Out of Hours service changes to Caredoc Sligo 0818 365 399

From the 2nd March 2020, out of hours services (evenings 6pm to 8am, weekends and bank holidays) for patients Drumkeeran will be provided by Caredoc in Sligo instead of Nowdoc in Carrick on Shannon.

There are several advantages to this including having a second doctor on duty and closer proximity to the hospital for urgent cases.

The Caredoc number to contact the out of hours service is 0818 365 399.

Caredoc Treatment Centre, Primary Care Centre, Barrack St, Rathquarter, Sligo, F91 Y8EK.

Nowdoc Carrick on Shannon will not be able to issue out of hours appointments after this date.

Dr. Cassie McVeigh commencing regular practice in Drumkeeran

Dr. Cassie McVeigh is to begin regular sessions in Drumkeeran Health Centre. She is a very experienced GP and will be offering a full range of medical services. She has a special interest in women’s health issues and musculoskeletal medicine.

Fee changes

In the last four years, the costs of running the medical practice has increased dramatically. Such increases include things such as the cost of hiring a locum to cover leave, IT costs, unpaid debts, medical indemnity and costs associated with the new European Data Protection Regulations.

I have absorbed these costs to the best of my ability, but I am now in the position of having to increase some of the practice fees. These new fees will apply from 1st April 2019.

Public Health Nurse services to be reduced in Drumkeeran

My understanding is that public health nurse services in Drumkeeran are to be reduced to a part-time basis from late November 2018.

Public health nursing is a crucial community service that many older and potentially vulnerable people rely on for their day-to-day health needs. Any cut to this is bad news for the community.

I am making representations to the HSE and to local politicians on this issue. I also urge any of you who share my concern to make representations as well.

The medical card - what does it cover?

The GMS "medical card" scheme was developed decades ago and is badly out of date. It is desperately in need of revision, but so far, little change has happened due to government inertia. 

Many modern services are NOT covered by the medical card. The following poster, from the IMO, outlines exactly which services this relates to. 

Continuity of care: Research shows that seeing the same doctor consistently "lowers death rates"

According to a major new study form the University of Exeter, seeing the same doctor consistently, rather than a variety of different doctors, leads to a significantly lower death rate. this effect is particularly pronounced for those with chronic physical or psychiatric disease. 

This is a common-sense finding that has long been neglected in healthcare planning. It is good to see it objectively measured. 

While a small practice like Drumkeeran cannot offer every single service that may be available in a larger practice, one of the major benefits of our service is continuity of care. 

See links:

Original article in BMJ Open

BBC Article

Cervical Smear controversy - repeat smears available

Following recent news about issues with false negative cervical smear results, the minister of health has directed that any women who are concerned may choose to have a repeat smear. If you are not yet due a smear test but would like to undergo one, please contact the office on 0719648043 to arrange this. 

Flu vaccine available from 22nd September

Flu vaccine is available from Friday 22nd September. It is recommended on an annual basis for patients over 65 and those with certain medical conditions (see list below). Please feel free to book in with one of the doctors or with Mairead our nurse to avail of this service. 

It is available free of charge to GMS or GP visit card holders who fall into one of the categories below. For other people, it is available for a fee of €20. 

HSE Flu Leaflet

Vaccination is strongly recommended for:

• Persons aged 65 and over
• Those aged 6 months and older with a long-term health condition such as
  - Chronic heart disease (this includes anyone who has a history of having a "heart attack" or unstable angina)
  - Chronic liver disease
  - Chronic renal failure
  - Chronic respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma or bronchopulmonary dysplasia
  - Chronic neurological disease including multiple sclerosis, hereditary and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system
  - Diabetes mellitus
  - Down syndrome
  - Haemoglobinopathies
  - Morbid obesity i.e. body mass index over 40
  - Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment (these include anyone on treatment for cancer)
• Children aged 6 months and older
  - with any condition that can affect lung function especially those attending special schools/day centres with cerebral palsy or intellectual disability
  - on long-term aspirin therapy (because of the risk of Reyes syndrome)
• Pregnant women (vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy)
• Healthcare workers
• Residents of nursing homes and other long stay institutions
• Carers (the main carers of those in the at risk groups)
• People with regular contact with pigs, poultry or water fowl

Credit card terminal available for card payments

A terminal is now available in the practice for payments by credit and debit cards. 

Mobile texting service

Drumkeeran Health Centre is introducing a mobile phone texting service. This will be used for reporting of normal results or to notify a patient of a need to make an appointment to discuss a particular health issue. It will also be used to notify patients of health related issues such as flu vaccines and other screening procedures. Patients will be asked for their consent to receive limited information by text message. Phone calls and face to face visits continue to be used where appropriate. 

Venesection service for haemochromatosis patients available in Drumkeeran Health Centre

Venesection is an important procedure for people with haemochromatosis, a common disorder in which excessive iron levels can lead to a variety of complications if undiagnosed or untreated.

I am pleased to announce that I can provide this service in Drumkeeran and monitor ferritin levels at each procedure. I hope patients will find having the option of having it done in the clinic rather than in the hospital is a convenient service. 

Did you know that haemochromatosis is a very common condition among Celtic people? Symptoms can be vague and take many years to manifest themselves. Typical symptoms include fatigue and joint pains. A simple blood test is all that is required to check for it. Also, if you have a family member with haemochromatosis, you should be screened for it, even if you have no symptoms. 

Further information can be found on the following links:

Irish Haemachromatosis Society http://www.haemochromatosis-ir.com/

A consultation fee is applicable for this service, although if you have health insurance this will typically cover it. 

Roadside Saliva Testing for drugs

The Gardai are to start roadside testing for drugs. Many patients in Ireland are on drugs such as opiates and benzodiazepines. These drugs, amongst others, have the potential to cause sedation and impair driving. Obviously, if someone does feel sedated or impaired, they should not drive until they feel fit to do so. However, this does not mean that all patients on such drugs are impaired and unfit to do so. Over time, tolerance to such drugs, particularly when taken at modest doses, may develop.  

There is to be a clinical test at the roadside to determine whether or not an individual is impaired or not. 

Here is a link to a RSA leaflet on the situation: http://www.garda.ie/Documents/User/RSA%20Medicine%20information%20leaflet.pdf

I predict that this legislation and the proving of impairment will be difficult to enforce and may be subject to vigorous challenge by defence lawyers throughout the land.