Donegal-Derry White Oaks Rehabilitation Centre gets quality approval boost

Welcoming US clients, center short-listed for “CHKS Top Hospital Awards 2012”

White Oaks Rehabilitation Centre on the Donegal-Derry border is in the running for a top award from a London-based organisation which rewards excellence by healthcare providers in the UK and internationally.

White Oaks has already treated a number of Irish clients from the States – and welcomes further enquiries and clients from USA.

The Centre was the initiative of the Columba Community and its leader, the Rev Neal Carlin. It opened in 2001.

White Oaks has been short-listed in the annual “CHKS Top Hospital Awards 2012”, to be held at gala ceremony in London next month. About 200 key decision-makers from across the healthcare sector, including chief executives, senior managers and healthcare provider clinicians, will attend the event.

The Columba Community has developed a number of excellent services for people on both sides of the border. These include Columba House of Reconciliation and the adjacent Y.A.R.D Project at Queen’s Street Derry, St Anthony’s Retreat Centre and the attractive Celtic Peace Garden and IOSAS Centre near White Oaks. Each is dedicated to serving need in the local communities.

Representatives of statutory bodies, politicians, volunteers and staff attended a function at White Oaks Centre on last month (subs: Monday April 2) when details of the CHKS accolade were announced by Fr. Carlin, the Centre’s Managing Director.

White Oaks, which is a cross-community initiative, provides residential treatment for adults with addictions to alcohol, drugs and gambling. Its services include counselling for the families of those with addiction as well as post-residential support for clients at White Oaks and three locations - Letterkenny, Donegal Town and Sligo.

The nomination is a milestone in the Centre’s development and is seen as a vote of confidence in its rehabilitation programmes which have helped many hundreds of clients.

The Rev Joe McCormick, a Spiritual Director at the Centre, said: “We’re overjoyed about the nomination. It’s a marvellous distinction for White Oaks. Simply to be short-listed and be in the company of other leading innovators is in itself a huge boost and I’m confident that the nomination will further enhance our reputation among our clients and the agencies and medical services who refer people to us.”

CHKS is a UK and international accrediting organisation that rewards important achievements in innovation, improvement and dedication to world-class healthcare. It has a prestigious reputation in the healthcare community and its awards are highly prized as evidence of excellence.

White Oaks has been short-listed for the only international award at the event, the “CHKS Quality Improvement Award 2012”. It recognises significant improvements in patient care and patient experience as well as staff welfare, safety and morale. It is open to all healthcare organisations accredited by CHKS in 2011.

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Nster.com