New Public Health Area Director appeals to public to consider all options before going to an acute hospital ED
We are likely to have higher numbers of people with flu and COVID-19 throughout January, which will have an impact on our health services
The Department of Public Health HSE Area C, which covers the south east and east, is endorsing the HSE appeal asking people to consider all options before going to an acute hospital Emergency Department due to the pressures caused by high numbers of people with influenza and COVID-19 at the moment.
The appeal comes as Covid-19 and influenza cases continue to increase rapidly. Notifications of RSV, which had been declining for several weeks, are also now increasing. It is expected these numbers may continue to increase for a number of weeks with many people becoming ill, and will continue to seriously impact our hospitals and Emergency Departments.
Dr Carmel Mullaney, Consultant in Public Health Medicine and recently appointed Interim Area Director of Public Health HSE Area C, said: “The nature of infectious respiratory diseases is that social activity throughout the festive season leads to spread of infection in households, and through social and family gatherings during Christmas.
Pictured above: Dr Carmel Mullaney, Consultant in Public Health Medicine
Those who believe they may be seriously ill and require emergency care should of course go to hospital. Less acutely unwell patients are asked to consider HSE Injury Units, GPs, out-of-hours GP services and seeking advice from pharmacists before attending ED.
Community Pharmacies:
You can visit or phone your local pharmacy if you feel unwell. Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals. They can give you medicines you can buy without a prescription, medicines you have a prescription for, advice on minor illnesses, and can tell you if you need to see a GP.
GPs and GP Out-of-Hours Services:
GPs are running additional clinics during this time of high pressure. If you urgently need to see a GP outside their clinic hours, you can contact your local GP out-of-hours service.
Advice on how to manage symptoms such as coughs, colds, sore throats, is also available on the HSE website www.hse.ie
While this surge of winter virus infections was predicted and planned for, the trends being seen are following the more pessimistic of predicted models, and also appear to be increasing earlier than had been hoped.
Dr. Mullaney went on to say, ‘It’s not too late for people to get their flu vaccine, or their COVID-19 booster, if they are due. Vaccination is an effective, safe way to protect you and people around you from flu or COVID-19.’
COVID-19 and flu are widely circulating in the community, which means outbreaks are more likely to occur in congregate or busy healthcare settings, including hospitals and long-term care facilities.
To be protected, we ask that everyone keeps up-to-date with their free COVID-19 booster vaccines. Of note, those aged 18-49 can now get a second booster dose – you can book an appointment for this online.
You can get a flu vaccine from your GP or pharmacy which is free if you are over 65 or in a group that is particularly vulnerable to flu. The flu vaccine is available in the form of a nasal spray, free of charge, for children aged 2-17 years.