Clinical Nurse Manager, STI Clinic, University Hospital

Details of Service

Cork University Hospital (CUH) has approximately 800 beds and this will increase further to 1,000 beds on completion of the transfer of additional services to the CUH campus. CUH currently employs approximately 3,269 (WTE) staff of multiple professions and is the primary teaching hospital for the Faculty of Health and Science in University College Cork (UCC). UCC is the Academic partner of the South/South West Hospital Group. CUH has very strong relationships with each of the six schools within the Science Faculty of UCC and this is a key area for future development to maximise the opportunities for both the service and academia.

CUH is a designated Major Trauma Centre for the Republic of Ireland due to the wide range of specialties delivered by the hospital – including Neurosciences, Cardiac Services, Orthopaedics, General Surgery, Renal, Internal Medicine, Vascular, Ophthalmology, Urology, Plastic Surgery, Maxillary-Facial, Paediatrics, Intensive Care, Oncology, Haematology, Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Neonatology and Emergency Medicine.

CUH is the tertiary referral centre for the HSE Southern area, and the supra regional area of Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Waterford and Kilkenny. CUH therefore acts as a regional centre for secondary and tertiary care for the catchment population of approx. 550,000 served by the HSE Southern area and a supra-regional centre for a total a population of 1.1 million.

In 2022, CUH had 72,928 ED presentations; 265,360 physical out-patient attendances; 38,457 virtual out-patient attendances; 30,379 inpatient discharges and 30,593 day cases.

Provision of HIV PrEP as part of combination HIV prevention in Ireland

Cork University Hospital Infectious Diseases Department delivers the largest ID and Genito- Urinary Medicine (GUM) service in the SSWHG. It provides multiple clinical services in the following locations including :

Cork University Hospital – HIV / ID / Hepatitis B

South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital – GUM / STI Service, PrEP, PEP and SH24.

University Hospital Kerry - GUM / STI Service

Youth Health Service – Penrose House, Penrose Quay, Cork

It offers comprehensive screening, diagnosis and treatment of all Sexually Transmitted Infections including HIV and Hepatitis B. Full vaccination service for Hepatitis A, B and HPV is provided on site to all eligible candidates.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a care pathway for populations at substantial risk of sexual acquisition of HIV. It is the pre-emptive use of oral antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV negative people to reduce the risk of HIV transmission. In 2019, HIQA published the findings of the Health Technology Assessment of a PrEP programme for populations at substantial risks of sexual acquisition of HIV. The report concluded that the successful implementation of a national PrEP programme would be safe, effective and cost-saving over the medium to long-term in Ireland. In line with HIQA HTA recommendations, a national roll out of PrEP commenced in November 2019 with PrEP becoming available in Ireland via funding from the HSE and Sexual Health Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP). The Cork GUM / STI service in SIVUH was nominated as a primary site for launch of this innovative programme.

The GUM /STI PrEP service now operates two clinic sessions per week in SIVUH. The PrEP service is a Consultant led programme and the CNM2 role is integral to the management, on-going assessment and development of this service. The service operates within the National Standards for the Delivery and Management of PrEP for HIV in Ireland 2019.

Purpose of the Post

The post of CNM 2 has a pivotal role in service planning, co-ordinating, and managing activity and resources within the clinical area. The main responsibilities are: quality assurance, resource management, staffing and staff development, practice development, facilitating communication and professional / clinical leadership.

The CNM2 will work in collaboration with the Clinical Lead on the management, development and delivery of a dedicated PrEP service to the relevant patients attending the service.

Informal Enquiries

Name: Ciaran Sweeney, Assistant Director of Nursing

Email: Ciaran.sweeney@hse.ie

Mobile: 087 0921093