Patient Experience
5 April, 2024
‘My Gynaecology Patient Passport’ provides patients with treatment information and resources, empowering patients to take control of their care.
The Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute (TSJCI) has announced the roll-out of ‘My Gynaecology Patient Passport,’ a resource for patients diagnosed with, or undergoing investigation for, gynaecological cancer which will be carried by patients throughout their cancer journey.
The first of its kind in Ireland, the patient passport will be provided to patients being treated for ovarian, uterine, cervical, vaginal and vulval cancers during their first visit with the St James’s Hospital Gynaecology Team. The document, which is filled in collaboratively by patients and their clinicians, will include important information and visual aids related to the patient’s diagnosis and care plan, and will provide helpful resources to support patients both before and after treatment. It has been designed to allow patients to take ownership of their care and improve communication between patients, specialist healthcare teams and primary care physicians.
Dr Catherine O’Gorman, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at the TSJCI, said: “We are really pleased to have developed this simple but effective document that aims to empower patients with a clearer understanding of their diagnosis and care. Importantly, clinicians and patients collaboratively fill in personalised details of diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. Patients diagnosed with gynaecological cancer can understandably be fearful and overwhelmed by the information they receive during their initial appointments. We hope that the patient passport will improve how information is absorbed and shared with family or other healthcare practitioners.”
‘My Gynaecology Patient Passport’ has been developed by the multi-disciplinary team providing care to patients with gynaecological cancers at the TSJCI, as well as patients who have been diagnosed with gynaecological cancers. Noting the importance of patient involvement, Ashley Lilly, Gynaecology Oncology Advanced Nurse Practitioner, said: “The real-life experiences of patients have been crucial to the development of the gynaecology patient passport. Throughout the process, patients have been centrally involved so that their main concerns are addressed in the passport, including those related to exercise, diet and sexual wellness.”
Clinicians at the TSJCI treat approximately 300 gynaecological cancer patients each year and, as treatments for gynaecological cancers improve, focus is turning towards cancer survivorship. Professor John Kennedy, Clinical Professor of Oncology at Trinity College Dublin and Co-Director of the Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute said: “Given the growing number of cancer survivors in Ireland, survivorship is regarded as a distinct phase in a patient’s cancer journey. The Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute views survivorship as part of the continuum of patient care. Initiatives such as the gynaecology patient passport and our recently opened Gynae Oncology Survivorship Clinic, which caters for the holistic needs of patients, underline how important all elements of cancer care are, not just surgical, radiation or medical oncology treatments.”
The first print of ‘My Gynaecology Patient Passport’ has kindly been funded by the Crosby family in memory of their daughter and sister Niamh, who sadly died from ovarian cancer in 2016 and was cared for by the St James’s Gynaecology Team. Peter Crosby, Niamh’s father, said: “We are extremely grateful for the dedicated care Niamh received from the gynaecology team at St James’s Hospital. Throughout Niamh’s illness, the team were always on hand to answer any questions and ease concerns. We are delighted to support the first print of the patient passport which will hopefully give some comfort and reassurance to patients receiving treatment for gynaecological cancer.”