Midlands Patients Benefit from First-of-its-Kind ‘Single Visit Clinic’ for Metabolic Liver Disease at Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore
Patients across the Midlands now have faster, easier access to liver disease care thanks to a new ‘Single Visit Clinic’ recently launched by Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore (MRHT) - a first-of-its-kind service for assessing and managing Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD), marking a major step forward in patient-centred care.
MAFLD, a condition estimated to affect up to 60% of the adult Irish population, accounts for 30% of referrals to the hospital’s gastroenterology service. Until now, patients faced wait times of over a year and required up to four separate outpatient visits for assessment and management. The new clinic model streamlines this process into a single, comprehensive hospital visit, significantly improving patient experience, reducing costs, and increasing service capacity.
Dr. Mairéad McNally, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Project Lead - who recently received the National Doctors Training Best Doctor-Led Project at the HSE Bright Spark Awards said; “This project at its core is about equity, efficiency, and compassion. Patients across the Midlands now have access to a diagnostic test previously only available in tertiary centres. We’re proud to offer a service that reduces travel, anxiety and delays, while delivering high-quality care locally.”
The clinic is now fully operational. Clinics have already commenced with Dr. McNally, and a nurse-led fibroscan clinic has just started under Dr. McNally’s governance, further expanding access and capacity.
Brendan Malone, Interim Director of Nursing at MRHT, added “This initiative has empowered our nursing team to take on new clinical responsibilities and develop specialist skills with a nurse led clinic.
The clinic pathway ensures patients are triaged appropriately, invited for blood tests prior to their appointment, and assessed with a fibroscan during their visit. Patients receive tailored literature and a management summary for their GP, with many discharged after a single visit. Those requiring further care are reviewed promptly.”
Michelle Maher, Operations Manager of Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, said “This is a fantastic example of innovation and collaboration in action. The Single Visit Clinic enhances service delivery and supports our commitment to continuous improvement. The project also benefits our staff. Our administration colleagues are actively engaged and receiving feedback, nurses have gained new skills and career development opportunities, and consultants are benefiting from faster access to diagnostic tools. We’re proud to support this forward-thinking approach to healthcare.”
Key Improvements and Outcomes
- Faster patient flow and reduced wait times
- Local access to fibroscan
- Fewer outpatient visits, less road travel, and lower costs for patients
- High patient satisfaction, with strong qualitative feedback
- Over 40% discharge rate expected for appropriately triaged patients
- Timely consultant review for concerning fibroscan results
“I believe strongly that patients should not be disadvantaged by geography in the health service,” added Dr. McNally. “This project ensures that all patients in the Midlands can be assessed using fibroscan locally if clinically indicated.”
This initiative marks a major milestone in delivering equitable, efficient, and compassionate care to patients across the Midlands. It reflects Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore’s ongoing commitment to innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement in healthcare delivery. By bringing advanced diagnostics closer to home and empowering staff across disciplines, MRHT continues to transform patient experiences and outcomes.
