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Sligo Vaccination Centre is moving to Nazareth House, Sligo

The Sligo Vaccination Centre is moving from the Racecourse location to a temporary vaccination centre in Nazareth House, HSE, Church Hill, Sligo (F91 A243) this week.

The first vaccine clinic will take place in the new centre on Friday 15 April.

Visiting Restriction at Sligo University Hospital

Due to outbreaks of COVID-19 at the hospital along with a high number of cases in the community, visiting restriction have been put in place at Sligo University Hospital from Monday 28 February.

The hospital is currently dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks impacting a number of wards. Visiting to the affected wards will be facilitated on compassionate grounds, on an exceptional basis only. To arrange a visit on compassionate grounds, please contact the ward manager in advance.

Walk-in Clinics for a Booster Vaccine for anyone aged 40 and over this week at Sligo and Carrick on Shannon Vaccination Centres

The following walk-in clinics are taking place in the Sligo and Carrick on Shannon Vaccination Centres this week for anyone aged 40 and over who is eligible for a booster vaccine. There is no appointment needed:

Sligo Racecourse Vaccination Centre

Walk-in Vaccination Clinics for first and second dose COVID-19 vaccine in Sligo this week

Anyone aged 12 and older who hasn’t yet received their first dose COVID-19 vaccine, can go to one of the following walk-in vaccination clinics at Sligo Racecourse this week and get their vaccine.

Sligo Racecourse, Walk-in Vaccination Clinic for Dose 1 or Dose 2 only

  • Thursday 02 December, from 1pm to 8pm.
  • Sunday 05 December, from 9am to 5pm.

No appointment needed.

Walk-in Clinics in Sligo and Leitrim for Booster Vaccines for People in their 60s and Healthcare Workers Next Week

The COVID-19 Vaccination Centres in Sligo and Carrick on Shannon will be holding walk-in booster vaccination clinics at specific times next week for healthcare workers and people aged 60 to 69 who have reached an interval of at least 152 days since their second dose vaccine. People in these two groups that received the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine can also get their booster at a walk-in clinic if they have an interval of at least 3 months since their vaccination.

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Information for Open Water Swimmers, Surfers, Kayakers and all Cold Water Athletes

What is Surfer’s Ear?

Well for starters, it’s not just for surfers. In fact, all cold water athletes are at risk of developing the condition. Surfer’s Ear is a medical condition clinically known as External Auditory Canal Exostoses (EACE) or Exostoses, which is caused by repeated exposure to cold water and wind.

Exostoses are formed in response to a continuous change of temperature within the ear canal. As cold water regularly swirls along the ear canal, the body responds by warming the affected area, this also stimulates bone-producing cells within the ear canal, which cause the bone surrounding the ear to develop a bony growth.

These benign bone growths can lead to infections, water trapping, hearing loss and complete closure of the ear canal if left untreated

The condition develops slowly over time and it may take 10 to 15 years for the symptoms to appear.

Cause?

Research shows that Surfer’s Ear is most likely in exposure to cold water below 19deg. In Ireland, the water is usually at its warmest in August and even then the average temperature ranges from 13 to 17 degrees. The bottom line is – the water in Ireland is always too cold for our ears!

Surfer's Ear Clinic

Doctors from Sligo University Hospital held a Surfer’s Ear clinic to raise awareness of the condition.         

 

 
What does Surfer’s Ear look like?

                                                                             

How do you protect your ears?

Wear earplugs.

The advice couldn’t be simpler; this truly is a practical and cost-effective way to reduce your risk of developing exostoses. Hearing loss associated with wearing earplugs was identified through our study as the main deterrent for athletes across all sporting disciplines. However, modern earplugs are not only discrete but also let sound in and keep water out.

What to do if you are worried?

Visit your GP and ask him/her to check your ears. Your GP may then refer you to your nearest hospital to see a specialist Ear Nose and Throat doctor to examine your ears further.

Research at Sligo University Hospital

A team of consultants, doctors and staff from the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) department conducted a year-long project to examine Irish cold water athlete’s awareness and understanding of exostoses as well as athlete’s attitudes towards preventative measures such as wearing earplugs.

The ENT team held five “Surfer’s Ear Clinics” which examined almost 100 cold water athletes, concluding that 1 in 2 athletes had Surfer’s Ear.

The Irish Institute of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery provided Dr Seamus Boyle, ENT SpR at the hospital, with financial support in the form of a small grant to progress this research. The Institute plans to work with him to expand this project, as outlined by Professor Nash Patil in the video below:

                                                                                     

Questionnaire
Calling all triathletes, surfers, open water swimmers, sub aqua and non-water athletes –  help us with our research 'To Determine Water Athletes Awareness of Surfers Ear or Exostosis and Attitudes to wearing Ear Plugs', click here

 

Information coming soon