Maire Friel

I am a qualified registered general nurse and I have been working in general practice since qualifying in 2010. I work daily with GP's providing nursing care to the practice population. I am often one of the first points of contact for patients interacting with the healthcare system, along with GP's. I provide support to the GP's by managing chronic diseases and long term health conditions such as COPD/Asthma/Diabetes and IHD. I see service users daily as part of the chronic disease management programme. I provide immunisations to infants and children as part of the primary immunisation schedule. I also administer travel vaccines where required and help to manage flu, pneumococcal and covid vaccination clinics. I run cervical screening clinics on a weekly basis as part of the cervical check programme. As part of women's health I also provide pre conceptual advice and advice on various methods of contraception. I assist the GP's with minor surgeries including removal of lesions and insertion of LARCs. I provide nursing care to service users with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis and also treat wounds and skin injuries including post op suture removal and wound dressings. In some cases I manage ongoing chronic wound dressings. I run phlebotomy clinics weekly monitoring patients on anticoagulant therapy. I provide cardiology care by performing ECG's and 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. I also work closely with the smoking cessation officer and help to manage the heartwatch programme. Health promotion and education is a huge part of my daily caseload and I am advising service users daily on various health concerns providing education and support where required. I provide telephone triage and advice to service users. It is my responsibility to provide leadership and management to the nursing team on a day to day basis working with other members of the multi disciplinary team. I liase frequently with other healthcare professionals in the community/hospital regarding service users, particularly those discharged from hospital back to the community ensuring adequate patient needs are met. I ensure the sterilisation and maintenance of surgical instruments and the maintenance of emergency equipment ensuring all equipment is safe to use. I also help draft practice policies and protocols and carry out auditing where applicable. I help with a risk assessment of the practice ensuring that there are no hazards and the area is safe for all employees and service users.

• I enjoy walking, running and keeping active
• I Play traditional Irish music