UCC School of Nursing and Midwifery Annual Report 2020

Teaching, Contribution to Community and Practice, Awards

The School of Nursing and Midwifery transformed into HSE Oncology Day Service during wave 1 of the COVID-19 crisis

The first patients received their chemotherapy onsite on the 6th April 2020, supported by the nurses and doctors they would ordinarily encounter in the Mercy University Hospital. Chemotherapy treatments can affect the body’s immune system and reduce the person’s ability to fight off infections, and this temporary initiative helped patients with cancer to continue their treatment, while at the same time avoiding hospitals during wave 1 of the COVID-19 crisis. The School of Nursing and Midwifery facilities are capable of supporting up to 40 patients to receive their treatments at any one time. Media Spotlight: Examiner: https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/ uccs-school-of-nursing-transformed-into-hse-oncology-day-service- during-covid-19-crisis-992647.html Echo: https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/UCC-provides-premises-to- the-HSE-to-treat-cancer-patients-during-Covid-19-8331a98b-ac34- 4783-b9f9-23595bd85555-ds Independent: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/watch- inside-the-simulation-centre-transformed-to-deliver-chemotherapy- to-cancer-patients-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-39110179.html Breaking news: https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/uccs-school-of- nursing-transformed-into-hse-oncology-day-service-during-covid-19- crisis-992647.html Morning Ireland: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radioplayer/html5/#/ radio1/21747116 Featured on Kfm Radio and 96FM The simulated wards contain all the equipment ordinarily found in any hospital environment.

The School of Nursing and Midwifery made a premise, their Clinical Skills Department, available to the HSE to facilitate treatment for vulnerable cancer patients during the COVID-19 crisis. The HSE and UCC worked together to enable the provision of onsite clinical services for the delivery of chemotherapy for cancer patients. Over one weekend, staff from the Mercy University Hospital ably assisted by Army personnel moved equipment onto the Brookfield Health Sciences Complex site. Every year, hundreds of students use the simulation centre’s extensive resources to rehearse essential skills ranging from hand washing, to the advanced skills required to manage acutely unwell and deteriorating patients.

Above: Valerie O’Mahony, Margaret McKiernan, Dr Derek Power, Nuala Walshe, Marie O’Connor, Professor Josephine Hegarty and Dr Ayman Amasayb pictured at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, UCC.

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