THE HSE are urging people to consider all care options ahead of Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Bank holiday weekends and extended good weather usually bring additional pressure on the health system but the HSE have plans in place across hospital and community services to ensure patients can access the care they need in the right setting.
Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer, HSE West and North West has asked that all avenues of care be explored in advance of attending your local ED.
“We’re asking the public to help us ease pressure on hospitals this Easter Bank Holiday weekend by choosing the right care at the right time, weather that’s an out of hours GP, local pharmacy, injury unit or community care team.”
If you urgently need to see a GP over the bank holiday weekend you should contact your local out of hours GP service. NoWDOC will operate in Donegal from Thursday evening until Tuesday morning.
The CIT provides acute, short term nursing interventions, including wound management, oncology care, medication administration and management, patient education and support to promote self-management of catheters and stoma care.
It’s expected that emergency departments will see higher than normal attendances due to the bank holiday weekend and the HSE would ask for the public’s patience during long wait times.
Teams will continue to assist patients in moving as quickly as possible through the hospital system if they require hospital care.
This includes actions to support patients avoid ED admission, improving the experience of patients while in ED, ensuring effective movement within the hospitals and timely discharge to community services and other care supports.
The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has advised that Bank Holiday weekends also see an increase in call outs and are also urging the public to consider all care pathways in advance of contacting them. Community Paramedics continue to operate in Donegal.
Please dial 112 or 999 for emergency care if there is concern for serious illness or injury. Less urgent calls will face longer waits for an ambulance response.
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