Tallaght Hospital Wards and Units
The Kidney Ward - Osborne Ward
Osborne Ward is a combined medical and kidney patient ward. The ward philosophy is to provide treatment, support, education and training to enable patients to return to self-care in the community where possible. We endeavour to keep patients and their family fully informed of their illness and progress in Hospital.
Location and Contact Numbers
Osborne Ward is located on Level 3 in the Main Hospital. The easiest way to get there is to go through the main hospital entrance to the lifts in the main foyer. Take the lift to Level 3, turn along the corridor to the main ward area. Osborne Ward is the last ward on the left-hand side.
Patients’ families may phone the Osborne Ward directly on +353 1 4144000 or +353 1 4144002
What you need to know about the ward
Visiting times are from 2pm until 4pm, and from 6.30pm - 8.30pm.
There is no visiting in the mornings to allow for nursing and medical attendance to patients.
Patient meal times are:
Lunch 12.30 p.m. - 1.15 p.m.
Evening meal 5.00 p.m. - 5.45 p.m.
Lights are switched off at 11.00 p.m. and mobile phones should be turned off at this time.
Pastoral Care Services are available for patients. Nursing Staff will arrange for a member of the Pastoral Care Team to visit a patient if required.
Portable television sets may be rented out on request.
Valuables, (i.e. money and jewellery). We advise you not to bring valuables with you during an admission. The Hospital is not responsible for patients’ valuables, if kept by the patient. If you do happen to carry cash or items of value with you, there is a patient safe on ward which your nurse can lodge things in.
Day of Discharge:
Once your discharge day is planned, hospital policy aims to have all patients discharged by 11am. Please think through what arrangements you need to put in place to get home from hospital.
On discharge, all patients are given a discharge letter for their G.P. and a prescription. An appointment for follow up will be made if necessary.
Haemodialysis Unit
Introduction
Advanced kidney disease is treated by dialysis. Haemodialysis is a hospital-based dialysis treatment and is provided in a purpose built Haemodialysis Unit. Each treatment session lasts 3-4 hours and most patients require 3 treatments per week. All patients on dialysis are allocated a nurse (their primary nurse), who looks after their overall care.
Location and Contact Numbers
The outpatient Haemodialysis Unit is situated on the ground floor of Tallaght Hospital. Enter through the main hospital entrance and turn right into the Main Hospital Corridor. The entrance is the second left turn off the main corridor. The Unit is open from 7.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. Monday – Sunday, including Christmas Day and Bank Holidays.
To contact the Haemodialysis Unit, you should ring direct to +353 1 414 2357 / +3531 4142350. (Only during the times listed above).
A transport service is provided for patients who cannot make their own way to the Haemodialysis unit. For those that drive themselves, there is free car parking near the main hospital doors. Please speak with your Dialysis nurse about a Car Parking Pass if you wish to drive yourself.
What to do when you arrive for your dialysis session
Dialysis is arranged into 3 shifts per day: early morning, midday and late afternoon. You are asked to arrive 20 minutes prior to your allotted dialysis time and to sit in our Waiting Room, where you are given a snack and tea until called (patients with diabetes or those who travel long distances are offered sandwiches and tea). This is to allow time to measure your blood pressure and weight prior to starting your dialysis session. You will then be brought to your dialysis bed or chair for your treatment. Occasionally treatments may be delayed because of emergency medical needs. If you are feeling unwell while on Haemodialysis alert your nurse who can arrange a medical review. If unwell after treatment, Patients are observed for 30 minutes (occasionally longer) after the end of a dialysis session to ensure there are no unexpected side effects, after which they can go home.
Accessing Medical assistance outside of your Haemodialysis shift
If you are unwell at home in between your Haemodialysis visits, please do not wait for your next Dialysis treatment to seek advice. Please phone to inform us if you are unwell; we may be able to give you some advice over the phone. This can be done by either phoning the dialysis unit between the hours listed above or, if outside the unit hours, by phoning the hospital switchboard and asking to speak to the Renal Registrar on-call.
If your illness is not connected to your kidney treatment then we will probably suggest that you either attend with your GP or, if very severe, attend at the Emergency Department (ED).
If you do visit the Emergency Department at Tallaght Hospital, you will be triaged by Emergency Department nursing staff. It is then hospital protocol that the Emergency Department medical team will attend to you first. You may not need to see a kidney doctor in the Emergency Department if your illness does not relate to your kidney condition.
Please note that we cannot medically assess in the Haemodialysis Unit outside of either clinic appointments or a Haemodialysis shift.
Home Therapies
Introduction
Advanced kidney failure is treated by dialysis. Peritoneal Dialysis is a home-based dialysis treatment. It is also possible to have home based haemodialysis treatment.
Location and Contact Numbers
The home therapies Unit is situated on Level 3 in Osborne Ward. Enter through the main hospital, take the lift to level 3 and follow the signs for the Osborne Ward. The home therapies staff are on duty seven days a week.
