COVID19 Testing- New Rules

NEW Rules for Testing for COVID19- 25TH March
New rules have been introduced for COVID19 testing which means patients will need to meet revised criteria to qualify in future.

You will NOT be tested unless you are in one of the following categories
a) Symptomatic close contacts of a confirmed case
b) Symptomatic healthcare workers

c) Symptomatic at risk groups that include persons with diabetes, immunosuppressed, chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic renal disease, chronic liver disease and smokers

d) Symptomatic household contacts of at-risk groups

e) Symptomatic staff or residents in a long-term care facility

f) Symptomatic prison staff and inmates where it may be difficult to implement self-isolation advice

g) Symptomatic pregnant women* (*not because of a documented increase risk of complications but to ensure to safe clinical pathway of care)

If you DO NOT meet the criteria above and have symptoms please SELF ISOLATE for 14 days and assume you have it. Link here to self isolation guidelines https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/selfisolationathome/

All patients who have NOT yet been swabbed and do not have an appointment for a test date will NOT now be tested. Such patients will be required to reengage with their GP and the GP will triage the patient AGAIN in accordance with the new criteria a)-g)

IF YOU BECOME ACUTELY ILL CONTACT US ON 051 370057

COVID 19 Latest Patient Information

*Important information relevant to Phone Consultations, COVID-19 Testing, Certificates & Prescriptions at the Rowe Creavin Medical Practice.
Phone Consultations: COVID-19 related phone consultations are free of charge for all patients. For any of our Private Patients who request a phone consultation, please have your PPS Number to hand.

COVID-19 Testing: In order to be tested for COVID-19, you will need a referral from your GP. This can be organised through a phone consultation. There are still huge delays in testing. If you have any queries regarding your concerns in relation to COVID-19 please contact the HSE Helpline on 1850 24 1850 or 041 685 0300.

Certificates: If you are out of work and require a work certificate or Illness Benefit Certificate please email your query with the dates you need certified, contact number and PPS number to admin@rcgp.ie
Illness Benefit Certificates will be organised by the GP online, you will need the IB1 booklet to apply for it. Please call 1890 800 024 to request a booklet.

Prescriptions: Prescription requests can be emailed to admin@rcgp.ie
Please email your name, DOB, medications you need for repeat & the dosage. Please also email the chemist you use and we will organise your prescription to be sent there.
We can also facilitate requests over the phone, please have your list of medications to hand along with the name of the chemist you use.
Please note fees still apply for Private Prescriptions. (All fees can be paid over the phone)

We thank you very much for your patience through this very busy time. Please share this post. Thank You.

Self Isolation At Home Sheet

Patient information sheet for self-isolation at home
The information in this leaflet is for those who
 are waiting to be tested for COVID-19 infection
 are waiting for the results of testing for COVID-19 infection
 have been diagnosed with COVID-19 infection and your doctor has agreed that you can stay
at home to recover.
Click on this link to download information sheet :

https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/selfisolationathome/Patient%20information%20sheet%20for%20self-%20isolation%20%20V2.1.pdf

*Latest Advice – COVID19

If you have fever and/or cough you should stay at home regardless of your travel or contact history. All people advised to reduce social interactions, keep a distance of 2 metres between you and other people, DO NOT shake hands or make contact where possible. If you have symptoms phone HSE live 1850 24 1850

Notice to Patients- Corona Virus

**Walk in Clinics are postponed until further notice due to the National Emerging Corona Virus Threat.

All consultations at the Rowe Creavin Medical Practice will be by appointment ONLY

If you have respiratory symptoms (cough sore throat fever etc ) PHONE 📞 us on 051 370057

We will get one of our healthcare team to talk to you and arrange appropriate care.

Please stay informed on this emerging threat to public health by visiting the HSE website

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html

Yours in Health

The Rowe Creavin Medical Practice

Corona Virus update 25/2/20

What is the Coronavirus?

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new respiratory illness. It has not previously been seen in humans.

This type of coronavirus is also known as 2019-nCov or novel coronavirus.


Symptoms

It can take up to 14 days for the symptoms of coronavirus to appear.

These symptoms may include:

  • a cough
  • shortness of breath
  • breathing difficulties
  • fever (high temperature)

Coronavirus can also cause more severe illness including:

  • pneumonia
  • severe acute respiratory syndrome
  • kidney failure

Risk of catching coronavirus

There has been no confirmed case of coronavirus in Ireland.

The risk of getting coronavirus in Ireland is low.

If there is a case here, health professionals will try to contact anyone who has been in contact with the infected person.

If you are not contacted, you are extremely unlikely to catch coronavirus.

You do not need to follow any advice in relation to coronavirus if you have:

  • not been to mainland China
  • not been in contact with a person who has coronavirus
  • not been to a healthcare facility where patients with coronavirus were treated
  • Not been to an affected area.

However, you should phone the HSE Phoneline on 1850 24 1850 if in the past 14 days you’ve been:

  • to mainland China
  • to an affected area
  • in contact with a person who has coronavirus
  • in a hospital or healthcare centre where people are being treated for coronavirus

What do I need to know?

If you have or develop any of the symptoms above within the next 14 days:

• self-isolate – this means stay at home. Try keep away from other people, especially older people, those with long-term medical conditions, immunosuppressed people, or pregnant women

• phone the helpline 1850 24 1850  

Tell them your symptoms and that you have been to a coronavirus (COVID-19)affected area* in the past 14 days.

DO NOT GO to your GP or Emergency Department unless told to do so by the GP or Emergency Department. PLEASE Phone first.

Things you can do to protect yourself from getting coronavirus

• Wash your hands properly and regularly.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or the bend of your elbow when you cough or sneeze.

