Waterfrontmedicalcentre

07/12/2025

Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:

a sudden high temperature of 38 degrees or above
aches and pains
feeling tired or exhausted
a dry cough
a sore throat
a headache
difficulty sleeping
loss of appetite
diarrhoea or tummy pain
feeling sick and being sick

The symptoms of flu are similar for children. But they can also get a pain in their ear and seem to be less active.

Cold and flu symptoms are similar, but flu tends to be more severe.

Differences in symptoms between cold and flu
Flu
Appears quickly within hours
Flu
Affects more than just your nose and throat

Flu
Makes you feel exhausted and too unwell to carry on as normal
It could be COVID-19

Flu and COVID-19 can be very similar.

Stay at home, avoid giving the flu to others. Symptom relief is the order of the day as antibiotics are not the answer for influenza. The heavy part of the sickness usually settles within 5-7 days but some symptoms such as a cough will linger a lot longer.

If you feel very unwell, over 65 years, have an underlying health condition or are worried about your child please contact 023 8835102

Getting a flu vaccine is still an option too!

14/11/2025

If you are changing you postal address, or your mobile phone number, please remember to let us know. Sometimes letters return from the hospitals with important information (or missed appointments) as they have been posted to your old address. This could potentially delay any treatment or investigation you may need. You may miss an appointment that was sent out, and may be placed on the start of the waiting list again when flagged. Even better let the hospital know!

023 8835102

14/11/2025

The HSE has announced additional RSV Immunisation Clinics in response to the anticipated rise in RSV infections this winter and increased demand from parents.

Please see below a summary of a letter from Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer (HSE) regarding RSV immunisation:

Additional RSV Immunisation Clinics will run 17 November to 12 December 2025 for babies born from 1 March to 31 August 2025.

Parents can book appointments from Tuesday, 11 November

RSV infection can cause serious illness and hospitalisation in infants. Immunisation significantly reduces RSV-related illness and helps safeguard paediatric services during busy winter months.

22/09/2025

The HSE is offering RSV vaccines to all babies in Ireland born in the six month period from 1st March 2025 to 31st August 2025 . This will be provided at community sites via an online booking portal. These appointments will be available until the 10th October 2025.

The HSE is strongly advising parents to book early to ensure their
child is protected ahead of any surge in RSV infections later in the autumn/winter.

RSV infection causes hospitalisations, including some serious illness, especially among young infants. Each winter, 4 out of every 100 infants were hospitalised due to RSV, with some infants needing special treatment in intensive care units. The vaccine is very effective in reducing these numbers and last year showed a marked reduction in hospital attendance with serious illness caused by this respiratory virus.

Parents can book an appointment, through the online portal, at a location and time that is convenient to them: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/rsv/immunisation/

Further information is available at https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/rsv/immunisation/ and
https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/respiratorysyncytialvirus/immunisation/ (including
parent information leaflets).

15/05/2025

15/05/2025

Free HRT will be available from 1 June. If you do not have a medical card you will need a Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) card to get free HRT. Talk to your GP if you want to start HRT.

Sign up for a DPS card here: https://bit.ly/4396dzh

25/04/2025

You can apply for a Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) card if you or your family pay more than €80 a month for:
➡️ approved prescribed drugs and medicines
➡️ rental costs for a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine
➡️ rental costs for oxygen

You can also store your DPS card in the HSE Health App.

Apply online: https://bit.ly/42XGDOO

23/01/2025

We have followed the advice issued for the benefit of our patients and staff, and we will not start the surgery until after 11am tomorrow morning, Friday 24th of January. Do not make any routine journeys please.

In case of Medical emergency contact 085 8753184 or 999.

The phones will be answered after 11am (if there is power!)

30/09/2024

The Flu Vaccine is here!

Calling all adults over 60 years of age, and those with underlying health conditions (or caring for them), all children 2-17 years of age!

The vaccine is free. The children's vaccine is a nasal spray (no needles).

The following groups are eligible to receive the flu vaccine for free through the HSE programme.

