Clane General Hospital

Quality of Care in a Safe Environment

CLANE GENERAL HOSPITAL Prosperous Road, Clane, Co. Kildare www.clanehospital.ie 045 982 300

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2 Executive Director Interview

20

Ophthalmology

3 Medical Board Interview

23

Vascular

4

24

Theatre

6 Quality and Accreditation

26

Alliance Medical

7

Infection Control

27

X-Ray

8

Gastroenterology

28

DXA

9 Open Access Endoscopy

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Physiotherapy

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Cardiology

30

Laser

11 Clane Fertility Clinic

31

Dermatology

15

Urology

33 Department Contacts

17

Pre Assessment

34 Consultants Directory

Overview

19 Ear, Nose and Throat

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contents

36 General Patient Information

Clane Hospital Editor: Kathleen Smullen Advert Design: Rebecca Dobson, Seamus Neeson.

Production: Rebecca MacNamee, Alan McArthur, Jennifer Reid Production Manager: Mary Connaughton Managing Director: Diarmaid Lennon Published by: Ashville Media Group, Old Stone Building, Blackhall Green, Dublin 2.

Tel: +353 1 432 2200, Fax: +353 1 676 7100, Email: info@ashville.com, Web: www.ashville.com All articles Š 2014. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher. Opinion and comments expressed herein are not necessarily those of Ashville Media Group.

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executive director

Leading Clane Hospital Executive Director Sean Leyden outlines recent developments at the hospital and his plans for Clane for the future.

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ean Leyden, Executive Director at Clane Hospital, has seen many changes since he started in January 1987.

“At that stage, Clane Hospital was 6,800 square feet and it has slowly extended over the years to 42,000 square feet containing three theatres, a large out patient department and an infertility unit,” he recalls.

“This will not only save the patients both time and money but also potentially save lives, given the length of waiting lists in public hospitals at present.”

Constant development and updating is a consistent part of all operations at the hospital in each aspect of its service, Sean explains. New services such as cataract procedures have been introduced while the hospital has expanded its consultant base within the open access endoscopy unit with the addition of three new consultant gastroenterologists. In addition, theatre air sterility units have been upgraded

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to a new state-of-the-art unit which will maintain an infection rate of less than 0.5 per cent. “The introduction of our open access endoscopy service was also a fantastic service that we can offer patients and GPs in the area,” he says. “This will not only save the patients both time and money but also potentially save lives, given the length of waiting lists in public hospitals at present.”

A major source of pride for Sean is the hospital’s continuing status as a high level provider of first class services for the patients who walk through the doors.

Clane retained accreditation status with CHKS in the latter half of 2011, while in May 2012 the hospital was both awarded a commendation at a CHKS ceremony in London and shortlisted to the last six of all hospitals and NHS trusts who received their accreditation in 2011, quite a feat for a small hospital. “Since 2007 we have used the services of CHKS to ensure that we meet all international standards,” explains Sean. “These healthcare standards focus on patient safety, patient experience, clinical governance, leadership and staff experience. Patients and GPs can therefore be assured that we focus hugely on all areas of the patient journey and that we are constantly striving to improve our services by listening

to their requirements and taking their input into consideration.” Clearly, such efforts are working. As part of on-going improvements in service quality, patient satisfaction surveys are carried out each month for both adults and children.

Recent results from adult questionnaires have shown an extremely positive response, with a 98 per cent satisfaction rate, mentioning factors such as location and the range of consultants available at the hospital.

Looking ahead, there are big plans on the horizon. “We expect 2013 to be an exciting year for Clane Hospital as there are a number of new developments in progress,” says Sean. “In conjunction with UPMC/Beacon Hospital we would hope to see the opening of an emergency department. This will be a huge milestone for Clane and should generate approximately 5,000 extra patients through the hospital, will be an extra facility for GPs to avail of and should open during towards the end of 2013 or January 2014.” Also in partnership with UPMC/Beacon Hospital, Clane intends to open a new six bed chemotherapy unit.

The hospital’s IVF unit goes from strength to strength and an application has been made to the Irish Medicines Board regarding a licence for vitrification.

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Medical Board

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Setting Standards Howard Savage-Jones, Chairman of the Medical Board at Clane Hospital, discusses how the hospital’s standards rise above the rest.

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t a time when hospital standards are increasingly being put under the microscope, having a well-functioning medical board is more vital than ever. A medical board provides an essential level of medical governance for its hospital, and Howard Savage-Jones, Chairman of the Medical Board at Clane Hospital, says that it allows integration and co-operation among consultants and the opportunity to gain a general consensus of opinion regarding the providing of standards of medical practice for the hospital as a whole. “It allows us to identify any issues which could theoretically arise.

All hospitals have medical boards; they play an invaluable part in maintaining professional standards within any institution,” he explains.

A major advantage in the effort to maintain high standards is to have well trained staff who have worked together as a team. Clane is such a hospital. Its staff also hold public hospital appointments: this experience means that according to Savage-Jones, standards are the equivalent of any other hospital in the State if not better. New measures being put in place ensure continued professional education through the relevant colleges of surgeons and physicians. Savage-Jones explains that it is becoming a lot easier to maintain quality of care with these new measures: “we’ve got exemplary standards of clinical practice within the hospital,” he says.

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Infection Control Whenever standards in hospitals are discussed, issues such as infection control come under particular scrutiny. It has become a topical issue in Ireland recently, but Clane’s status as a private hospital means that it can control infections much more easily than is possible in a large public hospital. “We can dictate criteria for patients’ admission, particularly avoiding issues such as chronically ill patients being admitted from other hospitals – and therefore carrying resistant strains of bacteria and the like into the hospital.

Consequently, our infection control is second to none,” explains Savage-Jones.

“We have no issues with post-operative wound infections, for example: they just don’t arise. We have pre-empted this problem by selecting the patients that come through.”

Savage-Jones is an otolaryngology consultant and has been at Clane since 1991, after working throughout Europe and the UK. He is a graduate of the Welsh National School of Medicine in Cardiff and practises in Tullamore and Dublin, as well as Clane. He has been part of the Medical Board in Clane Hospital since it was established almost 20 years ago.

Within his time there he has seen many changes, including the hospital’s advancement from a small, out-of-theway facility to a much larger centre with the most modern equipment and ever-

growing reputation. With their increased development of ambulatory services and daycare services in a number of departments such as ENT, endoscopy and neurology, patient numbers have increased throughout the years. As for the future, Savage-Jones sees the hospital continuing to develop. “We will pursue whatever developments insurers allow and whatever developments patients desire – so we have a very open perspective on what we can and will deliver,” he says.

“We have no issues with post-operative wound infections, for example: they just don’t arise. We have pre-empted this problem by selecting the patients that come through.”

“We’ve got a very good team ethos at Clane; a very good ambiance in the hospital and that all greatly facilitates the very efficient performance of service delivery. This is why patients like the hospital: it’s got a nice comfortable, cosy, cottage hospital feel to it. Children cope very well here and there’s a quick turnover of patients.”

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Overview

Friendly but Professional Gladys Leyden tells us about the services Clane provides, the friendly Clane atmosphere and the management strategies which ensure that the hospital constantly raises the quality bar.

Clane General Hospital and fertility unit first opened its doors to the public in October 1985 as a small private elective admission hospital. The hospital has gradually grown over the years both physically and in the services it provides.

In 1991, 20 extra rooms were added to the Hospital and subsequently in 2005 the hospital embarked on a second major extension which incorporates a new outpatient suite consisting of 16 new consultancy rooms, a large pre-admission unit, cardiology, dermatology and vascular

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units, a new x-ray with MRI and CT facilities and also a day ward.

“Perhaps what we are best known for here in Clane Hospital is being a small and very friendly hospital catering for a large catchment area taking in counties Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and South Dublin,” says Gladys Leyden.

Both Directors of Nursing, Gladys Leyden and Carol Moriarty, agree that our strengths are drawn from the consultants in attendance here and indeed from our

“Perhaps what we’re best known for here in Clane hospital is being a small and very friendly hospital...” nursing staff, all of whom have at least ten years postgraduate experience. Staff retention at Clane Hospital is around 98 per cent, showing great staff satisfaction

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Overview

All of the nursing staff at Clane have mandatory yearly training in areas such as manual handling, basic life support and haemovigilance. In-house training is also part of staff continual professional development.

operating theatres, affording easy and accessible throughput of patients. The level of quality at the hospital is clear to be seen on an annual basis when the hospital is continually awarded the CHKS accreditation.

The new ten-bedded day ward staffed by specifically trained nurses allows patients fast access to be admitted, treated and discharged all on the same day. This day ward is strategically situated beside the

Both Carol Moriarty and Gladys Leyden agree that the quality of care provided to patients in a safe environment makes Clane Hospital one of the top private hospitals in the country.

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“Our strengths are drawn from our consultants in attendance here and indeed from our nursing staff, all of whom have at least ten years postgraduate experience. Staff retention at Clane Hospital is around 98 per cent...� and loyalty over many years – something of which the hospital is very proud.

