St Patrick's Hospital Cashel has pioneered venepuncture/cannulation training for care of the elderly. At present St. Patrick’s Hospital is the only Care of the Elderly hospital in Ireland with a trainer in place to train and support staff in veneculture and cannualtion.   The Category 1 course is fully approved by Bord Altrainais.  All nursing staff in the hospital have undertaken the training module and the hospital has inhouse training assessors to ensure that best practice and continuing training can take place. 

This new developments means that patients can remain in their own environment instead of being transferred to an acute hospital for administration of blood and/or intravenous drugs or therapy.  This is critical for the residents of St. Patrick’s who no longer have to undertake a trip to the acute hospital in Clonmel if they require intravenous treatment or therapy.   

Catherine Coyne Venepuncture/Cannulation Nurse Co-ordinator says, “Our goal is to provide our patients with the best possible care.  To do this we are training our nursing staff to carry out venepuncture and cannulation in line with best practice.  We have put together a training pack with assessors and some of the staff nurses from St Patrick's Hospital.   Everyone involved in the care of patients within the hospital is very positive about this new service and our Geriatrician Dr Donnellon and our Medical Officer Dr. William Ryan are very supportive of all the training and assist in any way they can to ensure that our residents are given the best of care in their own environment.”