While everyone speaks English, the Irish healthcare system (HSE) uses specific acronyms and institutional language. Knowing what these mean is essential to getting the right care, getting it for free, and not missing your appointment window.
The Health System
| Purpose | Irish Term |
|---|---|
| Health Service Executive. The public health system in Ireland. | HSE |
| Accident & Emergency. The hospital emergency room (where you go for PEP outside hours). | A&E |
| General Practitioner. Your local doctor. | GP |
| Gay Men's Health Service. The premier LGBTQ+ sexual health clinic in Dublin. | GMHS |
| Personal Public Service Number. Required to get free PrEP dispensed at a pharmacy. | PPSN |
| Cards issued by the HSE that cover or cap the cost of prescription medications (like PrEP). | Medical Card / DPS Card |
| The online booking portal used by the HSE to release clinic appointments. | Swiftqueue |
Sexual Health and Testing
Use the correct clinical acronyms at triage desks (like A&E) so the nurses know exactly what to prioritize.
| Purpose | Irish Term |
|---|---|
| A comprehensive STI check (Bloods for HIV/Syphilis + Swabs/Urine for Chlamydia/Gonorrhea). | Full Screen |
| Used to test the throat and rectum. If you are a bottom, ensure you explicitly ask for a rectal swab. | Swabs |
| The time between an exposure and when a test can accurately detect the infection. | Window Period |
| A person living with HIV whose viral load is fully suppressed, meaning they cannot transmit the virus. | Undetectable (U=U) |
HIV, PrEP, and PEP
| Purpose | Irish Term |
|---|---|
| Post-Exposure Prophylaxis. Emergency HIV prevention (must be taken within 72 hours). | PEP |
| Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. Daily or On-Demand HIV prevention. | PrEP |
| The scene terminology for using GHB, Crystal Meth, or Mephedrone during sex. | Chemsex / Slams |
Key Phrases
| Purpose | Irish Term |
|---|---|
| Full STI screen — including throat and rectal swabs | "Can I have a full screen, please? I need swabs from my throat and rectum, not just urine." |
| Emergency PEP at A&E | "I need PEP — post-exposure prophylaxis. I had an HIV exposure within the last [X] hours." |
| PrEP access — checking entitlement | "I'd like to access PrEP. Do I need a PPSN to get it free?" |
| PrEP monitoring | "I'm on PrEP and need my three-month check." |
| Booking at GMHS | "I need to book a sexual health appointment at the Gay Men's Health Service (GMHS)." |
| Booking online | "I'm trying to book through Swiftqueue — is there availability at the GMHS?" |
Emergency Numbers
| Number | Service |
|---|---|
| 112 / 999 | Emergency (ambulance, fire, police) |
| 1800 341 900 | Sexual health information line (HSE) |
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