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University of Galway research shows osteoporotic fractures are one of the main reasons for acute public hospital admissions   Researchers at University of Galway have revealed the scale of over-treatment of people at low risk of osteoporosis and under-treatment of those most in need of medication. Analysis of findings from a study of more than 5,000 men and women referred to the Galway University Hospital Osteoporosis service showed this “treatment gap” is much larger than prior reports suggest. The results show the majority of men (70%) and women (54%) who are at very high risk of fracture are not on treatment, while an even greater proportion of at-risk men (80%) and at-risk women (70%) are not taking appropriate treatment. The research is being released to coincide with World Osteoporosis Day today, Sunday October 20th. The international research team said a national osteoporosis programme would help address these anomalies, reduce waste in the health service, prevent harm from over diagnosis and overprescribing and improve appropriate prescribing for those most likely to benefit. The research project is led by Professor John Carey, Professor in Medicine at University of Galway and Consultant Physician in Medicine and Rheumatology and Clinical lead in DXA, Osteoporosis and Fracture Liaison Services, Galway University Hospitals, and Associate Professor Attracta Brennan, School of Computer Science at University of Galway.   Professor Carey said: “Over-prescribing in low risk people has led to a false impression - an ecologic fallacy - that the treatment gap that we have for osteoporosis patients in Ireland is actually quite small. When treatment indications are taken into account, the gap remains unacceptably large. “A national osteoporosis programme would help address these anomalies, reduce waste and harm for the patient and improve treatment for those most likely to benefit. “This would make a significant improvement in the quality of care and value for money.” Ireland does not have an osteoporosis programme, although the bone disease is one of the most prevalent and disabling diseases in Ireland and accounts for almost 10% of the healthcare budget. Following an analysis of the 5,000-plus men and women who attended the clinic, the research showed: Calcium and Vitamin D is widely prescribed for people concerned about their bone health despite very strong evidence that while additional supplementation has a benefit for the majority of people, it has a significant cost and can cause harm including increasing the risk of fracture. Calcium and Vitamin D prescribing exceeds osteoporosis medication prescribing, and costs around the same amount as osteoporosis medications which have very strong evidence to support their use (between €100 - €300 per year). Many ‘low risk’ men and women are prescribed osteoporosis medication who do not need it. The majority of people who should be prescribed osteoporosis medication are not. The research team estimate the true gap for patients not receiving appropriate treatment is in the region of 60-70%. Clinicians, computer scientists and engineers at the University of Galway are using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) technology to measure bone density and develop new screening and testing strategies for early identification of osteoporosis. The modern scanning technology assesses a person’s risk before a fracture occurs; assesses their prognosis; and monitors their treatment. Professor Carey added: “We regularly see patients in clinic who had a DXA test they did not require, following which a poor quality report and interpretation led to overtreatment and sometimes significant harm to the patient and all of the associated costs. “On the other hand, we regularly see patients who have had a fracture and sometimes low or very low bone mineral density (BMD) who are not treated, despite multiple recommendations and overwhelming evidence that this is the group of people mostly likely to benefit from treatment. “Furthermore, Calcium and Vitamin D are widely prescribed and overused, in the mistaken belief that they are a treatment for osteoporosis, which they are not. They are essential for good bone health, but only a treatment for deficiency or frank osteomalacia. “A national programme which collates and is led by national experts and harmonises care based on standards and best practice for clinical staff and patients would significantly reduce waste and provide better quality care and value for money. This is something the Government should be striving for.” The University of Galway research - comparing the number of people attending for a DXA scan and those who have a DXA diagnosis of osteoporosis or an osteoporotic fracture who are not on treatment, to people who are on treatment and have no obvious reason to be on treatment - is part of the work carried out by Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry Management Application Project (DXA MAP), funded by the Health Research Board. Ends

