
The annual Irish Society of Obstetric Anaesthesia (ISOA) meeting was held on November 27th at the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland, Merrion Square, Dublin.
The sessions included Updates in Obstetric Anaesthesia, Maternal Medicine and Governance. The Oral Presentation Session was chaired by Dr Murray Connolly (Consultant Anaesthesiologist, CUH/CUMH).
There was a great representation from the CUH/CUMH among the delegates and eight posters from the CUH/CUMH were accepted for the poster competition. The winning poster was "Are anemic thresholds too low? A pilot analysis of haemoglobin thresholds and post-partum haemorrhage risk” by Dr J Costello, Dr R Colgan and Dr Don Walsh (CUH/CUMH).
Feedback Training for Healthcare Facilitators Course:
Dr Dhari Rasheed and Dr Oonagh Hickey (Consultant Anaesthesiologists, CUH) attended the recent Feedback Training for Healthcare Facilitators Course held at the ASSERT Centre, UCC. Healthcare workers from throughout the region attended.
Adult Resus Sims, CUMH:
An Adult Resuscitation Simulation was held in one of the operating theatres in the CUMH on the 16th December. These simulations provide team training in the management of critical events and staff from the CUMH Theatre Complex and Delivery Suite attended. Anaesthesia participants included Dr Yosef Awad (Block Fellow), Dr Matt Day and Dr Oonagh Hickey (Consultant Anaesthesiologists).
Eleven such multi-disciplinary simulations were held in the Delivery Complex in the CUMH in 2025, with a total of 112 participants. Great credit is due to the participants and organisers, including Ms Mary Prince (Clinical Skills Facilitator) whose enthusiasm and commitment has been a driving force behind this initiative.
CUH Anaesthesia Annual Charity Christmas Swim:
For the third year in a row, Dr Aoife Driscoll (Block Fellow) organised the CUH Anaesthesia December Charity Swim at Fountainstown Beach on Saturday 13th December. Eighteen members of the department braved the Atlantic Ocean, cheered on by colleagues and family members. The rewards for those courageous enough to get into the freezing cold waters included hot beverages, homemade baked goods supplied by some of the NCHDs and the cosy beachside sauna courtesy of the Cork Anaesthesia Social Klub (CASK).
This year €3100 was raised for Médecins Sans Frontières, bringing the overall total to €6500 since the initiative was started.
The swim was followed later in the evening by the CUH Anaesthetic Christmas Party at the Dean Hotel, Cork. Colleagues gathered for a markedly warmer evening of socialising and delicious food.
Baby News:
We warmly congratulate Dr JR Sheehan (Consultant Anaesthesiologist, CUH), Hazel and Sam (Big Brother) on the recent safe arrival of babies April and Max.
UCC Simwars:
The 2025 UCC Emergency Society SimWars was held on November 22nd at the Brookfield Health Sciences Complex. Eight teams showcased their clinical and interpersonal skills in four scenarios covering both medical and traumatic presentations. The judges noted that the standard was exceptionally high and the two teams consisting solely of preclinical medical students received particular praise for their teamwork and structured approach to each scenario.
Three teams were selected for a hotly contested final round focusing on managing an acute medical case, showcasing a high level of clinical acumen, team work and resolve in the high pressure scenario. Cadence Krahn was the patient actor and Sarah O’Neill (NAS paramedic) provided the handover to each team.
The winning team included Ethan Slattery, James Beazley, Alex Binchy, Jessica Naude, Audrey Nguyen and Weronica Ryfka. The trophy was presented by Professor Conor Deasy (Clinical Director of Emergency and Acute Care, CUH).
The organisers are to be congratulated for their hard work, including coaching the teams and organising a well run event. The organising committee included Barry Sheerin, Eoin Morrison (both in photo), Laura Pickett, Carina Lam, Cadence Krahn and Kieran O’Reilly. They were ably assisted by a team of volunteers who served as patient actors and chaperoned the teams on the day.
The judging panel included Dr Dhari Rasheed and Dr Oonagh Hickey (Consultant Anaesthesiologists, CUH- photo).
Three teams (18 students) will now train with renewed intensity for the upcoming SimWars National Competition that will be held in Dublin on March 14th, 2026.
Stay tuned to see if they can bring gold back to UCC!
ARK (Anaesthetic Record Keeping) System replaced with Centricty:
Dr Roisin Devane, SHO, CUH:
Recent departmental news in CUH includes the introduction of a new Centricity anaesthetic monitoring and record keeping system.
Centricity replaces the old ARK (Anaesthetic Record Keeping) system which had been in use since 1996. The longevity of ARKs use is attributable to its user-friendly characteristics which have remained steadfast throughout the last thirty years. We spoke to Mr Bill Marnane from Oxygen-Care, who provided an anecdotal recap on the history and evolution of ARK since its introduction by Dr John Keogh (Consultant Anaesthesiologist) in 1996.
The mid 90’s involved huge developments in both anaesthesia machines and monitoring equipment. 1994 saw the introduction of the first Excel Datex Anaesthesia machines with hypoxic guards, electronic controls and breath absorbers. These monitors were the first to display colourful waveforms, ECGs and plethography all in one place. In 1996 ARK, the new record keeping system prototype, was introduced. At that time, Dr John Keogh and the leading Biomed technician encouraged the use of ARK amongst all staff members by physically bolting a keyboard to each anaesthetic machine. The introduction of the ARK system was somewhat controversial at the time, yet here we are now- 30 years later- with medical and nursing staff alike mourning its departure.
ARK had stood the test of time despite many challenges. It was initially developed on the Windows 95 platform but, as is the nature of modern IT systems, the old design has become progressively incompatible with newer programmes. Cyber attacks in 2013 and 2021 respectively required the integration of new Windows programmes and anti viral software. This meant that from the year 2013 the ability to add new drugs or personnel to the system was limited. From 2021 the system could no longer run on the HSE network but continued to persevere on its own internal network until 2025.
Some of the older members of the department began their anaesthetic careers in the CUH when the ARK system was first introduced and were somewhat sentimental about its demise. Its last weekend of usage was marked by the exchange of memes of Hal’s final moments from 2001 Space Odyssey.
Leaving the era of ARK behind and adapting to new monitoring and record systems brings new challenges. As we grumble about the differences which Centricity brings it’s important to remember that ARK itself was met with some resistance during the initiation period. Centricity’s modern network system will be compatible with other healthcare programmes therefore allowing for the development of fully computerised patient records- the inevitable future of healthcare- hopefully leading to improvements in both quality and efficiency of patient care.
Editors:
Dr Roisin Devane (SHO), Dr Alan Horan and Dr Oonagh Hickey (Consultants), Cork University Hospital