Maintaining high-quality staff who are consistently trained to the highest standard is of huge importance to the hospital.

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quality & Accreditation

Committed to Quality Clane Hospital’s CHKS accreditation is an important badge of honour, proving to patients that high standards are in force across all the hospital’s activities, writes Carol Tutty, Quality/ Risk Manager.

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lane General Hospital is a small private elective admission healthcare centre which for many years has boasted the distinction of having CHKS accreditation, thereby receiving international recognition of its commitments to providing a quality service to patients, staff, and external organisations.

“Top hospitals would not be where they are today without an understanding of how their performance measures up at regional, national and even global level.”

The CHKS Accreditation Programme provides a quality assurance tool for the organisation by setting out the framework of standards which needs to be in place to ensure that systems are in place to provide high quality services and to ensure that this is consistently reproducible. This framework of standards of good practice

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will enable the organisation to keep track of the basic building blocks of quality that the executive management board needs to assure itself are in place.

The programme not only focuses on systems and processes but requires us to gather data on activity and results indicators and to use this information to track performance and outcomes.

Changes and developments in quality assurance and improvement programmes nationally and internationally have also influenced changes to the standards of Clane General Hospital. Top hospitals would not be where they are today without an understanding of how their performance measures up at regional, national and even global level. It is well accepted that organisations looking to make continuous improvements can and will always learn from others, not just in their own sector, but elsewhere too.

These standards address our main development concerns around patient safety, the patient’s experience of care, professional competence, clinical governance, leadership and teamwork.

The philosophy that continues to inform our work and which is reflected in the quality

of care and service for our patients is best assured when: - There is a strong committment to continuous improvement in patient safety.

- The patients’ and family members’ experiences are central to how the hospital operates.

- Resources are well used in a physical, technical and organisational environment that enables staff to give of their best.

- Those who provide and deliver service are fully engaged and supported in influencing and achieving desirable change.

- The promotion of continuous improvement and self development is based on accountability and responsibility.

- Essential standards of good practice are achieved.

May 2012 saw Clane General Hospital shortlisted for a quality improvement award – CHKS’s only international award recognising significant improvements in patient care and patient experiences as well as staff welfare, safety and morals. This award was open to all healthcare organisations accredited by CHKS and we at Clane General Hospital are very proud to have been in the final six.

We are presently striving to win this muchcoveted award for 2013.

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Infection control

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A Safe Hospital Environment Infection prevention and control is embedded into the ethos of care at Clane Hospital, and the hospital’s policies and initiatives facilitate a safe environment, writes Siobhán Prout, Infection Control Advisor.

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nfection prevention and control (IPC) is the responsibility of all staff employed by Clane General Hospital and the Assisted Conception Unit. It is embedded into the organisation as a key quality indicator of the standards of care afforded to all patients and clients cared for by the staff of Clane Hospital.

This ethos of maintaining high IPC standards was borne out when the hospital achieved full compliance with the CHKS standards on infection control.

Infection prevention and control is administered through the quality and risk management committee within the hospital and facilitated through the infection prevention and control nurse. An external infection prevention and control nurse advisor is part of the team within the hospital.

Using a multimodal strategy, Clane General Hospital’s approach to infection prevention and control encompasses dedicated infection control personnel, risk assessment of patient groups, active surveillance for ‘alert’ microorganisms, antibiotic stewardship, patient isolation if required by patient status, hand hygiene compliance, effective environmental cleaning and ongoing education and training.

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Clane General Hospital has a selective admission policy with regard to the status of patients with communicable infections and those colonised or infected with resistant micro-organisms e.g. MRSA. Prior to admission all measures are taken in consultation with the patient to assist in decolonising the patient of resistant microorganisms.

These measures reduce the risk of post-operative infection for the patient and reduce the need for the patient to be administered anti-microbial therapy, in keeping with the national strategies to reduce antibiotic consumption.

“These measures reduce the risk of postoperative infection for the patient and reduce the need for the patient to be administered antimicrobial therapy in keeping with the national strategies to reduce antibiotic consumption.”

In keeping with the ethos of continuous quality improvement and the maintenance of high standards of infection prevention and control, the structural facilities, equipment and products are regularly monitored through an audit processes. Regular audits also facilitate undertaking a gap analysis of staff knowledge with the outcome that educational packages on IPC are tailored to the needs of the staff.

IPC education keeps the staff abreast of all national and international guidelines and strategies. It focuses on the prevention of infection for patients and on the safety of processes for staff and implementation of the EU Directive to prevent injuries and infections to healthcare workers from sharp objects.

Hand hygiene, being universally accepted as the cornerstone of infection prevention and control measures is central to patient care activities.

Compliance is facilitated by hand wash and alcohol hand rub stations.

Annual educational updates using UV light demonstration devices and ATP monitoring units motivates staff to maintain safe practices when caring for Clane patients.

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gastRoenterology department

Gastroenterology at Clane The Gastroenterology Department at Clane Hospital offers a range of procedures to its patient ensures efficiency and a pleasant atmosphere for staff and patients alike.

Professor Humphrey O’Connor, Consultant Gastroenterologist discusses.

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aving started endoscopy services at Clane in 2002, Professor O’Connor has seen tremendous developments at the hospital over the years, especially within the department in which he works.

“There was virtually no gastroenterology or endoscopy service in the hospital, whereas now there is an extensive service that includes medical and surgical gastroenterology and also access to direct endoscopy,” explains Professor O’Connor. “There is quite a demand for that service.” As a consultant gastroenterologist, Professor O’Connor sees a variety of patients, mainly adults and those troubled by gut or liver problems.

appointments elsewhere, for instance I also work at Naas General Hospital and at Tallaght Hospital. The care of the patient might include Clane and the analysis of biopsy sample in Tallaght and there is cross-talk between the various institutions.”

Patient Care One of the most important things which Clane has on offer is its ideal size, so that patients can feel more relaxed when they attend. “Clane is an ideal centre for what I and the Americans would describe as ‘ambulatory care,’” says

Professor O’Connor, “where a patient comes in in the morning to have a particular investigation done in a friendly, professional atmosphere, and can walk out of the hospital after the test is done.

“Being a smaller institution actually helps in that regard. It takes away from the fear factor of the larger public institution where a lot of different things are going on. It’s ideal for ambulatory care and that is why gastroenterology is practiced very well here. There’s a much more friendly relationship, and patients value that.”

GP Communication Educated first at UCD where he obtained his undergraduate degree, Professor O’Connor went on to complete his post graduate training in St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin and then moved onto post graduate training at Leeds General Infirmary, followed by senior registrar training at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Professor O’Connor recognises the importance of having good relationships with GPs in the locality and in keeping an open channel of communication. “It’s a great privilege to be referred patients from GPs and we greatly respect that. The important thing is communication with the GP both before and after any investigation so they are up-to-date with anything that we find and that a plan of treatment is agreed between myself and the patient, and the GP.” Apart from the GPs, Clane and its consultants also maintain links with public hospitals. “There is continual contact with other hospitals,” says Professor O’Connor. “Whatever is in the best interest of the patient. Many of us who work at Clane, including myself, would have joint

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open access endoscopy

Clane Hospital’s open access endoscopy service is a vital tool for GPs and their patients, and is provided by leading consultants.

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lane Hospital offers a rapid open access endoscopy service to our primary care physicians. This service allows the primary care physician direct access to diagnostic upper GI endoscopy, colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy. Urgent endoscopies will be performed within one week of referral.

All other non-urgent endoscopies including surveillance endoscopy will be performed within two to three weeks of referral. Patients will be discharged back to the primary care physician for on-going management.

However, should surgical intervention be necessary, the endoscopist will proceed and arrange this as quickly as possible.

Our endoscopy equipment is top of the range and our unit is modern and purposebuilt. We offer high quality professional health care delivered by expert staff in a safe environment.

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Early Detection is Key

Our endoscopy service is provided by the following consultants:  Mr. Emmanuel Eguare, Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon  Mr. Adnan Hafeez, Consultant General Surgeon  Mr. Eoin Mooney, Consultant General Surgeon  Professor Humphrey O’Connor, Consultant Gastroenterologist  Dr. Cathal O’Keefe, Consultant Gastroenterologist  Mr. Colm Power, Consultant General Surgeon  Dr. Asghar Qasim, Consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist  Mr. Tahir Saleem, Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon All of our consultants are on the Specialist Register with the Irish Medical Council.

For further information contact Jane at:  Telephone: 045 989704  Fax: 045 989747  Email: jane@clanehospital.ie

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Clane General Hospital Magazine

cardiology

primary care, but we can do the stress test once they are stable.”

Quick and Efficient Treatment Clane’s state of the art equipment is one of the Cardiology Department’s greatest advantages. Their equipment allows patients to receive quick investigations and results. “All of our equipment is state of the art and modern, so it’s the equivalent of what you’re going to get in private clinics around the country. At Clane you have the advantage of the equipment but you also have same day access so people who come here have all of their investigations completed the same day.”

Cardio Efficiency Dr David Moore, Consultant Cardiologist at Clane Hospital, outlines how the department offers patients a range of services and immediate care.

