Extra care is necessary when taking several different medicines. This is particularly true for patients with visual or cognitive impairment. Blister packs make it simple and easy to take the right medicines at the right time by dividing your tablets into separately sectioned blisters, each marked with the time of day when the tablets should be taken. This can improve your medication adherence and reduce errors. Caregivers can also easily check that the right medicines have been taken in a timely manner. Blister packs can help if you are

• Struggling to organise medicines.
• Finding it difficult to remember when to take your medicines.
• Helping to look after someone else.
• Recently home from hospital and suddenly have a lot more tablets to take.
• Looking after someone who is visually impaired.
• On a complex medication regime.

Hypertension is the foremost risk factor for cardiovascular events globally and affects around a third of adults. High blood pressure can affect people of all ages but does not always have symptoms. Untreated, high blood pressure may lead to conditions like heart disease or a stroke.

Blood Pressure Category	Systolic mm Hg (upper number)		Diastolic mm Hg (lower number)
Normal	Less than 120	and	Less than 80
Elevated	120-129	and	Less than 80
High Blood Pressure – Hypertension Stage 1	130-139	or	80-89
High Blood Pressure – Hypertension Stage 2	Higher than 140	or	Higher than 90
Hypertensive Crisis	Higher than 180	and/or	Higher than 120

A blood sugar test is used to test people for type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a condition characterised by high blood sugar (glucose) levels. It is caused by a lack or insufficiency of insulin which regulates the way glucose is used in your body. You should consider a blood sugar test if you experience symptoms of diabetes such as

• Constantly feeling thirsty or hungry
• Unexplained weight loss
• Frequent urination
• Blurry vision
• Extreme fatigue

This is especially the case if you any of the risk factors apply to you including being overweight, family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, over 40 years old or high cholesterol. The American Diabetes Association recommends testing for prediabetes and risk for future diabetes for all people beginning at age 45 years. If tests are normal, it is reasonable to repeat testing at a minimum of 3-year intervals. Costs €15 per appointment

A person’s BMI, or body mass index, is one way of measuring whether you are a healthy weight for your height. Body Mass Index is calculated using a person’s weight in kilograms (kg) divided by the square of height in meters (m2). Initially used as a statistical index of health and weight for a population group, BMI can be used to show the weight categories that may lead to health problems but it is not diagnostic of the body fatness or health of an individual. Nonetheless, your BMI is a good indication of whether you are a healthy weight, and if not, how over or underweight you are.

BMI	Classification
Less than 18.5	Underweight
18.5 - 24.9	Normal Weight
25 - 29.9	Overweight
Over 30	Obese

Obesity is currently a worldwide problem, with overweight (body mass index ≥25 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) estimated at 35% and 12% of the overall adult population, respectively. We can assist with weight loss steps by evaluating potential obesity-related diseases; obtaining a weight history, identifying patient triggers and screening for medications that may influence weight gain. Plus, we can evaluate and track weight and height in calculating your body mass index (BMI).

A COVID-19 vaccine will offer you protection from serious illness with COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccine booster dose

COVID-19 vaccines are strongly recommended to protect people from serious illness caused by COVID-19 (coronavirus).

Adapted Booster Vaccine

• Adapted vaccines are bivalent and contain mRNA based on the spike protein of the ancestral virus, as in the original vaccine, as well as mRNA based on the spike protein of the variant strain, either Omicron BA.1 or Omicron BA.4/5.
• They are adapted to better match circulating variants.
• They are expected to give broader protection against different variants, although their impact on future variants is unpredictable
• In studies comparing the original vaccine, neutralising antibody levels induced by adapted vaccines were similar against the original COVID-19 strain and higher against Omicron.

People should only get a booster dose if a primary course of the COVID-19 vaccine has been completed.

Who is being offered a 1st booster dose?

• the 1st booster is being offered to all people age 12 and over (it must be over 4 months since a previous COVID-19 vaccination or infection)

Who is being offered a 2nd booster dose & how long to wait?

