Cancer patients to benefit from HSE NCCP new community cancer nursing eLearning programme

A new community cancer nursing e-Learning programme to help cancer patients be cared for in the community, rather than a hospital setting, was launched today by the HSE National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP).

The programme aims to ensure community-based nurses are equipped with the knowledge and skills to safely provide care to patients with cancer at all stages of their cancer journey. The cancer care provided in the community significantly reduces the need for patients to attend hospital and ED admissions by integrating hospital and community care seamlessly.

John Wall, a cancer patient in Ennis said:

"The Community Intervention Teams around the country provide an absolutely invaluable service to patients and in so doing allow people like myself to avoid having to attend an acute hospital setting where possible. Personally, I look forward to each and every appointment with my Community Intervention Team at my local primary care centre. As strange and all as this may seem, this is simply because I now look forward to the chats and no longer fear the needles or whatever else may arise.’’

Nurses working in the community have a role in the early recognition of any adverse events and patient care needs that may require urgent review at the person’s cancer treating centre. By completing this programme, nurses can improve the quality of life of people with cancer

Ann Marie O’Looney, Clinical Nurse Manager (CNM) at CIT Ennis said:

“This new eLearning programme will be hugely beneficial to all community nurses and oncology patients. It will further equip us with specialist knowledge and skills to care for patients in the community setting and avoid the hospital setting as part of the Sláintecare vision to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time.’’

In recent years, in line with Sláintecare and recommendations made by the HSE NCCP, there has been a move towards more and more patients with cancer being looked after in the community. Studies have shown it is safe to receive some cancer nursing care and lower risk cancer treatments in the community with clearly defined patient pathways for referral to back into acute services if required.