This Easter weekend consider all care options available

Ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday, the HSE asks people to consider all care options available. There are a range of services, including GPs, pharmacists, injury units, and GP Out of Hours services, which may be more helpful to consider, instead of presenting at emergency departments (EDs).

All patients who present to emergency departments (EDs) will be seen and treated, with the sickest and most urgent patients being prioritised. Any patient requiring emergency hospital treatment should not to delay and should come to the ED, or dial 999 or 112 in an emergency. Patients presenting with non-urgent injuries may face longer waiting times, depending on the number of patients attending and the severity of patient illnesses at the time in the ED. HSE staff work hard to do all they can to see patients as quickly as possible and regret that anyone might experience long delays in an ED.

Dr Michael O’Connor, National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead, Access and Integration, HSE said, “We are encouraging people to consider all care options this weekend. We have injury units around the country, open seven days a week. No appointment is needed. The injury units see minor injuries, such as some broken bones, wounds, bites, cuts, small abscesses, splinters. For those who are seriously ill, for example with head injuries, chest pains, shortness of breath, seizures, please do not delay in attending the emergency department. We have systems in place across our busy emergency departments, which involves triage, identifying those who are most critically ill. It involves a whole system response in that we have extra senior decision makers across the system seven days a week to ensure there's a flow of people through our hospitals.”

Grace Rothwell, National Director, Access and Integration, HSE said: “We have plans in place right across our hospital and community services to support high attendances at emergency departments over the Easter holiday weekend. However, it is important that people continue to consider all care options available to them including injury units, GP Out of Hours and community pharmacy.

“Our hospitals are extremely busy, with emergency departments seeing significantly increased numbers of patients. Hospital and community teams work closely to help patients move as quickly as possible through the hospital system. This includes supporting patients avoid ED attendance. Hospital admission, improving the experience of patients while in ED, ensuring efficiency of movement within hospitals and safe and timely discharge to community services and other care supports. Additionally, national, regional and local management continue to work together, including throughout the public holiday weekend to support the system.

“Importantly we hope everyone has a healthy and safe Easter weekend, but please be assured HSE hospitals and staff are here to help you in an emergency if needed. All patients presenting to an ED will be seen and treated, with the sickest patients being prioritised.”

Additional care options

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, what they can and cannot treat and opening times are available here hse.ie/injuryunits. GP Out of Hours information is available here https://www2.hse.ie/services/find-a-gp-out-of-hours/.