Deimhníonn an Rialtas níos mó ná 120 áit do mhic léinn ar chláir nua sa Chógaisíocht agus sa Leigheas (Iontráil do Chéimithe) Inniu, d’fhógair an tAire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta, Patrick O’Donovan T.D., pleananna go bhfuiltear chun cur leis na cláir cúraim sláinte in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Tá dhá chlár céime nua i gceist leis an bhforbairt a sholáthróidh 123 áit do mhic léinn. Dúirt Uachtarán Eatramhach Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh Peter McHugh:  “Cuireann infheistíocht an Rialtais in oideachas cúraim sláinte in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ar ár gcumas céim shuntasach a ghlacadh i dtreo ár gcuspóirí straitéiseacha a chomhlíonadh maidir le hoideachas agus oiliúint den scoth a sholáthar, bunaithe ar thaighde ardtionchair, a rachaidh go mór i dtreo aghaidh a thabhairt ar riachtanais lucht saothair cúraim sláinte na tíre seo. “Táimid ag tnúth le fáilte a chur roimh mhic léinn ar na cláir iontacha nua seo agus leanúint orainn ag cur feabhas mór ar chúram sláinte ag an leibhéal áitiúil agus réigiúnach, náisiúnta agus domhanda.” Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an Aire O’Donovan: “Táim ar bís an tionchar a bheidh ag na tionscadail nua seo ar an earnáil sláinte agus orthu siúd a bhaineann leas as na seirbhísí a fheiceáil. Is cinnte go bhfuil an cumas acu earnáil an ardoideachais a athrú ó bhonn agus tuilleadh deiseanna a chur ar fáil do mhic léinn tabhairt go díograiseach faoi chúram sláinte agus faoi leigheas.” Is príomhghné d’iarrachtaí Choláiste an Leighis, an Altranais agus na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte é oideachas cúraim sláinte a leathnú in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar ghanntanas lucht saothair cúraim sláinte ríthábhachtach in Éirinn, atá ag teacht le Plean Straitéiseach an Choláiste 2022-25. Tá an dá chlár ag teacht le misean na hOllscoile chun sláinte agus folláine a chur chun cinn trí oideachas, taighde agus nuálaíocht. Leigheas (Iontráil do Chéimithe) – Clár ceithre bliana a thairgeann cosán brostaithe isteach sa Leigheas do chéimithe, agus a thugann deis dóibh tógáil ar na héachtaí acadúla a bhain siad amach roimhe seo go mbeidh siad ina ngairmithe leighis cáilithe. Beidh 48 áit ar fáil. Díreoidh an clár freisin ar mhic léinn a ullmhú do ghairmeacha sa leigheas tuaithe agus cianda, ag cinntiú go mbeidh rochtain ag gach pobal, lena n-áirítear iad siúd i gceantair nach bhfuil freastal maith á dhéanamh orthu, ar ghairmithe cúraim sláinte oilte. Cógaisíocht (MPharm) – Clár Máistreachta cúig bliana, le hoideachas sa chógaisíocht, a nascann foghlaim theoiriciúil le hoiliúint phraiticiúil. Tar éis creidiúnú a dhearbhú, táthar ag súil go mbeidh 45 áit do mhic léinn sa chéad bhliain iontrála agus 75 áit ina dhiaidh sin. Tá na dátaí ar a dtósóidh an chéad ghrúpa mac léinn ar an dá chlár le deimhniú. Dúirt an tOllamh Martin O’Donnell, Déan Choláiste an Leighis, an Altranais agus na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Cabhróidh na cláir nua seo sa Chógaisíocht agus sa Leigheas (Iontráil do Chéimithe) go mór le hoiliúint a chur ar an gcéad ghlúin eile de ghairmithe cúraim sláinte, agus tabharfar na scileanna agus an t-eolas atá riachtanach dóibh chun dul i ngleic leis na dúshláin a bhaineann le cúram sláinte nua-aimseartha agus na todhchaí. Tá Coláiste an Leighis, an Altranais agus na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte san Ollscoil dírithe ar chur chuige nuálaíoch a chur chun cinn maidir le hoiliúint a chur ar lucht saothair cúraim sláinte ar mhaithe le gach duine inár bpobail." Dúirt an Dr Martina Ní Chúlain, an Stiúrthóir Forbartha Straitéisí i gColáiste an Leighis, an Altranais & na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Tá Straitéis an Choláiste á spreagadh ag tiomantas chun freastal ar riachtanais ár réigiúin, na tíre, ár gcomhpháirtithe cliniciúla, agus níos tábhachtaí ná aon rud eile, ár gcuid mac léinn. Táimid tiomanta a chinntiú go bhfuil rochtain ag mic léinn ón Iarthar agus ón Iarthuaisceart ar oideachas ceannródaíoch agus ar thimpeallachtaí foghlama den chéad scoth. Tá ár gcláir deartha chun todhchaí cúraim sláinte a mhúnlú, agus tá tionscnaimh ar nós an MPharm chun tosaigh trí oiliúint a chur ar oideasóirí cógaiseora chun freastal ar na héilimh a bhaineann le réimse cúraim sláinte atá ag athrú. Is am spreagúil é seo ina bhfuil an t-uafás athruithe ag tarlú, agus táimid bródúil as bheith ar thús cadhnaíochta san athrú seo.” Dúirt Tony Canavan, Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin Réigiúnach FSS an Iarthair agus an Iarthuaiscirt: “Cabhróidh na cúrsaí seo go mór le soláthar cúraim sláinte san Iarthar agus san Iarthuaisceart amach anseo. Tacóidh siad le múnla Sláintecare chun seirbhís sláinte shábháilte ar ardchaighdeán a chur ar fáil a dhéanfaidh freastal ar riachtanais an phobail atá ag dul i méid, agus an cúram ceart a sholáthar san áit cheart ag an am ceart.”   Críoch  

