Two pillars of Donegal’s medical profession honoured for outstanding service

The Council Chamber in Letterkenny Public Service Centre was heaving last night as family, friends and supporters of Gerry Lane and Hugh McBride attended the Mayor’s reception hosted in their honour.

Cllr. Jimmy Kavanagh Mayor of Letterkenny Municipal District afforded a Mayors Reception to Gerry Lane in recognition of his work as a consultant in Emergency Medicine in Letterkenny University Hospital, for his contribution to the National Road Safety campaign and for his incredible contribution to the health and welfare of the people in the community.

Likewise, Hugh McBride was honoured in recognition of his work in the Donegal Psychiatric Services and for his dedication and service to the people of the community.

Speaking at the event Cllr. Jimmy Kavanagh said he was delighted to be in a position to honour both men with a Mayoral reception in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the people of Letterkenny, the municipal district and indeed the entire county.

“Their contribution to the delivery of health services in Donegal has been exceptional. Both these men have been extremely innovative in their own services and have gone above and beyond what would be expected of them. Their compassion, their quest for excellence and their desire for positive transformative chanhave been inspirational.”

“They also represent all that is good about our health service and more importantly about the people who work in the service. I worked at Letterkenny University Hospital for 40 years in both the General Hospital and in St. Conal’s and I have seen first-hand the work that these dedicated staff do.

“I have witnessed their commitment, their resolve and their compassion for the people they serve and by honouring Gerry Lane and Hugh McBride this evening I am also honouring the tremendous work done by the management and staff of the hospital and of the Health Service in Donegal”.

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr Gerry McMonagle also spoke at the event and commended Cllr. Kavanagh on his proposal to host this reception saying “both Gerry Lane and Hugh McBride have made a massive contribution to the life and wellbeing to the people of Donegal and are great exemplars of the people who work so hard to deliver health services in what are often challenging circumstances.”

Gerry Lane is a native of Drogheda but regards the countryside outside Letterkenny and the village of Rathmullan as his spiritual home.

He qualified in 1985 from Trinity College Dublin and worked and trained in Scotland, Ireland, Iraq, UAE, England and Northern Ireland over his 15 year training period.

In 2001 he was appointed by NWHB as Foundation Consultant in Emergency Medicine for Donegal and Letterkenny and was the Clinical Designer of the current Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital which opened 2012 and is now one of the best performing units in Ireland and is used even now as an exemplar.

He was a member of the Ministerial Emergency Department Taskforce and is a lecturer at RCSI and Senior Lecturer in Clinical Practice in NUIG and Donegal Medical Academy as well as Course Director of multiple ALSG Courses.

He is married for the last 27 years to Pauline and has four children Rosèmary, Heather, Nicholas and Patrick and is a long-term advocate and supporter of special needs groups such as Buddy Bears Charity and the exemplary Little Angels.

He is also well known for his work promoting road safety and highlighting the devastating consequences of a crash in the ‘Crashed Lives’ RSA campaign and describes himself as an “admirer and co-worker of the rapidly evolving and life saving Ambulance Service, the superb Fire Service and the amazing An Garda Siochána who put themselves in potential harms way to assist others”.

Hugh McBride is originally from Falcarragh and attended the McDevitt Institute in Glenties.

He trained in St.Conal’s as a psychiatric nurse, qualified in 1971, and then qualified as an addiction counsellor in 1980. He set up the first group therapy course in St.Conal’s in 1980 and this became a community-based service in 1986.

A purpose built unit located at St.Eunan’s Court, Letterkenny was opened in 1997 and this is still the main base today with other bases in Donegal Town, Buncrana and Dungloe.

Hugh was also heavily involved in developing education programmes around addiction and organised courses along with Dr. Tim McBride and Denis Bradley at Magee College, Derry and organised a course on drug addiction at LYIT.

Hugh retired in 2004 but continued to work on a part-time basis until 2008 clocking up a total of 47 years service.

He is married to Grace nee Bradley from Oldtown Letterkenny and has six children Karen, Denise, Gavin, Mary, Deirdre and Aidan. Hugh was also a keen sportsman and played Gaelic with Glenties, Cloughaneely and St.Eunan’s and he also has the distinction of having represented his county at three different sports Boxing, Handball and GAA. Hugh remains a huge GAA supporter.

Sean Murphy, General Manager of Letterkenny University Hospital and Liam Ward, Donegal County Council also spoke at the event as did both men being honoured.

Both men were presented with a sealed scroll marking the occasion of the Mayor’s Reception and the honour bestowed on them.

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