Public health doctors have come to the fore of public attention during this health emergency. They are a diverse group of doctors whose role has not been widely understood, perhaps until now.
They do not treat individual patients but deal with population groups. They have always played a big role in managing infectious disease outbreaks and vaccination campaigns.
I have dealt with many public health doctors over the years and many have strong views on the dangers of smoking and drinking.
They see the dangers of these things in populations. Indeed, the annual conferences of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) would usually see a swathes of motions from public health doctors on these issues, including calls for earlier closing of pubs and measures to curb alcohol misuse.
I particularly recall a motion at one IMO agm for the shutters to come down earlier in bars. However, there were few doctors in open support of the motion that evening in the lounge, as closing time loomed.
The influence of public health doctors on Government policy in this pandemic is significant. Staffing levels in public health have been an issue for years and these doctors are also in a long-running battle to gain consultant status and improved terms and conditions. For some of these doctors, it has been a moment to shine.
In a queue now for an hour. I used to get my ventolin inhalers through a couple of lads who paid frequent visits to Spain kinda @Copper_pipe job, but supplies were running low so figured I better get a legit prescription again. Turns out my docs retired and new lad reckons it’s time for a proper checkup. But anything breathing related like asthma is an automatic test first. Cuntish but what can I do?
My 4 year old due for a test tomorrow in Croke Park. High temp and sore throat. GP says it’s purely precautionary but we all have to isolate. I’m going to miss a championship semi final tomorrow. Fuck you covid
I’m all done, didn’t leave the car. You say aah for 3 seconds and they stick a swab down your throat. That’s grand the nasal one is a bit trickier, they stick it right up there, it’s more ticklish though than anything painful. Tell your lad to close his eyes and count to 5 and it will all be over. Buy him a supermacs then after for dad of the year💪
18 in Kildare, 13 in Limerick, 8 in Offaly, 7 in Galway, 7 in Wicklow, 6 in Meath, 6 in Cork, 5 in Donegal, 5 in Cavan, 5 in Waterford, and the remaining 18 cases in Carlow, Clare, Kerry, Laois, Leitrim, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Sligo, and Tipperary.