• age 18-49 (must be over 6 months since a previous COVID-19 vaccination or infection).
• age over 50 (must be over 4 months since a previous COVID-19 vaccination or infection).
• age 12 or older with a condition that puts you at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19 e.g. diabetes, asthma or heart disease (must be over 4 months since a previous COVID-19 vaccination or infection).
• pregnant from 16 weeks (must be over 4 months since a previous COVID-19 vaccination or infection)
• healthcare workers - please bring ID (must be over 4 months since a previous COVID-19 vaccination or infection)

Who is being offered a 3rd booster dose?

• age 65 or older
• age 12 or older with a weak immune system

Please note we cannot administer a booster dose to persons who are not in the specified cohorts.  

COVID-19 Antigen Testing Service also avaliable

With results in only 20 minutes, the COVID-19 Antigen Test is a nasopharyngeal swab test which detects the COVID-19 Antigen. Early detection allows more efficient and effective control of the virus. The test is being offered primarily for the purposes of essential travel. Your result is available within 15 minutes. Our Rapid Antigen test has a sensitivity of 97.04% and a specificity of 99.9%. A Travel Certificate is provided which is mutually recognised by all member states across the EU and on common list of EU COVID-19 rapid antigen tests.

Emergency Hormonal Contraception (morning after pill) can be used to prevent unplanned pregnancy. An unplanned pregnancy could occur due to mishaps with contraceptives, a missed pill, incorrect timing of patch or vaginal ring application. Emergency contraception is not suitable as a regular method of contraception and it does not prevent pregnancy in every woman. It can be used by women of all ages to prevent unplanned pregnancy. Emergency contraception is most effective if taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex. However, if you are already pregnant, emergency contraceptive pills will not work. Medical card holders can get emergency contraception directly from a pharmacy, free of charge, without having to go to their GP for a prescription. Emergency contraception does not provide protection from sexually transmitted infections. Our compassionate pharmacists provide access to emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) following a private consultation.

Seasonal flu or influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by flu viruses which circulate in all parts of the world. Seasonal flu symptoms include a high temperature, a severe (usually dry) cough, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, sore throat, and a runny nose. A person with the flu will also feel extremely unwell. Most people recover from the symptoms within a week or two without requiring medical attention. But flu can cause severe illness or death especially in people at high risk (see below). Illnesses range from mild to severe and even death. Hospitalisation and death occur mainly among high risk groups. The most effective way to prevent the flu is get vaccinated. An annual vaccination is recommended as immunity decreases over time. The flu vaccine can be administered as an injection or using an intra-nasal spray. While everyone should consider getting a flu vaccine, it is especially important that the following groups get vaccinated:

• Persons aged 65 years and older.
• Persons with a chronic illness requiring regular follow up, e.g. chronic respiratory disease (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma and bronchopulmonary dysplasia), chronic heart disease (including acute coronary syndrome), chronic renal disease, diabetes mellitus, haemoglobinopathies, chronic liver disease, chronic neurological disease (including multiple sclerosis, hereditary and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system).
• Those who are immunosuppressed due to disease or treatment including those with missing or non-functioning spleens.
• All cancer patients.
• Patients with any condition that can compromise respiratory function, e.g. spinal cord injury, seizure disorder or other neuromuscular disorder.
• Persons with Down syndrome.
• Those with morbid obesity, i.e. body mass index over 40.
• All pregnant women (vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy).
• Healthcare workers.
• Household contacts of at-risk persons.
• Out-of-home care givers to at-risk persons.
• Residents of nursing homes and other long stay institutions.
• Carers.
• People with regular contact with pigs, poultry, or waterfowl.

Our Medication Usage Review is a pre-booked consultation to discuss your medicines (prescribed and non-prescribed). The review helps increase your knowledge and understanding of your medicines, including how and why the medicines should be taken. Our aim is to improve outcomes by helping you to better understand your health conditions and the medications used to manage them. The review also provides an opportunity to highlight any issues, side effects or other medication-related problems and propose solutions if appropriate. This review can be especially helpful for people who are older, have several chronic conditions, take multiple medications, have been using a specific medication over a longer period or are seen by multiple doctors.

