The HSE/South East Community Healthcare took part in the National Services Day event in Kilkenny on Saturday 2nd of September.
National Services Day was devised in 2022 as a national “Thank You” to frontline, emergency and security services personnel workers who keep us safe every day.
Beginning with a “Blue Light” parade and followed by static displays in the grounds of Kilkenny Castle, this year’s event was planned to give the people of the South East a flavour of the emergency and frontline services and the resources they have to offer.
Commencing on the day on Kilkenny’s Castlecomer Road, dozens of emergency and essential vehicles passed the Newpark Hotel, McDonagh Junction, John Street, Rosein Street and then onto the Castle Parade, where they entered the grounds of Kilkenny Castle and remained there for the afternoon.
It was an excellent opportunity for young and old to meet the personnel of various services and experience all the equipment and vehicles present.
Other services that were in attendance included the HSE’s National Ambulance Service, the Irish Defence Forces, the Gardai, Kilkenny County Council and its Fire Service, Irish Prison Services, Civil Defence, Order of Malta, Red Cross, South East Mountain Rescue, Waterford Search and Rescue, Community First Responders, the Irish Coast Guard, the RNLI, Blood Bikes South East, the Revenue Commissioners, Kilkenny Sub Aqua, BUMBLEance, Irish Water Safety, The OPW, the Irish Veterans Association and St. Patricks Brass and Reed Band.
Speaking following the event, Deirdre Dunne (National Services Day lead/Health and Wellbeing, HSE/South East Community Healthcare) said:
“Last year’s event emanated from people wanting to show appreciation for those who had been to the fore in the enormous and impressive response that there was during the COVID-19 pandemic across services and in communities across the South East. We are delighted that the second of these National Services Days featured an event in our region, with Kilkenny as a location having also proven popular for the initial one last year.”
“A team of HSE/South East Community Healthcare staff members representing various services had display stands at the Kilkenny castle grounds, (including our work on health promotion and improvement, such as “Quit” supports to stop smoking, the “Living Well” programme for adults with long term health conditions, in addition to the promotion of the Flu Vaccine, the “Clean Hands” hygiene campaign, the Safeguarding teams and the recruitment of Health Care Support Assistants for Older Persons services). We looked forward to meeting members of the public and giving information on the range of care and support services the HSE/South East Community Healthcare provides, in addition to highlighting ongoing recruitment opportunities across our services in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.”
Last updated on: 05 / 09 / 2023