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lane Hospital is at the forefront of advanced medical care in Ireland, and the Cardiology Department is leading the way with their range of services and state of the art equipment.

The Cardiology Department at Clane is primarily an outpatient diagnostic service, offering a full range of non-invasive diagnostic procedures on site. Services offered by the Cardiology Department include consultation services, ECG, a range of blood pressure monitoring, heart rhythm monitoring, echocardiology, stress ECGs and CT calcium scoring.

Dr David Moore, Consultant Cardiologist at the hospital explains that Clane has provided a useful community service for a

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“This is something we pride ourselves on and what sets us apart from most of the other facilities.” whole range of non-hyper acute medical and surgical problems. He also explains that its close proximity to general hospitals in Dublin allow Clane to provide a more specialised cardiology department. “We treat everything from hypertension, stable angina, valvular disease to arrhythmias.

What we don’t treat is acute heart attacks and unstable angina because they require

This sort of service allows for rapid investigation and avoids patients being waitlisted as they often are at other private clinics around the country. “We can offer things like blood pressure tests or stress testing often on the same day.

It’s not the case that you have to see a specialist one day and then come back another day for your procedure” he says.

“This is something we pride ourselves on and what sets us apart from most of the other facilities.” Dr Moore describes the Cardiology Department as being a one stop shop for non-invasive diagnostic procedures, offering services in a short space of time to make investigations more accessible.

Dr Moore has worked at Clane Hospital for 21 years. He is a Trinity graduate and fellow at Royal College of Physicians in Ireland. He trained in Dublin and at Hammersmith Hospital in London before returning to Ireland in 1991. He is primarily based in Tallaght and Naas hospitals while working at Clane and in the Hermitage Medical Clinic. The cardiology department includes a team of nurse technicians for all investigative procedures. The department is in fact a cardio-vascular suite which is shared with Mr. Dermot Moore, the cardiovascular surgeon at Clane Hospital.

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fertility clinic

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Advanced Fertility Treatment Clane Fertility Clinic has been an integral part of Clane General Hospital for the past 25 years.

Since its inception, CFC has been associated with the renowned Bourne Hall clinic in the UK.

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n recent years, the clinic moved to Abbey Hall from its original site at Clane General Hospital. This is a purpose built state-of-the-art facility. Our patients’ needs were first and foremost on our minds when considering the design of this building. Clane Fertility Clinic is privileged to offer a technologically advanced laboratory and theatre, individual private patient rooms, two consultation suites, two scanning rooms, two phlebotomy rooms, all within private grounds. Our clinic is ideally placed between the N7 and M4 and is approximately 30 minutes from Dublin city centre.

Mr. Peter Brinsden has been the Medical Director of Clane Fertility Clinic since its inception almost 25 years ago. Mr. Brinsden is well known and extremely well respected within the fertility arena.

From 1989 to 2006 he also served as Medical Director in the world renowned Bourne Hall Clinic in the UK that became the home of Dr. Robert Edwards and

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Dr. Patrick Steptoe, pioneers of IVF and who were responsible for the birth of the world’s first IVF baby, Louise Brown. Since then, the area of assisted reproductive technology has changed dramatically – in fact, over the past three decades there have been tremendous advancements that have increased the chances of success for all couples availing of assisted reproductive technology.

“This is a purpose built state-of-the-art facility.

Our patients’ needs were first and foremost on our minds when considering the design of this building.”

Mr. Brinsden says that in his time with Clane Fertility Clinic he has been

privileged to watch the growth of this clinic from about four members of staff to 21 members of staff who, are here to look after each patient on a very personal and individualised basis. “Here at Clane we have been honoured with being the first to achieve International Standards Organisation accreditation, ISO 9001:2008 We were also the first in Ireland to be accredited by the Irish Medicines Board and also to achieve the European Union Tissues and Cells Directive, which are three very important standards organisations and ensure that we provide to you the best possible treatments.”

Comfort and Confidence Clane Fertility Clinic is a nurse-led consultant-directed unit. Here in Clane we appreciate and understand fully the concerns and apprehensions felt by many individuals and couples as they address their fertility issues, and sometimes this can feel quite overwhelming. For that reason our aim here at Clane Fertility Clinic is to provide you with the comfort

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fertility clinic

and confidence needed so that you may progress through your treatment in a secure, supported and well informed environment. With this in mind, for the past two years the clinic holds patient information evenings every month which Unit Manager Martina Kelly believes is hugely beneficial to perspective patients.

“It is estimated that one in six Irish couples will experience fertility problems. Fertility treatment is still a subject which is rarely openly discussed within Irish society and a culture of stigma and mystery can often still surround the couple seeking help with starting their own family. Any journey starts with a single step and although that first step can be the toughest, getting the answers to the questions you want to ask will ultimately leave you in a better position to make the correct choices.”

During these monthly patient information evenings those who wish to find out more about the options available to them have the opportunity to meet with members of the team and have a tour of the clinic and its facilities. Ms. Kelly also believes that “showing people around the facility can make the whole process a lot less daunting. Making people aware

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“Here at Clane Fertility Clinic we encourage both partners to attend at the initial consultation as fertility treatment is a shared journey. You will be offered the opportunity to speak extensively with your consultant about your specific case.” of the measures that we use to monitor the environment in which the embryos, eggs and sperm are held illustrates our commitment to excellence and help to educate the patient about the science behind our practice.”

Your Specific Needs From the moment you begin treatment at the clinic, we tailor our evaluations and services to you and your specific

needs. Here at Clane Fertility Clinic we encourage both partners to attend at the initial consultation as fertility treatment is a shared journey. You will be offered the opportunity to speak extensively with your consultant about your specific case.

The consultant will review your medical, surgical and family histories to determine which tests are appropriate in providing an accurate diagnosis. Our consultant Dr. Osman Shamoun, MB BCH FRCOG MRCPI, Consultant Gynaecologist Obstetrician and Fertility Specialist has over 15 years experience in fertility treatment. During this time, Dr Shamoun has gained an excellent reputation within the Irish fertility community. He attributes the success of Clane Fertility Clinic to the fact that each patient is treated as an individual and their treatment is tailored to their specific needs and requirements.

Dr. Shamoun strongly believes that particularly in the fertility medicine arena it is hugely important that individualised care is prioritised for patients.

The different treatment options which will be discussed with you by your consultant include intrauterine insemination or IUI, whereby prepared sperm is injected into the uterus. In vitro fertilisation or IVF

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fertility clinic

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is where eggs and sperm are taken, prepared in the laboratory and embryos transferred to the uterus. In a case where the male partner may have severe sperm problems, Intracytoplasmic Sperm injection will be considered, otherwise known as ICSI, where individual sperm are micro injected into single eggs. Other treatment options include blastocyst culture, where embryos are cultured on to five or six days and they may stand a better chance of implantation with better success rates. Donor sperm is available for use in the treatment of couples where the male partner has perhaps no sperm (azoospermia) or may have severe problems with their sperm. Clane Fertility Clinic has also offered donor sperm treatment to single women and same sex couples for a number of years.

Education Here at Clane Fertility Clinic, another unique feature is the individualised education session provided to each client.

This is facilitated by the fertility nurse prior to commencing treatment. During this consultation with the nurse, she will take you through the suggested investigations and management plan. The nurse will also educate you on administration of

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medication that may be involved in your treatment cycle. This consultation is also an opportunity for patients to ask any questions, voice fears or doubts about their treatment and is conducted in private and confidential surroundings.

“Fertility treatment can be a joyous and frustrating journey for many couples. They can be helped to cope through all stages of their treatment by expert counselling from a trained fertility counsellor.�

Fertility treatment can be a joyous and frustrating journey for many couples. They can be helped to cope through all stages of their treatment by expert counselling from a trained fertility counsellor. For this purpose, Clane Fertility Clinic employs a clinical psychologist, Dr. Mary Sheehan.

Patients are encouraged to attend Dr. Sheehan at any and all stages throughout their treatment. Patients are also made aware of our 24 hour on-call emergency telephone service and are encouraged to use this for their reassurance and assistance whilst undergoing treatment.

Here in the clinic our aim is that you will be comfortable and confident throughout your entire treatment experience. From the moment you begin treatment we tailor your evaluation and treatment to you and your specific needs. Through our personalised care and cutting edge reproductive technologies and support services we will guide you through every step of your treatment with us.

The First Steps From a laboratory perspective, the first step for all couples on their journey through fertility treatment is a diagnostic semen assessment. Among the parameters that are measured and recorded are volume, sperm count motility and percentage normal sperm. A further more diagnostic test on the DNA of sperm is now available and offered by Clane Fertility Clinic. Sperm DNA fragmentation testing provides us with more information on the integrity of the DNA

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fertility clinic

contained within the sperm. Clane Fertility Clinic was the first unit in Ireland to introduce a state of the art electronic ID verification system called WITNESS. This offers patients a greater sense of reassurance as at every point where an embryo, egg or sperm sample is transferred from one container to another are witnessed electronically as well as the traditional manual and verbal verification of patient details.

