Important information for accessing healthcare in Donegal over Christmas

With the health service under ever increasing pressure, it is expected that the Christmas and New Year period will be extremely busy.

HSE Community Healthcare for Donegal has issued advice on how to prepare for this busy period, and where to access the healthcare which best suits their needs.

A spokesperson said: "Despite our best efforts, some of us undoubtedly will become ill over the winter time. There are a number of treatment options open to you depending on your illness – being prepared and knowing where to go will mean that you will get treated more quickly and will ease pressures on the healthcare system." 

Treatment Options

- Visit your local pharmacy for treating the common cold

- See your family doctor for all non-urgent illness

- The GP out of hours service NoWDOC is a high quality clinical service for urgent care. Know the Christmas opening arrangements

- Emergency Departments treat seriously ill patients. Those with less severe injuries and symptoms may have to wait to be seen in Emergency Departments.

NoWDOC - Urgent Out of Hours GP Service

NoWDOC provides urgent out-of-hours GP care for patients of participating practices in Donegal and South Leitrim.  The service can be contacted by calling 0818 400 911 

The HSE spokesperson said: "The NoWDOC Service provides urgent out of hours GP care when your own surgery is closed in the evening and advises people not to call for routine matters that can wait until your GP surgery is open.

"NoWDOC is an urgent service, it is not a routine replacement for your own daytime GP. If patients have routine issues, they should make an appointment with their own daytime GP who is best placed to manage their long-term health."

Patients are advised to check the opening times of their own GP surgery.

Patients with urgent medical concerns that arise when their own GP surgery is closed should contact NoWDOC on 0818 400 911.  In the event of an emergency or if your situation deteriorates, you should contact the emergency services immediately on 112 or 999.

The NoWDOC service is not a walk-in service. It is by appointment only for those who are seriously unwell. Patients should also remember that GP surgeries will be open as normal until Friday, December 23, and again from Wednesday, December 28 to Friday, Decemer 30 inclusive. 

NoWDOC’s arrangements for Christmas 2022 are as follows:

- From 6pm Friday, December 23 to 8am Wednesday, December 28

- From 6pm Wednesday, December 28 to 8am Thursday, December 29

- From 6pm Thursday, 29 December to 8am Friday, December 30

- From 6pm Friday, December 30 to 8am Tuesday, January 3

The HSE spokesperson warned: "We anticipate that this Christmas season, with a four-day Christmas (24 to 27) and three-day New Year (31, 1 and 2), to be busier than ever and this higher demand from patients will create delays getting through to the service at peak times or in waiting for a call back from a triage nurse, and again longer waiting times for an appointment.

"Where preparations can be made in advance, we advise patients and families to do so."

Patients are asked to take the following steps to help avoid congestion of the health system:

- Patients who may need regular prescriptions are urged to get them filled by their own surgery in advance of Christmas

- People are advised to check their first aid boxes are well stocked to treat minor ailments at home eg, paracetamol, ibuprofen, calpol nurofen, diarolyte and a thermometer

- Patients should also check the HSE website www.undertheweather.ie for useful advice on common illnesses like colds, coughs, flu, earache and sore throats;

- In terms of advanced care planning, if you are caring for someone that is terminally ill, please have medicines that are recommended by your Palliative Care team or GP for situations that could arise;

- A lot of respiratory illnesses are likely to occur in children over Christmas, most of these illnesses can be managed at home with over-the-counter medications. Good advice on self-care is available from www.undertheweather.ie.  However, NoWDOC should be contacted in the case of children whose condition deteriorates following home measures or who are very lethargic or experiencing difficulties.

"The health service is here for you this winter from routine appointments to urgent care," said the spokesperson. "Visit www.hse.ie/winter. It contains lots of health information and advice from the HSE, including tips for eating well, exercise and physical activity, and minding your mental health over the coming months.

"Prevention is always better than the cure. We know that it is better to ward off future illnesses and complications from existing conditions than deal with them when they have happened. 

"There’s plenty that you can do to keep well, protect your health and mind yourself and your loved ones. It’s good to prepare a checklist for wellness this winter."

The following preventative measures are recommended by the HSE:

- Register with a GP

- Know your urgent GP out of hours arrangements and contact

- Get vaccinated

- Understand your medicines and ensure you have what you need in the holiday period

- The best advice with regard to injuries this winter is to avoid them if possible. If it is cold and icy, stay indoors

- Understand your symptoms and keep well, visit www.undertheweather.ie

- Avoid people with any obvious symptoms