  Government confirms more than 120 new student places with new programmes for Pharmacy and Graduate Entry Medicine Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan T.D. has today announced plans for the expansion of healthcare programmes at University of Galway. The development involves two new degree programmes which will ultimately provide 123 places for students. Professor Peter McHugh, Interim President of University of Galway, said:  "The Government investment in healthcare education at University of Galway is transformative and enables us to take a significant step towards fulfilling our strategic objectives of providing excellent education and training, founded on high-impact research, which will go a long way to addressing the healthcare workforce needs of our country. “We look forward to welcoming students to these exciting new programmes and continuing to make a substantial contribution to the improvement of healthcare at local and regional, national and global levels."   Minister O'Donovan said: “I am excited to see the impact these new projects will have on the health sector and those who avail of their services. They truly have the potential to revolutionise our higher education landscape and provide more opportunities for students to follow their passions in healthcare and medicine.”   University of Galway’s expanded healthcare education is a key element of efforts by the College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences to address critical healthcare workforce shortages in Ireland, in line with the College's Strategic Plan 2022-25. Both programmes align with the University’s mission to promote health and well-being through education, research, and innovation. Graduate Entry Medicine – A four-year programme offering an accelerated pathway into Medicine for graduates, allowing them to build on their prior academic achievements to become qualified medical professionals. There will be 48 places on offer. The programme will also have a focus on preparing students for careers in rural and remote medicine, ensuring that all communities, including those in under-served areas, have access to skilled healthcare professionals. Pharmacy (MPharm) – A five-year Masters programme, with education in pharmacy, combining theoretical learning with practical training. Following confirming of accreditation, it is intended that there will be 45 places for students in the first year of entry and 75 places thereafter. Dates for the first intake of students to both programmes are to be confirmed. Professor Martin O'Donnell, Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at University of Galway, said: "These new programmes in Pharmacy and Graduate Entry Medicine will make a major contribution to training the next generation of healthcare professionals, equipping them with the skills and knowledge required to tackle the challenges of modern and future healthcare. The University’s College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences is committed to advancing innovative approaches to training a healthcare workforce for all members of our communities." Dr Martina Ní Chúlain, Director of Strategic Development at the College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences at University of Galway, said: “Our College Strategy is driven by a commitment to meet the needs of our region, our nation, our clinical partners, and most importantly, our students. We are dedicated to ensuring that students from the West and North West have access to cutting-edge education and world-class learning environments. Our programmes are designed to shape the future of healthcare, with initiatives like the MPharm leading the way by training pharmacist prescribers to meet the demands of an evolving healthcare landscape. It’s an exciting time of transformation, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this change.” Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer in HSE West and North West, said: “These courses will make a significant contribution to the future delivery of healthcare across the West and Northwest. They will support the Sláintecare model of delivering a safe, quality health service that meets the needs of our growing population, providing the right care in the right place at the right time.” Ends