The proposed unit will be purpose built and accommodate all cancer day services in one location.
The existing day services on St. Patrick’s Ward, together with its nurse specialists will transfer to the new unit.
A large treatment area with single bays will be provided for the chemotherapy/transfusion patients referred from the hospital.
The immune system of patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment is lowered, so there is an increased risk of infection. There are occasions where some of these patients need to be isolated to protect them from infection and an isolation room with ensuite facilities will be available in the new unit. This room will also be used for chemotherapy patients who may have an infection.
Toilets will be provided to meet the needs of the patients e.g. wheelchair users.
There will be designated rooms, separate from the main treatment area, to ensure that both patients and relatives will be able to meet in private with medical and nurse specialists to discuss their treatment and any problems they may have.
The new unit will enable patients to be treated with dignity, privacy and comfort.
Breast Care
A full time consultant surgeon specialising in breast surgery/reconstruction and a full time clinical nurse specialising in breast care provide this service.
Prosthesis
A fitter visits once a month to fit prosthesis and wigs.
Colostomy
Colostomy care is provided for patients with cancer and patients with non-cancerous diseases of the bowel.
Palliative Care
A full time palliative care clinical nurse specialist is based in Wexford General Hospital and a visiting palliative care consultant from Waterford Regional Hospital provide palliative care and support to cancer patients. The palliative care consultant holds a weekly clinic at Wexford General Hospital.
The services described above are sited in various parts of the hospital. In order to provide the best day care for cancer patients, these services need to be sited together in one location, this new unit will make this possible.
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