Project cuts wait times

previously offered only in locations with dedicated Ophthalmic Units. This is a very welcome development for the people of Donegal and means that service users will be able to avail of this treatment closer to home instead of having to travel to Sligo University Hospital.

Patients with a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy may be offered this as a treatment option following a medical assessment by a Consultant Ophthalmologist. An intravitreal injection is an injection into the vitreous, which is the jelly like substance inside the eye. Intravitreal injections are used to deliver drugs to the retina and other structures in the back of the eye, thus avoiding effects on the rest of the body.

Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon Shauna Quinn from the regional ophthalmology unit for the north west of Ireland at Sligo University Hospital welcomed this pilot project to delivery intravitreal therapy for patients with diabetic retinopathy closer to patients’ homes.

“We are very aware that we have patients travelling long distances to appointments and are very pleased that this initiative has been established to provide intravitreal injections to some of our Donegal patients,” she said.

“There is a huge benefit in providing local care to patients having regular treatments; we would be very interested in establishing a permanent intravitreal therapy unit in Letterkenny for our patients with retinal conditions in addition to solely diabetic retinopathy, such as age related macular degeneration (AMD) and vein occlusions, but this will clearly require considerable investment in staff (clinical, nursing and admin) and building a dedicated eye injection room. Hopefully this pilot project is the first step in establishing this valuable outreach service in a location convenient for our patients.”

ABOVE LEFT: Nurse Sinead Cunningham, nurse Coirle Kerranem; Dr Darren McAteer, Consultant Ophthalmic Physician; Fidelma Kerins, Nurse Manager; nurse Anne Crawford. ABOVE RIGHT: Emma Ball, CHO1 Primary Care General Manager Sligo/Leitrim; Mary McGroarty, Business Manager, Community Ophthalmic Service, Donegal, Sligo & Leitrim.

Consultant Ophthalmic Physician Dr Darren McAteer, the consultant lead for the Sláintecare injection for Diabetic Retinopathy project in Donegal, said, “I am delighted to see the positive impact that having the service much closer to home has had on our patients and their family and friends. The increased capacity for intravitreal injection has also the simultaneous benefit of easing pressure on the very busy intravitreal injection service in Sligo. "This new service could not have come about without the excellent work done by our colleagues here in Letterkenny University Hospital and also in Sligo University Hospital."

He added, "This integration of staff from radiology, pharmacy, IT, administration, management and clinical care is an example of how, with a dedicated team in place we can develop new services for our patients in more convenient locations while still upholding the highest of professional standards.”

IF YOU WOULD LIKE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION about the Diabetic Retina Screening Service - www.diabeticretinascreen.ie Freephone 1800 45 45 55 (choose option 4).

WAIT TIMES SLÁINTECARE PROJECT REDUCES WAIT TIMES FROM SIX MONTHS TO SIX WEEKS

A new Sláintecare-funded project in Co Wexford providing geriatric assessments for older people in the community has reduced waiting times from six months to six weeks in the area. Wexford General Hospital and South East Community Healthcare have been working to integrate acute and community services for older people. The resultant Age Related Care (ARC) Team project has been successful in securing long term funding through the Enhanced Community Care fund, meaning that patients will be able to access these comprehensive services on a long term basis. Welcoming the progress made, Barbara Murphy, Head of Service/Older Person Services, South East Community Healthcare, said, “The aim of the ARC team is to expand its services to primary care centres in Wexford, New Ross, Enniscorthy and Gorey, so that patients can have their appointments locally and be able to provide home visits. The ongoing co-operation between South East Community Healthcare and Wexford General Hospital in this respect is a demonstration of Sláintecare’s principle of ‘Right Care, Right Place, Right Time’, which is seeing a focus on shifting more care into the communities, closer to patients’ homes.” The ARC service provides comprehensive geriatric assessments for older people, with a team currently based in Wexford General Hospital that includes an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, a Senior Dietician, a Medical Social Worker, a Senior Occupational Therapist and a Senior Physiotherapist. Patients are referred to the service by the hospital, as well as through community healthcare services and they can access a range of supports in one visit. Results from the service show that the team in Wexford had a target of 1,200 patients visiting the clinic and actually achieved 2,389. The non-attendance rate at appointments reduced from 10% to 3%. Applications for long term care from the acute setting have reduced by 12%, with a potential saving of €440,000. Delayed discharges have been reduced by 14%.