Private cervical screening service
Due to demand, Kent Ayers (KA) Fertility Clinic in Dublin has just launched a private cervical screening service. While a free cervical smear scheme is available in Ireland to women between the ages of 25-60 the turnaround time for this public service at present may not be acceptable to women who want fast reassurance.
The service, which will cost €225, consists of a smear test done in the clinic, with results returned in 10 working days. Tests will be double-slide tested by two cytologists, Dr Ayers says, then signed off by the senior clinician for extra safety and peace of mind. KA’s cytology partners for this service are MedLab, an accredited lab based in Dublin.
The service incorporates standard cytology (PAP smear tests) and testing for HPV Virus. “I believe that this new private service is badly needed in Ireland at present,” says Dr Ayers. “It is needed to speed up the process for many women who may be worried from a health perspective and who want fast results. We want to provide peace of mind by working with the best cytology laboratory in Ireland, and providing the fastest turnaround time available of 10 days.”
www.kafertility.ie
Regional health bodies to be set up
Who remembers all the trumpets blowing and brouhaha when the Health Service Executive (HSE) was set up on 1 January 2005? Gone were the 10-year-old regional health boards. Public health services were going to be administered centrally with the goal of providing better healthcare. Looks like we are going backwards now to go forwards again. Minister for Health Simon Harris TD announced recently that six new regional health areas are to be established that will be responsible for the planning and delivery of integrated health and social care services.
Minister Harris said: “This is a key day for the delivery of Sláintecare and for the reform of our health service,” he said. “This restructuring will result in clear financial and performance accountability, empower frontline staff and devolve authority from the HSE to the local regions and help shape the future of healthcare in this country.”
How long will all this take? The co-design process is starting, that will mean stakeholders in each area are being asked to contribute to the design of the services for their new regions. The plans will then be brought back to Government for approval within 12 months, and so it goes on.
CPE superbug: Irish hospitals are not handling it well
According to HIQA, four hospitals have not followed HSE guidelines around controlling the spread of carbapenemase-producing enterobacteriales (CPE) – the most difficult bug to kill at present with antiobiotics currently available.
Recent inspections have shown that overcrowding, ageing hospital infrastructure and too few isolation rooms in hospitals are making it difficult to prevent the outbreak of CPE.
The infection resides in the bowel and causes infection in vulnerable people, such as the elderly and those with low immunity systems.
In some outbreaks more than half of patients who developed CPE-based bloodstream infections died as a result of the illness. Its seriousness led to a national public health emergency being declared related to CPE in October 2017.
Five hospitals inspected earlier this year resulted in Louth County Hospital being found to be in compliance with the HSE’s new screening guidelines for controlling the superbug but Wexford General, University Hospital Waterford, Beaumont and the Mater hospitals didn’t fare so well, however. (Lack of) routine screening of patients coming in to the hospitals was the major fault.
Due to this, inspectors believe that the true incidence of CPE in the hospitals may be underestimated. Hospitals have since committed to compliance and each must identify a group decontamination lead (person) and carry out microbiological testing of environment and equipment also.
Hand hygiene is vital in preventing the spread as micro organisms of the infection can be picked up (swallowed) by touching items that a person with the infection in their faeces may have touched previously. Proper handwashing after using the toilet is therefore crucial.
Lighting up cancer surgery
A study led by researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’s department of chemistry has the potential to help surgeons more accurately remove tumours and detect cancer in lymph nodes during surgery. The research, led by RCSI Professor of chemistry Donal O’Shea, has been published in Chemical Science.
Bringing together expertise in chemistry and biotechnology, the research team has identified the potential benefit of fluorescent imaging as a way of detecting cancer cells during surgery, developing a probe that lights up when it detects cancer.
According to Professor O’Shea: “This is a very significant development which has the potential to transform the surgical management of cancer, improving outcomes for patients. Almost 60% of all cancer patients will undergo surgery as part of their treatment.”
A clinical trial is the next stage and the team has recently secured funding for a project on colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment which will look at combining tissues responsive probes, artificial intelligence and machine learning to transform medical care for colorectal cancer patients.
Glenilen Farm launches new ‘Live Yogi’
Cork-based Glenilen Farm has launched their new ‘Live Yogi’ range of children’s yoghurts. The range includes three flavours – strawberry, vanilla and banana – all of which are served in kid-sized portions (90g). The strawberry and the vanilla Live Yogi are both formulated with just 1.5% added sugar. The banana Live Yogi has no added sugar and is made with banana purée.
