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Mens health initiative
14 October, 2015
Síle Burns writes,
I am part of a mens health initiative with our primary care team in West Cork. A group of us have presented mens health information evenings in various locations in West Cork ( Skibb Clon , Rosscarbery) in association with the GAA clubs. It basically involves short talks from various health professionals on topics such as prostate health, diabetes prevention, back pain, heart health etc and then an opportunity for men to chat with these health professionals and get their BMI and blood pressure measured. We are planning on holding the next information evening in Butlerstown hall on Thursday November 5th at 7pm. We will be advertising it around the parish in the coming weeks too.
Aims
Support men adopt positive health behaviours and increase control over their own lives.
Provide information to change the attitude that being sick and seeking help is seen as a weakness.
Recognise the importance of feeling well – physically and mentally.
Get to know your Primary Care Team
Heart disease - Ireland's No.1 Killer
Approximately 10,000 people die each year from cardiovascular disease (CVD) - including coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and other circulatory diseases. CVD is the most common cause of death in Ireland, accounting for 33% of all deaths. The largest number of these deaths relate to CHD - mainly heart attack - at 5,000. 13% of premature deaths (under age 65) are from CVD. Men account for nearly ⅔ of these deaths <65yrs (Irish Heart Foundation).
Catherine Cahalane: - 086 7871552
Caroline Murphy, Community Mental Health Staff Nurse in the Skibbereen and Mizen Peninsula. The therapeutic role of the community nurse is in line with the ethos of the West Cork Mental Health Services whereby the community nurse provides support/care to individuals and their families in their own home /community environment while embracing the principles of a recovery orientated approach. Nurses also provide education and public awareness in the community by working in collaboration with various agencies with a strong emphasis on social inclusion and mental health promotion.
Enquiries for information and services available- please contact Caroline and her team at the following number: - 027 52970
Emer Shanley, Wound Management Services.
The wound management clinics run on a monthly basis in each town in West Cork from Castletownbere to Clonakilty. This specialist service assesses and treats wounds including leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers and post-surgery wounds. You can avail of this service through your GP or Public Health Nurse. For information for Emer Shanley, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Wound Management/Tissue Viability: - phone 028 40429.
Síle Burns, West Cork Physiotherapy Service aims to promote health and physical wellbeing by maximising mobility and functional ability throughout all life stages for patients in the community.
We deal with a range of conditions from respiratory and cardiovascular to musculoskeletal, orthopaedic or neurological in nature. Our physiotherapists commonly deal with problems such as muscle and joint pain including neck and lower back pain.
Locations: - Physiotherapy departments are located in Clonakilty, Rosscarbery, Skibbereen, Dunmanway, Bantry, Schull and Castletownbere.
Access: Patients with medical cards can be referred to our service by their GP (non-medical card holders referred by a public Consultant). Síle Burns is a chartered physiotherapist working between Skibbereen and Rosscarbery and will speak on the following topics: (i) management of acute injuries, (ii) common myths about back pain. Contact No. – 023 8851104.
P J Cooke, PHN, aims to raise awareness of screening for prostate and testicular cancer. Prostate cancer is a second most common cancer to affect men in Ireland and prevalence increases with age. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer of men between ages 15 and 35 years and early detection is a critical factor in prognosis. Contact No. - 023 8851814.
Patricia Walsh, Community Registered Nurse aims to raise awareness of bowel health and has a background in colorectal disease; how Cork has one of the highest rates of colon and rectal cancer in Ireland (290 cases colon cancer diagnosed in 2014).
Information available on other bowel problems, such as: - constipation, haemorrhoids, diverticular disease, anal fissures and irritable bowel syndrome. Recognising the early signs, how to reduce your risk, what is the National Bowel Screening Service and how to avail of it. Contact No. – 023 8851814.
Bernadette O’Riordan, Pre-Diabetes Prevention. Type 2 diabetes is very preventable – the progress of up to 60% of cases can be halted. In the light of this, the diabetes prevention service has been running in West Cork since 2010. The service provides screening to establish the risk of diabetes using a validated risk score. If people are found at risk; a structured education programme called “Walk away from Diabetes” is provided free of charge. This is a 3hr interactive small group session which identifies the practical ways in which diabetes can be avoided. Also, a one to one support is provided by the Clinical Nurse Specialist, Bernadette O’Riordan. Contact No. 087 6566346
Bernie Dennehy, Senior Community Dietitian, (BSc, Hons Human Nutrition and Dietetics, M.I.N.D.I.) has been based in West Cork since 2007. As a HSE Community Dietitian I work alongside GPs, Primary Care Teams and Community Hospitals. I provide Free Dietetic support at one-to-one Dietetic clinics in Primary Care areas in West Cork. I give expert advice on a wide range of conditions including: Heart Disease, Diabetes, Weight Management for both adults and children, Unbalanced Diets, Bowel Health, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Coeliac Disease. I also run free education group sessions for adults with Type 2 diabetes called X-PERT programme which is available in various towns in West Cork during the year.
Bernie Dennehy, Senior Community Dietitian, INDI Member. Contact No. 086 787 1590
Catherine Cahalane, Cardiovascular PHN, aims to raise awareness of the risk factors of heart disease in the community, provide social, psychological and educational support to people who have suffered from angina, heart attack, had cardiac stents inserted or after heart surgery.
Why?
Men experience greater ill-health than women.
Men adopt more traditional attitudes to manhood and tend to take greater health risks, so are slow to seek help and advice.
Public Health Nursing Service