A pathway exists in GUH for cancer patients from other areas not served by hospitals with a centre of excellence, the Regional Health Forum was told this week.
Cllr Michael Kilcoyne asked what arrangements are in place in Galway University Hospital to facilitate cancer patients who need urgent treatment, which is not available in the hospital they are in which is not a cancer centre of excellence.
He also asked how many beds are available at GUH, which is the centre of excellence, for such an emergency and what is the maximum length of time a patient might have to wait?
Ann Cosgrove, Interim CEO, Saolta University Health Care Group said that the current pathway is that the Consultants/Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS ) in another Saolta Hospital will contact the Consultant/ CNS/ Bed Management etc in GUH to inform them of the urgent request for treatment and patients are placed on the urgent transfer list.
“All necessary staff are copied on these emails and there is currently a pathway being developed for same. With regard to bed availability, in the Claddagh, Haematology ward, there are 25 beds, two of which are protected beds.
“In St Josephs, Oncology ward, there are 26 beds, three of which are protected beds. The protected beds are used for elective list of patients awaiting admission for their chemotherapy.
“CNMs on each ward contact patients regarding theses admissions. However, on some occasions, if patients in ED/ urgent transfer, these patient’s elective chemos are delayed as bed management may decide patients in ED/ urgent transfers take priority,” she added.
She said that they also utilise general medical or surgical beds on other wards within the hospital for these patients when there is no capacity available on the dedicated haematology/oncology wards however this is also dependant on bed availability.
Ms Cosgrove said that the admission of these patients is reviewed on a patient by patient basis and their clinical priority as decided by the Consultant and is also dependant on bed availability.
