Therapeutics Today December

The December edition of Therapeutics Today newsletter published by the National Medicines Information Centre is now available.  In this month's newsletter you will find articles on The benefits of chocolate: the news just gets better! Food for thought...Grapefruit use and potential drug interactions and a Thank you very very very MUCH!  Click here to view.

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Palliative Care DVD

A DVD, specifically designed to inform patients and their families about specialist palliative care services provided in St James Hospital and Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services was launched Monday 26th Nov to enhance patients and families awareness of what palliative care actually is about.  The launch was attended by patients, families, members of the medical and care providers involved. The actual launch was preformed by Miriam O’Callaghan of RTE, who also spoke of her personal experience at the event.

The DVD itself features, patients, family members, medical nursing and care staff from both institutions and also includes observations from broadcasters Gay Byrne, Miriam O’Callaghan, Charlie Bird and Dr. Eva Orsmond.  It provides a sensitive and honest appraisal of the holistic nature of the care provided as well as outlining the specific challenges for both patients and families. 

This DVD was supported and project managed by the Regional Oncology Programme Office and produced by Medical Illustration.

Dr. Lucy Balding, Consultant Palliative Medicine, Prof Derry Shanley, Chairman, St. James’s Hospital, Ms. Geraldine Tracey, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Ms. Audrey Houlihan, Head of Human Resources, OLH&C, Mr. Brian Fitzgerald, CEO, St. James’s Hospital, Ms. Cathriona Corcoran, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Mr. Rory Wilkinson, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Ms. Morna O’Hanlon, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Dr. Norma O’Leary, Consultant Palliative Medicine

 
Ms. Mae O'Brien, Ms. Miriam O'Callaghan, Ms. Nora Gahan

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Dr. Lucy Balding, Consultant Palliative Medicine, Dr. Norma O’Leary, Consultant Palliative Medicine, Ms. Miriam O'Callaghan, Mr. Brian Fitzgerald, CEO, St. James’s Hospital, Ms. Audrey Houlihan, Head of Human Resources, OLH&C

Therapeutics Today January

The January edition of Therapeutics Today newsletter published by the National Medicines Information Centre is now available.  In this month's newsletter you will find articles on New recommendations for pertussis vaccination, Oral anticoagulation – first do no harm! and Myasthenia gravis.  Click here to view.

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NMIC Bulletin - Prostate Care

The latest Bulletin published by the NMIC is now available. This edition is on Prostate Cancer. Please click here to view.

Click here to view previous editions of the NMIC Bulletin.

Therapeutics Today February

The February edition of Therapeutics Today newsletter published by the National Medicines Information Centre is now available.  In this month's newsletter you will find articles on Update on safety of NSAIDs, Updated prescribing information for simvastatin and Infantile colic (IC) .  Click here to view.

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National Children's and Maternity Hospital

Development of National Children's and Maternity Hospital on St. James's Campus

St. James's Hospital & Crumlin Hospital Presentation to Review Group

Support Letter from Crumlin Hospital 
  
St. James’s Hospital remains fully committed to this nationally important development being within the SJH campus.

This updated submission outlines the hospitals ability to satisfy requirements of a National Paediatric Hospital and in particular be capable of accommodating a National Children’s Hospital, associated parent/guardian accommodation, a maternity hospital and space for future related service expansion. 

St. James’s Hospital proposal satisfies requirements as set out by Review Group, appropriately enables the development of a model of care which is consistent with the principles established by McKinsey, has direct benefits for children and important strengths necessary to effect a true tri-location of paediatric, maternity and adult services on a single campus. These being as follows:

Patient / Family
The proposal provides for the development of an integrated model of child care, truly compliant with the principles identified by McKinsey and necessary for tri-location of paediatric, maternity and adult services.

Clinical Benefits / Synergies
Development of the National Paediatric Hospital on the SJH campus will present an unprecedented opportunity to effect further development of significant clinical synergies which already include a range of specialities on the campus including;

• National Adult and Paediatric Burns, Plastic Surgery
• Clinical Dermatology
• Cardiology
• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Clinical Immunology
• Medical Oncology
• Haematological malignancies – National Bone Marrow Transplant units
• Haematological conditions (benign) including sickle cell anaemia and coagulation disorder

There are existing services on the SJH campus which will become integral providers of care to both children and adults:

• Irish Blood Transfusion Service
• Radiation Therapy
• Interventional Radiology
• National Centre for Pharmoeconomics
• PET / CT service (public)
• Pharmacy and compounding facility
• National Maxillofacial Surgery Unit
• Centre for Advanced Medical Imaging (CAMI)

Research and Development
A key component of the proposed development would be the building of an integrated Institute of Child Health and Women’s Health Institute, both of which can be physically linked to the current Institute of Molecular Medicine Building and share core facilities and expertise. The Institutes would operate under a governance structure which would seek to promote the full engagement of UCD, TCD, UCC, UCG and RCSI. This development would represent one of the largest on site research facilities in Europe. The range and depth of clinical and scientific expertise will attract and retain the highest quality academic and clinical staff resulting in enormous social, economic and healthcare benefits.

