Dr Katie Cairns
@kiityc
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A GP. All comments are personal opinions only. Unapologetically Pro-choice. She/her. Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain. Woke.
Northern Ireland
Joined August 2012
I know much more about Catherine Connolly now than I did before this campaign started. Conversely, I know pretty much the same amount today as I did about Heather Humphreys’s life and values pre-campaign, writes Una Mullally https://t.co/gF5f8BxZPu
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25yrs ago we had GPs, Nurses, social workers, district nurses, psychologists, mental health workers, health visitors & midwives under one roof - our small GP practice 6300 Neighbourhood centres already exist in England but @wesstreeting @SKinnock @DHSCgovuk are ignoring them
Neighbourhood health centres bring together GPs, nurses, social workers and mental health teams into one team. It means patients get better care, closer to home. We're setting up neighbourhood teams for every community as part of our 10 Year Health Plan.
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A novel idea but, hear me out: If only there was an assistant-type role which could perform clerical ward duties to free up FY1 aspiring-surgeons to learn, you know, surgical skills during working hours
Impressed by our FY1 in theatre today, volunteering on his day off. He’s set on core training in theatre, scrubbed for every case, retractor in hand. This lad’s going far!
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One for all the evidence phobes. What is going on? A small number of people try to make simple signage sound unreasonable. Why? To appeal to whom? What’s the strategy? An irrational fear project that jars with values they seek to share, and damages the case for the union?🤷🏻♀️
📍NEW📍 Support for dual-language street signage significantly outweighs opposition Only 2.9% of all residents surveyed opposed dual-language Irish/English street signs across 536 streets approved since introduction of new Belfast City Council policy 🗞️ https://t.co/sOeDvUJ6Ek
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Get nice frocks and a fascinator for your 30s, and a smart black dress, shoes you can wear to walk behind a coffin and a warm black coat for your 40s is *not* advice I have seen in magazines…odd that.
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That seemingly overnight shift between when you stop spending your weekends at your friends’ weddings and start spending them at their parents’ funerals is something I don’t think we talk about enough.
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Time for kids to have the chat with parents and parents with grandparents. Maybe start by explaining that FFG are the primary reason you're still living with them at age 33. #aras25
Connolly leads in every region and among most age groups — but Humphreys has the over-55s. Could turnout be the decisive factor in Ireland’s presidential election? https://t.co/utcBrSmE81
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@HysteroscopyA @clarky_on @OUHospitals The medical establishment’s attitude towards women’s health and these types of treatments *must* change. It is not acceptable to coerce or trick women into hysteroscopy without adequate pain relief. We are adults who deserve compassionate treatment not toddlers to be distracted
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Maybe the NHS should be facilitating this on a working day during foundation ‘training’
Impressed by our FY1 in theatre today, volunteering on his day off. He’s set on core training in theatre, scrubbed for every case, retractor in hand. This lad’s going far!
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I’m shocked Govt officials have used the media to overwhelm GPs & complain to their ICBs if GPs fail to deliver It’s unacceptable that patients are used & encouraged by MPs in positions of power Patients & GPs deserve better & are at breaking point @SkyNews @wesstreeting
I'm shocked BMA officials urged GPs to divert urgent patients to A&E to 'overwhelm' services, as protest. It’s unacceptable - patients must never be used as leverage. Both GPs & patients want & deserve a health service fit for current & future generations.
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“My GP told me my diagnosis over text. Is this Wes Streeting’s vision for the NHS?” So sorry to read this. Yet another reason why AI&tech can never replace a F2F appt with a GP. Govt’s direction of travel with healthcare in the UK is appalling. 🤦🏽♂️ .
First time ever writing about something personal. Please be kind 🙈 My GP told me my diagnosis over text. Is this Wes Streeting’s vision for the NHS?
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The current waiting lists mean a significant %of people who can’t pay for private care are going to die waiting for NHS care here, while their GPs are left to take care of them on <6% health budget. @mikenesbittni ‘s flawed decision making . UUP failing to take responsibility .
Plenty of energy and great chats today at the @uuponline conference 2025. Northern Ireland is the jewel in the crown of the United Kingdom and we will not be letting anyone talk us down. Thanks to all who contributed and delivered an amazing event today in Belfast. The best
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The £million question. The answer is because they are a note monkey/phlebotomist/TTO and kardex re-writing robot so that other people get to do the “fun stuff”.
Why do they have to volunteer on their day off to get the teaching & training opportunities they should be getting in their paid work time?
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Pharmacy First isn’t cost effective I have had patients where they have had a Pharmacy First consult to be told “see GP” It wasn’t appropriate for Pharmacy consult, but they still claimed for it State is spending £71 (pharmacy+ GP) instead of £23 for GP
@PaulMcG01699714 @wesstreeting @SKinnock £1.7bn in ARRS for additional roles where until 12m there was no money for GPs GPs get 5.6% of NHS budget 1.4million appts a day £23bn addition funding for NHS only £800m allocated to GPs Minus NI payments of £250m which hospitals are exempt It doesn’t need new money just better
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I am thrilled to see that three of Manchán Magan's books are in the Irish Times bestseller list today. A HUGE thank you to everyone who bought them. 📚 #ManchánMagan
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@SKinnock Where has been your support for overwhelmed GPs Instead you have pilled on the pressure Failed to listen to concerns & use the media to spin a negative narrative I have never been so disappointed with Government in 30year of being a GP You are failing patients, work with GPs
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The artificial problem in one tweet👇🏼 You can’t simultaneously claim to have universal healthcare for all who need it, at point of need, and refuse to fund and provide the necessary resources to deliver it. Staff can be stretched no further, and are rightly fighting back.✊🏼
@BMA_James_Steen Our UTC is staffed to see 60 patients per day but we see double that so have to cover shortfall with agency or close the doors at midday. We have been told we can’t close early but penalised for the agency overspend whilst also being told we can’t recruit more permanent staff.
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@SKinnock GPs aren't 'refuseniks', 'forces of conservatism', 'laggards', 'naive' or any of the litany of insults you've slung their way. They need you to listen and act to protect patient safety. It's not a phoney war - here's the evidence:
gponline.com
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The NHS is desperate for doctors - but the Government has capped how many specialists can train. In 2025, there were 20,000 more applications than speciality training places. Thousands blocked from becoming Consultants/GPs. Unemployed doctors. Endless waits. This is a scandal.
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Why isn't everyone up in arms when hospitals do the same to GPs. EPS. Onward referrals. Rejections. GP to kindly. They have been doing this for a decade and been rewarded with significant uplifts in their funding. Bite me.
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