BEACON NEWS SEPTEMBER 2022 EDITION 8 WIN A 250 Sports Lab Gift Voucher 5 Winter Predictions Lenora Leonard Meet our new Consultants who have recently joined us at Beacon Hospital Article on p 9 8 MEET OUR TEAM Margaret Callanan 2 CEO s Note A note from our CEO Michael Cullen 3 Beacon Limerick Now Open Beacon Hospital s latest clinic has opened in Limerick City Read more about the services available 4 Passion Lives Here Beacon Hospital s sponsorship of Kilmacud Crokes of the Beacon Hospital All Ireland 7s Series 7 Sports Lab Our Sports Lab team can help you Reach Your Fitness Potential 8 New Satellite Day Unit New state of the art Satellite Day Unit now open WELCOME TO OUR E NEWS WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM AROUND THE HOSPITAL YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Beacon Hospital News Issue 1 Sept 2022 10 Colorectal Cancer in the Young Prof Reza Kalbassi discusses the worrying rise in cases of colorectal cancer in the young on Image ie 11 UPDATE Beacon Hospital Ukraine Appeal 1
A NOTE FROM OUR CEO MICHAEL CULLEN As we settle into Once An Bord Pleanala confirm the Planning autumn and our winter Permission grated by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown routines back County Council we will start the construction of intothe perfect time to into play we thought this was bring you the first edition of our new Beacon News another 71 beds to the 180 we have along with an come This seasonal newsletter is full of information not only on the Consultants and Services available at Beacon Hospital but also lots of useful knowledge and tips on health and well being for everyone Since our humble beginnings in 2006 Beacon Hospital has grown to offer a full range of acute care services employ over 1700 healthcare professionals and is proud to provide some of the most modern and technologically advanced healthcare treatments in Ireland Over the past 12 months we have been busy putting in place measures to secure the future growth of our hospital At Beacon Hospital our ambition is to continually grow and evolve our modern medical campus enabling us to expand the range of clinical services available to our patients to meet current and future healthcare needs and to provide our consultants and staff with state of the art healthcare facilities With this in mind we have purchased the Beacon Hotel and two adjacent sites on Bracken Road for future expansion of our medical campus additional 4 theatres and a significantly larger Emergency Department on the ground floor The additional space will allows us to not only enhance the services available to patients but it will also enable us to build on our legacy of world class clinical training through an expansion of the UCD Beacon Academy and to further invest in clinical trials through a dedicated Beacon Hospital Research and Development Centre 2022 also brought a unique opportunity to us one that we could not pass up This was to take on the role of main sponsor to our local GAA Club Kilmacud Crokes Based in our community the club has over 5 000 members with a 50 50 male female split Kilmacud Crokes shares with us a Passion for health fitness and the wellness of our community s hearts and minds We hope you enjoy our new Beacon News Yours sincerely SIGN UP ENTER Sign up to receive Beacon Hospital s seasonal newsletter and be in with the chance to win a Beacon HealthCheck worth 630 Beacon HealthCheck is Ireland s most comprehensive health screening service and is available in both Beacon Hospital s South Dublin campus and in Beacon Limerick Beacon Hospital News Issue 1 Sept 2022 BEACON HOSPITAL 2
BEACON LIMERICK Beacon Limerick Limerick s most advanced private diagnostic imaging health screening centre is now open We are delighted to have opened the doors to Beacon Limerick Located on the prestigious Barrington Street Beacon Limerick offers access to the very latest in diagnostic imaging health screening cardiac testing minor surgery and more Our consultants nurses radiographers and technicians are top of their field and work alongside our expert administrative team to provide patients with seamless care like no other The clinic offers an array of healthcare services to patients based in Limerick and surrounding counties Beacon Limerick is currently offering cardiology Consultant consultations diagnostic radiology vascular Consultant consultations as well as Limerick s premier health screening service HealthCheck Please note that with the exception of HealthCheck a GP referral is required for services in Beacon Limerick Click here to read our full Guide to Beacon Limerick s Services Beacon Hospital News Issue 1 Sept 2022 DR OXANA HUGHES Consultant Gynaecologist Dr Oxana Hughes specialises in Women s Health General Gynaecology and minimally invasive surgery Dr Hughes has recently been answering some readers questions on Image ie Dr Hughes was asked about irregular periods in a woman aged 40 and if this could signal the beginning of early perimenopause Read what Dr Hughes had to say on the issue here WOMEN S CENTRE Beacon Hospital s Emergency Department ED is available Monday through Saturday Call us on 01 293 9999 to make an appointment MORE INFO
