New bipolar pilot project in Ballyfermot Primary Care centre

By Echo Reporter

BALLYFERMOT Primary Care Centre is to be included in a bipolar pilot project, which aims to enable service users to self-manage the symptoms of their illness.

The centre is one of three community-based clinics involved in the 12-month eHealth Ireland project, alongside Kilkenny Mental Health Services and Cork University Hospital.

eHealth Ireland is working to deliver an electronic health record in 2016.

As part of this, they are investing resources into three project areas known as lighthouse projects, in the clinical area of bipolar disorder, epilepsy and haemophilia.

The HSE wants to develop an online recovery toolkit for bipolar diagnosis solution, supporting patients with the requisite skills to cope with emotions and reduce stress levels.

The project will enable service users to develop their own recovery strategies, respond to early warning signs of relapse, and engage efficiently with staff involved in their care.

Medical experts say the mental health condition has a high relapse rate.

Software developers will design the clinical information system under the bipolar lighthouse project.

The projects are intended to act as learning for the healthcare system and as an opportunity to build a community of practice for the development of connected health approaches, in line with the eHealth strategy for Ireland 2016.