The range was launched by Glenilen Farm founder, Valerie Kingston who holds a BSc in food technology, is a mother of three and who wanted to create a product “that would take the stress out of snacking”. Glenilen Farm’s Live Yogi’s can be purchased from Dunnes Stores, Tesco, SuperValu, Centra as well as independent stores for an RRP of €2.19.
www.glenilenfarm.com
A new range of supplements aimed at relieving symptoms of stress and poor digestion are now available in shops. Beeline Fibe has been scientifically proven, manufacturers say, to help optimise the levels of friendly bacteria in the intestine which help maintain digestive balance. Fibe capsules contain 4bn friendly bacteria along with Vitamins C, D and B6 which help to support the immune system and also contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Beeline Fibe is available in supermarkets and pharmacies nationwide from €12.99 for 40 capsules.
Cannabis to be made available for illness
Minister for Health Simon Harris TD has signed legislation which will allow for the operation of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme on a pilot basis for five years. The purpose of the programme is to facilitate compassionate access to cannabis, where conventional treatment has failed. This relates to situations like spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis, intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and treatment-resistant epilepsy.
“Ultimately, it will be the decision of the medical consultant, in consultation with their patient, to prescribe a particular treatment, including a cannabis-based treatment, for a patient,” the Minister says. “It is important to state that there are no plans to legalise cannabis in this country.”
Once suitable medical cannabis products are made available by approved suppliers the Access Programme will make it possible for a medical consultant to prescribe a listed cannabis-based treatment for a patient under his/her care for medical conditions where the patient has failed to respond to standard treatments. Enrolment on the Medical Cannabis Access Programme does not automatically mean that the costs will be reimbursed to patients, however.
The Public Health Agency (PHA) in Northern Ireland is urging parents and carers to be aware of key signs that could indicate that their child may have developed type 1 diabetes.
With type 1 diabetes, early diagnosis is important. Symptoms in young people can develop over a few days or weeks and parents and carers should look out for the “four Ts”:
Toilet – going to the loo a lot, bed wetting starts unexpectedly.Thirsty – child being really thirsty.Tired – feeling more tired than usual.Thinner – losing weight or looking thinner than normal. If parents are worried their child might have diabetes they should ask their GP or pharmacist to have their child’s blood glucose measured.
Dr Bríd Farrell from the Public Health Agency said: “Every year between 100 and 130 children develop type 1 diabetes in Northern Ireland. If we diagnose type 1 early we can often prevent a condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) which can be life-threatening.”
Minimally invasive treatment
for enlarged prostate
Tallaght University Hospital is now providing the Innovative UroLift® System to treat enlarged prostate. It is a day-case treatment that doesn’t involve cutting, heating or removal of tissue.
The minimally invasive technology treats Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as an enlarged prostate gland, a condition which affects one in four men over the age of 40.
It is estimated that about 50% of patients requiring a traditional operation could be suitable for UroLift which would save on bed-days and be less invasive for patients.
The UroLift System treats symptoms due to urinary outflow obstruction secondary to BPH in men. These symptoms include: difficulty starting a urine stream; weak or interrupted stream; a frequent need to urinate – day and night and urinary retention.
It is estimated that 30% of men over 50 suffer from symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
The procedure typically requires 6-20 minutes (depending on the number of implants required). UroLift implants act like window curtain tie-backs to hold the lobes of an enlarged prostate open.
Consultant Urological Surgeon, Mr Rustom Manecksha says: In my view, it is a truly transformative technology and can replace at least half of traditional operations to remove prostate tissue.”
One in 19 people in Ireland carry the cystic fibrosis gene.Ticks can carry Lyme disease so remove them carefully and see your GP if you develop a bull’s eye rash and/or flu-like symptoms afterwardsThe Irish Heart Foundation is running its ‘Chairs Can Kill’ campaign again in September to deter people from sitting for too long. There is more than one skin cancer death a week from the construction and farming sector.Boots pharmacies have introduced a mole-scanning service. Venus Medical are offering a treatment called miraDry to combat excessive underarm sweating. AWARE is seeking volunteers. See www.aware.ie/volunteering or phone 01 6617211.