PHYSIOTHERAPY FEMALE URINARY INCONTINENCE Aoibhin McGreal Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist SCI BUZZ Did you know that over 53 of women who give birth suffer from urinary incontinence for the first 3 months after doing so Though not often spoken about Aoibhin assures us that this is extremely common and there is often a simple nonsurgical fix A course of pelvic floor muscle training exercises or Kegels over a period of 12 weeks should help most women regain control of these muscles Sets of correctly performed Kegels should be completed three times each day over the course of 12 weeks These can start with an easier version and work up to a more difficult longer hold as you get stronger READ MORE PASSION LIVES HERE June 27th saw the official launch of the Beacon Hospital All Ireland 7s series take place in Croke Park This is the first time in the competition s 50 year history which sees all four codes football ladies football hurling camogie sponsored by the same sponsor As an equal opportunities employer Beacon Hospital is delighted to show our commitment to both men s and women s sport in equal measure The 7s series was held in Kilmacud Crokes club in Stillorgan over four Saturday s in July and August and brought together athletes families and supporters from all four corners of the country As well as sponsoring the 7s Series Beacon Hospital has recently become club sponsor of Kilmacud Crokes Ireland s largest Gaelic Sports club which as of 2022 has a membership split of almost 50 50 for men and women Beacon Hospital and Crokes share a combined passion for promotion of a healthy active lifestyle as well as the wellbeing of our community s hearts and minds PassionLivesHere Booking in for your first session when getting started with a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Pelvic Floor Dysfunction such as Aoibhin or Oisine in Beacon Hospital Physiotherapy will ensure you are performing the exercises correctly for maximum benefit Contact 01 293 6692 for further information or to book an appointment Beacon Hospital News Issue 1 Sept 2022 7s SERIES
INFECTION PREVENTION CONTROL LOOKING AHEAD WINTER PREDICTIONS TIPS Lenora Leonard Head of Infection Prevention Control IPC With the cold weather approaching we have to be prepared for viral infections that may affect us especially persons over the age of 65 years or those who have a chronic condition Viral illness includes influenza norovirus and respiratory tract infections i e common cold respiratory tract infections metapneumovirus and pneumonia Trends in the southern hemisphere are an indication of what we can expect in Ireland for our winter 2022 and Australia has experienced a bad flu season this year Australia is nearing the end of its worst flu season in five years Flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness and leads to thousands more GP visits every year As GP s it is important to stay alert for signs of an aggressive flu season this year TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR PATIENTS INCLUDE Avoid close contact Stay away from people who are sick When you are sick keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too Beacon Hospital News Issue 1 Sept 2022 Clean your hands Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs Be sure to wash your hands with lather for at least 20 seconds then rinse under running water Don t touch your eyes nose or mouth Germs are often spread when a person touches a surface or object that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes nose or mouth Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your elbow Bin your tissue Wear a mask in crowded places This reduces risk of spread of infection Clean objects and surfaces that other people touch Clean surfaces such as your keyboard and door handles to reduce germs Avoid sharing Don t share cups cutlery and towels with other people Get enough sleep A well rested person will have a stronger immune system Get vaccinated against flu and COVID 19 Vaccinations are the best preventive measures you can take to stay healthy throughout the winter BEACON HOSPITAL 5
