The Charlotte Haematology Day Ward named after late Assistant Director of Nursing Ms. Charlotte McMenamin
2nd November 2016
Tallaght Hospital today opened a new Day Ward for haematology patients at Tallaght Hospital. An Taoiseach Enda Kenny was welcomed to the Hospital to perform the official opening of the Charlotte Haematology Day Ward and unveil a plaque, along with staff members, members of the Tallaght Hospital Board and the Hospital CEO.
The new ward provides a dedicated space specifically for Haematology patients, with both benign and malignant haematological disorders, including ambulatory care, blood testing and specific treatments such as chemotherapy and blood transfusions. The Ward also offers a walk-in service for patients with active haematological diagnoses who become unwell unexpectedly as well as a rapid access clinic for patients with acute haematological problems led by Consultants.
An Taoiseach unveiled a new plaque dedicated to the Ward to mark the official opening and was given a tour of the new ward and met with some of the staff members who work there. The Charlotte Haematology Day Ward replaces the old unit with a more spacious facility, thereby improving patient flow, patient privacy and patient observation.
The Ward is named in honour of the late Charlotte McMenamin who started working at Tallaght Hospital in 1998 when it first opened. Charlotte was well respected and had a distinguished career in nursing, working as the Medical Assistant Director of Nursing.
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, said; “It is excellent to see this new haematology facility at Tallaght Hospital. I was pleased to meet with healthcare professionals and staff at the Hospital who should be commended on their compassion during the oftentimes demanding work that they do day after day. The Charlotte Haematology Day Ward is an example of the important developments that are taking place in our health service. I trust this new facility will be of benefit to patients and undoubtedly, it will be of huge importance to the wider community in the years ahead. I am mindful that not only does our health service strive to improve treatment and quality of care, but it also strives to deliver such care in an environment that is pleasant, comfortable and patient centred. Following my visit to Tallaght Hospital today, I can say this belief is truly exemplified in the Charlotte Haematology Day Ward.”
David Slevin, CEO, Tallaght Hospital, said; “We are all very proud of the work that has been done to develop this new Ward. At Tallaght Hospital we are committed to the ethos of ‘People Caring for People’ and the Charlotte Haematology Day Ward is another example of this ethos being put into action. This latest Hospital development enables us to provide a more effective service to the rapidly growing and changing population in the Hospital’s catchment area and beyond, as indicated in our recently published Clinical Services Strategy. The late Charlotte McMenamin was always supportive and encouraging to all staff and patients around her and I am sure she would be proud of all the work that has gone into this facility.”
Dr Johnny McHugh, Haematologist and spokesperson for the Tallaght Hospital Clinical Haematology Department, said; “We provide services for those with both malignant and benign haematological disorders, including approximately 200 new patients who are diagnosed with haematological cancers every year. This new facility will help us to continue to provide that service in a more effective way to as many patients as possible. We have a wonderful and highly skilled team working here at the Hospital and I know that each person is excited about the potential of this new Ward. It is also fitting that the ward be named after Charlotte McMenamin who contributed hugely to life at Tallaght Hospital and we are delighted to welcome her family here today.”
End
About Tallaght Hospital
Tallaght Hospital is one of Ireland’s largest acute teaching hospitals, providing paediatric, adult, psychiatric and age-related healthcare on one site. The Hospital has 495 adult beds and 67 paediatric beds, a staff of 2,600 people and an annual gross budget in excess of €0.25bn. The Hospital is a provider of local, regional and national specialities. It is a national urology centre, the second largest provider of dialysis services in the country and a regional orthopaedic trauma centre.
Tallaght Hospital is a major teaching hospital of Trinity College Dublin - specialising in the training and professional development of staff in nursing, health and social care, emergency medicine and surgery, amongst many others. The Hospital is part of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group which serves a population of over 1.2 million across seven counties.
A new satellite centre is to be built at Tallaght Hospital as part of the New Children’s Hospital project and will be a key element of an integrated clinical network for paediatric services nationally.
The Hospital’s Emergency Departments catered for 45,551 Adult Attendances and 32,272 Paediatric Attendances in 2015. A further 206,169 patients were treated through the Hospital’s outpatient clinics in 2015. The Hospital’s operations are supported by 200 general practitioners in surrounding communities.
Clinical Haematology
The Department of Clinical Haematology provides services for patients with benign and malignant haematological disorders. Therapeutic and diagnostic services are provided to approximately 200 new patients diagnosed with haematological cancers annually.
This includes the care of patients with acute and chronic leukaemia’s, lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes. Services are provided to inpatients, outpatients and through our dedicated and newly refurbished Charlotte Haematology Day Ward. The department is staffed with specialised medical, nursing and health & social care professional staff. Services include intensive chemotherapy for patients with malignancy including acute leukaemia and stem cell transplant patients. Consultative services are provided to the medical and surgical patients in the Hospital on a 24/7 basis. Outpatient and Rapid Access Clinics and a Nurse-led Lymphoma Clinic are provided. A specialised thrombophilia clinic is also provided, and the Department is responsible for the provision of Anticoagulation Clinics for the Hospital and catchment area.
Consultative, on-call and laboratory services are provided to Naas General Hospital. Research activities are focused on participation in Haematological Oncology Clinical Trials and on the investigation and treatment of patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes. The Department is recognised internationally as a Centre of Excellence for the Diagnosis and Management of Myelodysplastic Syndromes.