For clients for whom IVF has been recommended, the procedure takes place in theatre within a clean room environment.

Once an egg has been recovered, the embryology staff take responsibility for that egg or embryo’s journey through the laboratory. The egg and sperm are both incubated together on the day of egg collection. About 24 hours later our lab staff will check the fertilisation status of the eggs and determine how many of them have fertilised. Embryos are generally transferred on day two, three, five or six post-egg collection and only those embryos that have reached the blastocyst stage would be transferred on day five or six. For some couples where the number of sperm is limited or they have had a number of unsuccessful treatment attempts, a process called ICSI may be used in which a single sperm is manually micro injected into suitable eggs. Our

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laboratory also has the facility to freeze suitable excess embryos, usually those at blastocyst stage, and we also provide a facility for sperm storage.

“The team here at Clane Fertility Clinic are very proud of our 25year history of helping infertile couples to achieve a pregnancy.

Our philosophy has always been to provide individualised care in a supportive and friendly environment.”

means to store a woman’s unfertilised eggs (oocytes) in order to use them some time in the future. Vitrification is the technique used to freeze eggs. It is a rapid freezing technique and the most appropriate method of freezing human eggs, which naturally contain high water content. Once frozen, the eggs are stored at an extremely cold temperature (-196°C) until they are ready to be used months, or even years later, in an attempt to achieve a successful pregnancy.

Dr. Shamoun feels that egg freezing will become common practice in all clinics in the coming years as more and more women are choosing to delay becoming a mother. Egg vitrification gives women the choice of trying to preserve their fertility, which will allow them to re-open this door at a later stage than previously considered. All of these improvements and developments in techniques are to the advantage of our patients, especially where these treatments or choices did not exist ten years ago.

Best Practice While patient comfort and assurance are of the utmost importance at Clane Fertility Clinic we also recognise the huge importance of evolving with current developments in worldwide practice. We are happy to now be in a position to offer vitrification as a freezing technique for both embryos and eggs. Egg freezing, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, is a

The team here at Clane Fertility Clinic are very proud of our 25-year history of helping infertile couples to have achieve a pregnancy. Our philosophy has always been to provide individualised care in a supportive and friendly environment. We aim to try and provide each and every patient and couple the opportunity to pursue their dream of becoming a parent.

06/01/2014 15:11:11

urology

Clane General Hospital Magazine 15

Urology at Clane The Urology Department at Clane Hospital continuously strives to provide the highest standards of care to its patients in an efficient and friendly environment, Mr John Thornhill, Consultant Urologist explains.

U

rology deals with surgical diseases of the urinary tract. When you visit the Urology Department for treatment in Clane you are guaranteed state-of-theart services delivered by pleasant and experienced staff.

The Service After working in Clane Hospital for 23 years – almost since the opening of the hospital in 1985 – Consultant Urologist John Thornhill is well equipped to deal with the broad range of problems that emerge in his department. The

Clane_Hospital_Mag.indd 15

“The hospital offers investigation, diagnosis and treatment for common problems such as bladder abnormalities, kidney stones, bladder and kidney infections, incontinence...”

hospital offers investigation, diagnosis and treatment for common problems such as bladder abnormalities, kidney stones, bladder and kidney infections, incontinence, prolapse and bladder and prostate cancer, which Mr Thornhill says is becoming a big problem these days.

Cancer screening is carried out regularly as early detection is crucial.

Both adult and paediatric services are available for both inpatient and daycare procedures. For children, facilities include circumcision and scrotal surgery for

06/01/2014 15:11:14

16

Clane General Hospital Magazine

urology

undescended testicles. The hospital carries out minor and intermediate surgeries. Major surgeries are referred to Tallaght Hospital, with which Clane has an academic link.

“There are a number of advantages to having your treatment in Clane. With good roads and easy access, the hospital is the first choice of many people who do not want to travel to Dublin and have to deal with the traffic, parking fees and amount of people in the capital.”

services, including the sperm aspiration service, to investigate and treat infertility and to achieve pregnancy.

Vasectomy services, and also reversal of vasectomy, are available in the hospital.

There is a rapid turnover of many of the reproduction cases undertaken at Clane.

Advantages There are a number of advantages to having your treatment in Clane. With good roads and easy access, the hospital is the first choice of many people who do not want to travel to Dublin and have to deal with the traffic, parking fees and amount of people in the capital.

“The hospital is ideally suited to, let’s say, a woman suffering incontinence. She can have her surgery on Monday and will be gone by Wednesday or Thursday,” says Mr Thornhill. The efficient and easy going manner of the staff is suited to those who might feel embarrassed discussing their condition with doctors.

Clane provides free parking and the hospital is all one level, therefore an excellent option for elderly patients. According to Mr Thornhill, the hospital has patients of all ages from all over the country – Kerry, the midlands, Sligo, the east – because of the quality of care the Urology Department and the rest of the hospital gives its patients.

Reproduction treatments All aspects of urology are catered for at Clane but the hospital is particularly proud of the Urology Department’s active reproduction medicine section. It is one of the oldest in the country and a large number of men avail of the varied

Clane_Hospital_Mag.indd 16

06/01/2014 15:11:22

pre assessment clinic

Clane General Hospital Magazine 17

Quality Pre-operative Care Siobhán Murtagh tells us about the important work of Clane Hospital’s pre-assessment clinic.

Operating from Clane General Hospital for the past decade, the pre-assessment clinic has long been a vital cog in the patient care machine. Pre-operative consultation and evaluation are an important interaction between the patient and staff at the hospital and the advantages are numerous on both sides of the equation.

The process allows the surgeon to carefully assess the patient’s medical condition, evaluate their overall health status, determine any risk factors that may impact on the patient’s procedure – and in return, the patient gains a clear understanding of both the procedure they will be undertaking and possible complications which may arise. “We see patients who are due in for surgery and we assess them for risk factors that they may have which could complicate their surgery or prevent it from taking place,” Siobhán explains. The time invested by the clinic in educating and developing a greater medical relationship with the patients also yields improved patient-hospital relations.

pre-assessment before their procedures, the clinic informs them about what they can expect during pre-operation period, during their admission to the ward and then following their operation. “Myself and my colleagues are also at the end of the phone,” says Siobhán. “So even after the pre-assessment, in the days before their admission, we often get phone calls from patients concerning minor worries – what should they bring, when they could expect to be discharged. Sometimes there are major concerns. They might have had an unanticipated illness or a change in their medication, for example.”

The clinic’s services also extend postoperation; they deal with patients returning for wound care or follow-up.

“We see the patient from the beginning of their journey to the end of their journey,” she says. “And that has proved very successful – patients feel very secure and they feel that someone has been with them throughout.”

Facilities Patient Education As a result, a major part of the Clane clinic’s mission statement revolves around the education of the patients coming under their remit: when patients come for

Clane_Hospital_Mag.indd 17

Recent medical research has established a firm basis for the effectiveness of preassessment clinics, especially with regard to reducing the length of patient stay and number of cancellations. A study

carried out between 2009–2010 in St. Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin found that their pre-operative anaesthetic clinic increased efficiency, reduced the preoperative length of stay and reduced dayof-surgery cancellations. Set up for blood taking and ECG, post-operation dressings and featuring an X-ray department, the preadmission facilities have been operating at Clane for over ten years now, and it was one of the first hospitals in the country to establish such a clinic.

“Our aim is to reduce the number of inpatient cancellations resulting from patients being unprepared for surgery.

Over the ten years we have formalised our guidelines with the clinical governance committee and management as to what

“So even after the preassessment, in the days before their admission, we would often get phone calls from patients concerning minor worries...”

06/01/2014 15:11:26

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Clane General Hospital Magazine

pre assessment clinic

investigations each patient needs for each procedure,” says Siobhán. Typically, during pre-admission the clinic takes a full medical history of each patient – checking weight, assessing BMI, measuring haemoglobin levels, completing an ECG, recording any allergies, taking pre-operation bloods when required and compiling a list of medications the patient currently uses.

needs to be kept closer to the nurse’s station or if a certain type of bed or other equipment is required. “They would be aware of that before the patient arrives for admission,” Siobhán explains. “It improves the efficiency and the running of the ward and also ensures the comfort and safety of the patient.”

Upgrading The clinic also liaises extensively with the hospital’s consultants and anaesthetists regarding their patients, particularly with regard to any abnormalities or risk factors.

It also maintains links with other hospitals to which patients have been admitted, in order to acquire the most up-to-date information on a patient’s status.

As technology moves, grows and upgrades at a consistently faster pace, so too does the equipment available at Clane Hospital. Most notably, Clane has recently developed a direct access endoscopy unit, where a GP can send in a referral letter for a patient to either have an endoscopy, a colonoscopy or both without a prior consultation with a surgeon.

“Typically, during preadmission the clinic takes a full medical history of each patient – checking weight, assessing BMI, measuring haemoglobin levels, completing an ECG, recording any allergies, taking preoperation bloods when required and compiling a list of medications the patient currently uses.”

