Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
648. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the out-of-hours services and supports available to oncology patients in Beaumont Hospital; if consideration has been given more generally to providing additional services and supports for oncology patients to avoid the need for them to attend accident and emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27328/22]
View answerNew development funding of €20 million was provided for implementation of the National Cancer Strategy in 2021 and again in 2022. Some of this funding was allocated to develop an Acute Oncology Nursing Service in each of the 26 hospitals providing Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT). This nurse-led service has resulted in cancer patients who are experiencing a disease or treatment related complication avoiding attendance to the acute hospital Emergency Department (ED), where possible, during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.
The Acute Oncology Nurse acts as a point of contact for patients and undertakes a comprehensive patient assessment using an internationally validated tool. The service provides increased access to specialised oncology nursing care for patients receiving SACT and Oral Anti-Cancer Medicines. The Acute Oncology Service links in with community services such as Community Intervention Teams, GPs and public health nurses to provide additional support to patients where required.
A dedicated telephone helpline to the Acute Oncology Service Nurses is advertised through a variety of methods in the inpatient and outpatient settings, including information leaflets, contact cards, and posters. In Beaumont, the service is also signposted by the Irish Cancer Society Daffodil Centre.
Beaumont has 1.5 Acute Oncology Service Nurses. The Nurses in Beaumont provide a service from 8am-4pm, Monday-Friday, with staff in the inpatient wards trained to receive phone calls during the out-of-hours period and provide guidance to attend the ED for medical review, if required.
The HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) advises that it is exploring ways to build resilience in the Acute Oncology Nursing Service, ensuring cross cover and potentially extending service hours. National metrics are completed by all Acute Oncology Service Nurses in each of the hospitals and returned to the NCCP. These will be of use in informing the future development of this service.
