Mid West oncology initiative brings cancer care closer to home

A partnership between University Hospital Limerick (UHL) Cancer Services and the regional Community Intervention Team (CIT) is transforming cancer care across the Mid West by bringing treatment closer to home, reducing travel times and freeing up hospital capacity for more complex care.

Since 2015, the nurse-led CIT service has expanded steadily, enabling patients to receive a range of key oncology treatments and supports safely in community settings rather than travelling to UHL. 

Operating seven days a week from hubs in Limerick, Newcastle West, Ennis, Nenagh and Thurles, the service delivered almost 10,000 community oncology interventions in 2025, up from 6,472 in 2024 and 3,400 in 2022. 

Services provided include taking bloods, chemotherapy pump disconnections, administration of selected anti-cancer treatments excluding chemotherapy, and care of Central Venous Access Devices. The team also supports palliative and end-of-life care, and early supported discharge for oncology and haematology patients. 

The service recently received national recognition after winning an award at the recent national HSE Integrated Healthcare Conference, where the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll-MacNeill, highlighted it as a model that could be replicated nationally. 

For Thurles man John O’Dwyer, who attends Thurles and Nenagh CIT clinics for treatment, the benefits have been significant. He said:

Mr O’Dwyer said receiving care in the community also made the experience less stressful. 

“You’re not rushing to appointments, looking for parking or navigating a busy hospital. The nurses and staff make you feel comfortable and at ease. Where care can be delivered safely in the community, it is a huge benefit. My experience has been extremely positive.” 

Áine Collins, Oncology Clinical Nurse Manager, said the success of the initiative reflects the commitment of Community Intervention Team staff and strong collaboration between hospital and community services. 

“Patients can experience significant vulnerability throughout their cancer journey, and the kindness, compassion and professionalism demonstrated by the CIT staff makes a real difference,” she said. “The consistently positive feedback from patients and their families is a strong testament to the quality of care provided by this dedicated team.” 

Áine said the service is underpinned by close collaboration between CIT management, community pharmacy services and UHL Cancer Services, ensuring robust governance and safe delivery of care in the community. 

“We have been able to provide integrated cancer care underpinned by shared values, person-centred care and strong governance. The driving principle is a focus on patient experience, and both our activity levels and patient feedback demonstrate the progress that has been achieved.” 

Áine concluded: “The year-on-year increase in patient numbers is positive, reflecting the growing demand for cancer services. However, it also puts greater pressure on services and makes care more complex. This highlights the need for ongoing investment alongside robust service and workforce planning, to ensure we can sustain high-quality care in the right setting delivered through the most appropriate models of care.”