People who:
 Are 60 years of age and over
 Are a child aged 2 to 17 years
 Are pregnant

 All those aged 6-23 months and 18-59 years at increased risk of influenza-related complications such as:

o Those with chronic illness, e.g. chronic heart disease (including acute coronary syndrome), chronic liver disease, chronic
neurological disease (where the neurological condition compromises clearance of respiratory secretions), chronic renal
failure, chronic respiratory disease (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe
asthma, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia), diabetes mellitus, or haemoglobinopathies

o Those with immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including asplenia or hyposplenism, and all cancer patients

o Those with any condition that can compromise respiratory function (e.g. spinal cord injury, seizure disorder, or other
neuromuscular disorder especially those attending special schools/day centres)

o Children and adults with Down syndrome

o Children with moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy and intellectual disability

o Those with obesity (Body mass index >40)

o Children on long term aspirin therapy

 Residents of nursing homes, old people’s homes, and other long stay facilities where rapid spread is likely to follow introduction of
infection

 Healthcare workers

 Household contacts of people with underlying chronic health conditions or Down syndrome

 Out-of-home care givers for people who have an underlying chronic health condition or have Down syndrome

 People in regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl

Please call 023 8835102 to make an appointment.

01/07/2024

The Free Contraception Scheme is now available for all women up to their 36th birthday.

To access free contraception, you need to:

be age 17 to 35
live in Ireland
have a PPS number
You do not need a medical card to access this service.

Call 023 8835102 to make an appointment with your GP to discuss your options for contraception.

You do not have to pay for the visit or the prescriptions you get for approved products.

You will need to give your PPS number, name, date of birth and address to have access to the free service.

The costs covered include:

GP or doctor’s appointments

Prescriptions given by your doctor - approved products will be given free of charge at participating pharmacies

Fittings and removals of implants and IUDs or IUSs (coils), including
any check-ups or other follow up care needed, relating to your implant or coil

Emergency contraception (morning after pill)

08/02/2024

Measles

Measles is an infection that spreads very easily and can cause serious problems in some people. Having the MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent measles.

Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth.

Cold-like symptoms

The first symptoms of measles include:

a high temperature
a runny or blocked nose
sneezing
a cough
red, sore, watery eyes
Spots in the mouth

Small white spots may appear inside the cheeks and on the back of the lips a few days later. These spots usually last a few days.

A rash usually appears a few days after the cold-like symptoms.

The person’s arms, chest and tummy are almost completely covered with red, blotchy patches.
The rash starts on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body. They're not usually itchy.

If in doubt keep children at home and discuss with your GP. Advise the surgery that you are worried about measles and an appointment will be arranged.

30/01/2024

The MMR vaccine catch-up programme is for some children who did not get the MMR vaccine when it was offered to them when they were 12 months old, or age 4-5 years old in junior infants.

Who can get the MMR vaccine now?

If your child is aged between 14 months and 10 years old, and has missed one or both of their MMR vaccines, they are eligible to receive these vaccines now.

Unfortunately Measles in on the rise.......

Symptoms of measles usually begin 10–14 days after exposure to the virus. A prominent rash is the most visible symptom.

Early symptoms usually last 4–7 days. They include:

running nose
cough
red and watery eyes
small white spots inside the cheeks.

The rash begins about 7–18 days after exposure, usually on the face and upper neck. It spreads over about 3 days, eventually to the hands and feet. It usually lasts 5–6 days before fading.

Most deaths from measles are from complications related to the disease.

Complications can include:

blindness
encephalitis (an infection causing brain swelling and potentially brain damage)
severe diarrhoea and related dehydration
ear infections
severe breathing problems including pneumonia.

If a woman catches measles during pregnancy, this can be dangerous for the mother and can result in her baby being born prematurely with a low birth weight.

Complications are most common in children under 5 years and adults over age 30.

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/measles

Vaccine rates in Europe and Ireland are dropping means Measles cases are rising. Most people receive the MMR in childhood and have a degree of cover but the good news is that it's never too late if you have not had it (or completed the course).

How do I access the MMR vaccine for my child?

You can contact your GP surgery and ask if they are offering MMR catch-up vaccinations at this time. If they are offering MMR catch-up vaccinations, you can book your child in with their GP to get the vaccine. The vaccine is free. Your child may need one or two doses of the vaccine to be fully vaccinated.

How many vaccines will my child need?

If your child has never received the MMR vaccine, they will need two doses of the MMR vaccine, one dose now and another dose after a month.

If your child received one dose of MMR vaccine in the past, they will need one dose of the MMR vaccine, a month or longer after the last dose.

If your child has already received two MMR vaccines, they will not need another MMR vaccine dose.

https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo/pcischedule/vpds/mmr/

https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/news/mmrcup2023infoleaflet.pdf