Tag Archives: GP

The HSE has offered over 1,000 appointments at the drive through community test centre at the county GAA grounds of Cusack Park since it opened back in April. However, the HSE has declined to confirm how many if any people tested positive for Covid-19 saying “we do not provide information on individual test centres. The NPHET reports on the numbers tested positive daily”. The Cusack Park community test centre has the capacity to test 200 people per day but the HSE outlined that there hasn’t been the need to test at that level as the public have implemented the government’s Covid-19 guidelines and continue to hold firm. The HSE, however, acknowledged the role of all HSE staff “who continue to show commitment to community testing during this pandemic”. The Cusack Park community test centre opened April 23 last and the Covid -19 test is an appointment based service following a referral completed by a GP, out of hours GP services …

THE HIGHEST safety standards and infection control measures will be stringently applied in a new assessment unit for Clare’s Covid-19 patients, according to a local doctor. A new assessment service for local confirmed and suspected Covid-19 patients whose health is deteriorating started in Shannon Health Centre on Wednesday. There are 106 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Clare compared to 265 in Limerick and 219 in Tipperary on Wednesday. In total, 20 local general practitioners have volunteered to work in the new Community Assessment Hub following special induction training. Dr Páraic Meaney of the Burrren Medical Centre, Corofin, told the Clare Champion any patient who will be treated by the new service have nothing to fear as it is purposely designed to minimise patient contact with others. Dr Meaney confirmed all staff who will be wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE) have received training on how to put on and take off this equipment. “This service is for patients who have a …

Patients and medical professionals in Ennis and surrounds were united in mourning following the death of Dr Eugene Casey at his home on Tuesday night. Doctors, nurses and countless medical staff who would have worked with Dr Casey over five decades of general practice are deeply saddened by his passing. Dr Casey (67), Shanaway Road, one of the best-known and highly-respected doctors in the county, worked as a locum on a regular basis for Dr Michael Harty in Kilmihil since his election to the Dáil, Dr Eamon Ralph in Kildysart and Dr Maura O’Meara in Doonbeg. Having first opened his doors as a GP in the late 1970s, the father-of-three built a thriving practice until 2010, when it was taken over by Dr Colum Gavin. While Dr Casey officially retired a year later, he went back working as a locum in recent years. Dr Harty said he would miss Dr Casey a great deal, as he was a great medical …

BELEAGUERED rural Ireland is facing another serious crisis, which could see doctors and their GP services being withdrawn in many areas. The warning has been sounded by West Clare-based Dr Michael Kelleher, who is a member of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) Committee. “Rural Ireland has long been neglected by different governments and we’ve all seen the desperate consequences as garda stations closed, post offices were shut down, hospital services were downgraded and so many other critical services were withdrawn from rural communities,” he observed. “This [medical] crisis has being developing slowly over a number of years; cuts that this Government (and the last one) made to the budget for general practice has hit rural GPs harder than most. The population of rural GPs is getting older and as more retire or pass away, there are fewer and fewer young GPs interested in taking on the job when the resources just aren’t available to provide a proper service. Already there …