Sleep disorders can have a big impact on a person’s life, so here are a few tips that may help with any sleep disorders you may have:

Restless Leg Syndrome
Restless Leg Syndrome can be associated with insufficient iron stores especially if it comes on during pregnancy, and can respond to iron supplementation.

Going for Surgery
Patients who have been diagnosed with OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnoea) and are scheduled to have surgery, of any kind, should inform their surgeon and their anaesthetist that they have this sleep disorder. Patients should also bring their CPAP machine with them to hospital.

Approaching Winter
As Winter approaches and the days get shorter, getting up in the morning becomes harder. Exercising first thing can help the body-clock wake up.

Eating Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate has some caffeine in it, so it should be avoided close to bedtime in susceptible individuals.

Sleep Apnoea associated with Neck Size
A collar size of 18 inches in men and 16 inches in women can be associated with increased risk of sleep apnoea.

Remember to check back here as these types will be updated on an ongoing basis. Click the link if you are looking for more information on the Sleep Disorders Clinic.

The Mater Private Hospital currently demonstrates its patient focus through a number of initiatives including patient forums, comment cards, departmental surveys and a well managed formal complaints process.  The introduction of the Press Ganey process will involve formal written surveys completed by patients receiving treatment in the Mater Private.  The hospital will use the outcomes of this research benchmark against some of the leading hospitals in the world and to address any areas that are highlighted for improvement.

“We pride ourselves on providing the best quality medical care in a highly patient centred environment,” said Fergus Clancy, Chief Executive, Mater Private Hospital, “The introduction of the Press Ganey system is a deepening of this commitment to ensuring that our patients are experiencing the best possible levels of care and treatment, benchmarked on an international basis.  Through the introduction of this process, we look forward to being able to compare ourselves with some of the best healthcare providers in the world.”

Mater Private Hospital opened in 1986, and today has facilities in Dublin and Limerick, as well as a unique partnership with Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH) offering the only public hospital-based PET/CT scanner in Ireland. In Dublin, the Mater Private Hospital Eccles Street facility has 180 inpatient beds and a nine-bed intensive care unit.

“We are excited to begin working with Mater Private Hospital to measure and improve patient satisfaction within their organization,” said Dr. Jamil Hussain, vice president, global markets, Press Ganey. “I’m confident Press Ganey can put our more than 25 years of experience, the largest comparative patient satisfaction database, and our knowledgeable consulting team to work to help Mater Private Hospital benchmark themselves against some of the world’s leading hospitals, and to continue to improve the patient experience.”

For further information contact:
Abby Szklarek
Public Relations Manager
Press Ganey
574-309-7961

ASzklarek@pressganey.com

Click here to listen to the interview

The Mater Private Sleep Disorders Clinic is the only centre in Ireland which caters for the full range of Sleep Disorders, including but not limited to:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnoea 
• Restless Leg Syndrome
• Insomnia 
• Abnormal Behaviors During Sleep  
• Childhood Insomnia – difficulty going to sleep
• Sleep Walking
• Body Clock Issues
• Abnormal Behaviours during sleep
• Night Terrors
• Narcolepsy

If you would like to find out more about our Sleep Disorders Clinic please contact us on 01-860 0090 or sleepdepartment@gmail.com or click Sleep Disorders Clinic to visit our dedicated area on this website.

Approved Visa Medical Centre located in the heart of Dublin with easy access to visa medicals in one visit and in one location with a speedy turnaround of results and if needed urgent appointments can be facilitated.  

Telephone : 01 885 8850  or email: visacentre@materprivate.ie 

Click here for access to the Visa Medical Centre

Visa Medical Centre – We Take Care of You

“Ovarian cancer can occasionally be a hereditary malignancy. I believe that improved access to cancer genetics services and integration of these services into designated cancer centres can meaningfully contribute to cancer prevention in Ireland.” Dr. David Gallagher. Click here to read more.

Mater Private Hospital on managing

patients with chronic total occlusions

(CTO) recently, IMN spoke to Dr

Brendan Doyle, a leading consultant

cardiologist at the Hospital, to discover

the advantages of the complex

procedure.

Dr Doyle previously trained in the

procedure with US expert Dr William

L Lombardi, Adjunct Assistant Clinical

Professor of Cardiology at Stanford

University, US, at his hospital in Seattle,

who also spoke at the meeting held in

Dublin.

Read More….

The primary aim of the new cancer genetics service at the Mater Private Hospital is to offer preventative care for individuals who have an increased risk of developing cancer. An increased understanding of hereditary predisposition to cancer is providing a new direction in cancer treatment, particularly with respect to diagnosis, management and ultimately prevention. The goal of cancer genetics, which is an expanding area of clinical practice, is to reduce mortality among high risk individuals.

