Appeal for pumps
Wed, 06/15/2016 - 12:25am
Haemotology Department in need of chemotherapy pumps
By:
Regina Selman-Moore
The Haemotology Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital stands in need of a minimum of three to four chemotherapy pumps, to ensure that chemotherapy can be administered safely to patients, and the nurses on staff can better deal with the influx of patients into the Department.
Dr. Theresa Laurent, Consultant in that Department made the revelation yesterday, noting that whilst the Department always has needs the chemotherapy pumps are a pressing need.
Her comments came as the Myeloma, Lymphoma and Leukaemia Foundation of Barbados presented a 43” LG Smart TV to the Department yesterday, for educational and entertainment purposes.
“One of the things we need are pumps, so chemotherapy can be administered safely to patients. If we have those pumps, the nurses setting up chemotherapy then can do other things. Some infusions require very close monitoring and if they do not have a pump, then the nurse has to be stationed in the clinic constantly. We only have two nurses and the clinics can be quite busy,” Dr. Laurent explained.
“So we need pumps, chemotherapy pumps. As many as possible. Right now I would say we probably need a minimum of three to four. We would be very happy with that,” the consultant added.
Dr. Laurent meanwhile noted that there are three clinics in the Department, one offered on Tuesdays, predominantly dealing with patients who have malignancies such as multiple myeloma, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia; one on Wednesdays, for patients on medication; and one Fridays, mainly for patients with sickle cell disease and anaemia and other benign cases. Friday slots are also reserved for children, to ensure their comfort, away from the adults.
In addition to seeing new patients and following up patients in the clinic and offering chemotherapy, transfusions and other procedures are also offered. Dr. Laurent noted that the clinic is “fairly busy”. Whilst the numbers do vary, the Wednesday clinic can sometimes see in excess of 100 patients and the Tuesday and Friday clinics can see between 20 to 35 patients, on any given day. (RSM)