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Streamlined care for kidney
patients
29.02.08
INISHOWEN kidney
patients are benefiting from a unique project that
sees Letterkenny General Hospital share data and
expertise with five other hospitals along the
border.
The cross border health services partnership
Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT), has helped
six hospitals to install common specialised
information systems so they can share data to assist
in the treatment and care of kidney disease patients
who live along the border. |
The five other hospital
partners in the EU-funded scheme are: Altnagelvin
Hospital, Derry; Tyrone County Hospital, Omagh;
Cavan General Hospital; Sligo General Hospital and
Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry.
The project co-ordinators anticipate a rising demand
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dialysis services as
the population ages.
Project chairperson, Dr. Peter Garrett from the
Western Health and Social Care Trust in Northern
Ireland explained: “The project has demonstrated the
value of collaboration by revealing good practice as
well as areas for improvement that can now be
addressed, enhancing the quality of patient care.
Further benefit can be realised by extending the
project beyond the border region with the aim of
achieving an all-island renal registry.
Dr. Austin Stack from the Health Service Executive
West, outlined some implications of the project
findings. He said the CAWT Renal Project had
provided a new approach to managing patients with
kidney disease in the border region.
"It allows us monitor the clinical health of the
patient through their period on dialysis, evaluate
the quality of care provided to patients and
identify barriers or areas for improvement in care
delivered," he said.
Special EU Programmes Body chief executive, Pat
Colgan praised the success of the project to date.
“This project signifies what the EU INTERREG
programme is all about - cross border co-operation
to improve services to people living in the border
region.
"It is very encouraging to hear about the good work
completed and that the hospitals involved will
continue to work together," said Mr. Colgan. |
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