HSE urges Carlow people to consider all options before attending hospital EDs over weekend

HSE services across the South East are asking people to consider all care options before presenting at Emergency Departments (EDs) over the June bank holiday weekend.

When there is a large volume of ED attendances, they say patients are prioritised in terms of clinical need and wait times for non-urgent care can be lengthy. 

Chief Officer of HSE/South East Community Healthcare Grace Rothwell, in addition to Dr. Carmel Mullaney (Area Director, HSE Public Health Dept. Area C serving the South East), the South/South West Hospital Group’s Ben O’ Sullivan (General Manager, University Hospital Waterford) and Maria Barry (General Manager, Tipperary University Hospital) + the Ireland East Hospital Group’s Linda O’ Leary (Hospital Manager, Wexford General Hospital) and Niamh Lacey (Hospital Manager, St. Luke’s General Hospital Carlow/Kilkenny) and HSE colleague healthcare staff across hospital and community settings in the region will continue to work together right through the Bank Holiday Weekend to ensure that patients receive the care they need.

"Patient safety is at the forefront of everything the HSE does," a spokesperson said.  

HSE says people across counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford can help HSE staff at this busy time by considering other options for non-emergency care such as Injury Units, Out of Hours GP (Caredoc) and pharmacies before attending an ED.

·         Caredoc’s opening hours are 24 hours on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Monday and can be contacted on (0818) 300 365 or (059) 913 8100, see www.Caredoc.ie  

·         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/.

·         For services available at Wexford General Hospital see https://www.hse.ie/eng/ services/list/3/ acutehospitals/hospitals/ wexford/.

·         The HSE’s https://www2.hse.ie/my-child/ website has lots of information regarding https://www2.hse.ie/ conditions/colds-coughs- children/