UROLOGY ENLARGED PROSTATE Mr Michel deWildt Consultant Urologist SCI BUZZ Image ie recently asked Consultant Urologist Mr Michel deWildt a reader s question on her husband s medication for an enlarged prostate becoming less effective over time BEACON HEALTHCHECK Mr deWildt discussed the effect a benign enlargement of the prostate has on quality of life as it impacts daily activities and sleep routines It encircles the peeing tube and can lead to restriction of urinary flow out of the bladder causing urinary symptoms Mr deWildt confirms treatment usually begins with medication but HEALTHCHECK as this medication becomes less effective a more definitive solution is desired by patients Traditionally the preferred surgical treatment was TURP TransUrethral Resection of the Prostate however a recent novel surgical approach Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate known as HoLEP has more results permanent compared long term to TURP There is also a significantly shorter recovery time and minimal side effects after the HoLEP surgery Read More Here Beacon Hospital News Issue 1 Sept 2022 Beacon HealthCheck is Ireland s most comprehensive health screening service In just two to four hours our expert physicians will give you a full health screening including medical history physical health examination as well as lifestyle assessment A series of tests will be carried out These tests will be determined by your sex age history general health and lifestyle and include blood tests and radiology imaging Upon completion of your Beacon HealthCheck you will meet once again with your Physician to receive a summary report of your results An indepth report will be sent to you in the days following your assessment A copy of this report will be shared with your GP also Should any abnormalities or concerns be discovered during your Beacon HealthCheck your Physician will discuss these with you Where necessary they can arrange a referral to a further specialist Beacon HealthCheck allows you to take a proactive approach to your health ensuring no matter what you re ready for life s journey ahead PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE Did you know that nearly all Private Health Insurance PHI policies now offer cover for Beacon Hospital INDUSTRY If you are not sure if you are covered you can phone your PHI provider to find out We offer self pay packages for patients who do not have PHI and may wish to get treated privately MORE INFO
PHYSIOTHERAPY Beacon Hospital s team of expert Chartered Physiotherapists offer a comprehensive service to patients and athletes alike Our Physiotherapists offer treatment of sporting injuries general wear and tear pelvic floor physiotherapy hand therapy treatment of plantar fasciitis back pain and more Depending on your needs you will be assigned to a suitable member of our team No GP referral required SPORTS LAB A FITNESS TEST IN 2 HOURS Our unique Sports Lab offers tailored packages for elite athletes and those who have never before performed exercise and are looking to safely shed a few pounds or just get healthy for daily life Athlete testing involves composition analysis followed by VO2 max testing Health general testing involves a comprehensive body composition assessment and personalised advice based on each patient s unique situation Whatever your level or your goal our experts are here to help you to Reach Your Potential LEARN MORE WIN A SPORTS LAB VOUCHER Want to win a Sports Lab gift voucher worth 250 for you or a friend Well here is your chance All you have to do is subscribe to our newsletter and you will be entered into the draw The winner will be drawn this November and will be contacted via email with regards to their prize Beacon Sports Lab is suitable for all fitness levels and all ages Whether you would like to start walking to shift a few kilos or want to improve on your marathon or ironman triathlon times Sports Lab is here to help you Reach Your Potential ENTER NOW Beacon Hospital News Issue 1 Sept 2022 Contact sportsmedicine beaconhospital ie to book in for your fitness test Prices start from just 50 for Bod Pod analysis BEACON HOSPITAL 6