Private cervical screening service
Due to demand, Kent Ayers (KA) Fertility Clinic in Dublin has just launched a private cervical screening service. While a free cervical smear scheme is available in Ireland to women between the ages of 25-60 the turnaround time for this public service at present may not be acceptable to women who want fast reassurance.
The service, which will cost €225, consists of a smear test done in the clinic, with results returned in 10 working days. Tests will be double-slide tested by two cytologists, Dr Ayers says, then signed off by the senior clinician for extra safety and peace of mind. KA’s cytology partners for this service are MedLab, an accredited lab based in Dublin.
The service incorporates standard cytology (PAP smear tests) and testing for HPV Virus. “I believe that this new private service is badly needed in Ireland at present,” says Dr Ayers. “It is needed to speed up the process for many women who may be worried from a health perspective and who want fast results. We want to provide peace of mind by working with the best cytology laboratory in Ireland, and providing the fastest turnaround time available of 10 days.”
www.kafertility.ie
Regional health bodies to be set up
Who remembers all the trumpets blowing and brouhaha when the Health Service Executive (HSE) was set up on 1 January 2005? Gone were the 10-year-old regional health boards. Public health services were going to be administered centrally with the goal of providing better healthcare. Looks like we are going backwards now to go forwards again. Minister for Health Simon Harris TD announced recently that six new regional health areas are to be established that will be responsible for the planning and delivery of integrated health and social care services.
Minister Harris said: “This is a key day for the delivery of Sláintecare and for the reform of our health service,” he said. “This restructuring will result in clear financial and performance accountability, empower frontline staff and devolve authority from the HSE to the local regions and help shape the future of healthcare in this country.”
How long will all this take? The co-design process is starting, that will mean stakeholders in each area are being asked to contribute to the design of the services for their new regions. The plans will then be brought back to Government for approval within 12 months, and so it goes on.
CPE superbug: Irish hospitals are not handling it well
According to HIQA, four hospitals have not followed HSE guidelines around controlling the spread of carbapenemase-producing enterobacteriales (CPE) – the most difficult bug to kill at present with antiobiotics currently available.
Recent inspections have shown that overcrowding, ageing hospital infrastructure and too few isolation rooms in hospitals are making it difficult to prevent the outbreak of CPE.
The infection resides in the bowel and causes infection in vulnerable people, such as the elderly and those with low immunity systems.
In some outbreaks more than half of patients who developed CPE-based bloodstream infections died as a result of the illness. Its seriousness led to a national public health emergency being declared related to CPE in October 2017.
Five hospitals inspected earlier this year resulted in Louth County Hospital being found to be in compliance with the HSE’s new screening guidelines for controlling the superbug but Wexford General, University Hospital Waterford, Beaumont and the Mater hospitals didn’t fare so well, however. (Lack of) routine screening of patients coming in to the hospitals was the major fault.
Due to this, inspectors believe that the true incidence of CPE in the hospitals may be underestimated. Hospitals have since committed to compliance and each must identify a group decontamination lead (person) and carry out microbiological testing of environment and equipment also.
Hand hygiene is vital in preventing the spread as micro organisms of the infection can be picked up (swallowed) by touching items that a person with the infection in their faeces may have touched previously. Proper handwashing after using the toilet is therefore crucial.
Lighting up cancer surgery
A study led by researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’s department of chemistry has the potential to help surgeons more accurately remove tumours and detect cancer in lymph nodes during surgery. The research, led by RCSI Professor of chemistry Donal O’Shea, has been published in Chemical Science.
Bringing together expertise in chemistry and biotechnology, the research team has identified the potential benefit of fluorescent imaging as a way of detecting cancer cells during surgery, developing a probe that lights up when it detects cancer.
According to Professor O’Shea: “This is a very significant development which has the potential to transform the surgical management of cancer, improving outcomes for patients. Almost 60% of all cancer patients will undergo surgery as part of their treatment.”
A clinical trial is the next stage and the team has recently secured funding for a project on colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment which will look at combining tissues responsive probes, artificial intelligence and machine learning to transform medical care for colorectal cancer patients.
Glenilen Farm launches new ‘Live Yogi’
Cork-based Glenilen Farm has launched their new ‘Live Yogi’ range of children’s yoghurts. The range includes three flavours – strawberry, vanilla and banana – all of which are served in kid-sized portions (90g). The strawberry and the vanilla Live Yogi are both formulated with just 1.5% added sugar. The banana Live Yogi has no added sugar and is made with banana purée.
