Now ye're talking - to a consultant in the HSE [Questions thread]

Boards.ie: Niamh

As above, our AMA guest here is a consultant in the HSE. I have verified his identity and that he is a consultant in HSE.

Hopefully his answers to questions will be a valuable resource for everyone and for that reason we are opening this thread for questions and a separate answers thread to keep all of the informative content in his answers together.

Please stick to this format for Qs & As as posts from anyone other than the OP in the answers thread will be removed.

ANSWERS can be found here.

Thanks all

Please note, as always do not ask for medical advice.

celt262

What medicine should be taken if symptoms start to develop?

dartboardio

Hi,

Do you find yourself turning away lots of patients who don't have any real symptoms of the virus and are just taking up waiting rooms out of worry?

Are all your staff/colleagues full of panic/worry ? Is this the busiest you have ever been?

expectationlost

is it possible to protect yourself from the covid19 and treat patients, how are health workers still getting sick?, are all staff not wearing some level protection now?

TheValeyard

Are there still the usual cough, colds, flu going around that could also be affecting people. If my toddler has a runny nose and slight cough, it's not immediately Covid19 but still the usual suspects?

JP Liz V1

I have so many questions, where to start as an asthma sufferer ( and nothing on line ) how do you differentiate between an asthma attack or Covid19?

banie01

1st off, thanks a million to you, your team and all your front line colleagues for the work that you do and for the overwork you all are about to face.

Do you think that our effort to shift the curve and flatten growth will be successful?
Or that we took our measures a week or 2 too late for maximum efficacy?

CtevenSrowder

How long do you think the lockdowns will be required to last?

Why is it presumed that warm weather will reduce the number of cases?

sgthighway

What is your speciality?

History Queen

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this and for your continued work especially in current circumstances.

Have ye received any further guidance regarding coronavirus and pregnancy? Specifically the case in the UK where the newborn tested positive for the virus, has that changed anything regarding the treatment/guidance for dealing with pregnancy?

coastwatch

No question yet, but just to say a sincere Thank You to all HSE staff, frontline and support for the huge effort that has gone into the preparations for the spread of this virus, and for the ongoing effort that will be required to deal with it over the coming months. The speed of the spread of the virus has been alarming, but the response of the HSE and Dept of Health has been even faster and and very reassuring.

Many Thanks

humberklog

Whenever my mate is asked what he does for a living he says "Doctor". He's an Ed. D (Dr. of Education) and does indeed work in this field (Adult education). Does it get your goat when you hear people claiming to be a doctor when their field is non med/psych?

Damien360

Serious question. What would be your honest opinion of the current trolley watch numbers ? Why have they collapsed ? People didn't suddenly not require A&E or are the vast majority of A&E overblown ?

Figures before Covid-19 over 300. Last year same time 180. This week reported as zero.

And thank you for putting yourselves in the way of harm to deal with this. It cannot be easy for your families.

Darwin

First off, sincere thanks and respect to you and all your colleagues for working at the coal face in these unprecedented times.
My brother is to be tested for covid19 shortly, I wouldn’t expect him to be in the severe risk category. I’ve read of non acute cases that develop ‘mild’ pneumonia. Can this category of patient recover at home without intervention?

Boulevardier

A friend is having a small dinner party (4 in total) at her home tomorrow night. Is this contrary to current HSE advice?

BTW I don't understand where the answers are. I will try again.

ironwalk

Much respect and gratitude to all the doctors, nurses, ambulance personnel, in-hospital cleaners, admin staff, radiographers, porters, med lab scientists, etc etc.
All putting yourselves in the firing line, mentally and physically.
The vast majority of the public understands this....but you are more likely to hear from the terrified few who will shout at you.
Have you heard from your colleagues in Italy? and did the HSE start to ramp up capacity in line with the warnings that were coming from there last week?

