FAQ's
If you answer yes to any of the below questions – please contact the RMDU team prior to your admission on (01) 406 8808.
- Have you ever been informed you have or have had a superbug called MRSA, ESBL or VRE?
- Have you ever been told you have or have been in contact with someone with CRE or CPE bugs?
- Have you ever been isolated (placed in a single room) during any previous hospital admission?
- Have you ever been given a blue card in any hospital before?
Please note that answering yes to any of the above questions does not mean that your admission is cancelled, rather it allows us to prepare should special requirements be necessary.
You will be also asked some questions about COVID-19 and seasonal flu prior to admission, on admission day and after weekend leave.
Please, do not come in for admission if you have COVID -19 symptoms and / or flulike symptoms and/or vomiting and/or diarrhoea (ring the ward prior to your admission).
A COVID -19 swab will be taken on arrival each week and you will be put into isolation until the result is back (usually within 24 hours) and “Not Detected”. You will not be allowed to leave your bedside area during that time. In the event you become symptomatic, a close contact and / or your swab result is positive for COVID-19, you will be discharged from our service.
Please note that if you need to bring and use a CPAP machine, please inform the ward prior to admission.
When you arrive at RMDU, you will be assessed by our multidisciplinary team. Our team will then meet to discuss the care you need. After this, an individualised care plan will be drawn up with you, with input from each team member.
During your stay with us, your progress will be monitored. We will chat regularly with you to find out how the programme is working for you. We are also happy to speak with your family, loved ones or carer(s) to discuss how to support your care once you leave RMDU.
The rheumatology ward (St. Teresa’s Ward) is located on the second floor of the Caritas building.
You will be notified over the phone and with a text message of your admission date and time. Please attend at the scheduled time. Please note that late arrival may result in admission being declined.
You should attend unaccompanied unless absolutely necessary.
Admissions are for 2 consecutive weeks stay, home at weekends.
The RMDU ward closes at 4pm on Fridays. Please ensure you organise your own transport home prior to ward closure as there is no waiting area available and please remember to take all your belongings home with you each week.
Please note that if you are due to have any hospital appointment(s) during your admission period, we recommend you defer your admission to a different week. Please note that missed therapy sessions will not be re-scheduled.
Please bring the following items for your stay with us:
- Comfortable clothing and footwear with closed toe and heel (e.g. runners) for exercising. Shoes and slippers should be non-slip for safety and preferably not new.
- Nightwear.
- Any orthotics and braces you may use.
- Swim wear for the hydrotherapy pool and a pair of flip flops/pool shoes. Please note that hydrotherapy sessions are limited and are not offered daily. Please also note that not all patients are deemed suitable for hydrotherapy.
- Any mobility aids or equipment that you use daily (walking stick, walking frame, crutches, own wheelchair, hand splints, transfer board, adapted cups / cutlery, hearing aid, reading glasses etc)
- A reusable water bottle.
- A supply of any toiletries you use (including incontinence wear if applicable). Please note that toiletries are not supplied by the ward. We do provide hand and bath towels.
- Any relevant medical information and scan reports.
- Contact details of your GP, local pharmacy and PPS number.
- Medical card number
- Medications that you are currently prescribed – please see below for further information.
We would request that patients only bring essential items as we have limited storage facilities on site.
If you are taking any tablets or other medicines including “High Tech” medications, any over the counter medications, eye drops, gels or creams, inhalers, patches, insulin etc, it is very important that you bring these with you on the day of your admission. This will allow the Doctor and Pharmacist to review your medicines and know exactly what medicine(s) you are taking.
Please also include a printed copy of your current prescription (your pharmacy or GP can supply this) and not a handwritten list.
Don’t forget to bring a 2-week supply of your medication in their up-to-date original boxes with pharmacy labels intact. Please do not bring medication in pill boxes or any container that you have filled yourself.
If you have a diagnosis of diabetes, and or take warfarin, please bring book(s) with all recent readings.
Please note that we will be using your own medication as part of the “Patient’s Own Drugs, (POD’s) quality initiative.”
Please note that we cannot take any responsibility for personal items retained by you throughout your stay. We strongly advise you not to bring any valuables, e.g. jewellery or large amounts of cash. If you are an in-patient, please leave your valuables in the care of relatives or friends.
Please note that staff are not permitted to hold any cash, valuables or personal documents for patients.
Should you wish to make a compliment, complaint or raise a concern please speak with a senior member of the team. There are also suggestion boxes available throughout our hospices, into which written complaints or suggestions can be dropped. The boxes are checked regularly, and all suggestions are discussed by the team.
If a resolution cannot be found, the complaint may be directed to the Complaints Officer. See here
We have a restaurant facility as well as a Coffee Dock on site. These facilities are payable locally.
There is free Wi-Fi (Internet) connectivity available throughout the premises.
Please note that there is no ATM available on the campus, however cashback up to the value of €20 is available in our Coffee Dock and Restaurant facilities during opening hours.
Please note that there is no laundry service available within RMDU. However, fresh towels are available to patients daily.
Please note that the use of mobile phones is restricted during therapy sessions. In consideration of other patients, we also request restricted use after 10.30pm.
CCTV cameras monitor the Hospice both internally and externally 24hrs a day. Any security incidents, including items lost or found should be reported to the Security Office in the Palliative Care entrance hall. Security personnel are on the campus 24 hours a day.
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, visiting is not permitted in RMDU at present
RMDU is a smoking and vaping free zone. Smoking is only permitted at the designated smoking shelter at the front of the Caritas building.
Please note that the consumption of alcohol is not permitted during your stay.