Donegal HSE warns of busy emergency departments over Bank Holiday
People are being encouraged to know their healthcare options, check vaccination status and seek urgent care when necessary
HSE West and North West is advising people in Donegal to be aware of their healthcare options over the October Bank Holiday weekend.
The HSE is also urging people to stay safe on the roads, slow down and take care.
Emergency departments are expected to be busy, with long wait times. People with breaks, sprains and minor wounds are advised to attend a HSE injury unit.
Out-of-hours GP services will be open throughout the weekend, but appointments must be made in advance. Local pharmacies can also provide expert advice on a wide range of conditions.
The HSE is reminding people to ensure they are up to date with their flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
If you do get sick this bank holiday weekend there are a number of healthcare options available; plan ahead, know your options and stay safe.
Dermot Monaghan, HSE Integrated Healthcare Area Manager for Donegal said, “We know that our emergency departments can experience increased attendances over holiday weekends, and we have measures in place to help manage this demand.”
“We are working to improve the flow of patients through our emergency department to ensure that patients receive the care they need as quickly as possible,” he added.
Many common illnesses can be treated at home but if you need an urgent GP appointment over the weekend, the out of hours GP service is NoWDOC. The service is open all weekend, but you do need to make an appointment in advance by calling (0818) 400 911.
This October Bank Holiday Weekend, as always, people who do require emergency care are encouraged to attend Emergency Department (ED) where they will be prioritised. When there is a large volume of ED attendances, patients are prioritised in terms of clinical need and wait times for non-urgent care can be lengthy.
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.
Staff at the hospital do all they can to see patients as quickly as possible and regret that anyone might experience long delays in an ED. In an emergency, it’s really important that you do not delay and that you either come to the ED, or dial 999/112.
The HSE advises people to please stay safe and look after your mental health as well as your physical health this long weekend.
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.
There’s a free text service on 50808 and it’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is a safe space to share anonymously, where trained volunteers will engage with you. You can also check out www.YourMentalHealth.ie or Freephone our information line on (1800) 111 888 any time, day or night.