NEW SATELLITE DAY UNIT OPEN SCI BUZZ Beacon Hospital s new Satellite Day Unit was recently opened in Suite 35 of the Green Mall adjacent to the hospital This new state of the art clinical space offers a range of minor outpatient procedures performed by specialist consultants from a number of departments including Dermatology General Surgery Ophthalmology and more SATELLITE DAY UNIT MEET OUR TEAM Margaret Callanan Head of Patient Services Margaret Callanan has been part of Beacon Hospital s team since 2010 She initially joined as a Patient Services Executive and over the past number of years has worked her way up to Head of Patient Services Margaret is an integral part of the team in Beacon Hospital Her high energy professionalism and friendly manner ensure her team are happy in their roles Margaret is a strong believer in promotion from within and as such she works with individuals on her various teams to give each member the opportunity to upskill and advance their career in line with their personal goals As we expand we are looking for new members to join Margaret s Team find out more below DATES FOR THE DIARY 25th Sep World Pharmacists Day 29th Sep World Heart Day 10th Oct World Mental Health Day 13th Oct Breast Cancer Awareness Day 18th Oct World Menopause Day 20th Oct World Osteoporosis Day 7th Nov World Radiotherapy Day 8th Nov World Radiography Day 14th Nov World Diabetes Day 16th Nov World COPD Day 19th Nov International Men s Health Day Beacon Hospital s upcoming GP Educational s has been confirmed for the following date GP Educational January 2023 Saturday 21st January 8am REGISTER NOW Beacon Hospital News Issue 1 Sept 2022 BEACON HOSPITAL 7
GP STUDY DAYS SEPTEMBER GP STUDY DAY Our September GP Study Day on Orthopaedics and Sport Medicine took place on Saturday 17th September As it was a hybrid event we were delighted to welcome a limited number of GPs to join us in UCD O Reilly Hall and attend the event in person It is the first time since January 2020 we were able to have GPs physically attend We would like to thank all of speakers for their highly informative presentations If you missed our Study Day or would like to rewatch any of the sessions the presentations are now available to view in the GP section of our website on our September GP Study Day event page Register now for our Annual GP Study Day in January 2023 BOWEL CANCER BOWEL CANCER SURVIVOR NIAMH 40 TALKS TO THE IRISH TIMES Niamh Ferry patient at Beacon Hospital discusses her journey from diagnosis to successful treatment of bowel cancer with the Irish Times At just 40 years of age Niamh was proactive in her approach to investigating her symptoms In recent years there has been a steady increase in the numbers of young adults presenting with bowel cancer Due to their young age many patients dismiss their symptoms and delay investigation This can have a negative impact on their overall outcome Niamh has bravely decided to speak out about the disease in the hope that it will encourage others to listen to their bodies and get symptoms checked As you can see from the article Niamh is currently doing great and continues to be monitored by her Consultant Mr Reza Kalbassi here at Beacon Hospital Thank you Niamh for speaking out we hope that your story will make others think carefully about any symptoms they might experience Read the full article here at the Irish Times Beacon Hospital News Issue 1 Sept 2022 BEACON HOSPITAL 8
PROF KALBASSI NEW CONSULTANTS PROF REZA KALBASSI TALKS TO IMAGE IE ABOUT COLORECTAL CANCER IN YOUNG WOMEN Mr Keith Johnston SCI BUZZ Consultant Gynaecologist Mr Johnston s areas of specialty include minimally invasive gynaecological surgery endometriosis menopause painful intercourse pelvic floor prolapse and vulval disorders Mr Khalid Merghani Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Prof Reza Kalbassi Consultant Colorectal Surgeon passionate colorectal cancer in the young awareness advocate was asked by Image ie to comment on the rising number of cases in young women Prof Kalbassi stresses the importance of early intervention in the treatment of this cancer Younger patients often dismiss early symptoms With the rise in cases in the younger population Prof Kalbassi is warning people not to ignore symptoms Any concerns should be brought to the patients GP where they can be thoroughly assessed to determine if further examination is required Read the Image ie piece here Mr Merghani specialises in knee arthroscopic key hole surgery robotic total hip and knee replacement minimally invasive total hip replacement ligament reconstructions Ms Noelle Cassidy Consultant