Neurology Day Unit opens at Beaumont

A NORTHSIDE hospital officially opened a new Neurology Day Unit last week.

The Unit at Beaumont Hospital will treat chronic and ambulatory neurology patients, allowing for easier and more timely access to neurology services as well as reducing the number of neurology patients attending the Emergency Department.

It will also optimise admissions to existing wards and reduce the requirement for inpatient stay. The Neurology Day Unit is also ideally suited to follow-up Emergency Department patients with seizures, and is a key component in the development of nurse led services.

Based on patient trends and admissions to date the Neurology Day Unit is expected to treat 636 patients each year, saving over 1,000 in patient bed days per annum.

Professor Orla Hardiman, Lead Consultant in Neurology, said:

“Through innovative, proactive and creative thinking we have developed a new service in Beaumont Hospital that will help us towards our goal in providing quality care for Neurology patients in a more efficient manner.

“As one of the National Centres for Neurology it is important that the hospital strives to adapt and respond to evolving needs where possible.

?

Professor Hardiman added:

“The Day Unit will benefit the National Neurology programme, Epilepsy Care programme, and will help to reduce unnecessary admissions, which is beneficial to all.

?

In addition to those with epilepsy, the Unit will also provide a service for people with headache, and those with neurological symptoms requiring short day procedures including lumbar puncture, and infusion based treatments.

The Unit was created through reallocation of existing resources and has two beds and eight chairs.