This has proved hugely successful in cutting down-time for both the patient and the consultant. With eight endoscopy surgeons at the hospital, the service runs four and a half days a week, and people can access an urgent endoscopy within 48 hours and a routine one within seven days, creating a very fast-moving service. “We’re involved in reviewing those referral letters and identifying any risk factors,” says Siobhan. “When required, we call the patients, discuss medication and so on and if necessary we will bring them in for a preadmission beforehand. People have lots of questions about what to expect. As nurses we’re

involved in ensuring patients are prepared for it, physically and psychologically. A lot of time is spent reassuring patients who may be nervous about the procedure.”

Across the pre-admission clinic structure, the need to constantly ensure and maintain the quality of the pre-operative assessment process and meet regulatory and accreditation guidelines, alongside the continuous renewal of perioperative assessment and management guidelines, is clear. And with a practice of constantly updating policies and management strategies at Clane, the future for both the hospital and the pre-admission clinic is bright as it continually strives to provide the best in patient care and welfare.

“We’re keeping up-to-date and adapting to the patients’ needs and to current best practices,” Siobhan explains. “We have two monthly departmental meetings with our managers and with other departments so we are constantly reviewing our policies, highlighting issues that arise, liaising with GPs to find out how we can offer a better service. That’s an on-going thing; we’re constantly aware of the need to improve the service. ”Here in the clinic our purpose is two-fold; obviously patient safety is our paramount priority but it is also our aim to ensure that each patient has a positive experience at every step of their journey.”

Smooth Operators The best-run hospitals are those in which all departments are interlocked to a certain degree, set up for an easy flow of both patients and information.

Ensuring a smooth operation at Clane is part and parcel of the clinic’s work; when a patient comes to the clinic they assess their daily living activities – their needs concerning mobility, diet and any other special requirements they might have.

This information is forwarded to ward staff, letting them know if a particular patient is coming in and when, so the ward staff can ensure the right equipment and facilities are on hand – for example, if an elderly patient

Clane_Hospital_Mag.indd 18

06/01/2014 15:11:38

ear, nose & throat

Clane General Hospital Magazine 19

ENT at Clane The ENT clinic at Clane offers a broad range of services for its patients, explains Howard Savage-Jones, ENT Surgeon.

M

r Savage-Jones is one member of a team of three operating in the ENT Department at the hospital, alongside fellow ENT Surgeon Mr Robert Gaffney and Chief Diagnostic Audiologist Niamh Flanagan MSc. ENT at Clane has been operational for 22 years under its current guise, with outpatient or surgical access five days a week. A graduate of the Welsh National School of Medicine in Cardiff, Mr Savage-Jones completed post graduate training in Cambridge, Leeds, London and Dublin and was awarded a Fellowship in Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery at Zurich University Hospital.

While the ENT service caters to all ages and patient types, 40 per cent of patients are in the paediatric population and as a result, Clane’s compact cosiness promotes a child-friendly atmosphere which is appreciated by staff and parents alike. “Clane is the archetypical small community hospital which caters well for its paediatric and adult population,” Mr Savage-Jones explains. “ENT outpatient services, audiology and CT/MRI imaging may be accessed throughout the working day through to 8pm, affording the

Clane_Hospital_Mag.indd 19

broadest of options to patients.”

nature of the hospital favours clinical ergonomics,” says Mr Savage-Jones.

Facilities & Services The most common procedures carried out for ENT’s younger patients includes the removal of grommets, tonsil and adenoid surgical removal (adenotonsillectomy), minor nasal surgery and major middle ear/tympanoplastic surgery. For the adult patients the clinic sees, the ENT surgeons regularly diagnose and treat occupational and traumatic hearing loss and tinnitus, transtympanic pharmacotherapy for Acute Onset Hearing Loss and Meniere’s syndrome, functional endoscopic sinus surgery, rhinoplasty, otoplasty and facial plastic surgery (particularly for superficial skin tumours), head and neck endoscopy for oncological assessment and follow up, and thyroid, parotid and salivary gland surgery.

“The greatest facility in the hospital is, however, the highly experienced cohort of nursing staff; there is limited staff turnover which is testament to the team ethos and translates into the comfortable clinical environment favoured by children and adult patients alike while the compact

Technological Innovation To complement the range of services the hospital provides combined with the high level of quality, knowledge and experience present in its staff, Clane ensures that the latest technological innovations are incorporated where needed. Developments in the outpatient facilities over the course of the last decade have provided for in-house diagnostic audiology, balance assessment and hearing aid provision.

In addition, Ms Niamh Flanagan recently joined the ENT team as part of this ongoing evolution and holds bone anchored hearing aid and neonatal hearing screening interests. These outpatient facilities are augmented by ‘one stop shop’ outpatient department appointments incorporating audiology, MRI, CT and ultrasound with endoscopy and/or fine needle aspiration biopsy assessment for ontological and head and neck conditions. Current developments at Clane also include minimally invasive endoscopic surgery for salivary gland calculi and infection.

06/01/2014 15:11:44

©iStock/Thinkstock

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Clane General Hospital Magazine

ophthalmology

Seeing is believing Sight loss is a particularly worrying experience for anyone afflicted by it – but Clane Hospital’s ophthalmology department is on hand to help.

T

he loss of one of one’s five senses, for whatever the reason, is an unenviable experience, and timely diagnosis and treatment are key. At Clane Hospital’s Ophthalmology Department new technology and clinics have seen the hospital expand its offering in recent times.

With these new developments at Clane Hospital, patients can now be seen very quickly – and we have all the latest, most advanced laser machines.

There are two different types of macular degeneration: the dry form and the wet form. The wet form tends to cause loss of vision and usually it is a short while before vision is lost. The dry form causes significant loss of vision. Now, with these new developments in Clane Hospital, we can diagnose and treat wet form macular degeneration in a timely and efficient manner.

Clane_Hospital_Mag.indd 20

Clane Hospital also provides treatment for patients who have diabetic macular edema. This occurs at the back of the eye, and causes significant loss of vision. It is treated with laser treatment and/or intraocular injections, and these treatments are now readily available at Clane Hospital.

Cataract eye surgery has been performed for many years in Clane, and state-of-the-art theatre facilities with the most technologically advanced equipment for treating cataract patients are in place. The hospital also provides services for the new generation of multi focal intra-ocular lenses.

Patients do not have to wait to have treatments done. We cater for both insured and self-paying patients and we’re now providing affordable packages for self-paying patients.

“With these new developments in Clane Hospital, we can diagnose and treat wet form macular degeneration in a timely and efficient manner... state-of-the-art theatre facilities with the most technologically advanced equipment for treating cataract patients are in place.”

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06/01/2014 15:12:14

vascular services

Clane General Hospital Magazine 23

Testing and Treating the Blood Vessels Clane’s vascular service, with vascular surgeon Mr Dermot J Moore, comprises two main areas: the Non Invasive Vascular Laboratory based in the Outpatient Department and specialist vein surgery delivered in the operating theatre using day beds in the main hospital.

The Vascular Laboratory is based in the Outpatient Department in Clane Hospital and consists of a state-of-the-art Sonosite Colour Flow Duplex Doppler ultrasound machine as well as automated Doppler ultrasound pressure cuffs for measuring ankle-brachial pressure indices. This is run by a fully qualified registered vascular technician who reports on the studies in conjunction with the Vascular Surgeon, Mr Dermot J Moore.

The studies carried out in the laboratory are designed to detect the presence or absence of peripheral vascular disease in the arterial or venous systems. The most frequent tests requested are ultrasound scans looking for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and imaging of the carotid arteries to detect narrowing or stenosis of the carotid vessels in patients with dizziness, TIAs or strokes. Other routine tests assess the peripheral arteries looking for peripheral artery blockages (hardening and thickening of the blood vessel linings, PAD), especially in the presence of diabetes mellitus and in people with a history of tobacco smoking.

The advantage of these tests is that ultrasound, which is a harmless and painless medium, can now provide detailed images for assessing blood flow as well as imaging the blood vessel walls with high resolution pictures.

Clane_Hospital_Mag.indd 23

The pictures can reveal aneurysms as well as blockages and narrowing of the arteries.

The modern machines can convert the direction of blood flow into a colour picture for confirmation of venous reflux as well as graphic demonstration of tightly narrowed arteries.

Venous Duplex ultrasound is used as a key part of the planning and execution of appropriate treatment for varicose vein disease of all types, ranging from cosmetic blue thread veins to more complex problems involving sapheno-femoral or sapheno-popliteal junction incompetence or perforator disease associated with venous leg ulceration.

At present the laboratory is staffed two to three days per week, but with increasing demand for studies this will be increased.

Surgical Treatments In recent years the treatments available for managing and eradicating varicosities on the lower leg have improved dramatically. In the last ten years new developments have revolutionised varicose vein treatments: first has been the development of ‘endovenous thermal ablation’ techniques which use laser or radio frequency energy to damage the incompetent saphenous veins internally so that they become permanently shut. This development spurred insurance companies, in the USA primarily, to encourage

physicians to do these procedures in their offices as a cost saving measure, and this has pushed the majority of cases in North America out of general hospitals and into so-called ‘office-based’ procedures completely under local anaesthetic. There is no doubt that avoiding the postoperative nausea following a general anaesthetic has definitely encouraged a more enthusiastic response to proposed vein treatment amongst the patient population.

