Our Duty to Care : the principles of good practice for the protection of children and young people

This document, which has been named Our Duty to Care, is aimed at community and voluntary organisations of any size or type that provide services for children. It offers guidance on the promotion of child welfare and the development of safe practices in work with children. It also gives information on how to recognise signs of child abuse and the correct steps to take within organisations if it is suspected, witnessed or disclosed. The process of reporting suspected or actual child abuse to the health board is described step by step, and guidance is given on how to handle sensitive areas. Download document here

Healthy Ageing in Ireland, Policies, Practice and Evaluation

Healthy Ageing in Ireland, Policies, Practice and Evaluation The National Council on Ageing and Older People (NCAOP) is pleased to present this report, which provides a comprehensive overview of current practice in the promotion of healthy ageing in Ireland. The Council considers â?~healthy ageingâ?T to be a positive concept relating to personal development and the exercise of personal choice. Healthy ageing therefore includes activities that influence social and environmental changes, which promote health, well-being and activities that prevent illness. Click here to download PDF 515kb

Le conseil génétique: aspects théoriques et pratique en prénatal [Genetic counselling: theoretical aspects and prenatal practice]

Le conseil génétique doit fournir aux individus une information médicale précise et un soutien psychologique. L'importance des principes d'autonomie et de confidentialité, dogmes du conseil génétique, est renforcée par la nouvelle loi suisse (LAGH). Dans certains pays, une grande partie du conseil génétique est assurée par des conseillers en génétique non médecins ayant une formation postgraduée spécifique. Le conseil génétique joue un rôle grandissant dans différents domaines de la médecine. En particulier, il est indispensable dans le contexte du prénatal où les couples reçoivent des informations complexes et doivent bénéficier d’un soutien pour prendre une décision. Genetic counselling provides families with accurate medical information and psychological support. Respect and concern for the emotional well-being should be taken into account while discussing genetics aspects and recurrence risks. The importance of autonomy and confidentiality, central to genetic counselling, is reinforced by the new Swiss law (LAGH). In many countries, most of the genetic counselling is provided by genetic counsellors who have a specialised post-graduate training. Genetic counselling plays an increasing role in different medical specialities. In particular, it is essential in the context of prenatal and pre-conceptual care, where couples are confronted to complex information and should have access to appropriate support during the decision-making process

Healthy Ageing in Ireland, Policies, Practice and Evaluation

Click here to download PDF This is a publication of The National Council on Ageing and Older People

Working for Children and Families: Exploring Good Practice

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Working for children and families : exploring good practice

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The Nursing and Midwifery Resource - Guidance for Best Practice on the Recruitment of Overseas Nurses and Midwives

Guidance for Best Practice on the Recruitment of Overseas Nurses and Midwives is prepared specifically for employers. The document includes a set of principles which are fundamental to the development of a model of transcultural nursing and midwifery. The document is based on the assumption that each potential employee has the qualifications and experience required to meet the criteria for registration as a nurse or midwife in Ireland Download the Report here

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in general practice or in specialized centers: profile of patients in the Swiss Canton of Vaud.

We studied profile of patients (n=1782) treated in specialized centers and general practice (GP) enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs during 2001 in the Swiss Canton of Vaud. We found that GPs treated the majority of patients (76%). Specialized centers treated a higher proportion of patients with uncontrolled intravenous use of cocaine and heroin, and prescribed neuroleptics as concomitant medication three times more frequently than GPs. Patients treated in specialized centers were more likely to undergo screening for HIV, HBV, HCV, and receive complete HBV immunization. In conclusion, specialized centers are more likely to treat severely addicted patients and patients with a poor global assessment (physical, psychiatric, and social).

Review of the effectiveness of caps on indemnity cover for doctors in private practice

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Swiss clinical practice guidelines on field cancerization of the skin.

Actinic keratosis (AK) affects millions of people worldwide, and its prevalence continues to increase. AK lesions are caused by chronic ultraviolet radiation exposure, and the presence of two or more AK lesions along with photodamage should raise the consideration of a diagnosis of field cancerization. Effective treatment of individual lesions as well as field cancerization is essential for good long-term outcomes. The Swiss Registry of Actinic Keratosis Treatment (REAKT) Working Group has developed clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of field cancerization in patients who present with AK. These guidelines are intended to serve as a resource for physicians as to the most appropriate treatment and management of AK and field cancerization based on current evidence and the combined practical experience of the authors. Treatment of AK and field cancerization should be driven by consideration of relevant patient, disease, and treatment factors, and appropriate treatment decisions will differ from patient to patient. Prevention measures and screening recommendations are discussed, and special considerations related to management of immunocompromised patients are provided.

Report of the Working Group on Post Mortem Practice

The Madden Report into Post Mortem Practice and Procedure (2005)1 stated that consideration should be given to the implementation of the recommendations made in the Report to other post mortems2, namely those carried out on babies who died before or during birth, minors and adults. It was acknowledged that while many of the recommendations in the Report may apply generically to all categories of post-mortem examinations, these post mortems also raise distinct legal and ethical issues that were not within the Terms of Reference of the Madden Report. The Report advised that a Working Group be established to ensure that appropriate adaptation in relation to those issues takes place. The terms of reference were: Read the report (PDF, 117kb)

The gap between scientific evidence and clinical practice : 5-aminosalicylates are frequently used for the treatment of Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND: There is uncertain evidence of effectiveness of 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASA) to induce and maintain response and remission of active Crohn's disease (CD), and weak evidence to support their use in post-operative CD. AIM: To assess the frequency and determinants of 5-ASA use in CD patients and to evaluate the physicians' perception of clinical response and side effects to 5-ASA. METHODS: Data from the Swiss Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort, which collects data since 2006 on a large sample of IBD patients, were analysed. Information from questionnaires regarding utilisation of treatments and perception of response to 5-ASA were evaluated. Logistic regression modelling was performed to identify factors associated with 5-ASA use. RESULTS: Of 1420 CD patients, 835 (59%) were ever treated with 5-ASA from diagnosis to latest follow-up. Disease duration >10 years and colonic location were both significantly associated with 5-ASA use. 5-ASA treatment was judged to be successful in 46% (378/825) of treatment episodes (physician global assessment). Side effects prompting stop of therapy were found in 12% (98/825) episodes in which 5-ASA had been stopped. CONCLUSIONS: 5-Aminosalicylates were frequently prescribed in patients with Crohn's disease in the Swiss IBD cohort. This observation stands in contrast to the scientific evidence demonstrating a very limited role of 5-ASA compounds in the treatment of Crohn's disease.

Report of Dr Deirdre Madden on Post Mortem Practice and Procedures

This Report aims to set out the general facts in relation to paediatric post-mortem practice in Ireland from 1970 to 2000, the way in which information was communicated to parents of deceased children in relation to post-mortemexaminations, and how these practices might be improved upon for the future Read the Report