Enhancing oncology and quality care through Erasmus+ job shadowing

A recent Erasmus+ job shadowing initiative at Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute (TSJCI) in Dublin offered healthcare professionals involved in the chemotherapy pathway and research within SAMOC an invaluable opportunity to observe and learn from other European oncology practices, while gaining insights into continuous quality improvement in patient care. This experience covered multiple aspects of cancer treatment, research and specialised services, fostering professional growth, strengthening European collaboration in advancing oncology care standards and guiding ongoing quality improvement initiatives within SAMOC.

Participants observed the chemotherapy pathway with particular attention to patient and staff safety, including the use of closed systems for chemotherapy delivery. Exposure to the compounding unit highlighted the advantages of robotics in enhancing efficiency and safety in medicine preparation while reducing repetitive tasks and workload pressures from pharmacists.

Quality assurance initiatives were a central focus of this job shadowing. These included structured mechanisms for staff and patient feedback, customer care and complaints handling and robust incident reporting with a strong emphasis on learning and improvement. Discussions also extended to the European certification frameworks, particularly the OECI accreditation standards and their role in strengthening multidisciplinary oncology care.

Specialised services were also highlighted, including outreach initiatives to extend oncology care beyond the hospital and acute haematology and oncology care, which provides rapid specialised treatment for urgent complications to ensure safety, continuity of care and better outcomes.

This job shadowing initiative has already translated into tangible improvements within SAMOC. Drawing on the operational models observed at TSJCI, the chemotherapy preparation and delivery pathway was reviewed and restructured through strengthened multidisciplinary collaboration between pharmacy, nursing and medical teams. The process was streamlined from pharmacy compounding through to ward delivery, reducing patient waiting times for administration while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality.

This Erasmus+ initiative was made possible with the support from SEM and EUPA, whose assistance facilitated the organisation and successful participation of staff in the job shadowing programme.