HSE urges people to stay safe this August bank holiday weekend

Ahead of the bank holiday weekend, the HSE reminds people to look after themselves and others while out and about on the roads, in the water, or attending events and festivals.

Bernard Gloster, HSE CEO said:
“This bank holiday weekend we hope every person stays safe while enjoying the time. But if you need us, we are here. Patient safety is at the forefront of everything we do. We encourage people to please consider the care options that best meets your need. There are many, including injury units, GP Out of Hours, GPs and community pharmacies.

“However, any patient requiring emergency hospital treatment should not delay, they should come to the ED, or dial 999 or 112 in an emergency. All patients who present to our emergency departments will be seen and treated, with the sickest and most urgent patients being prioritised.

“We acknowledge that patients presenting with non-urgent injuries may face longer waiting times, depending on the number of patients attending and the severity of patient illnesses. Our staff work hard to do all they can to reduce the length of time patients wait in EDs and we apologise for any long delays.

“We hope everyone will be safe and well on our roads, in the water or out and about enjoying yourself this weekend.”

Injury units treat injuries that are not life threatening, such as broken bones, dislocations, sprains, wounds, scalds and minor burns. Details of injury unit locations and what they can and cannot treat are available at hse.ie/injuryunits.

Find more information on urgent and emergency care options.

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. Freetext 50808 which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is a safe space to share anonymously, where trained volunteers will engage with you. For more resources visit YourMentalHealth.ie or Freephone the Your Mental Health information line on (1800) 111 888 any time, day or night.

The HSE wishes everyone a happy, healthy and safe August Bank Holiday weekend.