It is available to you if you have specialist palliative care needs, live in the Mid-West area and your GP/Consultant/Specialist Palliative Care Nurse feels you would benefit from a joint review by a Specialist in Palliative Medicine and a palliative care nurse.
Occasionally, an OPD clinic appointment may be offered as an initial introduction to Specialist Palliative Care to help decide which component of the service we offer (e.g. Day Unit, Hospice at Home) best suits your current needs.
Out Patient Department (OPD) FAQ
Referrals to the OPD clinic are made by GPs, Consultant Doctors (using the Specialist Palliative Care referral form), or Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialists. An appointment will be sent to you by post by the medical secretary coordinating the clinics who will also be happy to deal with queries you may have about your attendance.
The clinics are held weekly.
The clinics are held in three locations each week:
• Milford Care Centre (adjacent to the Day Unit),
• University Hospital Limerick (Mid-West Cancer Centre at the back of the hospital)
• University Hospital Ennis (Outpatient Dept.) on Thursday afternoons
You will meet a Consultant or Specialist Registrar (University Hospital Limerick) in Palliative Medicine and a Palliative Care Nurse will also be present during the consultation.
On occasion a student doctor or nurse on a clinical placement as part of their training may be present, but only if you are agreeable this.
You will have an opportunity to discuss your concerns with the Doctor & Nurse and for the Doctor to review and examine you as necessary to help support you
Family members or a friend are welcome to accompany you, if you feel this would be of benefit.
It is helpful to bring a list of your current medication to the clinic.
No. Attendance is free of charge.
Milford Care Centre has large on-site car parks. If you have difficulty walking distances, we can provide you with a parking disk to use for spaces near the OPD. Please call to Main Reception to obtain this. UHL has parking adjacent to the Oncology Dept. at the rear of the hospital. There is limited car parking availability at Ennis Hospital, particularly at peak times of late morning /early afternoon.