25 years of oncology services
The Oncology Service at Cavan General Hospital is celebrating 25 years this month following its inception locally in September 1999.
The nurse-led service completes a quarter of a century providing specified medical care to the people of Cavan, Monaghan, and surrounding counties in conjunction with a satellite support service from the Mater Hospital Cancer Centre. The Oncology service was initiated by Professor Desmond Carney, Consultation Oncologist at the Mater Hospital, in the 1990s. He identified the many challenges for patients and families traveling long distances for treatments and believed that oncology nursing expertise was best placed to provide treatments closer to the patient’s home in a nurse-led capacity.
Consequently, in September 1999, the nurse-led Oncology Service opened at Cavan General Hospital under the directorship of Professor John McCaffrey, Consultant Oncologist, Mater Hospital Dublin.
Today, Cavan General Hospital continues to provide the nurse-led service, which has seen numerous developments and improvements in the interviewing years.
The service includes three visiting medical oncology consultants and oncology registrars who see patients in an outpatient capacity. They plan and make decisions on proposed treatments and care plans that are co-ordinated and scheduled by the oncology liaison nurse.
Meanwhile, the day-to-day running and nursing care for treatments, side effects, and management of disease and illness, is provided on the Oncology Day Ward, which is run by a Clinical Nurse Manager, Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS), and oncology staff nurses. It is supported by the acute oncology nurse who triages and supports patients with issues relating to their disease and treatments; and the Oncology Survivorship Nurse who is available to patients that have finished their treatment and are considered ‘cancer free’.
Recently, an Oncology Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner (RANP) post - which supports and manages patients on Oral Anticancer Medication (OAMs) - was filled at the hospital.
Friends of Cavan General will host a day of acknowledgement to the service, patients, family and friends in the Cavan Crystal Hotel on December 7 and everyone is welcome to attend.