Irish journal of medical science
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Chronic respiratory diseases are responsible for significant patient morbidity, mortality, and healthcare use. Community virtual ward (CVW) models of care have been successfully implemented to manage patients with complex medical conditions. ⋯ A CVW model facilitates the delivery of combined specialist and generalist care to patients with chronic respiratory disease in the community and improves symptoms and health status. The principles of the model are transferable to other conditions to improve overall health and reduce emergency hospital care.
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Informed consent is an integral part of the process prior to any surgical procedure [1]. Flexible cystoscopy is a common day case urological procedure and it is the gold standard investigation for visible haematuria [2]. ⋯ Postal consent is commonly used for gastro-intestinal endoscopy procedures. Postal consent for flexible cystoscopy is not well reported in the literature. Our study shows postal consent to be a suitable form of gaining informed consent for flexible cystoscopy.
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To analyse the current provision of lower extremity amputations (LEA) in Irish public hospitals by patient characteristics and assess the potential savings for reducing numbers if a national multi-disciplinary foot protection clinic (MDFPC) was established nation-wide. ⋯ LEA has severe impact on patients' lives and hospital resources. Potential savings from effective prevention strategies may offer both health improvements and cost-savings.
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Worldwide, many people have been affected by COVID-19, a novel respiratory illness, caused by a new type of coronavirus SARS-CoV2. The COVID-19 outbreak is considered a pandemic and has created a number of challenges for the general population, patients, and healthcare professionals. Lockdowns have been implemented to slow down the spread of the virus with the expectation that these restrictions will limit the number of cases, and hence the number of hospitalizations and ICU admissions. However, these restrictions, and in particular lockdowns, impact on the life of everyone living in Ireland. ⋯ As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of restrictive measures, in particular lockdown, were implemented in Ireland to protect populations and healthcare systems. To record some of the major impacts on society, we launched a Corona Citizens Science Project, with the aim to support decision-making. This report provides detail of its findings.
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The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 in Ireland is designed to support and maximise a person's capacity to make decisions, although it has not yet commenced. Amendments to the legislation propose to deal with deprivation of liberty of persons lacking capacity. Health care professionals such as geriatricians will need to focus on enabling patient autonomy in response to legislative changes. ⋯ Results highlight a need for collaborative communication between doctors and legal professionals to achieve a structured and supportive framework to inform practice when working under any proposed legislation relating to deprivation of liberty.