Medical Social Workers assist patients and families resolve any psychological, social, practical or emotional difficulties during the patient’s hospital stay. This includes an assessment of the patient’s social, emotional and environmental circumstances. It also involves exploring the impact of new or existing illnesses, diagnosis or prognosis has on patients and their families. Medical Social Workers work to acknowledge, support and affect change for the benefit of the patient.
Medical Social Workers facilitate safe discharges and liaise with members of community services, both statutory and voluntary, to advocate for service provision for the patient. The Medical Social Worker provides a safe, confidential and supportive service.
Medical Social Workers provide a service to inpatients, the Emergency Department and specialist outpatient areas. All of our Medical Social Workers are registered practitioners with CORU, the health and social Care professional regulatory body.
Medical Social Work is part of the SCOPe Directorate within St James's Hospital.
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Inpatient Referrals Medical social work provides an in-patient service across the hospital with an allocation to every ward. The referral system is computerised for inpatients and all referrals can be made via EPR. All patients who are based on wards will be assessed within 24 hours of receipt of referral.
We accept self-referrals from patients/family members which can be requested through the multi-disciplinary team or by contacting the social work department directly. Outpatient Referrals Medical social work service is allocated in the following out-patient areas: Emergency department, Oncology, Haematology, NCC, Sickle Cell, Neurology, Nephrology, Guide service, Inclusion Health, Dermatology EB service, Medel Services: OPD, Memory Clinic, RMDH. Outpatient service is accessed via referral through EPR. Where there is a Child Protection or Adult Safeguarding concern please refer to the Medical Social Work department.
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- Age Action
- ALONE
- Alcohol Awareness
- Bereavement and Loss - Irish Hospice Foundation
- Console
- Citizens Information
- Dept. of Employment Affairs & Social Protection
- Drug Information and Supports
- Decision Support Service
- Support Services in the Community
- Legal Aid Board
- HSE - Home Support Scheme
- HSE - Medical Cards
- HSE – Nursing Home Support Scheme
- Irish Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
- Irish Cancer Society
- Pieta House
- Marie Keating Foundation
- Rainbows Ireland - Support for children experiencing bereavement or separation
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
- Sage Advocacy Service
- Irish Hospice Foundation
- RIP – End of life matters
- The Irish Childhood Bereavement Network
Contact Details
The Medical Social Work Department is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday. An answering machine operates out of hours. Medical Social Workers may be contacted through the main department.
How to find us
The Medical Social Work Department is located beside Hospital 4, this can be accessed through the main hospital building by passing through the MISA building from the concourse and continuing out the main MISA entrance and turning left. If coming from the St. James's Gate entrance keep left after the Luas line and continue straight for approximately 300m and the Social Work Department building is on your right hand side, there is a sign for Medical Social Work.