Clinical Support Service Functions
SJH already has the largest pharmacy, radiology and laboratory service within the state. The laboratory currently operates as a tertiary care centre for paediatrics in haematology and immunology.

Corporate Functions - Shared Services
The existing SJH contemporary ICT Business systems and processes are already comparable with best international practice and have been seen as a model which can be extended to underpin financial management and control within the wider Irish health system in the future.  In fact, a project is already underway to extend business processes and systems developed in SJH to OLCHC, CWIUH, OLHC (Hospice), and Tallaght Hospital. It is envisaged that the SJH proposal will enable the National Paediatric Hospital to seamlessly benefit from already developed business processes and systems.

Operational Savings
SJH proposal estimate operational annual savings of circa €32 million based upon Tri-location model. This development provides excellent value for public money.

Philanthropy
SJH has proven record for attracting high level of philanthropic and research funding for development on the campus. Locating the National Children’s Hospital on the campus creates unique opportunity for “cradle to end of life” medicine and research therefore expanding possibilities for further philanthropic and research funding.

Access
SJH is recognised as “high level of accessibility” by Dublin City Council with three Luas stops, capacity for increased public/patient car parking with enhanced new access points to the campus including dedicated Quality Bus Corridor agreed with the City Council.

Site Size and Availability
The site provides 6.3 hectares for the development (Approximately 15 acres). 

 The site proposed has very limited decanting requirements and thereby prompt access to site for development commencement (< 6 months).

 The land is ‘owned’ by HSE/SJH and therefore there are no purchase or third party.

Site Capital Development
The proposed construct is felt to match the planning requirements and has no major site or size constraints that will limit the creation of contemporary paediatric and maternity facilities, or the ongoing necessary development of the adult hospital.

Subject to planning, it is anticipated that the co-location of the National Paediatric Hospital can be effected by 2015.

Cost comparisons:
The projected capital costs for the development at St. James's Hospital have been prepared and are benchmarked against contemporary international hospitals as follows:

National Children’s Hospital

	€000
Building Works etc.	358,190
VAT	45,390
	403,580
Fittings(1) including VAT	80,000
Total	483,580
€000	€484,000

Maternity Building

	€000
Building Works etc.	83,875
VAT	10,479
	94,354
Fittings(1) including VAT	25,000
Total	119,354
€000	€120,000

(1) Allowance for Equipment

Note:
Building Works include, site preparation, demolition works, new building, underground car park, external roads, paving, landscaping, fees and capital contributions and levies

The capital costs for the development at St. James's Hospital compare favourably against current alternative development costs.

Conclusion
St. James's Hospital proposal is believed to be:

• Accessible to all
• Best site location for Dublin and Ireland
• Buildable
  • Site fit on the campus with 15 acres (6.31 Hectares) available
  • Timely delivery - commencement on vacant site <6 months post planning consent
  • Cost effective - value for public money
• Delivers on the majority of require clinical synergies necessary to effect bi-location and tri-location
• Enables the managed delivery of adolescent care / transition to adult care
• Creates necessary research & education synergies / facilities for Paediatric, Adolescent, Maternity and Adult Medicine
• Offers true opportunities for the creation of necessary shared services and business corporate platform

St James's Hospital believes this proposal represents the best campus location to build the National Paediatric & Maternity Hospitals.

First step in new preventative healthcare initiative

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Therapeutics Today March

The March edition of Therapeutics Today newsletter published by the National Medicines Information Centre is now available.  In this month's newsletter you will find articles on Does nitrofurantoin use during pregnancy affect neonatal outcome?, PROTECTing patients on medication. Psychotropic medication prescribing doubles in elderly who move into residential care and Do benzodiazepines increase the risk of infection? .  Click here to view.

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Therapeutics Today April

The April edition of Therapeutics Today newsletter published by the National Medicines Information Centre is now available.  In this month's newsletter you will find articles on The Medicines Management Programme identifies the ‘preferred’ PPI and statin fo Ireland, Take your medicine to make it work! and Vaginal discharge. .  Click here to view.

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