Spinal Surgeon inc paeds Ms Cassidy s areas of specialty include adolescent idiopathic scoliosis hip and knee arthroplasty surgery knee arthroscopy and spine issues Assoc Prof Amy Rigby Consultant in Respiratory General Internal Medicine Assoc Prof Rigby s areas of expertise include Lung Transplantation Medicine Lung Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder COPD and Interventional Bronchoscopy Mr Yasser Aljabi Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Aljabi has a specialist interest in sport related injuries of the foot and ankle complex trauma forefoot pathology plantar fasciitis tendinopathies deformity correction and arthritic conditions Prof Tom Kiernan Consultant Cardiologist Clinical Director Beacon Limerick Dr Ihsan Ullah Consultant Interventional Cardiologist Beacon Limerick Dr Siobhra O Sullivan Mr Tony Moloney Consultant Vascular Surgeon Beacon Limerick Our purpose built state ofthe art Endoscopy Unit is both JCI and JAG accredited Consultant Radiation Oncologist For further information on our Endoscopy Department and a list of our JAG accredited Dr Oxana Hughes Consultants visit our website Consultant ENDOSCOPY Beacon Hospital News Issue 1 Sept 2022 Gynaecologist Mr Olan Carmody Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon incl Spine Paeds BEACON HOSPITAL 9
BEACON HOSPITAL S UKRAINE APPEAL UPDATE PATIENT FEEDBACK We love receiving feedback from our patients here s what some recent patients had to say Incredible staff in the operating theatre and on the wards during my stay Thank you I cannot thank the Consultants and all the staff enough for taking care of me so well for ten days recently Your kindness patience and care meant the world to me I would like to congratulate the beacon on their most wonderful staff I have never encountered such kind and caring and friendly people From the ground up everyone was I met had a friendly positive attitude which made my unexpected stay a lovely experience I have named the staff The United Nations of Angels Thank you very much for your kindness Beacon Hospital would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of the extremely generous people patients local businesses and schools who have so kindly collected and donated to our Ukraine appeal With thanks to you all we managed to send a multitude of trucks cars vans and 4x4s to drop off essential supplies to help the Ukrainians most badly impacted by the ongoing war Along with medical supplies there were foods personal hygiene products bedding baby products and even an Ambulance and a number of 4 x 4 vehicles sent over A big thanks to our staff who volunteered their time and in particular to Damien and Rob from our Projects Team who took on the mammoth task of coordinating this incredible effort Though our appeal has come to an end Beacon Hospital will continue to provide assistance where we can to those in Ukraine We have lucky to have met and been able to offer employment to a number of persons displaced from Ukraine and we warmly welcome them into our Beacon family To find out more about our Ukraine appeal watch our video here UKRAINE VIDEO Beacon Hospital News Issue 1 Sept 2022
RACC RAPID ACCESS CARDIOLOGY CLINIC RACC Beacon Hospital s Rapid Access Cardiology Clinic provides access to world class cardiac care without lengthy waiting times RACC offers expert assessment and investigation for all patients presenting with chest pain or discomfort palpitations arrhythmia shortness of breath and uncontrolled hypertension heart failure No GP referral is required and patients may book directly with the unit by phoning 01 293 6694 BEACON HOSPITAL Beacon Hospital THIS IS MODERN MEDICINE Beacon Hospital is one of Europe s technologically advanced private hospitals most With over 300 Consultants and 1700 medical professionals we strive for excellence in patient care whilst constantly investing in new and cutting edge equipment and treatment options Beacon Hospital is covered by over 90 of Private Health Insurance plans with self pay packages also available Our continual hospital expansion and growth plans ensure that we are constantly evolving to meet the future needs of our patients Beacon Hospital is a dynamic and progressive environment where patient care is at the centre of all we do Beacon Hospital News Issue 1 Sept 2022 A GUIDE TO BEACON HOSPITAL Treating over 200 000 patients each year Beacon Hospital provides full service acute medical and surgical care across all areas READ MORE ABOUT BEACON HOSPITAL S DEPARTMENTS SERVICES