An outpatient clinic is held every Wednesday in Suite 3 & 4 in the main Outpatients Department (see below).
To contact the home therapies unit, please ring CAPD Office
Phone +353 1 4144001or +353 1 4144220 or
Phone +353 1 4142000 and ask for Bleep 7032
What services are provided
The role of the home therapies unit is to educate and train the patient in how to carry out peritoneal dialysis or home haemodialysis in the home. Should a problem arise relating to your dialysis, please contact us as above. A drop-in service to the home therapies unit is also provided.
Accessing Medical assistance outside of your attendance appointments
There is a home therapies nurse available by phone from 7.30am - 4pm, Monday - Sunday. Outside of these hours the phone will divert to the nurses’ station on Osborne ward, and the nurses on Osborne will try to assist you.
Alternatively, if you need medical assistance outside these hours you can contact the main Hospital switchboard and ask to speak to the Renal Registrar-on-Call.
Outpatient Services - Tallaght Hospital
Introduction
The Outpatients Clinic provides the link between hospital services and the community. New appointments are made at the request of General Practitioners or hospital consultants. This is where patients are examined, tests ordered and results discussed with patients and their families. Where appropriate, admission to hospital is arranged, and patients will be admitted through A&E.
Location and Contact Numbers
Renal Outpatient Clinics are held in Suites 3 and 4 of the Outpatient Department, with the exception of the Renal Diabetic Clinic which is held in the Diabetic Day Centre.
The easiest way to get to the clinic is to go through the Main Hospital Entrance and turn right down the Main Hospital Corridor. Take the first right hand corridor (opposite the Dialysis Unit) off the Main Hospital Corridor and Suites 3 and 4 are on the left-hand side about half way down the corridor (second turn left).
Outpatient clinics are held on the following mornings:
Tallaght Hospital |
Clinic name |
Lead Consultant(s) |
|
Monday |
AM |
General Nephrology (private) |
Catherine Wall |
PM |
|
|
|
Tuesday |
AM |
General Nephrology (including Dialysis & Transplant) |
Catherine Wall |
AM |
Renal / Diabetic (Twice per month) |
George Mellotte Mark Sherlock (endocrinology) |
|
Wednesday |
AM |
Transplant |
Peter Lavin |
AM |
Obstetric nephrology (Coombe -Twice per month) |
Catherine Wall |
|
AM |
CAPD |
Peter Lavin |
|
Thursday |
AM |
General Nephrology (private) |
Peter Lavin |
PM |
|
|
|
Friday |
AM |
Rare Kidney Disease and Vasculitis |
Mark Little |
AM |
Joint Connective Disease (first Friday of the month) |
Catherine Wall |
|
|
AM |
General Medicine |
Catherine Wall |
|
AM |
Low clearance (last Friday of the month) |
Catherine Wall |
St James’s Hospital |
Clinic name |
Lead Consultant(s) |
|
Wednesday |
AM |
General Nephrology (private) |
George Mellotte |
Wednesday |
PM |
General Nephrology (including Dialysis & Transplant) |
George Mellotte |
To make or change an appointment, please ring-
Outpatient Clinic Direct T: +351 1 414 3012 (Only during the times listed above).
Secretarial staff T: +353 1 414 2353/ +353 1 414 2360/ +353 1 414 2440/ +353 1 414 2360
What to do when you arrive for your appointment
If this is your first time attending an outpatient Clinic, you must first register at the Main Outpatient Desk, even if you are, or have previously been a patient to the hospital. Your home address, next of kin and GP details will be checked and collected for the hospital system. You will then be given your chart and directed to Suite 3 / Suite 4. For all other clinic visits, you should go directly to Suite 3 / Suite 4.
On arrival at Suite 3 / Suite 4, you need to register as having arrived, so go to the reception desk. You will then be directed to the Nurses who will check your weight, and ask you to provide a urine sample.
The Consultant or one of their team will then see you. Please note that a separate appointment system is held for each consultant team and therefore, patients are seen according to this, rather than according to the time of arrival.
After your consultation with the doctor please return to the reception desk to book a follow up appointment or to let the receptionist know if you have been discharged from the clinic.
If appropriate, blood tests are performed by a phlebotomist at the clinic.
Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
Introduction
Diet therapy is a very important part of the management of kidney disease. The renal diet may help delay the progression of kidney damage and ease the symptoms of other health problems caused by your kidneys not working properly. The dietitian will support you to make food choices that help protect your kidneys while also nourishing the whole body to keep you in the best possible health.
Location and Contact Numbers
The dietitian can see you as an in-patient, at our outpatient clinics or in the Haemodialysis unit. If you wish to see the Dietitian, ask your doctor or nurse to refer you to our service. The Dietitian can be contacted at 01 4142363.
What services are provided
When you first meet the dietitian, we will complete a full nutrition and dietary assessment. This will take into account how well your kidneys are working and any other nutritional issues you might have such as diabetes, high cholesterol or poor appetite.
