Annual Report 2010 - St. James's Hospital

Clinical Directorates I GEMS
The Barrett’s Multi-disciplinary Group met on a regular basis
during 2010 to review and improve the treatment for Barrett’s
Patients under the direction of Professor John Reynolds,
Dr. Dermot O’Toole and Mr. Ravi Narayanasamy.
The Barrett’s Clinic is held on a fortnightly basis on Tuesday
morning. 124 new patients and 110 return patients attended
the clinic in 2010.
Fourteen patients received their fi rst treatment for
radiofrequency ablation. This procedure is for patients with
low grade dysplasia, high grade dysplasia and intra-mucosal
carcinoma. This treatment is cost effective as (1) the patient
does not require major surgery and (2) it is carried out as
a day case patient procedure. St. James’s Hospital is now
a well established centre of excellence for the treatment of
Barrett’s Oesophagus.
The St. James’s Hospital Foundation kindly provided
funding for the printing of an information leafl et on Barrett’s
Oesophagus for patients. We have received positive feedback
from our patients.
Endoscopy Unit
Endoscopy referral and activity fi gures for all specialities
continue to increase year on year, just under 6,000
colonoscopies were carried out within the unit during 2010.
Despite a signifi cant increase in the number of procedures
being carried out wait time targets are maintained. The
Endoscopy Unit has participated in a nationwide weekly
audit of wait times for Colonoscopies carried out by the HSE
from November 2009 onwards and continues to maintain
compliant with national targets.
Clinical developments to improve patient care in 2010
saw the implementation of the “Spyglass system” during
ERCP procedures. This system potentially offers signifi cant
procedural and clinical advantages over conventional ERCP as
it enables the endoscopist to accelerate diagnostic accuracy
during the procedure and reduces the need for exploratory
surgery in the Pancreato-biliary system/hepatic ducts.
During 2010, Ms.Sharon Hough, Advanced Nurse Practitioner
completed 198 oesophagastroduodenoscopies (OGD) and
227 colonoscopies. Sharon continues her involvement in
Nurse Prescribing, Training and education of medical and
nursing staff, and Audit and research.
The Role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist in Infl ammatory
Bowel Disease continues to expand and develop. This
Specialist Nurse oversees the care and education of patients
with Infl ammatory Bowel disease, providing patient support at
diagnosis, during treatment and in the post treatment phase.
To date just under 600 patients have been seen, assessed
and treated. The GEMS Directorate would envisage that this
service will experience signifi cant growth and expansion in the
near future given the projected referral numbers expected.
In 2010 The Endoscopy Unit took part in a National audit
process on behalf of the National Cancer Screening Service
for consideration to become a National Colorectal Cancer
Screening Centre.
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