Local Pharmacies Offer Stomach Ulcer Testing!
“Anyone who suffers from a stomach ulcer will know of the pain and discomfort
it can cause, plus they may be worried that the underlying cause may be something
more serious.”
This was the message of James McCaughan, a member of the Causeway Pharmacy
Locality Group as he explained the benefits of a breath test that detects a
bacterium that is thought to cause the majority of stomach ulcers.
With funding made available from the Causeway Local Health and Social Care
Group, a committee of the Northern Health and Social Services Board, patients
from the Causeway area are now able to be referred by their GP to their local
pharmacist to carry the Helicobacter pylori (H-Pylori) test.
Prior to the breath test being available, the most common way of detecting
the bacterial presence was to perform a blood test. This method is deemed to
be time consuming, expensive, invasive for the patient and a high percentage
of false results were reported.
The initiative was launched in November 2004 and will be available in the Causeway
area until the end of June 2005.
Sam Vallelly, Chair of the Causeway LHSCG highlighted the benefits of the test
for local patients:
“The breath test is advantageous as it is a simple procedure for both
the patient and pharmacist. No appointment is necessary; it is non-invasive
and takes only 30 minutes to perform. The results are sent directly to the GP
in one to two days, allowing an informed choice to be made as to which line
of treatment to provide for the patient.”
For further information on Causeway LHSCG or the h-pylori breath test contact
the LHSCG offices on 2766 8370.
James McCaughan (centre) performs the H-Pylori breath test
on a patient in his pharmacy.
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