The advice you receive will be tailored to you, your nutritional needs and lifestyle.
At follow-up sessions, the dietitian will monitor progress and will adapt your dietary advice accordingly. Education sessions for family members and carers can also be arranged.
Always bring an up to date list of your medications, and your blood sugar readings if you have diabetes, to all your appointments.
A good place to start while you are waiting for your individual appointment: http://www.irishkidneydiet.ie/ has helpful tips and kidney friendly recipes. This website was created by Irish state registered Dietitians for people with chronic kidney.
The Anaemia Co-Ordinator
Introduction
Renal failure causes anaemia (a low blood count / Haemoglobin) due to a deficiency in the hormone Erythropoietin. This is treated by injecting Erythropoietin approximately once a week under the skin. The Anaemia Co-ordinator monitors and maximises renal patients’ response to Erythropoietin
Location and Contact Numbers
The Anaemia Co-ordinator’s office is situated next to The Haemodialysis Unit. Patients/families can contact the Anaemia Co-ordinator to make an appointment or to seek advice by phoning the main switchboard +353 1 4142000 or phoning their direct line +353 1 4142356 / +353 1 4143642.
What services are provided
The Anaemia Co-ordinator will advise you regarding changes in medication regimes, and any other issues that require further investigation or discussion. They facilitate education sessions for patients and relatives regarding all aspects of their anaemia care, particularly before Dialysis starts. They are available to speak with patients and relatives, either by telephone or in person.
They also have a responsibility of data collection to assist in continuation of ongoing research. They may contact you to invite your participation in this research.
Renal Transplantation
Introduction
Though patients receive their renal transplant in Beaumont Hospital, ongoing care for these patients after their transplant is by their Nephrology Team at Tallaght Hospital. The Renal Transplant Nurse helps co-ordinate and manage the care of these patients.
Location and Contact Numbers
The Renal Transplant Nurse office is situated next to The Haemodialysis Unit. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays Patients/families can contact the Transplant Nurse through the main switchboard (+353 1 4142000) asking for Bleep number 2987.
Outside of these days please contact the main switchboard and ask to speak to the Renal Registrar on call.
For non-emergency issues/questions you can leave a message on the Renal Transplant Nurse phone (+353 1 4144004) and she will contact you at the next possible opportunity.
What services are provided
The Renal Transplant Nurse advises on all issues pertaining to Transplant. Amongst other things, this can include education sessions for patients and relatives regarding all aspects of their post transplantation care; hospital appointments and post transplant follow-ups; changes in medication regimes, and any other issues or concerns that require further investigation or discussion.
Renal Social Worker
Introduction
Sometimes a change in health circumstances can bring changes to other areas of our life. Most people can manage these changes with the help of family and friends. For some, additional support may be needed around the emotional adjustment to illness, or simply around practical issues that can arise.
The Renal Social Worker is available to you, your family and carers if you feel you might benefit from emotional and/or practical support, especially if Dialysis is due to commence.
Location and Contact Numbers
The main Social Work Department is situated on the ground floor close to the main Reception.
The Social Work Department is open 9a.m. to 5p.m, Monday to Friday.
You or your family/carer can make an appointment by ringing +353 1 414 2462 and asking for the Renal Social Worker.
You may also be referred to the Social Work Service through other members of the Renal Team.
What services are provided to you
Counselling support is available for you and your family if you feel the need for support in adjusting to new circumstances relating to your illness.
Information, guidance and referral is available around community based support services & assistance; social welfare benefits; or any other practical issue that impacts on living with a chronic illness.
Department of Renal Pharmacy
Introduction
Patients with kidney disease are often prescribed multiple medications, each with a very specific role in the treatment of kidney disease. The medicines prescribed are used to maintain bone health, treat anaemia and ease other symptoms of renal disease which patients may experience such as leg cramps, restless legs, gout, nausea and itch.
Medications are prescribed and changed to suit the patients’ stage of renal disease and the symptoms they may be experiencing. It is of utmost importance that prescribed medications are taken and used as directed by your doctor.
Location and Contact Numbers
Where possible, in-patients are reviewed, Monday to Friday, by clinical pharmacists assigned to specific wards. Referral by the team is not necessary. The nurses on each ward will have the specific contact details of the pharmacist who is involved in the patients’ pharmaceutical care.
What services are provided?
The initial consultation will involve getting a detailed medication history from the patient, a relative or from a community pharmacy or GP as appropriate. A detailed medication review will also take place and, in conjunction with the team looking after the patient, information and advice on the safe and effective use of medicines will be given as and if necessary. At follow-up reviews the pharmacist will continually monitor patients’ medications. Medicine education sessions for patients and their families are available and can usually be arranged with the pharmacist through contact with the nursing staff on the ward.
Tallaght Hospital - Patient and Visitors Know your Medicines.
Outpatient prescriptions cannot be filled in the Hospital Pharmacy.