GP/Nurse Services

The GPs and Nurses here at the LivingHealth Clinic are proud to offer the highest standard of patient-centred healthcare.
We offer a wide variety of medical service including;

GP Services include:
• Management of Acute & Chronic Illnesses
• Health Screening
• We are happy to offer a comprehensive
health check to both Men & Women:

Well Man
Testing carried out on male patients include:

• General Medical Examination
• 24 Hours Blood Pressure Monitoring 
• ECG 
• Spirometry (Lung Function Testing) 
• Full Range of Blood Tests including PSA prostate blood testing on men over the age of 40
• Urine Analysis
• Hearing Test
• Eye Sight Report
• Lifestyle Modification including support with smoking cessation, weight loss etc.

Well Woman
Tests carried out on female patients include:

• General Medical Examination
• 24 Hours Blood Pressure Monitoring 
• ECG 
• Full Range of Blood Tests
• Spirometry (Lung Function Testing)
• Urine Analysis
• Cervical Smear Test
• Breast Examination and instruction in self-examination
• Hearing Test
• Eye Sight Report
• Lifestyle Modification including support with smoking cessation, weight loss etc.

Appointments for these services need to be made through the practice manager.

Antenatal Care/Postnatal Care (scheduled visits are free)
Antenatal care is provided by the Maternity & Infant Care Scheme. This allows routine antenatal care. This care is shared between the Hospital and the GP.

The scheme allows for six free GP visits throughout the pregnancy with certain conditions related to the pregnancy allowing extra visits.

The scheme also covers two GP visits after the baby is born which is the baby’s check at two weeks and both the Mother and Baby check at six weeks.

The scheme does not cover any incidental visits which are unrelated to the pregnancy and after delivery only covers the two week baby check and the six week mother and baby check free of charge.

Contraceptive and Fertility Advice
Advice is available about the wide range of contraceptive options available to women and men.

These include:
• Contraceptive Pills
• Injections
• Implanon
• Mirena & Copper Intrauterine Devices (Pre insertion counselling is very important to discuss and allay any concerns and also to examine patient to ensure that this is the most suitable form of contraception)

The doctor will discuss these options in detail with you to help decide the best option suited to you. Special procedure (fitting of Implanon and Mirena) must be discussed in advance at an earlier consultation with the doctor. This helps the doctor determine the most suitable form of contraception and to eliminate any possible problems.

Cryotherapy
This involves local application of Liquid Nitrogen to freeze certain skin lesions. This causes the destruction of the lesion from deep under the skin and usually causes it to disappear. Cryotherapy can be suitable for the treatment of simple warts, verrucae, skin tags, seborrheic keratosis and certain other conditions.

Minor Surgery
The doctors are able to offer minor surgery such as removal of small cysts, some skin lesions and treatment of in-growing toenails. These services are performed in the surgery under local anaesthesia.

This must be discussed in advance at an earlier consultation with the doctor. Some larger or more complex lesions may need secondary referral for a further opinion. We can assess such lesions and arrange referral for specialist opinion as appropriate.

*Many procedures are covered by private medical insurance (VHI/LAYA/AVIVA)

Driving licence reports & Eyesight tests
Please mention when booking your appointment that you are attending for Driving Licence Eyesight Test or Driving Licence Medical. A charge for both private and medical card patients applies.

Pre-Employment Medicals
Some employers request a pre-employment medical. We are happy to accommodate such requests here at the Livinghealth.

Medico Legal/Private Medical Insurance Reports
These requests are usually sent either from a solicitor or insurance company to be completed by your GP.

Nursing Services:

Blood Testing
Blood Testing including cholesterol and diabetes screening
We encourage that you only get your bloods checked at the request of your GP.

Urine Analysis
Urine testing checks different components of urine a waste product made by the kidneys.

Blood Pressure Testing
Regular checks are advised especially to those on regular contraceptive medication. We encourage patients on these types of medication to have their Blood Pressure checked every 6 months.

Cervical Screening
Cervical Screening is free of charge under the cervical check scheme to woman aged between 25 and 60 and is resident in the Republic of Ireland. This is offered every three years for women between 25-45 and every five years to women 45-60 years.

Cervical Screening tests woman for changes in the cells of the cervix using a smear test. Changes are common and cervical screening by smear can pick up early cell changes so they can be monitored or treated. The earlier the abnormal cell changes are found, the easier they are to treat.

If you are unsure if you are due a smear test – Freephone 1800454545 or check cervicalcheck.ie for further information.

24 Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring
A lightweight monitor is fitted to your waist which is connected to a cuff on your arm for 24 hours. You will be required to return to the surgery after 24 hours and your nurse will remove the device and download the results. The results are then explained to you by your GP with a graph clearly showing how your blood pressure changed throughout the day.

ECGs
An ECG is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart. This process can check for any problems caused by unexplained chest pain.

Ear Syringing
From time to time wax build up can block the ear canal and cause dulled hearing or discomfort. Ear syringing uses warm water to painlessly remove wax build up in the ear.

If you think you have a build-up of wax in your ears instil some olive oil drops for 3 days prior to syringing as it will make the procedure easier and more effective.

Childhood Vaccinations (free within schedule)
Weekly Clinics are run on Tuesday & Thursday afternoons from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. These clinics were set up to reduce waiting times and to avoid well babies/children coming into contact with ill patients in the waiting areas. Vaccines are give by the practice nurses 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 months & 13 months.

Influenza Vaccines
The influenza vaccine is an annual vaccine for a given year to protect against highly variable influenza virus. Weekly Clinics are run from the end of September to the middle of November every year.

Travel Vaccines
Some Travel Vaccinations may take up to 8 weeks to offer protection. It is important to contact the Clinic for up-to-date information at least 6 weeks before your trip.

We provide general travel health information, malaria advice and a comprehensive service which includes:

• All travel Vaccinations
• Malaria Prevention
• Yellow Fever Vaccinations

Please download the attached form and fill in both your personal details and travel details, please return the completed form to gp@livinghealth.ie so that we can research the necessary treatment you require prior to your trip. The following website www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk provides useful health information about your travel.

Warfarin Clinic
Warfarin is a drug which is used to prevent clotting in individuals who have already formed a blood clot.

Warfarin treatment can help prevent the risk of future blood clots that are at risk.

It is important to monitor patients regularly while on this drug to prevent future blood clots.

Clinics are held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings between 9am and 12.30pm.

*Appointments are necessary for this clinic.

Diabetic Clinic
The Diabetes Nurse Specialist works with diabetic patients and their families to help them control, understand and manage their diabetes. This is a very valuable service and we are one of the privileged practices in the country to have this service which means patients can be managed in their own community.

*Clinics are held once a month and a referral from your GP is required.

Stoma Clinic (Salts Healthcare)
Salts Healthcare provide clinics free of charge throughout the year. A stoma nurse advisor educates patients and their families how to look after their stoma.

A stoma is a surgically created opening from the abdomen to the bowel or urinary tract. It is used as a method of elimination for either bowel or bladder waste.

There are three types of stoma: Colostomy, Ileostomy and Urostomy.

Respiratory Clinic
Lung Function Testing / Spirometry is a useful screening test for asthma, COPD and restrictive lung disorders

This test is usually conducted by a nurse and can take up to 30 minute.

A lung function test (spirometry) is a psychical test and will require a degree of effort from the patient. It involves deep breathing in and blowing out (exhaling) both in a relaxed and in a forced manner through the mouthpiece of the spirometer up to 3 times.

If you use any type of asthma medication such as inhalers please bring them with you to the test. If you smoke please avoid smoking for at least four hours prior to the test.