   *Coronavirus (COVID-19) affected areas

Mainland China

Hong Kong

Singapore

South Korea

Japan

Iran

Four regions in Italy

o Lombardy

o Piemonte

o Emilia-Romagna o Veneto

The HSE Phoneline is open Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm and 10am – 5pm on Saturday and Sunday

If you have general questions about the Corona Virus, please visit the HSE website https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html

If you have specific questions about you or a member of your family and wish to speak to someone about these concerns, then please RING the practice 051 370057 and we will advise you over the phone.  DO NOT COME DOWN TO THE PRACTICE unless we advise you to come in.  This is to ensure you get the best treatment and to reduce the risk of infection to anyone else.

Make 2020 Your Best Year Yet.

This time of year many people are thinking and talking about making changes, big and small, generally shaking things up a little. Maybe you are too?

For me New Year is a great time to recommit to be simply better to yourself and those that matter. Choosing to be more present, kinder, and more grateful.

Someone recently said to me about making the New Year ‘your best year yet.’ I like the sentiment expressed and at the same time i understand its all about progress rather than perfection.

Perhaps making just one small positive change that lasts, even it’s simply committing to be kinder to yourself and others. But in the spirit of the phrase of making this year your ‘BEST YEAR’ yet here is my mnemonic of strategies to consider for a health filled 2020.

B- Breathe

There is so much noise and negative stress in today’s world. So many people struggle with anxiety, experience symptoms of emotional exhaustion or burnout.

Taking the time to consciously slow down your breathing to four or five slow deep breaths a minute fills your lungs and body with life – enhancing oxygen, and is a mindful reminder of your presence. Quietening the busyness of your monkey mind. As the breathing centre is located quite close to the emotional alarm clock (amygdala) in your brain, slowing down your breathing lowers levels of inflammatory and pro aging hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This dampens down the stress response and helps you to relax and recharge from negative stress. It also increases heart rate variability, which can lower your long term risk of heart disease and boost longevity.

I call it ‘10-4’ breathing – four breaths per minute for a total of ten minutes over the entire day. Perhaps a couple of minutes in the commute to and from work, a couple of minutes before or after that important meeting or conference call. It’s such an easy tip to implement, no gym gear or special equipment required. Just an awareness of the importance of your breath.

E- Eat More Mindfully

I’m not talking about any fad diets or short term plans that eventually self combust and weigh people down with even more guilt and negative self talk. Change is slow. It’s about progress not perfection. And making small simple changes that stick. Resolving to actively choose to eat more health enhancing foods is a great idea because, if you’re like most people, you eat at least three times a day which adds up to almost eleven hundred times a year. That’s a lot of opportunity to build better health with some simple positive food choices – for example more plant based proteins such as beans, peas, lentils, more wholegrains, vegetables, nuts, seeds, more colour.

Eating more mindfully, knowing what you’re eating and perhaps even more importantly, why! The Japanese call it Hara Hashi Bu which means eating until you are no longer hungry (80% full) as opposed to until you are full up. This can make a real difference to your waistline and long term health.

S – Simplify

Leonardo Da Vinci once write that ‘simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.’ So true! How can you simplify your life more? Say no to more of those things that take you away from what’s most important. Start to declutter. Your office, your home, your life. Less can be so much more.

T- Time.

Time for you is so important because self-care is not selfish care. Far from it, the greatest gift you can give to yourself and those people around you is to be good to yourself. Not in an egotistical or narcissistic way but to value yourself, in terms of your mental as well as physical health. Understanding that this habit of self care will also benefit those people around you.

Time perhaps for that check up with your doctor. Time to cultivate habits that build emotional contentment, self compassion and acceptance.

Quiet time to think, time in nature, time for those things that matter most. Time to rest and recharge, including (especially) time for enough restorative sleep (most of us need close to eight hours a night)

Time for significant others in your life to sustain and develop great relationships. Time to volunteer some of your time perhaps to support and build connection with others.

Y -You

What do you want from life? What do you really, really want? Who are you? By this I mean taking the time to figure out who you really are on the inside. Are you living a life true to yourself? What about the various roles you play?

Can you bring more purpose and meaning to what you do. How can you serve others? How does what you do connect with your values and strengths?

E – Exercise

Exercise and movement is what I call the greatest pill of all because it is simply so good for your physical health, psychological fitness and emotional vitality. Giving yourself the gift of a biochemical cocktail of brilliance from exercise induced mood boosting chemicals (including serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine) enables you to think, feel and be close to your creative best. As I like to say you are far more likely to rust out from disuse rather than wear out from overuse.

Please don’t beat yourself up if you feel too time pressured to make it to the gym. Simply moving more during the day (taking the stairs, perhaps a walk at lunchtime, or a few minutes exercising at home) all adds up. Small positive changes making a big difference over time.

A – Appreciation

Gratitude is a commitment to channel your energy into what’s present and working rather than what’s absent and ineffective. The art of true gratitude is to want what you have and not to simply have what you want. Putting on my medical hat for a moment, an attitude of gratitude is a powerful antidote to needless negativity. Just as it is not possible to feel optimistic and pessimistic at the same time, it’s not possible to feel negative, resentful and grateful at the same time.

Perhaps there is something or someone in your own life that you take for granted that you could see more clearly through the lens of gratitude? And if there is, there will never be a better time to write about it and reflect on it than today!

R – Reduce Carbon Footprint

Finally let’s not forget the environment you live in. Make this year a better one for our planet. Mindful awareness of the importance of reducing your carbon footprint is a great place to start. Follow through by changing what you can. Those small changes can all add up over time.

Have a health filled 2020.