ANNUAL REVIEW master Final3a - St Vincent's University Hospital

St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group Limited - Annual Review 2007
Department - Medical and Surgical Gastroenterology
Dieticians
Medical Gastroenterology
Surgical Gastroenterology
Ms M Doyle
Ms N Bates
Specialist support staff
Cancer Nurse Co-ordinator Ms A White
Colorectal Nurse Specialists Ms G McEvoy: Ms J McCarthy: Ms W Hillery
IBD & Genetics
Nurse Specialist
Ms D Keegan
IT/Excelicare Mr S Thompson; Mr K Curran; Ms M Ward.
Secretary
Ms G O’Neill
Clinical
In 2007 Medical and Surgical Gastroenterology completed the move to a single department with the
opening of St Luke’s wards 1 & 2. Patients with acute gastrointestinal illnesses are admitted to these wards
either via the Emergency Department or off the waiting lists. This relative protection has greatly improved the
functioning of the unit and allows for a more rapid throughput of patients. Thus Medical and Surgical
Gastroenterology now encompasses combined outpatient clinics, weekly clinical and audit meetings and a
shared ward. Close to one third of all hospital admissions fit into the category of acute or chronic
gastroenterological disease and these integrated services, unique in the country, are clearly appropriate. The
move to the Ambulatory Day Care Centre in the new building continues to bear fruit with greater numbers
undergoing procedures each year under the excellent management of Mr Richard Marshall and his team. The
appointment of a half time Registrar to the unit has been of major benefit to the Endoscopy Unit but more
specifically to the Emergency Department. We are now in a position to offer almost immediate endoscopy
facilities to patients in the Emergency Department such that many are able to go home on the same day and
thus free up badly needed beds.
The dedicated St Luke’s Ward and the additional staff has allowed the early development of specialty referral
whereby many patients arriving in the Emergency Department are now seen and taken over by Medical
Gastroenterology, again ensuring a quicker and more focused admission. The weekly Radiology and
Pathology conferences run with our colleagues in Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology allow for best practice
in patient care and provide an excellent source of teaching for junior staff. We wish to acknowledge the close
clinical and scientific support we receive from our colleagues in Medical and Surgical Oncology and Palliative
Care.
We welcomed Ronan O’Connell as Professor of Surgery at St Vincent’s University Hospital in 2007. Professor
O’Connell has an international reputation in colorectal surgery and, in particular, in disorders of the pelvic
floor. His arrival further strengthens the reputation of the Gastroenterology Division in the hospital.
We also wish to put on record our thanks to our nursing colleagues on St. Luke’s and St. Patrick’s Wards who
manage our gastroenterology patients despite major involvement in general medical and surgical call. We
wish to express our thanks to Ms Nuala Donnelly and staff in St. Mark’s Day ward for all their magnificent
work throughout the year. We look forward to the opening of a new and expanded St. Marks in 2008.
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