A GENERAL review of services resulting in the introduction of a number of specialist clinics has helped reduce outpatient waiting lists at the Mercy University Hospital (MUH) in Cork city by almost three-quarters.
According to MUH chief executive, Pat Madden, the introduction of a number of new out- patient services, together with the expansion of existing services, has resulted in major efficiencies being achieved in recent months.
Mr Madden said a review of the hospital’s outpatient department had resulted in a reduction in waiting lists of 72 per cent, from 11,250 to 3,118, while attendances at clinics had risen by more than 16 per cent, from 3,000 to 3,500.
“We have streamlined the delivery of outpatient services and this has helped us to be more efficient and effective. We have reorganised and introduced new internal systems, launched a number of new services and expanded the range of other patient services,” he said.
The review, which began in September 2008, resulted in the introduction of a new men’s health service and the opening of a specialist unit last June, which has provided rapid access for patients with an elevated PSA – an indicator of possible prostate cancer.
One of the benefits of the move and the opening of the St John’s Men’s Health Unit within the hospital was the removal of these patients from urology clinics, allowing other patients with different ailments to be seen more quickly, said Mr Madden.
Other improvements include the planned introduction of preassessment clinics which, along with a number of other initiatives, will allow the Mercy to reduce the average hospital bed stay by one day from six-and-a-half to five-and-a-half days, he added.
Mr Madden explained that some procedures such as manual lymphatic drainage, which previously required people to be admitted to hospital, were now being carried out in the outpatient department.
Other initiatives which have led to efficiencies include the reconfiguration of the hospital’s warfarin service, along with the introduction of a new GP online referral system via the hospital’s website, www.muh.ie.
Assistant director of nursing, Martina Hughes, said the establishment of a new liaison service, which enables people to be cared for at home using new treatments, was also a major benefit, as was the support, education and treatment service for diabetic patients.
“We are also introducing patient satisfaction surveys and the feedback from patients on how they feel about the new services and improvements will be assessed on a continual basis and used to further improve our services at Mercy University Hospital,” she said.