Kathleen Lynch TD Minister of State, Department of Health and Dr William Lynch Wexford  pictured  at the  3rd Practice Topics In Primary Care Meeting recently in Mallow Primary Healthcare Centre. The meeting is part of a Meeting Series aimed at Primary Care and Community Care Healthcare Professionals. This educational initiative is a collaboration between Mallow Primary Healthcare Centre, Living Health Clinic , Mitchelstown and is supported by the HSE and Irish College of General Practitioners.

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection of a nerve and the  skin supplied by the nerve. It is caused by the varicella-zoster (chicken pox) virus which lies dormant from childhood.

The symptoms of shingles include a blistering skin rash and pain. It occurs in the area of skin supplied by the infected nerve which is usually on the trunk may involve the eye and facial area. Pain (post herpetic neuralgia – PHN) may last for months or years even after the rash has healed and is very debilitating and affects quality of life.

Shingles occurs at any age, but the over 50s are considered at greatest risk . A vaccine against the varicella-zoster virus has become available in Ireland and is highly effective in preventing shingles and its associated complications.

In the UK there is a mass immunisation programme for the over 70s which is funded by the NHS which started in 2013. It is hoped that the HSE will provide a similar service in the coming years.

Whitemill Medical Centre is pleased to announced that Zostavax is available for all patients over the age of 50 years.

For more information on Zostavax telephone 053 914 0000 or complete the On-line Contact Form.

Cost €250.

Ebola continues to be a serious public health problem in West Africa although there has been success with Nigeria declaring Ebola-free recently.

If you are worried you have contracted Ebola because you have returned from a high risk area or been in direct contact with a person who has contracted Ebola, you should telephone your GP or local Emergency Department for advice.

DO NOT VISIT your GP or Emergency Department unless you have been advised to do so by the  health facility concerned!

Our team of highly trained professionals are pleased to offer you a comprehensive range of services, delivered in a time and cost-efficient manner.

To make an appointment or for further information

telephone 053 914 0000 or complete our On-Line Contact Form

Whitemill Medical Centre now provides the CoaguChek© XS Plus System for Warfarin (INR) monitoring.

It is used to monitor oral anticoagulation therapy – determine the INR value immediately from a single drop of capillary whole blood.

It is generally more convenient and time-efficient than attending a hospital anti-coagulation clinic. You will have the INR result immediately and the dose of warfarin can be adjusted if necessary. This can be useful if you are due to attend your dentist or have hospital day surgery.

Telephone 053 914 0000 for an appointment.

Posted on August 10, 2014 by emc

If you are aged 25 or over, all you need is to to book an appointment with one of our highly trained nurses at Whitemill Medical Centre Wexford. This is a free service for all patients with your PPS number. Contact reception on 053 92 39512.

Click on the following link for further information:

Cervical Check Ireland

From September the Seasonal Flu Vaccine will be available at Whitemill Medical Centre.

Who is at risk?

Yearly influenza epidemics can seriously affect all populations, but the highest risk of complications occur among children younger than age 2 years, adults aged 65 years or older, pregnant women, and people of any age with certain medical conditions, such as chronic heart, lung, kidney, liver, blood or metabolic diseases (such as diabetes), or weakened immune systems.

WHO recommends annual vaccination for:

• pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy
• children aged 6 months to 5 years
• elderly individuals (≥65 years of age)
• individuals with chronic medical conditions
• health-care workers.

No appointment is necessary if you attend in the afternoon!

Click on the following link for more information WHO Fact Sheet 2014