CEO of HSE visits Delta Services Centre in Carlow

Making her first visit to Carlow since her appointment to the position in March of this year, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Health Service Executive (HSE) Anne O’ Connor was hosted on Friday last at the Delta Services Centre in Carlow.

With funding support from the HSE (per service level agreement under Section 39 of the Health Act), Delta Services provides support services for adults with intellectual disabilities, autism, physical and sensory disabilities.

More than 140 people avail of Delta’s day services in the Carlow area. Up to 43 individuals avail of residential support services across several community houses. Delta Services also has its own respite house, providing scheduled respite breaks for up to 65 individuals each year. In total, Delta Services supports more than 180 individuals across all its services.

The CEO was at the Delta Services Centre in Strawhall, Carlow, a complex which also features Delta’s award winning Sensory Gardens, set on 2.5 acres with a series of interconnecting gardens and adjacent to its Café Thyme and Garden Centre. The gardens and Cafe are fully wheelchair accessible, catering for individuals, families, groups, bus tours and school trips.

The CEO was accompanied on her visit to Delta Services by the Minister of State at the Department of Health Jennifer Murnane O’ Connor TD and Roseanne Killeen (Integrated Healthcare Area Manager, Carlow-Kilkenny/Tipperary South, HSE Dublin and South East).

Aoife Fitzgerald (HSE’s Disability Care Day Services Manager, Carlow-Kilkenny/Tipperary South), who also accompanied the CEO on the visit, said:

“The HSE has a valued, close, working relationship with Delta Services in Carlow and we were delighted that our colleague CEO Anne O’ Connor was at the Centre in Strawhall. ‘DELTA’ signifies that organisation’s commitment to Development, Education, Learning, Training and Activation. It was great for our CEO to get to chat to staff and service users and hear about and see first-hand the wonderful care and supports that Delta Services provide.”

Chief Executive of Delta Services Joe Meany added:

“We were delighted to welcome HSE CEO Anne O’ Connor and her colleagues, along with Minister of State Murnane O’ Connor. It was an opportunity to showcase the supportive environment where Delta Services not only provides essential care but also champions the individual rights, dreams and aspirations of adults with intellectual disabilities and autism (ASD).”

“We welcomed the opportunity to highlight the challenges experienced by service users, families and Delta as a service provider and we look forward to continuing our engagement with the HSE in that regard.”

“We chatted about the training, residential, respite, day and multi-sensory services to adults with learning disabilities we provide. We were delighted to outline how Delta Services strives to ensure that the rights of each individual attending the service are upheld, including their right to equality, dignity, privacy, safety and respect. Delta Services provides encouragement and support to each person attending our service to develop to their maximum potential to improve their quality of life.”