Your safety is our priority and we will ensure your safety, health and wellbeing across all stages of care.
International Patient Safety GoalsWe observe International Patient Safety Goals, delivering high-quality compassionate care for patients. For this reason, we ensure: |
||
| patients are correctly identified before each consultation and treatment | communications are optimised to assist patient understanding | high-alert medications are managed with extreme care |
| patients receive the correct treatment/surgical procedure | healthcare-associated infections are minimised | incidences of slip and fall injuries are reduced |
High-Risk PatientsIf you suffer from food, medication or material (e.g. latex) allergies, please notify staff on admission. Similarly, if you are unsteady on your feet we recommend that you inform staff on arrival. The Hospital issues colour-coded wristbands to patients to indicate a potential risk as follows: |
||
| Red: Allergy | Green: Latex Allergy | Yellow: Fall Risk |
Red Apron Medication RoundsMedications must be administered with care. At the Hospital we ensure medications are given: |
||
| to the right patient | at the right time | in the correct dosage |
| in the correct form | and the details of medications administered are recorded | |
| For this reason, nurses administering medications wear red aprons to signal that they cannot be disturbed during rounds. This practice enables nurses to administer medications safely and without interruption, reducing the risk of errors. | ||
Stay On Your Feet InitiativesAn interdisciplinary Falls Prevention Group educates patients and their families, empowering them to identify and avoid risks that may cause slips and falls. |
||
The prevention of Healthcare Acquired Infections (HCAI) continues to be a challenge for all hospitals today. Here at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, the Infection Prevention & Control Team (IPCT) play a key role in your safe care. Working together we can reduce the risks and prevent the transmission of infections, and we ask all patients, visitors and staff to adhere to IPC recommendations and practices.
Hand washing
Wash your hands thoroughly and use the hand gels provided at points throughout the hospital. Hand hygiene is essential on entering and exiting the building, after coughing, sneezing or blowing the nose, and at regular intervals during your visit. We encourage patients and visitors to ask our Health Care workers if they have washed their hands before attending to your care.
On admission to the Hospital
Please wear comfortable clean shoes for the duration of your stay. Please keep belongings to a minimum to allow our Household Department to clean patient bed spaces appropriately. Only essential items should be brought to the hospital and kept in the lockers provided.
Please inform a staff member if you are recovering from an infection or previously suffered a Health Care Acquired Infection (HCAI). Your healthcare team may recommend deferral of treatment or accommodation in an isolation room.
If you encounter any problems or issues relating to infection control during your stay here with us, please inform your ward manager who will, in turn, inform the Infection Control Team.
Visitors
Visitors should only visit the patient they have come to see and not other patients. If visitors are being treated for an infection or are feeling generally unwell, please refrain from visiting the hospital until you are better. If visitors have a “stomach bug” and are experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea, please refrain from visiting the hospital until at least 48 hours after symptoms stop. While visiting please refrain from sitting on the patient’s beds and only use the chairs provided. Please adhere to visiting times and keep visitors to a minimum. Children under 12 years other than the patient’s own children should not be brought to visit. Children must be under the supervision of an adult at all times while in the hospital.
Visitors should refrain from touching wounds, dressings or any other medical devices.
In the interest of infection control, the Hospital does not allow flowers on Hospital Wards and visitors who bring or send flowers will be asked to take them home with them
Feeling Unwell?
If you are feeling unwell and are scheduled to attend an appointment or surgical procedure, please contact the Admissions Department or Outpatient Clinic for advice. They may be able to offer you an alternative appointment
Hospital Admissions:
+353 (01) 814 0430
admissions@nohc.ie
Outpatient Clinic:
+353 (01) 814 0408
opd@nohc.ie
If you are unwell and intend to visit a patient at the hospital, we recommend that you stay away until your health improves. Patients at the Hospital are susceptible to infection and can develop severe complications from exposure to minor illnesses.
Excellent hospital hygiene is imperative to patient safety. Unclean hands transmit bacteria and germs to the many surfaces around the hospital and contaminated surfaces can spread infection. Regular cleaning and disinfecting are undertaken at the Hospital using a systematic approach to ensure the highest standards of hygiene prevail and the risk to patients is minimised.
Hand Hygiene
Good hand hygiene prevents the spread of healthcare-associated infections and protects vulnerable patients susceptible to infection. If you are visiting the Hospital you will find Hand Sanitisers located at the Hospital entrance and throughout the hospital. We recommend that patients, visitors and staff clean their hands on arrival at the hospital, at regular intervals during your visit/stay and on exiting the Hospital.
Interdisciplinary Approach to Care
Interdisciplinary Teams are made up of staff from different medical disciplines who combine their skills and knowledge to provide seamless integrated care for patients. They assess and diagnose conditions and create comprehensive and effective treatment plans to ensure the best care outcomes. Teams are determined by each patient’s unique care requirements.
Identifying Staff
Surgical Proceedings
When preparing for surgery we recommend the following:
- Take a shower or bath the night before admission
- Remove nail varnish, false nails, piercings, false tan, eyelash and hair extensions and jewellery.
- Please refrain from applying body lotions.
- If you are having a general anaesthetic, we recommend that you take a late supper before 10 pm the night before admission. Please do not drink anything (including water) from midnight onwards. If you receive a late admission time, the nursing staff may provide you with alternative advice on fasting.
