Galway Head Injury Support Group

It is important to remember at this point that you are not alone. Help is available. We at Galway Head Injury Support are ready and willing to offer you this support/help.

PLAN FOR HOSPITAL DISCHARGE

Make contact with the Social Worker/Discharge Planner at the hospital and liase around the discharge plan. Ideally, this should be done well in advance of your discharge date.
Ensure your GP has received a discharge letter outlining the condition and maintenance required. What to look out for? Wound care / possible complications etc.
Give your GP a call and inform him/her re. situation and expected discharge date.
Make contact with the Community Care Services i.e Public Health Nurse, Physiotherapist, Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist, Dietician and Optometrist (sight problems are common after ABI). Make an appointment to discuss your situation and proposed programme plan/rehabilation.
Contact your Pharmacist to ensure they stock required medication & dietary foods.
Look out for any changes in symptoms and report to dotor/hospital immediately.
Contact your area Community Welfare Officer and discuss medical card, necessities, entitlements, aids and appliances.
Contact Social Welfare Office to find out what benefits you are entitled to.
Contact Galway Head Injury Support Group.

GALWAY BASED SERVICES
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST Tel: 091 775 323/091 775 324	Occupational Therapy, Unit 10a Seating Clinic, Merlin Park, Galway (Manager)
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING Tel: 091 546 341 Website: www.hsc.ie	Director of PHN, HSE, Western Area, 25 Newcastle Road, Galway. Home visits and assess needs/requirements. Provide referral service.
PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES Tel: 091 546 021 Website: www.hse.ie or www.whb.ie	Physiotherapy Manager County Clinic, Shantalla, Galway. They will visit the patient in their home, assess their needs/requirements and provide them with assistance/advice.
HEADWAY Tel: 091 780 200 Galway Website: www headway.ie	Headway is a national association for Acquired Brain Injury. Headway provide a range of community based services for people between the ages of 16 and 65 affected by ABI. 9a, Lioshan Business Park, Tuam Road, Galway.
REHABCARE Tel: 091 755 517 Website: www.rehabcare.ie	RehabCare provides a specialist residential Acquired Brain Injury service, as well as day services based in Galway City. This regional development will provide services to people with ABI from the three counties of Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.
IRISH ‘WHEELCHAIR ASSOCIATION Tel: 091 771 552 Website: www.iwa.ie	The Irish Wheelchair Association provides a Personal Assistance’ service and a day care centre with a range of activities including computers, arts and craft, hydro therapy, mediation and social outings. Referral through your doctor or public health nurse. Irish Wheelchair Association Galway.
QUEST BRAIN INJURY SERVICES Tel: 091 778 850 Website: www.questgalway.ie	Quest provides training and support for peop’e wirh an acquired brain injury. They facilitate each participanrts personal development, community integration, further education/training and vocational opportunities in accordance with their goals. Following referral and assessment a personalised training programme is designed with each participant.

SUPPORT GROUPS THROUGHOUT COUNTY GALWAY
GALWAY HEAD INJURY SUPPORT GROUP Tel: 091 768 168. Website: www.galwayheadinjury.com E-mail: info@galwayhead.com	We provide support, information, referral and linkages to specialist services. We also provide group counselling and co-ordinate monthly network meetings for carer’s.
STROKE SUPPORT GROUP Tel: 090 964 8200. Stroke Nurse Specialist, Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe,Co. Galway.	Stroke Support Group Galway provides information on issues important to people living with a stroke.
BRI Western Region Group Contact: Pam Fleming 09 637 460 (Galway Area) E-mail briassoc@eircom.net	Bri, the Brain Injury Advocacy Association is a National organisation which in partnership with others, strives to ensure that all people affected by Acquired Brain Injury have the best possible quality of life. Bri engage in advocacy work to achieve change for the benefit of those affected by Acquired Brain Injury.
CARING FOR CARER'S, IRELAND Tel: 093 25362 Website: www.caringforcarers.org	Caring for Carer’s is a national non government organisation supporting family carers. They provide Training, Respite Care Breaks, Information, and Advice to Carers’ throughout Ireland.
GALWAY CARER'S SERVICES Contact the Co-ordinator Tel: 091 548 334	HSE service, who provide a range of community services for carer’s including respite carer’s breaks, supports and information on cater related topics.
BRAINWAVE Galway Office: Ozanam House, Galway. Tel: 091 568 180 www.epilepsy.ie	Brainwave provides Support Information and Education to people with epilepsy, their families and health professionals.
GALWAY CARER'S GROUP Tel: 091 521 049	Provides monthly meetings and support for carer’s in the Galway area.

CITIZEN’S INFORMATION CENTRE’S
CITY	Augustine Street, Galway Tel: 091 563 344 Hours; Mon — Fri 9.30 a-rn - 5.00 pm, Thur 7-00 p.m - 9.00 p.m
TUAM	Citizen’s Information Centre, Social Sevices Centre, Dublin Road, Tuam. Tel: 093 26161 Hours; Mon — Fri 10.30 am - 12.00 p.m, Tuesday — Ft-i 3.00 pin - 5.00 p.m
ROSMUC	Seirbhis Eolais don Phohar, Rosmuc, Tel: 091 574 122 Hours; Mon — Fri 9.30 tm - 5.30 pm, Tues — Fri 3.00 p.m - 5.00 p.m
CLIFDEN	C/o Vec. Statoil Apartrnents, 4/5 Galway Road, Clifden, Co. Galway Tel: 095 22000 Hours; Mon 7.00 p.m - 9.00 pin, Fri 10.00 a.m - 12.00 p.m & 2.00 p.m -4.00 p.m
LOUGHREA	Loughrea lakeside House, Barrack Street, Loughrea Tel: 091 841 869 Hours; Wed 10.30 a.m - 1.30 pm,
OUGHTERARD	Clan Resource Centre, Tel: 091 557 634 Hours; 2nd and 4th Monday of each Month
GORT	Citizen’s Information Centre, Church Street, Gort. Hours: 1st and 3rd Monday each month 10— 1 p.m. Tel: 091 630 902

DUBLIN BASED SERVICES
HEADWAY Tel: 01 8102066 Helpline on 1890 200 278	Provide centre—based and outreach services, they also provide a National Telephone Helpline They are located at I — 3 Manor Street Business Park, Manor Street, Dublin.
PETER BRADLEY FOUNDATION Tell: 01 280 4164 Website: www.peterbradleytoundation.ie	The Peter Bradley Foundation is working to establish ABI specific services in conjunction with other agencies in Dublin and around the country. Contact Dublin Office for information on Galway Region.
NATIOANL REHABILITIATION HOSPITAL Tel: 01 235 5000 Website: www.nrh.ie	The National Rehabilitation Hospital provides an Acute Rehabilitation service for adults and children with Acquired Brain Injury all over the country. There is a liaison Nurse attached to NRH who follows up visits patients after they are discharged. Rochestown Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
BRAINWAVE Tel: 01 455 7500. Website: www.epilepsy.ie	Provide support, information and education to people with epilepsy, their families and health professionals. The Irish Epilepsy Association 249 Crumlin Road Dublin 12.
BEAUMONT HOSPITAL Tel: 01 837 7755 Website: www.beaumont.ie	National Neurosurgical Hospital in Ireland. Its a good idea to make contact with the liaison nurse at the hospital.

Who Can I Turn to Now?

PLAN FOR HOSPITAL DISCHARGE

GALWAY BASED SERVICES

SUPPORT GROUPS THROUGHOUT COUNTY GALWAY

CITIZEN’S INFORMATION CENTRE’S

DUBLIN BASED SERVICES