The HSE is urging the public to consider all care options this February (Féile Bríde) Bank Holiday Weekend and is asking people to consider other methods of care including their GPs, pharmacists and Caredoc out of hours services before presenting at Emergency Departments (EDs).
As always, people who do require emergency care are encouraged to attend EDs where they will be prioritised. When there is a large volume of ED attendances, patients are prioritised in terms of clinical need and wait times for non-urgent care can be lengthy.
Patient safety is at the forefront of everything the HSE does. People across counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford, however, can help HSE staff at a busy time such as this Bank Holiday Weekend by remembering when care is needed and to consider all the options for non-emergency care – such as Injury Units, Out of Hours GP (Caredoc) and pharmacies before attending an ED.
The HSE’s partners in Caredoc out of hours GP co-operative are also open 24 hours on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays. Caredoc can be contacted on (0818) 300 365 or (059) 913 8100. See www.Caredoc.ie
Many local pharmacies will also be open on particular days to help with minor illnesses. Find out more about the services offered by your local pharmacy here: https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/2/pharmacy/
As with any time of year, it’s also important to look after your mental health, in addition to physical health. If anyone has any concerns in relation to their mental health, there are a number of resources supported by the HSE that you can turn to. There’s a free text service on 50808 and it’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is a safe space to share anonymously, where trained volunteers will engage with you. You can also check out www.YourMentalHealth.ie or Freephone our information line on (1800) 111 888 any time, day or night.”
The HSE wishes everyone a happy, healthy and safe Féile Bríde Bank Holiday Weekend.
Last updated on: 01 / 02 / 2024
