Health Officials in the North West are asking people to consider all care options before presenting at Emergency Departments (ED) this Bank Holiday weekend.
The HSE advises there will be large numbers attending ED over the coming days and they will be prioritising those in need of urgent and emergency care.
“Bank Holiday weekends can be a busy time for our hospitals and emergency services,” a spokesperson said.
“This means that patients who attend EDs for routine and non-urgent treatment will experience very long waiting times over the coming weekend. Every effort is being made to discharge patients who are ready to go home so that beds will become available for patients who need to be admitted, at the earliest opportunity. Health staff across hospital and community settings will continue to work together over the weekend to ensure all available beds across the hospital and community are in use.”
The HSE said members of the public can help health staff at this busy time by considering other options for non-emergency care such as injury units, out-of-hours GP and pharmacies before attending an ED.
NoWDOC will be open from 6pm Friday 1st June until 8am Tuesday 6th June.
NoWDOC, Donegal and South Leitrim can be contacted on 0818 400 911. Additional GPs and nurses will be available in out of hours GP Services, NowDoc and the HSE ask that people use this service for non-urgent care.
Dermot Monaghan, Chief Officer HSE Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo added: “We would ask people to consider all options of care before presenting at Emergency Departments this June Bank Holiday Weekend. There will be Out of Hours GP services available in Sligo/ North Leitrim/ West Cavan through Caredoc and through NoWDOC in Donegal and south Leitrim. We would also ask people to also consider pharmacies before attending at ED’s.”
For information on when you should go to the ED visit https://www2.hse.ie/emergencies/the-emergency-department-ed/ or you can get advice on a number of illnesses that can be treated at home at https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/common-illnesses/
The HSE’s mychild website also has lots of information regarding childhood illness and viruses
