ICU4COVID Project

In Search of Hope – by Sam Gannon

Seconded to the parish of Tililngdon, the Reverend Dolores has been presented with a challenge.

She’s living in an antiquated house and she’s cold. Furthermore, her new Bishop, Bishop Alice does not approve of ‘showgirls in dog collars.’

Determined to prove the Bishop wrong, she sets about warming her house – who cares if it smells of horse! There is the crochet club, jumble sale, and soup run to organise. And this year, the church bells will ring, no matter what threats are made. Even more so, the newly formed choir will spread a little joy this Christmas, even though they can’t sing – yet! And with a little help from Phil, her bassist, this year could be full of magic.

However, she has a fight on her hands as the townies out in Knob Hill – she must stop calling it that, are trying to stop her from ringing her bells. When Krystal with a K decides to do some volunteer work, Dolores sets out to see just how committed she really is.

Up to her ears in granny squares and squawking choristers, Dolores is revving up for Christmas, yet a deeper darker secret is beginning to emerge!

A secret that could blow the whole parish apart and put Dolores in danger.

(available from Amazon)

The President of the Regional Government attended the presentation of the ICU4COVID project at the Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital today. ICU4COVID is part of Horizon 2020, an innovative pandemic solution which aims to create several Intensive Care Telemedicine Hubs around the world.

In view of the current pandemic context, the Regional Secretary for Health and Civil Protection of Madeira was selected to host the first HUB, serving as a reference point for the other hospitals in the project (in Portugal and the rest of the World).

The initial telemedicine technology system was installed between the 24th to the 29th of April, and is now connected to nine hospital beds, divided between the Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital, Porto Santo Health Centre and the Dr. Francisco Rodrigues Jardim; which are now connected to a central ‘monitoring cockpit.’ The use of which, will be used alongside already existing medical devices within the intensive care units, and enhance patient care as well as reduce infection risks for healthcare professionals, in what is seen as an “important and pioneering step in innovating healthcare provision not only in RAM but throughout Europe.” Where ICU4COVID aims to transform intensive care units into technology-controlled Covid-19 combat units.

Furthermore, The President of Madeira has stated that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is something that Saúde da Madeira wants to invest in, especially, as the new hospital will have an Artificial Intelligence research unit, and as such, he could like the use of AI to be extended to other hospital departments.

This pioneering project involves more than 20 hospitals across Europe and has a global funding of 10.4 million euros. The initiative started in January this year, and will progress in several stages until the end of 2022.

Samantha Gannon

info at madeira-weekly.com

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