Gastroenterology in Ireland

Gastroenterology is the field of medicine focused on the normal function and diseases of the digestive system or the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, liver, as well as colon and rectum. Doctors who specialize in gastroenterology are called gastroenterologists. They are trained to diagnose and treat conditions of the digestive system. Some of the conditions that these specialists can treat include:

• Ulcers
• Acid reflux
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Polyps or growth that can occur in the large intestine (colon)
• Hepatitis C
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
• Bloody stool
• Hemorrhoids
• Colon and bowel cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Colitis
• Pancreatitis 

While gastroenterologists can treat diseases of the digestive system, they do not perform surgery. If surgery is required they will work with or refer patients to a gastrointestinal surgeon. The following are a range of nonsurgical procedures that gastroenterologists perform:

• Colonoscopy to detect colon polyps and colon cancer
• Endoscopic ultrasound to examine the upper and lower GI tract
• Sigmoidoscopy to assess blood loss or pain in the bowel
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography to identify tumors, gallstones, or scar tissue in the bile duct
• Capsule endoscopy to examine the small intestine
• Liver biopsy to examine fibrosis and inflammation
• Polypectomy to remove a polyp.

How Long Should I Stay in Ireland?

The type of procedure that you undergo determines your length of stay in Ireland. Most procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you can leave the hospital or clinic on the same day. However, you generally need to stay in Ireland for around a week for follow up appointments and to let your body recover before you can travel. If you undergo a diagnostic procedure, your doctor will discuss the results and create a treatment plan during the follow-up appointment.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time for gastroenterology procedures range from a day to 2 weeks, or sometimes longer, depending on the type of procedure. During the recovery period, it is important to avoid any strenuous activities. Your gastroenterologist will let you know the specific time you can resume your normal activities, go back to work, and perform vigorous exercises.

What Aftercare is Required?

It is crucial that you follow all of the instructions closely, to prevent the problem from getting worse or from reoccurring, you may need to make some dietary and lifestyle changes. You may also need to attend follow-up checkups to monitor your condition. You can have the checkups at home with your local doctor, or with your gastroenterologist in Ireland.

What's the Success Rate?

Advances in gastroenterology have increased the safety and success rate of treatments. The diagnostic procedures offer high accuracy in finding problems within the gastrointestinal tract, and the treatments are found to be highly successful to treat conditions in the digestive system. For example, a colonoscopy now has a 94% success rate in capturing all colorectal cancer. Still, there are some risks to the procedures that you will need to be aware of, such as a tear in the intestine’s lining, excessive bleeding, adverse reaction to the equipment or medication used during the procedure, organ perforation, infection, and incomplete removal (for removal of polyps).

Are there Alternatives?

In most cases, there is no alternative to seeing a gastroenterologist if you experience problems in your digestive system and it is found to be caused by something else that is outside the gastroenterologists’ scope of practice, they will refer you to the relevant specialist.

Gastroenterology in and around Ireland

Introduction

Ireland, also known as the Republic of Ireland, is a country located in north-western Europe that occupies 26 of 32 counties on the island of Ireland. The country’s breath-taking landscape, wonderful people, and fascinating history have made it an unforgettable destination for many visitors. Aside from its beauty, more and more people also come to Ireland for high-quality healthcare. The country is a newcomer to the medical tourism market. However, it’s seen as an increasingly attractive destination due to the reasonably priced and high standard of clinical care available in the country. Most foreign patients come for cosmetic surgery and dental treatments, but many hospitals and clinics in the country offer a wide variety of services, such as cardiology, pathology, pulmonary, and gynecology. Also, the Joint Commission International has accredited several hospitals in the country, most of which are located in Dublin.

Popular Cities and Regions in Ireland

Ireland’s capital and largest city, Dublin, is the most popular tourist destination within the country. In fact, it’s the fourth most visited European capital. It’s filled with excellent pubs serving the perfect pint of Guinness, amazing Georgian architecture, and layers of fascinating history. Tourists in this city usually visit the Guinness Storehouse Factory, tour the Old Jameson Distillery, admire the Spire of Dublin, explore Dublin Castle, and marvel at the beauty of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Another famous city is Cork, which is the second-largest city in the country. It’s a youthful cosmopolitan city packed with artisan coffee bars and snug pubs. Tourists usually come to kiss the Blarney Stone for good luck, enjoy the coastal landscape in Mizen Head, or hike around Gougane Barra. Other popular cities and towns include Galway, Killarney, Kilkenny, and Letterkenny. 

Transport in Ireland

The main airport in Ireland is Dublin Airport. It connects the country with numerous cities around the world, including New York, Abu Dhabi, and Hong Kong. Trains and buses are available to travel around the country. However, public transportation is generally sparse in rural areas. Therefore, renting a car is the best mode of transport. Taxis and Uber are available to travel inside major cities.

Visas in Ireland

Ireland has opted out of the Schengen Area. The country allows all EU citizens, as well as citizens of 56 other countries (such as the UAE and the US), to stay without a visa for up to 90 days. Citizens of other countries are required to apply for a visa in advance.

Weather in Ireland

Summer (June – September) provides plenty of sunshine and lower levels of rainfall, with an average temperature of 14°C - 16°C. Winter (October – February) is chilly, with ample rainfall and some snow. Spring and autumn are generally pleasant, with warmer temperatures and more sunshine.  

Additional Info

1. Local Currency: The official currency is the euro. 1 EUR is approx. 1.08 USD.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs are easy to find. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted. Tipping is expected in some places, typically 10% for decent service.
3. Local Language: There are several languages used in Ireland. English has been the predominant first language since the late 18th century, but Irish is still widely used by a small percentage of the population.
4. Local Culture and Religion: The constitution of Ireland guarantees freedom of religion. Christianity is the largest religion. However, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Neo-Paganism, and other religions are present.
5. Public Holidays:  Some of the most celebrated public holidays are New Year’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter Monday, Christmas Day, and St. Stephen’s Day.