Bronagh Flynn
Lead Senior Occupational Therapist
Bronagh Flynn completed a BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy Degree from Cardiff University in 2003. Bronagh has worked in various rotational settings within the NHS in both Physical and Mental Health Rotations for over 3 years prior to taking up a Senior post in Medicine for the Elderly Services in St. James’s Hospital. Bronagh currently works in the Transitional Care Unit in MISA and Hollybrook Residential Unit.
Since joining St. James’s Hospital Bronagh has developed a keen interest in Care of the Person with Dementia and has attended Dementia Conferences annually. Bronagh has presented at the Dementia Information and Development Services Centre (DIDSC) conference and Association of Occupational Therapists Ireland Conference.
Bronagh is the Lead Senior Occupational Therapist in the development of the Residential Services in SJH offsite Units, setting out a standard of care for the delivery of an Occupational Therapy service which aims to provide care of the older person holistically and maintain quality of Life. Bronagh provides specialised Occupational Therapy services in Long Term Postural & Pressure Care Seating Prescriptions through assessment of need in regular scheduled seating clinics. Bronagh also facilitates group therapy through Reminiscence Therapy, Cognitive Stimulation/Cognitive Rehab, and Sensory Stimulation as appropriate to resident’s needs.
Bronagh has worked closely with the St. James’s Hospital Foundation, the Occupational Therapy department and the Residential Unit staff to provide Community Access for resident’s through different experiences e.g. using the Luas, attending Restaurants for meals, attending the Botanical gardens, going to Dublin Zoo in w/c transport etc. Residents have reported enjoyment from experiencing everyday community occupations post entering long term care.
Training and research completed:
- CQI Level 6: Healthcare Management – Managing People, Distinction in 2017
- Clinical Profiling the Needs of Person’s with Dementia in 2014.
- SONAS Licenced Practitioner in 2012
- Involved in Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Research Project with MIRA, SJH OT Dept. Beaumont Psychology Dept. this was published in the Irish Journal of Psychology in 2008-2009.
- Presented Research on Cognitive Stimulation Therapy at the Association of Occupational Therapists Ireland & presented at the Dementia Information and Development Services Centre (DIDSC) Conference in Trinity Centre for Learning and Development in 2009
- British Association of Hand Therapists BHAT Level 1 Hand Dynamics qualification in 2007
- MSc Module Practice Education, Cardiff University in 2005
- BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy Degree, Cardiff University in 2003
Sony Johnson
Sony commenced working in St. James’s Hospital in 2014. Sony worked for a period in Medicine for the Elderly inpatient rehabilitation in St. James’s and is currently working in the Acute MedEl ward. Prior to working in St. James’s Sony worked in Kerry General hospital as Senior Occupational Therapist in stroke rehabilitation for elderly for three years.
Sony graduated with a BSc in Occupational Therapy in 2008 and completed a Masters in Rehabilitation thereafter from India. Sony worked as a Senior Occupational Therapist in neuro rehabilitation in Christian Medical College and Hospital , Vellore and was involved in research activities in the department. Sony was part of the study published in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation vol.86, January 2005 – “Rapid opening and closing of hand as a measure of early neurological recovery in upper extremity after surgery for cervical myelopathy.”
Sony has completed certificate courses in seating ( Seatech – Level 2) , Bobath concepts and splinting for upper-limb.
Sinead O’Connor
Sinead began working in St. James in February 2017 as a rotational staff grade occupational therapist.
Sinead qualified with a BSc. OT in 2012 from Trinity College Dublin following which she began working as a rotational staff grade occupational therapist in Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Foundation Trust. Sinead completed rotations in Health care of the Older person, elective orthopaedics, acute stroke and stroke rehabilitation. Following this Sinead secured a senior Neuro occupational therapy post and was involved in setting up the newly formed Hyper acute stroke unit in NUH. During her time in this post Sinead was involved in stroke research projects with both the University of Nottingham exploring the use of “Electrical stimulation therapy as part of an upper limb rehab program post stroke” and Sinead was also the lead OT working on a feasibility study into the “Use of virtual reality to assist with facilitating discharge home” with Derby University.
Sinead moved back to Ireland in 2016 and worked in Our Lady Hospice in Harolds cross before joining St. James. Sinead is currently a Senior Occupational therapist working as part of the inpatient occupational therapy team. Sinead has a keen interest in neurology and stroke rehabilitation in particular.