Why a cancer ward is desperately needed
I was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour last March.
Since then, I have regularly attended the radiotherapy day ward and the chemotherapy day ward, which are staffed by specialist oncology nurses and other highly trained healthcare personnel.
The service is highly efficient and the care is excellent. However, I cannot say the same for the inpatient care that I have received.
I have occasionally been required to receive chemotherapy as an inpatient, especially when the therapy was new or especially toxic.
I have never been admitted to the same ward twice and never to a ward with oncology nurses on duty. In a hospital the size of CUH, the oncology team can be difficult to locate and therefore slow to react to any complications, which makes the patient feel isolated and insecure.
The level of continuity of care is poor. Some instances of poor care include doctors and nurses having to check regularly with pharmacy about drug administration, drugs temporarily going missing and uncertainty about drug expiry.
At a time when cancer patients have enough to be troubling them, they should not be worrying about the quality of care they are receiving. Cancer care has become too sophisticated to be undertaken by those with little experience of it.
The development of a dedicated inpatient ward for cancer patients can be delayed no longer.
Brendan McElroy
30 Botanic Road
Ballyphehane
Cork