Boulevardier

Not sure what is going on here. I have been several times now on the "answers thread" and there is nothing there.

begbysback

Is vitamin D really any good as a prevention of the virus, niacin in particular.

ixoy

There's talk that, if it becomes like Italy, doctors will have to make "tough decisions" as to who gets treated as well as the general stress. Are HSE staff being given any assistance with the psychological pressure they'll be under? Is there any form planned for stress relief or how exhaustion might take effect? Mental well being will be important for the staff when they have to perform critical tasks over long periods.

little bess

The Uk are asking over 70’s to self isolate, would you recommend the same thing to that age group here?

I’ve heard diabetes, hypertension, copd are all extra risk factors, should these people take more care with social distancing?

Many Thanks

Gloomtastic!

What’s the difference between a bad dose of the flu and Covid-19?

Buford T. Justice XIX

coastwatch wrote: »

No question yet, but just to say a sincere Thank You to all HSE staff, frontline and support for the huge effort that has gone into the preparations for the spread of this virus, and for the ongoing effort that will be required to deal with it over the coming months. The speed of the spread of the virus has been alarming, but the response of the HSE and Dept of Health has been even faster and and very reassuring.

Many Thanks

This x 1000

JP Liz V1

Will answers be here?

Beasty

Boulevardier wrote: »

Not sure what is going on here. I have been several times now on the "answers thread" and there is nothing there.

Not sure what you are expecting, but we all have lives to live, and in this particular case a very important job to do. The AMA subject will get to these questions at some stage, but I cannot say when. This thread was only activated less than 2 hours ago

Beasty

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Will answers be here?

No - in another thread, which is linked in the OP

patsy_mccabe

If someone gets the virus, get sick and get well again, at what point can they be confident that they have stopped shedding the virus?

EDIT: Sorry, for some reason a large chunk of my post didn't post. I accidentally deleted it.


To re-word it, how are you managing to get time to do a Q+A on here? Has your actual working day/week changed with the virus? Or are ye folks still working the same hours, albeit arguably with more to do during those hours? Or has the trolley crisis suddenly getting solved actually meant that your working day is easier than it was before the virus became so known?

dharma200

All my Chinese students families have been wearing masks at home at all times. They take the masks off for bed. The children ( my students) do not wear masks. They have emphatically told me over and over again to wear a mask, at all times. That this is the success against the virus. I have been seeing my parents with masks on now for five weeks. At home.
I am wondering why the advice here is not to wear masks. is it that it is a false sense of security?
My chinese families do not understand why everyone here in the west is not being told to wear a mask.
Thanks,

PaybackPayroll

1. Do a proportion of people who recover have permanent lung damage?

2. Is the Irish strategy to get 60% of people infected and recovered, but at a steady rate so a not to overwhelm the HSE, or is there some other strategy?

3. Roughly, how long does each phase of the illness last?

4. What is the current ICU capacity, and is this being massively ramped up?


Thank you for taking the time to do this AMA, and also for all of your efforts in tackling this horror.

Beasty

Beasty wrote: »

No - in another thread, which is linked in the OP

Whats the reason for that out of curiousity? Are all AMAs following that approach from here on? (just seems a tad strange? I presume it's to make the answers easier for people to read?)

Day Lewin

Is this rumour true, that anti-inflammatories like aspirin and Nurofen make you more prone to the virus?

celt262

Just seen this pic online. Does it frustrate you that people are making up stuff and posting on social media?

Scot_in_Dublin

Not a question, just a very sincere thank you to you and all of your colleagues globally who are working around the clock to keep the rest of us going.

YFlyer

Can you explain the 15 minute in contact time?

YFlyer

humberklog wrote: »

Whenever my mate is asked what he does for a living he says "Doctor". He's an Ed. D (Dr. of Education) and does indeed work in this field (Adult education). Does it get your goat when you hear people claiming to be a doctor when their field is non med/psych?

Like the dentist on that movie?

Ladybird18

My child who is asthmatic is complaining with sore throat and nausea tonight.
Should I be worried?

Pseudonym121

Oops, posted in the wrong thread.

Fann Linn

What happens after you've self isolated for the 14 days after testing positive?
Have you built up an immuninty?
Could you catch it again?


And a big well done to all in emergency services and the HSE.

LuckyLloyd

Best of luck over the coming days, weeks and months.

