Press release issued 13th May 2010
This international award recognises significant improvements in patient care and patient experience as well as staff welfare, safety and morale. Candidate institutions are evaluated by experts representing medical and nursing colleges, healthcare associations and national quality institutes.
Jill Krynicki, Director of CHKS accreditation unit, said: “We are delighted to recognise Cuan Mhuire’s success. This is the first time that the Award has been given to a Rehabilitation service.”
Ms. Krynicki continued “Accreditation gives assurance to the public that people working for an organisation are engaged in delivering top quality services. There has been an increase in the number of addiction service providers that are striving to become accredited. They recognise that accreditation is an assurance to service users and their families.”
Speaking at the ceremony Sr. Consilio said she was humbled to receive such a prestigious international award. She was accepting it on behalf of all her co-workers and the many supporters who have helped her over the years. Together they strive to bear witness to God’s love for those who have been afflicted by addiction. Cuan Mhuire has always relied on our Blessed Lady to support the continued expansion of its services.
Sr. Consilio Fitzgerald
Sr. Consilio added “The scale and complexity of addiction is now one of the major challenges confronting Ireland. It is a tragedy for individuals, their families and the community. The prevalence of addiction and the damage it is inflicting on individuals, families and communities – as well as the country – has to be addressed by providing the level of resources that is needed”.
She went on to say that “This Award shows how vocationally driven organisations such as Cuan Mhuire can deliver cost-effective services with the highest possible standards of care. The intrinsic value of each human being before God demands no less than our committed love”.
“In thanking all those who have worked with Cuan Mhuire over the years I want to say in particular that we are, and will always be, dependent on Our Blessed Lady to sustain us through good times and bad, to help us think only of the ‘person’ and to focus all of our energy in serving Christ in all of the people whom we are privileged to support.”
Cuan Mhuire, Athy
Editor’s Notes
Cuan Mhuire is Ireland’s largest detox and residential rehabilitation service provider. Cuan Mhuire – Harbour of Mary was founded by Sister Consilio Fitzgerald in Athy Co Kildare in 1966. It was inspired by the need to provide compassionate, inclusive and the highest possible standards of support for all individuals suffering from addiction and the frequently related problems of homelessness and social exclusion. Today Cuan Mhuire has communities in Dublin, Kildare, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Monaghan and Newry. These centres provide wholly inclusive and immediate access – based solely on the needs of the individual regardless of their personal circumstances – to a complete spectrum of services, from medical evaluation and Detox to residential rehabilitation and an island-wide Aftercare service. The total number of service users of Cuan Mhuire as a whole in 2009 is upwards of 3000. It is a voluntary body and charitable trust and remains largely dependent upon voluntary support.
Cuan Mhuire embarked on its Accreditation initiative in 2007 working closely with CHKS in order to ensure that the quality of services together with its Standards and Protocols conform to international best practice.
CHKS, with healthcare clients in over 20 countries, is the only organisation in the world to provide Accreditation services that are internationally recognised, and also, certificated to award the global benchmark ISO 9001:2008 standard.
Cuan Mhuire, has won the prestigious CHKS Quality Improvement Award 2010, at a ceremony in London.
South Central Province