The UK has followed suit, but Irish medical insurance companies have been reluctant, mainly because of the fears (privately expressed) that moving operations from a general theatre into the outpatients would increase their companies’ exposure to more costs, as other procedures would move into the empty theatre slots thus created.

On the horizon are still newer and more interesting treatments which are performed with no significant anaesthesia at all: clarivein, a painless mechanical ablation which is done in outpatients and most recently the development of sapheon venaseal glue, which has just received the European CE mark and is being trialled in the USA. Overall, our prediction is that the majority of vein tests and treatment procedures can now be performed in an outpatient setting with superior cosmetic and functional results.

06/01/2014 15:12:35

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Clane General Hospital Magazine

theatre

Surgical Care The Theatre Department at Clane provides a full range of services for its patients, as Nancy Corrigan, Clinical Nurse Theatre Manager discusses.

C

lane Hospital provides excellent surgical care to its patients. It offers a full range of general surgery services including urology, ENT, gynaecology, orthopaedics, dental, cataract surgery, endoscopy, vascular, dermatology and plastic surgery. This highly experienced team performs both adult and paediatric surgery.

“We carry out paediatric surgery in urology, ENT and dental mainly,” says Nancy Corrigan. While the hospital mostly conducts day surgeries, we also perform surgeries that require overnight stays.

Nancy Corrigan leads the 16-member team consisting of permanent full time and part time staff. The Theatre

Clane_Hospital_Mag.indd 24

Department has developed an excellent skill mix that provides a high standard of care for our patients.

The department is comprised of three theatres. Two of the theatres have general anaesthetic facilities and the third theatre is used mainly for endoscopy and dermatology. We also have our own central sterile supplies department (CSSD) where we process all our instrumentation for surgery.

“Part of my day-to-day duties is to liaise with consultants, admission and ward staff to manage theatre activity efficiently,” she says.

the busy department: “we are a good humoured and cheerful group. I feel consultants and staff are happy working here.”

“I’ve been in the hospital since it opened in 1985. It is not without its challenges, which I embrace with the support of my dedicated team”

Nancy Corrigan is pleased to report that despite the pressures and demands of

06/01/2014 15:12:37

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06/01/2014 15:12:53

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Clane General Hospital Magazine

Alliance medical

Discover the power of MRI and CT at the MRI Centre Clane Clane Hospital’s MRI and CT patients are well cared for by the Alliance Medical team.

At the MRI Centre Clane, we offer access to

in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.

vertebrae, and to further characterise abnormalities seen on other tests.

 High quality, patient-focused imaging service  Quick and convenient appointment times from 8am to 8pm Monday-Saturday  Cover by major health insurers  Competitive rates for self-funding patients  Speedy report turnaround.

At the MRI Centre Clane, we strive to ensure that all of our patients are scanned at a time and date that suits them. Our caring staff will guide you through all steps of your scan, ensuring that you have the most comfortable experience possible.

Common uses of CT

For Medical Professionals We know that getting accurate, detailed images and reports is vital in preparing the right treatment plan for your patients.

At the MRI Centre Clane, we provide you with access to a highly experienced team that complements the high level of care you have come to expect from Clane General Hospital. Your patients will be scanned in our internationally accredited centre at a time that is convenient to them.

Our team of local radiologists, who are specialists in their field, will report on the scans and deliver reports to you in a timely manner. And you can contact the centre should you have any queries on the report.

For Patients Diagnostic imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), plays an essential role

Clane_Hospital_Mag.indd 26

After your scan, detailed reports are sent to your referring clinician who will discuss the results of your scan with you.

If you have any questions before your scan, please ask the friendly staff at the MRI Centre Clane. Remember, no question is too small so if you have a query, feel free to talk to any of our staff. The hospital offers free car parking facilities for your convenience.

Common uses of MRI MRI uses a strong magnetic field to create images, primarily of soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments and also bone. It plays a large role in imaging sports-related injuries, particularly of the joints and spine.

MRI can also be used for a number of imaging requirements, including brain and spine imaging. MRI techniques allow for early identification of stroke, the assessment of the spinal cord plus its nerves and surrounding

CT is widely used for imaging internal organs (such as the liver, pancreas and kidneys), bones and to identify areas of abnormality. It uses X-rays to take a series of two-dimensional cross-sectional images or ‘slices’ around an axis.

Much like MRI, CT can be used for creating images of the head, such as to assess injuries in the event of an injury or trauma, or to detect tumours and infections.

CT calcium scoring examinations are also available on the CT scanner at Clane General Hospital. These calcium scoring tests offer:  Non-invasive, low radiation dose examination  No patient preparation is required  Ten minutes’ examination time in total.

Contact details MRI Centre, Clane General Hospital, Clane, County Kildare  Tel: 045 989750  Fax: 045 989751  Web: www.alliancemedical.ie

06/01/2014 15:13:03

x-ray department

Clane General Hospital Magazine 27

X-Ray Department Ms Catherine Corry, Radiographer in Charge at Clane Hospital discusses the facilities and services in the X-Ray Department.

The X-ray Department at Clane Hospital is located in the new state-of-the-art outpatient building which opened in 2006. This has meant a range of new and modern radiology equipment for the department. This combined with their excellent patient treatment makes Clane’s X-ray Department stand out from the rest.

Catherine Corry explains that the department provides x-ray services for patients who are referred from consultants and GPs. The department provides x-ray, ultrasound, DXA-scanning and pain management services. The Alliance medical team are also on site within the x-ray department to provide CT and MR services.

One of the highlights for the department is their new equipment, including their digital x-ray machine. It means the image is more or less immediate. This new system makes x-raying more convenient and faster for both the staff and the patients.

Reporting on x-rays is done by consultant radiologists on site, as are the ultrasound scans. The results are faxed to the referring

Clane_Hospital_Mag.indd 27

doctors within 12 hours. This reduces the wait for results and subsequent treatment for the patient if necessary.

Catherine also explains that although the department is busy they can accommodate patients who call for an appointment on the day. Each patient is given a 15 or 20-minute slot by appointment only and they operate Monday to Friday. Catherine explains that the majority of cases are adults who are usually referred by their own GP. For these types of cases it is important that the department has an excellent relationship with local GPs. “If patients come in and we see they have a fracture or something suspicious, we would always call their referring doctor. We normally give the patients a set of films so their own doctor can then decide the best course of action,” she says.

Catherine also says that the X-ray Department has an excellent relationship with all the other departments within the hospital.

“The X-Ray department at Clane is a small but busy department. With its state-of-the-art equipment, it can offer patients personal care but yet provide top quality services that people are looking for now,” she explains. “We have the time to reassure the patients and make sure they are relaxed and comfortable and procedures are fully explained to them.” Services like this make Clane’s X-Ray Department an efficient and friendly place.

Referral letters/requests can be posted or faxed to the Radiology Department; alternatively appointments can be made by phone.

Contact details  Tel: 045 989750  Fax: 045 989751

Catherine has worked in Clane Hospital since 1996, having worked in St. Vincent’s Hospital for a number of years previously.

06/01/2014 15:13:16

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Clane General Hospital Magazine

dXA

Osteoporotic Bone

Normal Bone

Osteoporosis Care Clane Hospital’s DXA-scanning services provide state of the art treatment and services in osteoporosis care, explains Ms. Catherine Corry, Radiographer in Charge.

DXA scanning is considered the gold standard test for osteoporosis. A specialised scanner called a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry is used to measure the density of bones. Catherine Corry explains that this test is currently the most accurate and reliable means of assessing the strength of your bones and your risk of breaking a bone. Clane hospital have been providing this service since the opening of the new outpatient building in 2006.

Catherine refers to osteoporosis as the “silent disease” and describes it as a growing problem among older women and men. Osteoporosis occurs when bones become more porous, making them more fragile and liable to break. Osteoporosis can affect the whole skeleton but it commonly causes breaks (fractures) to bones in the wrist/spine/hip.

Catherine explains that most patients are post-menopausal women but there are other criteria such as family history, a low trauma fracture, vertical deformity, patients on steroid therapy or celiac patients who should also have a DXA scan. Catherine describes the treatment as a simple, painless procedure that uses a very low dose of radiation.

The patient’s lower spine and hips are the recommended areas to be scanned. “We

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scan the lower spine and both hips – a lot of centres only do one hip but we do both. Clane DXA service also provides an LVA (lateral vertebral scanning service) in which the patient lies on their side and we scan to make sure the spine isn’t collapsing. We can measure it and see exactly the depth and height of the vertebral bodies which make up the spine,” explains Catherine.

Other services include a ten-year fracture analysis which means that you can compare a patient of the same age and based on the patients’ history and bone mass it can indicate a patient’s risk of fracture in ten years time. Paediatric patients as well as adults can be scanned here at Clane. Total body composite scans can also be performed. Comparison scans are done on patients who return for reassessment.

