We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
WHILE THERE IS A lot of talk about Covid-19, GPs are urging their patients not to put off any other concerns they might have about their health.
If you have a testicular lump, a lump in your breast or any other concerning illness, you are not to delay in contacting your doctor, according to Dr Mary Favier, President of the Irish College of GPs.
“We need to hear about that, we need to see that, that doesn’t have any less urgency in a Covid-19 scenario,” she said when asked if there were concerns that members of the public were putting off calling their doctor about other health issues for fear of being a nuisance.
Speaking at a Covid-19 press briefing today, she said patients are trying to judge what is and isn’t appropriate to contact their GP about in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.
Dr Favier said they are asking patients to think twice about whether they need to call their doctor, but they don’t want people to put something off either.
“General practice has been exceptionally busy. We’ve really tried to move everything to the telephone, but that’s not going to be realistic,” she said, stating that some patients will need to be seen.
Christina Finn / TwitterThere’s a lot of talk about Covid-19 but people will also have concerns about other illnesses. Dr Mary Favier says people should still call their GP if they are concerned. Don’t put it off pic.twitter.com/NM4x6b3KPp
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) March 17, 2020
Speaking about one patient, she said they called about a concerning rash yesterday. The patient said it probably wasn’t important. Dr Favier said she very quickly asked what type of a rash it was, and it was fine. Her patient made the right decision to call and query the rash, she said.
Irish Medical Organisation president Padraig McGarry said:
“We want patients to ring because every call that comes in, we will triage them, we will call them back, we will discuss the symptoms and discuss whether there is a need for them to be seen. And certainly if there’s any, any issues that come up in those conversations, we will be seeing them as usual.
“Certainly with reducing the number of cases that might be seen this face-to face, but we certainly we would expect that we’ll pick up anything that would of significance that might need further evaluation,” he said.
Mental health issues are also of concern to GPs said Dr Favier, stating that there are particular concerns and anxiety about the virus, about job losses, and about childcare.
She said it is important that people feel that they can still reach out to their GP. Those sort of consultations and chats are usually carried out in person, but with the current circumstances they will take place over the phone in most cases.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Schools are more and more being asked to do things which are actually the parent’s job.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: a lot of what you learn in secondary school is not actually pertinent to real life. This is, so what is the harm in it being thought at home and in school?
@A$AP Ragnick: Looks like we’ll have a lot of hygienic, nice and socially conscious people who are academically inept.
@Elrond Rivendell: your right, because it’s impossible to introduce one new module, and the only way to do so would be to eliminate every other subject from the school curriculum so it can be thought 8 hours a day. Silly me.
@A$AP Ragnick: Crikey! Well if your writing is anything to go by, wellbeing and hygiene we’re definitely taught over grammar in your place. To address your substantive point, the original point was that schools are teaching a lot of things that should be taught at home. Your response was along the lines of yeah grand because a lot of things on the curriculum are useless. Wellbeing already gets 100 hours more than English, Irish or Maths and 200 hours more than Science, History, Business, Geography, Languages or any practical subjects at Junior Cycle. I think the evidence that we are developing a lot of people who are well versed in hygiene, mental health, social consciousness and such over academically able students is evidenced by the emphasis in the Junior Cycle programme.
@Elrond Rivendell: **were** being taught. Damn auto-correct. Laughing at the irony myself here!
Well done Helen McEntee, this initiative long overdue
Thank you Helen McEntee.
I’m heartened to hear this.
Domestic abuse inflicted by woman on men is a hidden tragedy in this country.
Helen McEntee would make a fantastic Taoiseach.
@Darren: you’d make a much better comedian
@Graham Manning: and you what would you make ?
@Margaret Mcgarry: Listen listen, Graham is one of these “all politicians are dopes and on the take” people. The barstool expert who spouts opinions online that in the days before the internet were only heard at the bar or on the street corner but because he publishes it online, it now becomes fact. Don’t let him bother you.
@Margaret Mcgarry: An English teacher. Want a grind???
@Elrond Rivendell: says the person convinced introducing this will make students academically inept???
Excellent news!
I like this Helen McEntee.
About time, I feel so ashamed and guilty about being a man, especially a straight, white man.
We need to make sure none of our boys grow up with self respect and confidence.
Critical race theory is hopefully next.
Our schools need third wave feminism urgently before even more of our children get brainwashed by the patriarchy to believe that men and fathers deserve the same rights and respect as women and mothers.
@Dan Broderick: It was inevitable that someone would have a spectacularly bad take on this. Congrats on hitting every buzz word on the “woke madness” bingo card while somehow suggesting that teaching people about consent negatively impacts their confidence. Thankfully, it’s a dying breed that yearns for the good old days when men were men, wha?
@OnlyHereForTheComments: Misogyny was mentiined twice in the closing paragraph. This shows the true meaning behind the story, this isn’t about equality, this is more ignorant man hating nonsense.
Real men are a dying breed and the anti male agenda isn’t even hidden anymore…..nothing more pathetic, dangerous and repulsive to women as a male feminist
@Dan Broderick: “real men are a dying breed” Lol. Upset that the story mentioned misogyny? The fragility is strong with you.
Speaking at the launch, the Taoiseach said that misogyny has “no place” in Irish society.
I agree but what about Misandry or is that still acceptable in society?? It does exist also, in fact one could argue that the taoiseachs statement could be construed as such? He should have said theres no place for misanthropy – at least thats non-biased.
Teaching both sexes to respect each other covers most scenarios. Parents who allow their young 10-12 year old kids and teenagers to roam around committing anti social behaviour need to cop on . When they get away with it that young it emboldens them do worse as they get older. Why should the teachers be landed with the parents responsibility’s.
have your say