Using our instant digital photo equipment, we can offer the following professional photo services.

• Passport Photos (Standard & Online)
• Driving License Photos
• PSV License Photos
• American Passports and Other Nationalities
• Taxi License Photo
• Passport Photos for toddlers (2yrs plus) & children
• Garda ID Photos

Taxi License Photos We print passport-style photographs, each measuring 10cm by 7cm as per taxi driver license requirements, showing your head and shoulders and complying with standards for passport photographs. Passport Photos (Standard & Online) We print and check that developed photos meet all requirements of the Irish Passport Office, both for print and online versions. <br>€ 15 for 6 printed Irish passport photos <br>€ 15 euro for one digital passport photo <br>

Every year in Ireland, nearly 6,000 people die because of smoking with many more suffering from smoking related diseases. The HSE estimates that 1,000 people are admitted to hospital every week with an illness caused by smoking. In our pharmacy, we help smokers break nicotine addiction by recommending Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). NRT comes in many different forms including patches and gums. It is important that the right option is chosen to suit individual needs. Evidence has shown that if a smoker participates in a smoking cessation service that combines advice, support, and Nicotine Replacement Therapy that the smoker is 4 times more likely to quit compared to using willpower alone.

Methadone is a Schedule 2 controlled substance which is used in the treatment of opioid addiction as substitution or maintenance therapy. The service is provided within a broader treatment protocol, accompanied by regular reviews and reassessment. We ensure that patients using our service have all information and advice necessary for the proper use of the drug. This includes general information about methadone, directions of use, common side effects, actions to be taken if a dose is missed, and interactions with alcohol and other drugs. The ingestion of methadone occurs in our private consultation room and is supervised by a pharmacist.

Viagra Connect is a medicine for adult men living with erectile dysfunction (ED). The purpose of the consultation is to ensure Viagra Connect is safe and suitable for you. How does Viagra Connect work? Viagra Connect contains 50mg of the active ingredient sildenafil. Sildenafil relaxes blood vessels to help increase blood flow to the penis helping a man get and maintain an erection. It will not give you an instant erection, requires sexual arousal and can take between 30 minutes to an hour to work. Who is Viagra Connect suitable for? Viagra Connect is for men aged 18 or over who have erectile dysfunction symptoms. It’s for men who are fit enough to have sex, but unable to get or maintain an erection hard enough for sexual intercourse. During your consultation, we will check if Viagra Connect is suitable by asking you a few questions related to your health and any medication you may be taking. Viagra Connect is not suitable for:

• Men under the age of 18
• Men who do not have erectile dysfunction
• Men living with certain health problems
• Men taking certain medications
• Women

How can I buy Viagra Connect? You can buy Viagra Connect in our pharmacy once you complete a consultation. Does my GP need to know I'm using Viagra Connect? If Viagra Connect is suitable for you, we recommend you speak to your GP within six months of getting your first supply. Are there any side effects when using Viagra Connect? Some people may experience side effects when taking Viagra Connect including:

• Headaches
• Hot flushes
• Dizziness
• A blocked nose
• Indigestion
• Nausea
• An upset stomach
• Changes to your vision

Taking Viagra Connect Take one Viagra Connect 50mg tablet with water approximately one hour before sex. Your erection will subside after you’ve had sex. Please note:

• You can only take one 50mg tablet per day.
• If you do have a constant and painful erection that lasts for over four hours, please seek urgent medical help.

According to the HSE, obesity levels in Ireland have reached “epidemic proportions” and affect up to a fifth of all adults and result in 2,000 premature deaths annually. Weight management means maintaining a healthy body weight. Body weight can affect health in many ways. Being overweight can increase your chances of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and other cardiovascular problems. If people maintain a healthy weight, this will decrease the risk of developing these problems. In addition to improve general health, losing weight can help to increase levels of confidence and make people feel better. If people are serious about losing weight, we could help reach the goal, with the support of a highly trained healthcare professional on hand for information, advice, and encouragement. We are here to help you figure out what direction is best for you as there is no such thing as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ weight management product or programme.