Irish journal of medical science
-
Chronic pain is defined as pain on a daily basis for more than six months. It affects 13% of the Irish population. Despite its prevalence and the impact on patient's quality of life there is no national strategy for this problem. ⋯ A national strategy is needed to reduce costs, standardise teaching and increase pain clinic resources to maximise patient care.
-
On October 31st 2002 a system of cumulative penalty points for road traffic offences was introduced. Early evidence suggested a reduction in road traffic accident (RTA) related morbidity. ⋯ The initial reduction in RTA related spinal injuries has not been sustained. Young male drivers are the greatest at risk group.
-
Brainstem death is a concept used in cases in which life-support equipment obscures the conventional cardiopulmonary criteria of death. Brainstem death during pregnancy is an occasional and tragic occurrence. ⋯ The difficult issues raised by maternal brainstem death mandates a consensus building approach to decision making in this context.
-
In the Republic of Ireland there are no paediatric surgeons outside Dublin. Most paediatric trauma is managed in general hospitals by general or orthopaedic surgeons. ⋯ The majority of paediatric trauma admissions were for minor injuries. A number of seriously injured children were successfully treated with no unexpected deaths.
-
Chronic schizophrenia is challenging to manage in primary care. ⋯ GPs require appropriate back up from specialist services to enable their management of chronic schizophrenia.