- If you suspect that you might be pregnant, please inform the Admissions Department. If pregnancy is confirmed your surgery may be deferred to a later date.
- If you are under 16 years of age, a parent or legal guardian must accompany you to the Hospital. And should you require inpatient care, a parent or guardian must remain with you for the duration of your stay.
- Removal braces and dentures should not be worn during surgery.
Anaesthesia is used to suppresses the central nervous system, by blocking pain signals to the brain, and can be administered in several ways:
Local Anaesthesia can be administered by spray, gas or injection to numb a small part of the body. Patients remain conscious during the procedure but do not feel pain. Local anaesthetics are used for minor procedures.
Regional Anaesthesia provides for pain relief in deeper areas of the body. Spinal and epidural anaesthetics numb specific areas. Patients are conscious during the procedure but do not experience pain.
General Anaesthesia is a controlled unconsciousness, typically administered intravenously or by gas. Patients will have no memory of the procedure, and once drugs wear off, you start to feel normal sensation again.
The National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh has a team of 18 Consultant Anaesthesiologists providing expert services to paediatric and adult patients. They will recommend the most suitable form of anaesthesia for your procedure giving consideration to your age and general state of health.
We are Ireland’s leading orthopaedic hospital and our Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons are highly-regarded both nationally and internally. More than 40,000 joint replacement surgeries have been performed here since 1969, as well as groundbreaking 2-surgeon scoliosis surgeries and complex limb reconstruction/lengthening procedures to name but a few. In addition, the Hospital is home to the following national services:
- National Referral Centre for Primary Bone and Soft Tissue Tumours
- Dedicated orthopaedic elective surgical centre for the National Sarcoma Service
- Dedicated centre for elective orthopaedic surgery for Children’s Health Ireland
- National Bone Bank
Following surgery, you will be placed in a recovery room until you regain consciousness and are considered well enough to return to your ward. The Hospital has a High Dependency Unit which has specialist equipment and offers greater patient/nurse ratios. Should you require additional care, you may transfer to the High Dependency Unit to begin your recovery.
Early Mobilisation
We mobilise patients quickly following surgery to stimulate circulation, promote healing and reduce the risk of blood clots.
Pain Relief
Nursing staff will discuss your pain levels and ensure that appropriate pain relief medications are administered post-surgery.
Pharmacy
If you require surgery and an inpatient stay, we recommend that you bring all prescribed medications to the Hospital. Please ensure that all medications are in their original packaging and we recommend that you take one months supply with you on admission.
During your stay, our medical team may prescribe additional medications and they will work with the Hospital Pharmacy Team to ensure that new prescriptions do not interact with existing medications or affect an underlying condition.
Pharmacy Staff may meet with you to discuss prescribed medications, dosage and possible side effects. And if you are taking several medications they can help you to create a planner guiding the safe use of medications.
In addition, Pharmacy staff can liaise with your local pharmacy to ensure the continuous supply of prescribed medications following your discharge from the hospital.
Patient Care
The Hospital Oratory is located near the Main Reception. Holy Communion is offered weekly. A volunteer Catholic chaplain is on site twice per week; however, arrangements can be made for Chaplains of other denominations to visit the hospital.
On admission to the hospital, you will be notified of your expected date of discharge so that you can plan your route home and put the necessary arrangements in place to support you on your return. Inpatients are discharged before 11 am on the date of discharge and must take care to pack your belongings and medications. Nursing staff will provide advice on post-operative care and provide you with the following documents if required:
- Medical certificates for employers
- Prescriptions for post-operative medication
- GP letter confirming the procedure undertaken and outcome.
- You may be asked to attend the Outpatient Clinic for a follow-up consultation, and an appointment notification issues to patients three weeks post-discharge. If you do not receive this communication, contact the Medical Records Department on + 353 (01) 8140432.
Discharge checklist |
||
| Returning Home Have you arranged transport home? |
Wound Care
Have you received advice on wound care? |
Stitches
If you have stitches, have you been advised on removal? |
| Home Care Services
If you are receiving home care services, are they aware of your return home? |
Post-Discharge Queries
If you have a concern post-discharge, do you know who to contact? |
Medication
Has your medication been returned to you? |
| Belongings
Have you packed all your belongings, clothes, phone chargers, toiletries? |
GP Letter
Have you been provided with a letter to your GP? |
Future Care
Are you required to attend the Outpatient Department? |
| Returning to Work
Have you discussed a date for return to work? |
Returning to Exercise & Sport
Have you received advice on returning to exercise? |
Prescriptions
Have you been provided with a prescription for any new medications? |
Patients may be asked to attend the Outpatient Clinic for consultation following discharge. An appointment notice will be issued three weeks post-discharge.
Patient Feedback
We appreciate your honest feedback and your comments challenge us to be better, to refine our service, improve the standard of care and enhance the patient experience. If you would like to comment on your treatment at the Hospital:
Comments and Complaints
The National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh
Cappagh Road
Finglas
Dublin 11
D11 EV29
complaints@nohc.ie
Lost Property
Enquiries regarding lost property can be made:
- In person at the Main Hospital Reception
- Calling the main reception desk at +353 (01) 814 0400