“Since the community clinic started, I don’t have to attend the hospital as much. The best thing about it is the calm environment and the convenience for me as I can avoid the busy hospital,” according to Sean Crombie, a haematology patient under the care of the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, who recently began attending the new Community Haematology Oral Anticancer Medication (OAM) Clinic at Tullamore Primary Care Centre.

This new Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) led clinic is the first of its kind in this field of haematology in Ireland.

The new service was initiated when Mary Kelly, an ANP Haematology Nurse, Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, saw the potential to move from a hospital-only based medical model of care to an integrated nurse-led community clinic.  Mary had been seeing a particular group of haematology patients regularly in the hospital in Tullamore over the last number of years and realised that a new integrated community-based approach could be achieved in line with Sláintecare and the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) Oral Anti-Cancer Medicines (OAM) Model of Care.

The hospital-based clinic commenced in May 2023 and the community-based clinic began in September 2023 at the Primary Care Centre, Tullamore.

Reflecting on the experience to-date, Mary noted how patients have “embraced this new service for its practicality and convenience. Patients no longer need to attend a busy hospital setting but can attend the community clinic which is more accessible for many. The calm environment in which the clinics operate and the ease of access have a positive impact.

“The clinic was established with the aim of increasing capacity and improving patient care. The new service will ensure more regular reviews of patients requiring treatment; it will improve patient outcomes and it will also lower hospital admissions. It will further free up consultants to see people with other conditions.”

Louisea Burke, Director of Nursing at Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, noted how “Advanced Nurse Practitioners are transforming patient care with more clinical autonomy, decision-making and a wider scope of practice. This advanced nurse led service provides specialist nursing knowledge and expertise in meeting the health needs of individuals receiving OAM, and their families. The continuity of care and relationship building with patients has allowed Mary and her colleagues to have a greater understanding of what the patient is experiencing and therefore make a more appropriate assessment resulting in increased patient safety and satisfaction.”

Catriona Mc Donald, General Manager Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, added that “this ANP service is a great example of an integrated approach to patient care by combining hospital and community services to provide high-quality patient-centred care in one place, in a timely manner.”

Watch how the new blood service at Tullamore operates on YouTube