Anna Wedderburn reports on a recent Irish study that demonstrated the link between the second wave of Covid-19 and international travel A study led by…
Almost 877,000 people now waiting to see a specialist or receive care
Recent figures show a dramatic increase in hospital waiting list numbers and patients waiting with chronic pain for long periods before receiving hospital treatment The…
Focus on Rheumatoid Arthritis
Eamonn Brady MPSI looks at the clinical considerations in treating rheumatoid arthritis Arthritis is a general term used for the condition; however, there are over…
Covid stress causes one-in-five Irish people to spend less time on teeth & oral health
A new study has highlighted the effects on patients’ oral health due to the psychological impact of the pandemic Covid-19 has impacted Irish people’s oral…
Managing and controlling asthma
EAMONN BRADY MPSI PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ASTHMA, INCLUDING THE TREATMENT OPTIONS IN THE PHARMACY A sthma is a long-term condition…
Another five weeks
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CREAKING UNDER THE STRAIN OF THE LATEST LOCKDOWN EXTENSION, WRITES ULTAN MOLLOY As I write this, I’m told that we…
Resistance and persistence
Pathogenic bacteria in humans are developing resistance to antibiotics much faster than expected, new research shows Computational research at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, has…
Scientists develop new technique that rapidly quantifies immune response following vaccination
A global team of researchers has developed a new strategy for fast and reliable antibody tests, which can quantify the immune response induced by vaccination…
PSI approves pharmacist training on Covid-19 vaccine
The PSI has approved the HSE National Immunisation Office (NIO) training for the Covid-19 vaccination programme. Completion of this training will allow pharmacists who are…
Pharmacy staff ‘must be prioritised for Covid vaccine’
Pharmacists are under unprecedented pressure as Covid-19 infection rates continue to fluctuate but despite the levels of exposure they are facing, they are receiving no…
Hair today, gone tomorrow
As discussions and preparations continue for the return to normal school and crèche routines, the perennial problem of head lice will inevitably surface to worry…
Food for thought on Infant Nutrition
The pharmacist has a major role to play in providing much-needed advice to parents on their baby’s nutritional needs amid a confusing array of conflicting…
Migraine not just a ‘headache’
Eamonn Brady MPSI provides a clinical overview of the different types of migraine, how to distinguish them from common headache, and the treatment options available…
New advice on Vitamin D supplements for people aged 65 years and older
The Department of Health has advised that adults aged 65 and older take a vitamin D supplement The Department of Health has issued guidance advising…
Research finds common anticholinergic drugs increase risk of mortality in people with dementia
A study led by researchers from Queen’s University Belfast has found anticholinergic drugs significantly increase the risk of mortality in people with dementia. The research…
Pharmacists ‘must be involved in the development of digital health technologies’
The digital era is radically changing how technology is used, and new technologies are set to have major impacts on how people live and work,…
Majority of people living with HIV in Ireland comfortable sharing their status
New campaign aims to erode stigma associated with HIV Research launched recently ahead of World AIDS Day in December revealed that 56 per cent of…
Vitamin D supplementation ‘improves outcomes’ in cancer patients
A leading oncologist has stated recently that adequate levels of vitamin D helps to improve outcomes in patients undergoing chemotherapy, as well as helping to…
Half of migraine sufferers not diagnosed for at least three years
A new Irish survey carried out by Empathy Research has provided further insights into the negative impact that migraine causes for a significant proportion of…
‘Astonishing’ study results on uric acid and survival
Extreme values of serum uric acid levels in the blood can markedly reduce a patient’s chance of surviving and reduce their life spans by up…
Keeping cool in the pharmacy
Maintaining vaccines in an optimum environment is crucial to their efficacy and vital to avoiding costly pharmaceutical waste. Mike Butt looks at how temperature impacts…
An overview of Crohn’s disease
Eamonn Brady MPSI looks at inflammatory bowel disease, with a particular focus on Crohn’s disease Crohn’s disease is one of the two main forms of…
Mental health during Covid-19
The societal effects of Covid-19 have taken a significant toll on people’s mental health, writes Eamonn Brady MPSI 2020 has seen an increase in anxiety…
Budget 2021 was a ‘major missed opportunity’ to deliver further pharmacy efficiencies
The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) has welcomed the increase in healthcare spending but said it must be delivered in communities as well as hospitals. Speaking…
The ups & downs of pharmacy-based vaccination
The most recent worldwide survey on the emerging role of vaccination in pharmacies sheds light on increasing public trust in the profession but also highlights…
Fronting Up
With a new lockdown now in place, Fintan Moore considers how ‘battle fatigue’ is setting in for a lot of people So we’re now seven…
The present and future of teledermatology
A recent virtual conference heard from a range of influential speakers on patient care during thepandemic and the future for dermatology practice when Covid-19 has…
Acute awareness of risk
HIQA recently published an overview report on its monitoring of activity in public acute hospitals in Ireland between 2015 and 2019. The Authority’s Head of…
A malignant mix
Recent research by the RCSI’s School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences has shown that mixing alcohol and medication may be harming more than a quarter…
Treating and managing Heart Failure
Eamonn Brady MPSI looks at the clinical considerations in the different types of heart failure, including prevention, causes and effectiveness of therapeutic interventions Congestive cardiac…