Caring For Kerry – HSE South West launches a major new public information campaign

HSE South West today launched a new public awareness campaign namely ‘Caring for Kerry’.

The campaign will run over the coming months. We will share weekly key messages to empower the public to play their part in ‘Caring for Kerry’ by protecting capacity at University Hospital Kerry (UHK).

Appealing to the people of Kerry to support HSE South West healthcare teams in the county, the public are advised that they can assist HSE frontline staff in ‘Caring for Kerry’ by:

1. Knowing ALL your Healthcare Options and Emergency Department Alternatives.
2. Being aware that Overstaying at UHK causes Overcrowding in UHK.
3. Keeping yourself Well at Home.

Under those three themes, the campaign will support the people of Kerry to:

1. Be aware of all their care options, and choose the pathway which meets their needs as opposed to unnecessarily presenting at UHK emergency department.
2. Understand that admittance to UHK is always for the shortest time possible, and that planning for discharge is underway as soon as a patient is admitted.
3. Take care of their health and wellbeing at home in the short, medium and long term.

Launching ‘Caring for Kerry’ today, HSE manager for Kerry Julie O’Neill said:

“Healthcare services in Kerry are always busy, particularly during the winter. We know that wait times at the emergency department in UHK are longer than anyone wants. We are working hard to improve this and we need the people of Kerry to help our HSE South West frontline healthcare teams.

Firstly, what we would like people to think about is how to use the Emergency Department at UHK appropriately. The Emergency Department is for critical emergencies only. We are very proud of the service at UHK but there are many other options for care. It is important that everyone choses the right one. Over the coming months, we will be showcasing services such as SouthDoc, our HSE South West Injury Units and our Mental Health Assessment Hub to name but a few. All of these options can offer people the right care, more appropriately than the emergency department.

Secondly, we need to create far greater awareness of the impact of how Overstaying at UHK causes Overcrowding at UHK. While we continue to be proud of the care provided at UHK, it does not and should not provide residential care. When someone is finished the acute phase of their healthcare treatment it is important that we support them to move to their next placement as soon as possible. This is not just in their best interests; it is also in the interests of anyone waiting to access care at UHK. As part of our ‘Caring for Kerry’ campaign HSE South West will outline the comprehensive care options available to patients ready for discharge in UHK.

Finally, we want to make sure that everyone in Kerry has the information they need to remain well at home and to avoid coming to UHK. Our experts in Primary Care, Older Persons services; Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing; Chronic Disease and others will be sharing their best advice to keep you well in your own home.”

Ms O’Neill, who is the manager of HSE services in Kerry, added:

“Every hour in a bed at UHK is a precious resource. When someone does not move on from a bed at UHK when that phase of their treatment is finished, it means that someone else could face a delay in their care. Our ‘Caring for Kerry’ campaign will allow us to work together as a community to make sure everyone gets the Right Care, in the Right Place, at the Right Time, delivering on our SláinteCare objectives.”

HSE South West urges the public to follow its Social Media channels for all the latest updates relating to the campaign and the delivery of health and social care in Kerry.