Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill on Wednesday joked that being with Roy Keane in Cork was a similar experience to John the Baptist paving the way for the Redeemer as the pair formally opened a new pain service facility at a hospice in the city.
Mr O’Neill said he knew his place in the pecking order in Leeside particularly when he was hardly noticed by a nun from Marymount, Sr Augusta, who gave her “hero” Keane a big hug.
“Anyone who might know the Bible, I don’t know it that well, I feel as if I am like John the Baptist coming to pave the way for the Great Redeemer. I am going to invite Roy up to open some shop in Kilrea. I am actually quite famous up there. I got to know my place when among the crowd coming in for Roy Sr Augusta pushed me completely aside.”
0 of 3
Speaking at Marymount University Hospital and Hospice in Curraheen O’Neill said the work being carried out there was “real life” and put football into perspective.
Keane declined to speak to the media. However, he enthusiastically met with patients and staff at the facility.
Patient and mother of three, Josephine O’Brien Whitmarsh, said the care she was receiving for her breast cancer at Marymount was outstanding.
She added that it gave her and her children a big boost to meet the Irish soccer management.
“The kids are gob smacked at meeting Keane. It [Marymount] makes a huge difference to the quality of my life. Twenty-four hours after I have been here I am usually at a soccer pitch somewhere. It’s brilliant. I couldn’t manage without it.”
Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Chris O’Leary thanked the staff at Marymount for assisting in the palliative care of both his parents.
Meanwhile, John Browne, consultant pain specialist, instigated the interventional pain service for patients with severe cancer pain.
“It’s the first of its kind in Ireland or Britain in a hospice setting and we believe it is the first of its kind in a hospice in Europe,” said Dr Browne.
Purpose-built
Marymount’s new state-of-the-art facility houses the purpose-built facility, which comprises an outpatient suite, a procedure room with x-ray-fluoroscopy equipment and recovery facilities.
The in-house service is a major asset to the patients of Marymount and is operated by a team of four nurses, a radiographer, a secretary and three doctors, headed by Dr Browne.
Although analgesic drugs can treat roughly 90 per cent of cancer pain about 10 per cent of patients need interventional x-ray-guided nerve blocks. Normally patients needing this service have to be moved to a general hospital for the treatment.
“It’s a very big advantage to have the in-house facility for these patients where they can be assessed and treated in a very expeditious manner,” said Dr Browne.
The interventional pain unit has just completed its first year in operation. It has carried out 200 procedures over the last year.
The unit, built by Marymount, is financed by the HSE, who according to Dr Browne showed great courage and determination in staffing the unit in difficult financial times.
“We are more than grateful to the HSE for their foresight. They recognised a good idea and perceived it to be a very worthy cause.”