Know your healthcare options this Easter Bank Holiday weekend
Published: 2 April 2026
HSE South West is reminding the people of Cork to be aware of all healthcare options available to them over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
A wide range of urgent care services will be open for those who need them across the long weekend, including pharmacies, Out-of-Hours GP services, Injury Units and Emergency Departments.
HSE South West expects our Emergency Departments (EDs) to be busier during and after the bank holiday weekend, as there has been an increase in activity at all EDs so far this year. In the first three months of 2026, CUH has seen a 9% increase; Mercy University Hospital a 9% increase and University Hospital Kerry a 12% increase.
Options for non-emergency healthcare include:
- Self-care – Have a well-stocked medicine cabinet for common ailments
- Your local pharmacist: www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/2/pharmacy/
- Your GP (fill routine prescriptions ahead of the bank holiday weekend)
- South Doc, the GP Out-of-Hours service is on 0818 355 999
- Injury units – full list on hse.ie/ injury-units
Injury units treat injuries that are not life-threatening, such as broken bones, dislocations, sprains, wounds, scalds and minor burns. This weekend, the following injury units will be available in Cork:
- The Mercy Injury Unit Gurranabraher at St Mary’s Health Campus Gurranabraher, open 8am to 8pm and available to those aged 10 and older
- The Mallow Injury Unit, open 8am to 8pm, and available to those aged five and older
- Bantry Injury Unit, open 8am to 8pm, and available to those aged five and older
In addition, the Irish Life Health expresscare clinic is available to treat minor injuries on the same terms as the HSE injury units. It is open from 10am to 8pm for those aged 12 months and over.
Dr Peter Kearney, Regional Clinical Director, HSE South West said:
“We want everyone to enjoy themselves with friends and family this Easter weekend. However, if anyone has a genuine emergency, or needs critical care, you must come to an Emergency Department and you will be well looked after.
“Our Emergency Departments care for those who are seriously ill or injured. For less urgent problems, always remember that there are alternative pathways, for example local pharmacy, GP, Southdoc or an Injury Unit.”
Patients who are admitted to Cork hospitals via Emergency Departments should also be aware that they might be transferred to a HSE South West acute setting which best meets their needs.
““These numbers demonstrate the sustained increase in demand our teams have been managing. While teams are doing everything possible to manage this increased demand, it is placing immense pressure on Emergency Departments and beyond into the wider healthcare system. HSE South West teams are working hard to provide alternatives to ED attendance and to hospital admissions so that the people of Cork and Kerry have access to appropriate care, in the right place, when they need it. All patients who attend EDs will be seen, but the most urgent patients will be prioritised. This means that patients with non-urgent issues may face longer waiting times and may get the treatment they need faster at an Injury Unit.””
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