Are the HSE trying experimental treatments ala South Korea and China? I'm referencing chloroquine here and some of the old HIV drugs that have been mentioned.

Andrew H

I work in the public service as a Clerical Officer and there are rumours that we will be sent home on Friday. Is there any way I can volunteer to help out?

Drumpot

Thanks for doing this and for your service now and in the coming crisis. Can’t imagine what it must be like for you all but I’m truly grateful.

Can I ask if it’s true that “mile symptoms” can actually be like a nasty pneumonia, so while it’s medically mild it could really knock people back?

At what stage should a person contact the emergency services for help? What fever in adult and if they find it hard to breath?

Would keeping track of BP and Oxegen levels help emergency services decide whether you need hospitalisation? (Oximeter readings)

Asides from being tested will a lot of people with “mild symptoms” possibly not ever know that they had the disease unless for some reason they are tested? Is it possible in the future to be tested to see if you had it or have antibodies?

messinkiapina

For individuals who experience mild symptoms to the point they may not even know they've contracted it (and presumably develop immunity afterwards), will testing be available to them at some stage? And would those tests show that the virus had been present but overcome?

It would be ideal if everyone who's had this knew about it, they could stop social distancing and help the vulnerable and those in need of care?

endacl

In your opinion, which will peak first? Covid-19, or threads about Covid-19?

sadie1502

Drugs to treat malaria and arthritis have been showing positive signs in treatment. Will these be available in Ireland if required?

Thank you for your help in uncharted territories. Keep safe.

Pseudonym121

Deleted User wrote: »

Whats the reason for that out of curiousity? Are all AMAs following that approach from here on? (just seems a tad strange? I presume it's to make the answers easier for people to read?)

I requested it specifically and Boards.ie were kind enough to oblige.

I am doing this because I hope that the information I post will be helpful to people.

The more accessible it is the more helpful it will be therefore I requested this format so answers would be accessible in a single thread without a myriad of other comments, jokes etc. I'm fine with them in the questions thread but I want the Answers thread to have the maximum accessibility possible.

Cork Boy 53

I am just curious as to whether you think a time may come when a virus or some type of infectious disease will appear that will have the potential to effectively wipe out all of humanity. I`m talking 12 Monkeys style here. Hopefully this one won`t be it! Anyway my thoughts and prayers are with you and your colleagues for the ordeal that lays ahead of you.

amber2

Just querying the recommendation of the use of ibuprofen, many Professors & Doctors saying not to take it and of course France saying the same. Years ago I took my son for an assessment to Dr. muireann ni chroinin who said not to use Nuorfen so wondered if there could be any truth to this for treatment of Covid 19.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/16/health-experts-criticise-nhs-advice-to-take-ibuprofen-for-covid-19?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Edit : I see you have addressed this already.

Hope you, your colleagues and families stay safe during all this, we are all venturing into the unknown here and you guys are standing on the front line, I salute you.

seligehgit

Sincere gratitude to you,all your colleagues and frontline staff.

madmaggie

Firstly, thank for taking the time to do this, it will help put people's mind at ease. Never before have we all depended on you and your colleagues so much.

I'm the carer for my elder uncle who has a heart condition and asthma. He is afraid for himself, but more afraid for me, as he relies on me. Even children are fearful.

Funnyonion79

Thank you so much for doing this and for what you are doing for us all, day to day.

My question is this...in two weeks time, after self isolating at home with my husband and children, is it safe for us to visit my parents/in-laws, who have also been self isolating at home, during this time? The only time any of us would've left the house is to go for a walk or go to the supermarket. The in-laws are mid 70s but in good health.

Thank you.

JustAThought

Still wondering where the answers are, please - is there a link?

Q: While front line staff paid are being allowed home on paid sick leave inc to mind their children off school unpaid inexperienced volunteers are being emailed from the HSE asking them to go into hospitals to help with the virus. Something fundamentally wrong with this. Surely the time for paid HSE staff to pull their weight is when there is a crisis and they are needed and not be asking or relying on emailing randomers from a charity database to pick up their slack.

My family member called in sick on full HSE pay to mind her children - surely this type of abuse should be stopped.