The range was launched by Glenilen Farm founder, Valerie Kingston who holds a BSc in food technology, is a mother of three and who wanted to create a product “that would take the stress out of snacking”. Glenilen Farm’s Live Yogi’s can be purchased from Dunnes Stores, Tesco, SuperValu, Centra as well as independent stores for an RRP of €2.19.
www.glenilenfarm.com
A new range of supplements aimed at relieving symptoms of stress and poor digestion are now available in shops. Beeline Fibe has been scientifically proven, manufacturers say, to help optimise the levels of friendly bacteria in the intestine which help maintain digestive balance. Fibe capsules contain 4bn friendly bacteria along with Vitamins C, D and B6 which help to support the immune system and also contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Beeline Fibe is available in supermarkets and pharmacies nationwide from €12.99 for 40 capsules.
Cannabis to be made available for illness
Minister for Health Simon Harris TD has signed legislation which will allow for the operation of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme on a pilot basis for five years. The purpose of the programme is to facilitate compassionate access to cannabis, where conventional treatment has failed. This relates to situations like spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis, intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and treatment-resistant epilepsy.
“Ultimately, it will be the decision of the medical consultant, in consultation with their patient, to prescribe a particular treatment, including a cannabis-based treatment, for a patient,” the Minister says. “It is important to state that there are no plans to legalise cannabis in this country.”
Once suitable medical cannabis products are made available by approved suppliers the Access Programme will make it possible for a medical consultant to prescribe a listed cannabis-based treatment for a patient under his/her care for medical conditions where the patient has failed to respond to standard treatments. Enrolment on the Medical Cannabis Access Programme does not automatically mean that the costs will be reimbursed to patients, however.
The Public Health Agency (PHA) in Northern Ireland is urging parents and carers to be aware of key signs that could indicate that their child may have developed type 1 diabetes.
With type 1 diabetes, early diagnosis is important. Symptoms in young people can develop over a few days or weeks and parents and carers should look out for the “four Ts”:
Toilet – going to the loo a lot, bed wetting starts unexpectedly.Thirsty – child being really thirsty.Tired – feeling more tired than usual.Thinner – losing weight or looking thinner than normal. If parents are worried their child might have diabetes they should ask their GP or pharmacist to have their child’s blood glucose measured.
Dr Bríd Farrell from the Public Health Agency said: “Every year between 100 and 130 children develop type 1 diabetes in Northern Ireland. If we diagnose type 1 early we can often prevent a condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) which can be life-threatening.”
Minimally invasive treatment
for enlarged prostate
Tallaght University Hospital is now providing the Innovative UroLift® System to treat enlarged prostate. It is a day-case treatment that doesn’t involve cutting, heating or removal of tissue.
The minimally invasive technology treats Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as an enlarged prostate gland, a condition which affects one in four men over the age of 40.
It is estimated that about 50% of patients requiring a traditional operation could be suitable for UroLift which would save on bed-days and be less invasive for patients.
The UroLift System treats symptoms due to urinary outflow obstruction secondary to BPH in men. These symptoms include: difficulty starting a urine stream; weak or interrupted stream; a frequent need to urinate – day and night and urinary retention.
It is estimated that 30% of men over 50 suffer from symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
The procedure typically requires 6-20 minutes (depending on the number of implants required). UroLift implants act like window curtain tie-backs to hold the lobes of an enlarged prostate open.
Consultant Urological Surgeon, Mr Rustom Manecksha says: In my view, it is a truly transformative technology and can replace at least half of traditional operations to remove prostate tissue.”
One in 19 people in Ireland carry the cystic fibrosis gene.Ticks can carry Lyme disease so remove them carefully and see your GP if you develop a bull’s eye rash and/or flu-like symptoms afterwardsThe Irish Heart Foundation is running its ‘Chairs Can Kill’ campaign again in September to deter people from sitting for too long. There is more than one skin cancer death a week from the construction and farming sector.Boots pharmacies have introduced a mole-scanning service. Venus Medical are offering a treatment called miraDry to combat excessive underarm sweating. AWARE is seeking volunteers. See www.aware.ie/volunteering or phone 01 6617211. 
This is a subscriber-only article
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