SAOLTA’S Chief Operations Officer has said she acknowledges the impact the current significant capacity deficit in the Haematology Oncology Day Unit at Letterkenny University Hospital is having on patients.
Ann Cosgrove said the deficiency has resulted from a combination of a reduction in treatment chair capacity from 13 to 11 in order to maintain social distancing in the context of Covid-19, and also the increase in patients requiring IV chemotherapy on a day case basis.
In 2021, the oncology clinic was cancelled for two weeks in a row, due to reduced staff changes and unexpected leave. The temporary closure left many patients in limbo.
But, responding to a question from Councillor Ciaran Brogan and Cllr Albert Doherty on the issue at the latest Regional Health Forum West meeting, Ms Cosgrove said significant development is underway on the extension and reconfiguration of the oncology unit at LUH.
“LUH acknowledges that the unit does require expansion and whilst progressing a longer-term strategy, the hospital has also been working with HSE Estates to develop an interim enhancement of the unit.”
She said the first phase of the interim enhancement is a capital project to provide a new Pharmacy Asceptic Unit at LUH.
“This relocation of the Asceptic unit, which is currently co-located with the Haematology Oncology Day Unit, will provide an increase in space within the Day Unit.”
The project is being led by HSE Estate services who are currently evaluating Design Team submissions. It is expected that the Project Design Team will be in place before the end of June 2023. It is further anticipated that the new unit will be commissioned by 2025, subject to Capital and Planning Approvals.
“That relocation and development compounding with the pharmacy facility for the compounding of treatments will free up some space and that can be used immediately as additional treatment space.”
The hospital is also working with Estates to extend the existing day unit and a Capital Project Submission to achieve this is being developed.
“A local project team has been established to progress this capital submission and this phase will be completed by the end of June. The capital submission will be sent forward for the normal approvals and it is anticipated that the HSE Estates will appoint a design team in early 2024.”
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