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Physiotherapy Department
from Annual Report 2020
Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital Annual Report 2020
the National Antimicrobial Point Prevalence Survey and continued to submit data regarding antibiotic consumption on a monthly basis to the HPSC.
The following audits were completed in 2020: audit of prophylactic antibiotics for gynaecological patients and a reaudit of prophylactic single dose antibiotic administration for instrumental vaginal delivery.
In 2020, the department undertook significant expansion of the CWIUH prescribing apps for neonatology and obstetrics and gynaecology. This work involved adding new sections to both apps and undertaking a review of app functionality and making improvements to the layout and presentation of information within the apps to make the prescribing process easier and safer. iPads were rolled out in the NICU to aid with prescribing and administration of medication, thus replacing paper-based guidance with a more efficient and permanently up to date system. Regular six to twelve monthly review of electronic and pdf versions of Prescribing and Microbiology Guidelines and the Neonatal prescribing handbook were conducted. These can be accessed from the user’s Smartphone.
The expansion of the Pharmacy Technician-led Medication Top-up service to all wards and clinical areas in the CWIUH occurred in 2020. This led to further considerable cost savings in 2020 and improved stock availability, more efficient use of stock and cost efficiencies throughout the wards.
The department continued to support and promote the use of new standard concentration parenteral nutrition solutions in NICU. Compared to previous products, these new solutions are a better source of nutrition for our most vulnerable babies. The expected reduction in the requirement for individualised parenteral nutrition was seen and in fact, exceeded expectations in terms of reducing costs as well as reducing the reliance of the CWIUH on the national service for individualised parenteral nutrition. The department issued stock to wards, outpatients, staff and babies discharged from SCBU on 31,000 occasions, equating to approximately 123 dispensing transactions per day.
Peter Duddy continued as an attending member of the Irish Medication Safety Network, an attending member representing neonatal pharmacy and continued his teaching collaborations with the School of Pharmacy in University College Cork. Orla Fahy continued as a member of the Irish Antimicrobial Pharmacists group. Mairead McGuire and Orla Fahy continued in their review and editorial roles in the Primary Care Prescribing Guideline Group.
The provision of inpatient services, a specialised physiotherapy service to the NICU and SCBU and outpatient group physiotherapy services was maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic. All outpatient appointments ceased in March 2020. Staff used this extra time to triage patients over the phone, develop online classes and maintain the inpatient services.
The physiotherapy department received 2,196 referrals in total from the adult OPD, a 21% decrease compared with 2019. However, there was a 36% (1,616) increase in inpatient referrals compared with 2019. There were 1,308 referrals to the low back pain and pelvic girdle pain classes. There were 1,892 appointments, both new and review, in the Baby Clinic.
Details about the type and numbers of classes provided by the physiotherapy department are presented in Table 7.5.1. Women were offered a two-hour class as part of the MDT led antenatal education classes. Physiotherapy classes were delivered in person until March 2020. Classes moved to a live online format from August 2020.