The process begins by recording accurate data on family members, both those affected by cancer and those unaffected. This is traced through at least three generations, with the emphasis on the types of cancer and the age at diagnosis. Hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome and Lynch syndrome are the two commonest cancer predisposition syndromes that are tested for in a cancer genetics clinic, but many other tests for rare cancer predisposition syndromes are clinically available. Breast cancer is the malignancy that most commonly leads to a cancer genetics referral. The clinical features that should lead to suspicion of inherited predisposition to breast cancer for example are early age at onset, cancer in both breasts, multiple cases of breast and ovarian cancer in the family, male breast cancer and breast and ovarian cancer in the same individual.

Speaking about the launch of the new cancer genetics clinic, Dr. David Gallagher said

“From my experience at Memorial Sloan Kettering, I believe that improved access to cancer genetics services and integration of these services into designated cancer centres can meaningfully contribute to cancer prevention in Ireland. The provision of risk assessment and prevention counseling services is paramount to the success of a comprehensive cancer care programme. The addition of a genetics service provides a preventive as well as personalised medicine component to The Mater Private Cancer Centre. Increased awareness of hereditary predisposition has increased demand for genetic counselling and genetic testing, and improved access to this service is imperative to allow affected families avail of cancer prevention and early-detection methods. Timely intervention will help individuals with a genetic risk of cancer to clarify their risk status and ultimately reduce morbidity and mortality, prolong life. Women receiving positive genetic test results have cited relief from uncertainty and anxiety and consider the knowledge gained a positive factor in the ability to make active decisions about their healthcare. The decision as to whether to pursue a screening or preventive surgery strategy is often determined by the individual’s perception of risk which in turn may be influenced by their personal and/or family experience of cancer.

“For others, a more positive outcome from genetics testing, i.e. where no mutation is found, alleviates a great deal of stress and worry about cancer. The emphasis is firmly on ensuring that the process remains voluntary throughout, i.e. that the individual can opt out of the process at any stage. However, genetic counselling and testing also empowers high risk individuals to take greater control of the management of their health.”

Clinical Nurse Specialist Michael Farrell said

“It is important to listen carefully to the individual and assess perceptions of cancer risk, learn of prior experiences with cancer within the family and provide an ample opportunity for questions to be asked and allow a truly informed decision to be made. Both individuals and families experience various psychological reactions in the context of genetic testing and issues frequently arise that offer challenges to health carers involved in this area. Many have lingering hurt and unresolved grief relating to cancer diagnoses and deaths within their families and these issues frequently surface during discussions. Emotional reactions can range from anxiety and fear to depression and loss of self esteem. The objective of the genetic counsellor is to help the person manage all of these issues and come to a decision which achieves the right outcome for each individual.”

The Mater Private Cancer Genetics Clinic is now open to referrals. The clinic can be contact at 01 8858433, Dr. David Gallagher, Medical Oncologist and Medical Geneticist, can be contacted at 01 8858883 and Mr. Michael Farrell, Genetics Counsellor, at 01 8858398.

Mater Private invests €2 million in da Vinci surgical robot to facilitate best clinical outcomes for patients

The Mater Private Hospital, one of Europe’s leading private hospitals, today launched Ireland’s first multi-specialty robotic assisted surgical programme which will enable surgeons to deliver the best possible outcomes for patients across a range of surgical procedures.  Using the da Vinci Surgical System, the Mater Private Hospital is one of a select group of hospitals in the world that will offer superior three dimensional, high definition visualisation during Urology, Gynaecology and Colorectal surgical procedures, as well as enhanced dexterity which ensures greater precision.  Surgeons at the Mater Private Hospital will use this leading technology to perform complex procedures such as prostatectomy, hysterectomy and colon resection.  As the procedures are less invasive than traditional surgeries, patient outcomes are superior with reduced incidence of complications and faster recovery times.

Fergus Clancy, Chief Executive at The Mater Private Hospital explained:

“We are proud to offer the option of this exciting technology to such a wide range of patient groups across a number of specialities.  The hospital Urology programme is already well established with over 40 patients having already successfully undergone robotic assisted prostatectomy.  Urologists, Professor John Fitzpatrick and Mr Kiaran O’Malley at the Mater Private are currently providing this service.   A number of Gynaecology and Colorectal surgeons at the Mater Private are now in the process of training on the system so that the technology will also be available to patients as an alternative to both open and laparoscopic surgery. The Mater Private Hospital is a hi-tech hospital, committed to providing  leading edge medical technology and ensuring that patients in Ireland can have the best possible clinical outcomes.  We certainly have achieved this with the robotic assisted surgical programme.”

Consultant Surgeon, Mr. Kiaran O’Malley said:

“There are significant benefits to minimally invasive procedures using this technology, including less pain, less blood loss and less need for blood transfusions.  Less invasive surgery also means a shorter stay in hospital for the patient, as well as a quicker recovery and a more rapid return to normal daily activities.  The Mater Private is a Centre of Excellence for prostate robotic surgery; in addition to its own campus based surgeons we have visiting Consultants from other major Dublin teaching hospitals attending the hospital exclusively to use the technology on their own cohort of patients.”

Most private health insurance plans cover 90% to 100% of the costs of robotic prostate surgery at The Mater Private Hospital, for further information on insurance cover call 01-885 8785.