Gynaecological Oncology

The Gynaecological Oncology service at St. Vincent’s University Hospital was established in 1984 and is one of the largest Gynaecological Oncology departments in the country serving 2 million people, in partnership with Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH). The service at St. Vincent’s Hospital diagnoses and treats women with cancers of the reproductive tract: ovarian, endometrial (womb), cervix, vulval, vaginal and other rare tumours.

As a tertiary centre, we receive referrals from across the country and offer comprehensive Gynaecological Cancer Care. Our centre is jointly accredited by the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO) for advanced ovarian cancer surgery, with MMUH. We offer advanced minimally invasive cancer surgery including robotic surgery.

Services                     

• Multidisciplinary gynaecological oncology team
• General gynaecology
• Nurse led Survivorship Clinic planned for 2021

Our service is staffed by a specialist team that includes:

• Gynaecological Oncology Surgeons
• Gynaecological Oncology Nurse Specialists
• Radiologists
• Pathologists
• Medical Oncologists
• Radiation Oncologists
• Palliative Care
• MDT Co-ordinator
• Administration Staff

Our department has close working relationships with the peritoneal malignancy/colorectal, urology, hepatobiliary and plastic surgery teams. Medical oncology services are on site and radiation oncology treatments are performed locally at St Luke’s Hospital.

Please note: we do not offer a colposcopy or infertility service nor do we offer an ambulatory gynaecology service.

The treatment pathway of each Gynaecological Oncology patient is personalised by our multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT).

Referral Pathway

We are a designated National Cancer Control Programme (NCCCP) referral centre for gynaecological oncology. Patients can be referred to the Gynaecology Oncology MDT service by their treating hospital or GP using our official MDT Referral Form (see link below). Referral forms are received by our MDT Co-ordinator and Clinical Nurse Specialist and assessed for completeness and listed for our MDT Meeting which is held on alternate Wednesday mornings. A clinical decision is made as to whether the patient needs further tests prior to MDT.

MDT referral forms are PDF format and must be emailed to the MDT Co-ordinator, posted or handwritten forms are no longer accepted. Completed forms must be accompanied by all relevant radiology and pathology reports.

General practitioners (GPs) and referring hospitals are kindly asked to fill out the provided MDT referral form. Please be advised: this form is not intended for patient use.

• MDT Co-ordinator:    Eunice Ademoye
  • email: gynae_onc_mdt@svhg.ie
  • phone: (01) 221 4836

Follow-up & Survivorship

We recognise that coming into hospital for investigations or treatment can be a difficult time for patients and their families, and we will make sure that you receive the best care and support possible. We place great importance on quality of life after treatment for cancer and offer a variety of support services to achieve this. For 2021, SVUH, along with MMUH, will be establishing a Clinical Nurse Specialist led Survivorship service supported by your consultant. Patients may require other appropriate services following their gynaecological cancer treatment such as dietetics, physiotherapy, psycho – oncology support, and social work. Follow-up appointments may be a combination of physical and virtual reviews.

Research

Our department has a strong academic background and we consider research to be crucial to developing new and better treatments for our patients with gynaecological cancer. We are actively involved through the UCD academic Gynaecological Oncology Department, in clinical trials and support extensive translational and clinical research activities. In 2019 alone, funding of €1.75 million was granted to support a number of such activities. Our group actively collaborates with basic scientists and clinicians both nationally and internationally and we are a member of the Science Foundation Ireland funded research cluster Precision Oncology Ireland.

• P2.7: Improving Immuno-Checkpoint Inhibitor (ICI) Therapies

We will routinely ask our patients for their permission to take part within our research programme and will discuss this in detail with you.

Visit ESGO Europe’s Leading Gynaecological Oncology Society website.

Consultants

• Dr. Donal O’Brien
• Dr. Zara Fonseca Kelly
• Professor Donal Brennan
• Mr Ruaidhrí McVey

Clinical Nurse Specialists

Gynaecology Oncology Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Sarah Belton

sarahbelton@svhg.ie

Gynaecology Oncology CNS in Survivorship

Clinics

The clinic takes place on the first floor of the Ambulatory Day Care Centre (ADCC) in Suite 3.

Other useful contact details

• MDT Co-ordinator: Alison Doherty
  • email: gynae_onc_mdt@svhg.ie
  • Tel: (01) 221 4836
• Gynaecology Consultant Secretary
  • email:e.hughes@svuh.ie
  • tel:(01) 221 4345
  • fax: (01) 221 3660
• Gynaecology Appointment
  • tel:(01) 221 3056
  • tel:(01) 221 3067