Often something simple like a change in diet, exercise or calcium supplement can help. Catherine explains that if an elderly person fractures a hip, it may involve a stay in hospital and a recovery period. “If they had a DXA scan prior to this it may have shown how strong or weak their bones were and this could have helped to prevent a serious fracture.”

Catherine mentions that patients regularly fracturing bones can be the first indication that you need a DXA scan – but many people are unaware of osteoporosis or DXA-scanning.

The results of the DXA-scan are sent out to the patient’s referring doctor who will then discuss the results and further possible treatment options. Catherine recommends discussing all queries with their doctor. The aim of the DXA scanning service is to provide a professional, personal and efficient experience for the patient, as many patients are apprehensive before their examination.

Catherine has been with Clane Hospital since 1996. She is the Radiographer in charge and is also an ISCD certified densitometry technologist for DXA scanning.

Contact details Referrals/requests for DXA scans can be faxed or posted to the Radiology Department or alternatively appointments can be made by phone.  Telephone: 045 989750,  Fax: 045 989751.

06/01/2014 15:13:28

Clane Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic

Clane General Hospital Magazine 29

Meet the Team Clane Physiotherapy and Sports Injuries Clinic has spent 25 years treating the community. It offers the highest standards in rehabilitation and wellness. The clinic is based within Clane Hospital and is run by a team of fully qualified, experienced chartered physiotherapists.

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atricia Fallon MISCP, CPPP

Patricia is a fully-licenced and practising chartered physiotherapist. She graduated from Dublin School of Physiotherapy and Trinity College Dublin, and is now owner and manager of Clane Physiotherapy Clinic for the past 25 years. Previously, Patricia managed three different county hospital departments during her career: Longford, Roscommon and Mullingar.

her a unique approach to treatment.

She specialises in the treatment of neck and back pain using manual therapy.

She has consolidated her manual skills by completing a certificate in spinal manipulation therapy. Claire’s other areas of expertise include the treatment of overuse injuries, biomechanical dysfunction and orthotic prescription.

Conditions treated Melanie Lawlor, MISCP Melanie is a fully-licensed and practising chartered physiotherapist. She graduated from UCD and the Mater Hospital. She has worked extensively in Canada and Ireland, gaining huge experience in musculo-skeletal conditions, sport injuries, orthopaedics, and has a special interest in women’s health and orthotic prescription. Melanie has done numerous post-graduation courses in manipulation, vestibular rehabilitation and biomechanics.

Claire McLaughlin, BSc Physio, MISCP, H Dip Acupuncture Claire graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1999. She worked in the AMNCH, Tallaght and in private practice in Sydney, Australia prior to joining Clane in 2001.

She completed a two-year diploma in acupuncture at UCD in 2007. Her training in both physio and acupuncture gives

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 Back and neck pain, including whiplash and sciatica  Post fractures and trauma  Post-op orthopaedic surgery, eg arthroscopy, ACL reconstruction, joint replacements  Sports injuries, overuse injuries, training/ technique-related injuries  Joint sprains and strains, muscle tendon and ligament dysfunction  Joint and muscle pain due to arthritic conditions  Work-related injuries due to poor posture, repetitive strain or cumulative overload  Headaches  Neurological disorders, ie stroke, MS, Parkinson’s  Paediatric conditions  Pregnancy-related problems, eg symphysis pubis dysfunction, pregnancyrelated low back pain  Osteoporosis

 Ergonomic assessments  Foot pain  Respiratory conditions such as COPD, cystic fibrosis or asthma.

Specialist services  Acupuncture treatment  Orthotic prescription and biomechanical assessment of foot and gait problems  Specialist treatment of bladder and bowel incontinence in both men and women  Onsite access to consultants at Clane General Hospital  Onsite MRI and X-ray facilities at Clane General Hospital.

We treat the cause of your pain, not just the symptoms. Our therapists have worked with sports people, both amateur and professional, and with clients from all types of industries – including light and heavy manual work, desk-based jobs, drivers and workers doing repetitive sustained tasks.

Whether you have hurt yourself at home, at work or on the sports field, we use an active hands-on approach to your treatment. We ensure that normal movement is returned to the injured tissue so that it can heal in a balanced, appropriate way. We help you gain full strength and conditioning so that your injury does not reoccur.

Contact details Phone 045 982 349 for an appointment.

GP referral not necessary.

Opening Hours:  Monday: 8am-8pm  Tuesday, Wednesday: 8am-5pm  Thursday: 8am-8pm  Friday: 8am-5pm

06/01/2014 15:13:34

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Clane General Hospital Magazine

laser

Laser treatment for cosmetic purposes is also in demand, such as the treatment of acne and pre-cancerous lesions. Clane offers photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the latter condition: troublesome cells and bacteria are targeted with light. “Dr. Condon has a huge interest in acne because he’s a dermatologist,” she explains. “We also perform cosmetic botox and fillers in our department.” For a variety of reasons – whether one’s confidence is affected, an accident has necessitated cosmetic surgery or simply to reverse the effects of aging – Clane Hospital and the team are here to help.

Laser Therapy at Clane Clane Hospital’s laser treatment is an important part of the hospital’s offering, and laser nurse Breda Lund is a key member of the team.

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he use of lasers in treating medical conditions is not a new idea, but it’s taken time for it to become widely available and new developments are constantly coming onstream. Laser treatment is a specialty of Clane Hospital, where skin conditions – some dangerous, some cosmetic – can be treated with the care and friendliness for which the hospital is renowned, all with the latest technology to hand.

Laser nurse Breda Lund is a key member of this team, and works closely with Dr Cal Condron and his dermatology team.

“We practise general dermatology, the excision of lesions, and we analyse for skin cancers,” she explains. “We also treat acne.”

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“The most up-to-date medical technology is available at Clane, and its range of laser treatments is a key part of the hospital’s work.”

According to Breda, all of these tasks are classed as minor surgery – but according to the Irish Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland today, with over 8,000 new cases diagnosed every year.

Happily, they report that nine out of ten of these cases can be prevented, but laser therapy is among the weapons used in the fight against cancer. Thus, the excision of moles, pre-cancer or cancerous lesions is important work.

Breda is a registered general and paediatric nurse. She completed her theatre nursing course and undertook her laser training in the UK. She started working at Clane 16 years ago, a time when the hospital – and the technology available to it – were at much earlier stages of development. Fast forward a decade and a half and the hospital has grown enormously to serve a much greater population and offer a wider range of treatments. The most up-to-date medical technology is available at Clane, and its range of laser treatments is a key part of the hospital’s work.

What kind of cases is she seeing nowadays? “There is an increase in malignant melanoma, so we often treat basal cell and grain of cell carcinoma.

There’s also quite a bit of actinic keratosis and the treatment of regular moles.”

As for the future, Breda Lund’s important work continues: whether fighting the dangers of skin cancer or offering cosmetic treatments that can mean so much to patients, Clane’s laser nurse is very much in demand.

06/01/2014 15:13:43

dermatology

Clane General Hospital Magazine 31

Under Your Skin Clane’s dermatologists cover everything from mole mapping to laser IPL hair removal.

H

aving joined the Clane Hospital team in 1999, Consultant Dermatologist Dr Cal Condon has seen it all. Not only has he treated all sorts of skin ailments, he’s also witnessed the massive upgrades to the hospital and its facilities in the time since he first walked through the door.

“It’s changed enormously,” asserts Dr Condon when asked about the hospital.

“When I started there first, it was really just a small cottage hospital with some beds, rudimentary x-ray and rudimentary out patient facilities. Since I joined, there’s an entirely new consultants wing. We’ve increased the size of the car park, built a new day surgery unit; we’ve got MRI, CT and ultrasound in addition to the basic x-rays. In particular, the hospital’s day case facilities have improved beyond recognition. Its main function is now as a day case hospital, which is where the future is going anyway.”

Having started out in a small unit, Dr Condon now heads up the department as a consultant working with other doctors and nurses who help run the laser aspect

Clane_Hospital_Mag.indd 31

of various treatments. According to Dr Condon himself, the list of skin disorders he sees is long and varied, ranging from cosmetic to life-threatening. “We deal with skin cancer and the prevention of skin cancer, acne scarring. Then there’s also something in the latter years that’s developing: cosmetic procedures that include rejuvenation, hair removal and leg veins. In the last couple of years we’ve also included mole mapping and skin cancer surveillance, allergy testing and most recently of all, we’ve now got laser treatment for fungal nail infections.

It sounds like a small thing but it’s a very useful treatment.”

and that’s probably the lion’s share of my practice.”

He continues: “We see everything from melanoma, which is a skin cancer that can be fatal, to completely debilitating psoriasis.

It can make people feel very unhappy, feeling devastated. And then you have other types of conditions, which usually have a very good outcome, but which are greater in their extent. Things like nonmelanoma skin cancer, which is by-andlarge curable, but requires a lot of surgery

With over a decade of service at Clane under his belt, today Dr Condon is proud of his department and believes they have the capacity to surprise one or two potential patients unfamiliar with the hospital. “It’s a very successful little unit. Clane often surprises people with the amount of stuff we have. We’ve five lasers, we’ve dynamic therapy, photo therapy; so there’s quite an extensive list of things we do.”

