Psychologist Obesity, General Hospital

Mallow General Hospital

Mallow General Hospital (MGH) is a Model 2 hospital as defined by the Acute Medicine Programme. MGH serves a population of North Cork and surrounding area with a population of circa 90,000.

Mallow General Hospital is a 54 bed Acute General Hospital providing inpatient, outpatient and day patient services. The services provided in the hospital include: general medicine, cardiology, respiratory, gerontology, gastroenterology and palliative care. Inpatient medical activity is supported by a Medical Assessment Unit and a High Dependency Unit.

Mallow General Hospital also provides elective Day Surgery, Endoscopy, Local Injuries Unit, Outpatients Department, Physiotherapy and Radiology including CT scanning services.

Overweight and Obesity Service

The Healthy Ireland survey estimates that 60% of adults in Ireland are living with overweight (37%) or obesity (23%). Research findings estimate that Ireland is set to have the highest levels of obesity in Europe. There is an extensive waiting list for both specialist MDT level 3 services (almost 3,000 people) and bariatric surgery (over 400 people, which is an underestimate as one of the two surgery centres has closed the list).

Literature review and current demand indicates that 1,200 bariatric surgeries and 2,400 patients receiving specialist level 3 MDT intervention would provide a sustainable service. This level of service would address waiting lists over a 3 year period and cater for ongoing demand given current clinical guidelines.

The Model of Care for the Management of Overweight and Obesity was approved by the CCO Clinical Forum in December 2020 and launched on World Obesity Day March 2020.

The HSE National Service Plan 2021 resources plans to implement the model of care with integrated delivery of early intervention, weight management and obesity treatment across the lifespan.

Currently, the largest gap in the adult services is in the level 3 and 4 obesity services, with a partially resourced service in Ireland East Hospital Group (St. Colmcille’s & St. Vincent’s) and a very limited service in Saolta Hospital Group.

The Obesity and Overweight Care Pathway aims to redesign and modernise how patients with obesity are assessed and treated to optimise their care. A number of specialist supports will be available to patients, GPs and primary care teams through the establishment of a level 2 community obesity ambulatory care hub. This will deliver a HSCP led specialised obesity management programmes and provide community diagnostics. Specialist hospital care will provide individuals with severe and complex obesity access to inpatient rehabilitation, palliative care and bariatric surgical services.