“This initiative has made a tangible difference for our patients, with more patients requesting access to the service,” explains Dr Michael McCarthy, Consultant Medical Oncologist, University Hospital Galway, referring to the success of the Sunday Phlebotomy Clinic at University Hospital Galway (UHG). The clinic extended its operating hours to 10am to 12.30pm to further support the delivery of Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT).
Dr McCarthy continues: “The programme ensures that cancer treatments are prepared in advance and ready for patients when they arrive for their systemic therapy appointments. It relies on the coordinated efforts of our staff nurses, nurse managers, chemotherapy schedulers, phlebotomists, laboratory scientists, porters, cleaners, and security staff, all working together, outside normal working hours, to deliver this targeted service. This collaboration significantly enhances the patient experience while also improving the efficiency of our day ward.”
The Sunday clinic initially ran for just one hour each Sunday, accommodating up to eight patients. Due to increasing demand and positive feedback, the service now supports 20 patients per session, offering a more patient-focused experience that enhances both care and efficiency. To date, the clinic has welcomed 1,631 patients.
Traditionally, patients scheduled for chemotherapy and more specifically on Mondays and Tuesdays, had to arrive early in the morning for blood tests and await results before treatment could begin. The Sunday Phlebotomy Clinic allows patients to have their pre-chemotherapy bloods taken up to 48 hours in advance of treatment, enabling treatments to be prepared ahead of time, significantly reducing waiting times on the day of treatment and enhancing the patient experience.
Patient Eva Lally from Ardrahan, outlines how, for the past two years she has:
“attended the phlebotomy clinic on a Sunday morning prior to my treatment on a Tuesday. I am extremely grateful to the staff there for working Sundays. There is no traffic and absolutely no delays and I am always out within 20 minutes.
Once my blood tests are reviewed, my treatment is prepared in the laboratory and ready for my 9.30am Tuesday appointment. Having my bloods taken on a Sunday has been a game changer for my treatment day process, and I highly recommend the Sunday Phlebotomy Clinic.”
The success of the clinic is attributed to the dedication and innovation of UHG’s phlebotomy and laboratory teams, whose commitment has made a real difference to patient care.
Maureen Keane, Senior Phlebotomist, explained how the Sunday clinic had been “very well received by patients and their families. It allows them to avoid early starts on treatment days and reduces waiting times, which helps make their chemotherapy experience less stressful. We’re proud to play a part in improving the service for our patients.”
According to Julie Bradshaw, Clinical Nurse Manager II, Haematology Oncology Day Ward, the development has “transformed patient experience and workflow in the Haematology Oncology Day Ward. With pre-treatment blood results ready in advance, nurses can focus more on care delivery, improving efficiency and reducing waiting times which is a true reflection of teamwork, innovation, and compassionate, patient-centred care.”
Mark Lyons, Chief Medical Scientist, Haematology Laboratory, added that although the Sunday Phlebotomy Clinic represents a small proportion of the laboratories workload, “the benefit this targeted initiative is having on patient care and the delivery of chemotherapy service is paramount. We look forward to supporting further expansion of this service in the future.”
The expansion of the Sunday Phlebotomy Clinic underscores University Hospital Galway’s ongoing commitment to improving patient care, reducing waiting times, and ensuring seamless access to essential cancer treatment services.
This initiative is an example of delivering “value in health and social care,” as outlined in the HSE Corporate Plan. The plan outlines how the HSE seeks to “implement initiatives to make the best use of our people and financial resources by increasing productivity in acute outpatient services, extending and increasing operating hours and providing more services on a seven day a week basis.”