Condon is one of the best in his field, of that there is no doubt. Still, he quick to acknowledge Clane’s eternal dedication to obtaining the most cutting edge equipment and technology in making his job easier over the years. “Things like acne – we’ve been able to treat them effectively using lasers and other treatments like phototherapy and light therapy. The new day unit has also been a great help in terms of the surgery we can provide. The x-rays can all be done onsite.

There’s little really we can’t take on board at Clane to provide a very extensive package.”

06/01/2014 15:13:55

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06/01/2014 15:13:58

HOSPITAL CONTACT NUMBERS

SERVICE

telephone

Fax

Email

Accounts

045 982312

045 868814

accounts@clanehospital.com

Admissions

045 982311

045 982317

admissions@clanehospital.com

Cardiology

045 989702

045 989726

dpmoore@eircom.net

Endoscopy Unit

045 989760

045 989747

jane@clanehospital.com

Main Reception

045 982300

045 868114

contact@clanehospital.com

Nurse’s Station

045 982323

Outpatients

045 982340

045 989796

opd@clanehospital.com

Physiotherapy

045 982349

045 989796

Radiology

045 989750

045 989751

xray@clanehospital.com

Theatre

045 982336

045 982336

nancy@clanehospital.com

Vascular

045 989703

045 989726

vascularlab@clanehospital.com

Clane General Hospital Magazine 33

Contacting Clane Hospital

Prosperous Road, Clane, Co. Kildare www.clanehospital.ie 045 982 300

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06/01/2014 15:14:01

Consultants directory

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Clane General Hospital Magazine

Clane Hospital Consultants CARDIOLOGY Dr. David Moore Suite 2/3 Secretary: Geraldine Tel: 045 989702 Fax: 045 989726 DERMATOLOGY Dr. Jane Barry Suite 8 Secretary: Catriona Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 01 6459568 Dr. Callaghan Condon Suite 1 Secretary: Maura Tel: 045 989701 Fax: 01 2835626 Dr. Charles Dupont Suite 8 Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796 ENDOCRINOLOGY Dr. Margaret Griffin Suite 9 Secretary: Mary Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796 E.N.T. Mr. Robert Gaffney Suite 6 Secretary: Jackie Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796 Mr. Howard Savage Jones Suite 10 Secretary: Paula Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989717 GASTROENTEROLOGY Professor Humphrey O’Connor Suite 9 Secretary: Carmel Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796

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Dr. Cathal O’Keefe Suite 4 Tel: 045 989704 Fax: 045 989747 GASTROENTEROLOGY & GENERAL MEDICINE Dr. Asghar Qasim Suite 4 Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796 GENERAL SURGERY Mr. James Geraghy Suite 11 Secretary: Jo Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989748 Mr. Eoin Mooney Secretary: Jennifer Tel: 044 9329935 Fax: 044 9329937 Mr. Colm Power Suite 4 Tel: 045 989704 Fax: 045 989747 GENERAL & COLORECTAL SURGERY Mr. Emmanuel Eguare Secretary: Ben Tel: 01 4063400 Fax: 01 4922608 Mr. Tahir Saleem Suite 4 Tel: 045 989704 Fax: 045 989747

GYNAECOLOGY Dr. Julian Dockeray Suite 11 Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 01 4188496 Dr. Osman Shamoun Suite 11 Secretary: Rosemary Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796 OPHTHALMology Mr. Magdy Nasralla Abdalla Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796 Ms. Elizabeth Chacko Tel: 045 988100 Fax: 045 989796 Mr. James Forde Suite 8 Secretary: Elaine Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796 Mr. Conall Hurley Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796 Mr. Ayman Saeed Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989976 ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL Dr. Gary Leonard Secretary: Sandra Tel: 045 901725

GENERAL, GASTROINTESTINAL & COLORECTAL Mr. Diarmuid O’Riordain Secretary: Patricia Tel: 01 2920595 Fax: 01 2935938

Dr. M. Sharif Nayyar Tel: 01 7719100

General, Gastrointestinal & Laparoscopic Mr. Adnan Hafeez Suite 4 Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796

Professor John P. McElwain Secretary: Tara Tel: 01 2888618 Fax: 01 2888980

ORTHOPAEDIC Mr. Bruce Bough Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796

Mr. Paul Murphy Secretary: Elaine Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796

Mr. John Thornhill Secretary: Shelagh Tel: 045 982355 Fax: 045 893733

Mr. John Rice Suite 11 Secretary: Jo Tel: 045 982356 Fax: 045 989748

VASCULAR Mr. Max Mahendran Tel: 045 254242 Fax: 045 254242

Mr. Joe Sparkes Secretary: Fiona Tel: 045 889245 Fax: 045 889141 PAIN MANAGEMENT Dr. Camillus Power Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796 PLASTIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY Mr. Labros Chatzis Suite 4 Secretary: Jane Tel: 045 989704 Fax: 045 989747

Mr. Dermot Moore Secretary: Catherine Tel: 045 989703 / 086 8523040 Fax: 045 989726 CLINICAL SERVICES AUDIOLOGY Ms. Niamh Flanagan Tel: 045 989710 Mrs. Ethna McGowan Tel: 01 2894304 DIETICIAN Ms. Elaine Murray Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796

Dr. Elizabeth Purcell Suite 4 Secretary: Susan Tel: 087 2774884 / 045 989704 Fax: 045 989747

PHYSIOTHERAPY Mrs Patricia Fallon Tel: 045 982349

RADIOLOGY Dr. Charles Williams Tel: 045 989750 Fax: 045 989751

Ms. Claire McLaughlin Tel: 045 982349

RESPIRATORY PHYSICIAN Dr. Patrick Manning Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796

Mrs Melanie Lawlor Tel: 045 982349

PSYCHOLOGY Mary Sheehan Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796

RHEUMATOLOGY Dr. Maurice Barry Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 01 8573041 UROLOGY Mr. Robert Flynn Tel: 045 982340 Fax: 045 989796

06/01/2014 15:14:02

Advertorial

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E

stablished in 2003, Netwatch, from its Carlow Communication Hub, monitors in excess of 27,000 security cameras across the globe.

alarm system, utilizing the latest technology proven across thousands of Netwatch customer sites and installed on a Managed Service basis.

The principle behind the Netwatch System is crime prevention and thus, as we detect intruders before the crime is committed, we are in a position to stop that crime from taking place.

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The Netwatch System deploys the most advanced video processing technologies to alert Intervention Specialists in its Communication Hub to unacceptable behaviour on a clients’ property, live personalised audio warnings are then issued to intruders, preventing criminal activity.

Netwatch Managed Services provides a cost effective, accountable monitored

Netwatch’s focus on innovation has lead to the ‘CRATOS’ platform, a companywide software programme which allows the company to manage the flow of live incidents from thousands of Netwatch sites worldwide. ‘CRATOS’ after the Greek God of strength, partnered with our external ‘VERITAS’ Detection System means Netwatch are the first organisation

in the world to introduce an entire enterprise solution for visual security and we are passionate about utilising emerging technologies in order to maintain our competitive edge.

Netwatch now operates in four continents with clients across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the USA. Regardless of which sector they fall under, each and every client Netwatch deals with aspires for the same objective; the peace of mind that their assets, business, home or family is securely protected.

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LoCall: 1890 457 025 Email: admin@netwatchsystem.com

netwatchsystem.com

Clane_Hospital_Mag.indd 35

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36

Clane General Hospital Magazine

general information

Attending Clane Hospital

Health Insurance and Payment Information Inpatients The hospital operates a direct settlement system with VHI, LAYA, Aviva Health, ESB Medical Provident Fund and St. Paul’s Garda Medical Aid Society, the Defence Forces and Prison Officers’ Medical Aid Society for inpatient activity. It is important to note that some private healthcare insurance plans have excess conditions and/or shortfalls which may require a supplementary payment by the subscriber.

Non-insured patients are required to pay for treatment in full prior to or on the day of admission. Patients are given the exact breakdown of the costs involved for their admission on booking their procedure.

Patients taking any tablets, inhalers or other medication must bring same to the hospital.

All patients (adults and children) should bring a dressing gown and slippers.

Patients should leave all valuables at home, i.e. jewellery or money, as Clane Hospital cannot be held responsible for loss or damage to personal possessions.

Visitor Information There are no specific visiting hours. We allow open visiting until 9.00pm. Children may visit if accompanied by an adult.

Outpatients

Children in Hospital

Patients are expected to settle payment for outpatient services on the day the service is provided e.g. x-rays, MRI/CT, blood tests.

Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times throughout their entire stay in hospital.

Forms of Payment Accepted

Car Park

Cash, postal order, bank draft or the following credit/debit cards: Visa, Mastercard or Laser.

Free car parking is available on the hospital grounds.

Admissions Day case patients who are having a general anaesthetic are not insured to drive home and therefore must be collected.

Clane_Hospital_Mag.indd 36

06/01/2014 15:14:05

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10/01/2014 15:23:56