"Kildare keep well this Christmas" - Naas Hospital and HSE

As the Christmas and New Year holiday approaches the HSE is encouraging the public to keep well and to know where to go if you need urgent care this Christmas and New Year.

Hospitals are reporting high numbers of patients presenting at Emergency Departments for care and treatment, including a sharp increase in the number of patients presenting with Flu and Covid. People are reminded that it is not too late to get the flu vaccination, particularly those who are vulnerable, younger and older. There is a range of alternative healthcare services opened this Christmas such as Injury Units, GP and GP Out of Hour services and pharmacies.

Mary O’Kelly, Integrated Healthcare Manager for Kildare and West Wicklow said “It’s vitally important that people know their options and keep well over the Christmas period. We are seeing a sharp increase in people presenting with viral winter illness with increasing levels of Flu and Covid-19 in circulating in the community.  It is important that we protect ourselves and our families by getting vaccinated and staying at home and away from those most vulnerable if you are experiencing symptoms of cold & flu. This will help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases such as Flu, COVID and RSV.

“We have been working very hard to ensure patients who need emergency care are prioritised while responding to the additional pressures associated with respiratory illness at this time of year. Unfortunately, people attending with less serious illness or injury will experience longer waiting times. We are working with our community health services to ensure that those patients who can be treated in alternative services are seen and avoid hospital admission and that a continuous focus remains on patient flow through our hospital, with additional senior decision makers on site, using appropriate private hospitals beds, where available and are providing support to ensure patients are discharged home or to other appropriate facilities, once they are clinically fit for discharge.”

As always Emergency Departments will continue to see and treat patients who require urgent and emergency treatment first.

Patients who attend EDs for routine and non -urgent treatment are being advised that they will experience very long waiting times.

The HSE regrets this delay and is asking all to help our staff through a challenging time for our services by:

• Considering all healthcare options before attending ED including Injury Units, GP services and pharmacies
• Dialling 999 or 112 for emergency care if there is concern for serious illness or injury
• Maintaining good hand hygiene practices at all times and in particular when attending hospitals
• Following all infection control measures including visiting restrictions in hospitals and hospitals wards

As always if you or someone else is seriously ill or needs urgent emergency care do not delay going to ED or dialing 999/112 for help.

Advice from HSE Public Health for Dublin and Midlands

Prevention is always better than cure. So this winter, the advice from Public Health is to;

- Stay home, and don’t have visitors to your home, if you are unwell.

- Keep your child home from school, childcare and their usual activities if they are unwell.

- To help protect you and your loved ones, make sure your winter vaccinations are up-to-date, including the COVID-19 and flu vaccines.

- Make sure your children’s vaccines are up-to-date. And do remember that the flu vaccine for children is given as a nasal spray – so it’s fast and painless.

- Make sure you have all your medications – just in case the weather is bad and you cannot get to the pharmacy.

- Make sure you are warm at home, well hydrated, with plenty of healthy food.

Common illnesses at this time include winter viruses like flu, COVID, the common cold and RSV.

It can be hard to know which virus you have. This is why it is important to stay away from people who are pregnant, elderly or living with an underlying medical condition when you are sick. Even if you don’t feel particularly unwell, what you might experience as a mild illness could cause them to be very sick.

Flu and COVID-19 can be more serious for people who are pregnant, elderly or living with underlying medical conditions. That's why we recommend the flu and COVID-19 vaccines to these groups. It is also important that those who are more likely to get respiratory viruses, such as carers or health care workers, are up to date with their vaccines.

To see what is recommended for you, go to hse.ie or chat to your pharmacist or GP.

Most winter illnesses can be managed at home. Antibiotics do not help viruses. For tips on how to stay well at home while you are recovering from a winter illness go to hse.ie but remember to always seek medical help if your symptoms are worsening or you become concerned.

Out of Hours GP Services

Urgent out-of-hours GP care is available when your own surgery closes in the evening. The 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 on non-bank holiday days. Patients should check the opening times with their own GP.

This year we expect it to be busier than ever and patients may face delays getting through to the service at peak times or waiting for a call back.

KDOC provides urgent out-of-hours GP care for patients of participating practices in counties Kildare and West Wicklow. KDoc Celbridge is located on Shackleton Road, Celbridge (W23PP59) and KDoc Naas is located in the Vista Primary Care Campus, Ballymore Road, Naas. Patients can contact the service by calling KDOC 045 848 701

KDOC arrangements for Christmas 2024 are as follows:

• Open from 6pm on Tuesday Dec 24 to 8am on Friday, Dec 27
• Friday 27th Dec and the weekend of 29th and 30th December will be normal operational hours (24 hour service on Saturday and Sunday)
• Open from 6pm Tues December 31 to 8am Thurs January 2, 2025

Naas Hospital Injury Unit

An Injury Unit can treat a wide range of injuries such as broken bones, dislocations, sprains and strains, minor burns and scalds for all patients. All units have access to x-ray and basic diagnostic services. For more information see www.hse.ie/injuryunits.

Naas Hospital Injury Unit serves the populations of Kildare and West Wicklow and is located at Vista Primary Care Centre, Ballymore Eustace Road, Naas, Kildare, W91 X38W

Open Monday to Sunday 10am to 8pm. Service available to age 16 and older

Please note that Naas Hospital Injury Unit will be closed on December 25 2024

Phone: 045 872 135

8 things to know if you need to go to the Emergency Department over the festive period

In case you or your loved one find yourself in the Emergency Department (ED) this Christmas or New Year, here is advice from Prof Ashok Tahilyani, Consultant Cardiologist Naas General Hospital on how to ensure your visit is as efficient as possible.

So here’s what you should know:

1. Take a picture of your prescriptions

If you are taking medication/tablets and can never remember the dose or names of them, think about taking a picture of your prescription so you have it if a doctor asks. The list of medications you’re taking is really important.

2. Try to keep your doctor’s letters safe (and your glasses)

Similarly, if you have an emergency and need to go to the ED, it’s a good idea to bring any recent doctor’s letters relating to your condition and don’t forget your glasses and if you do, try to get someone to follow with your glasses or your hearing aid if you have left them behind.

3. Come in if your health takes a dramatic turn

The kind of people who should come in are people who were quite well yesterday and feel very unwell today. If you have sudden severe chest or abdominal pains, or any sudden dramatic, negative change in how you feel, make your way to the Emergency Department if no-one else is around to help.

4. Hurt yourself? The Emergency Department might not be your best bet

Obviously, if it’s an injury stemming from a car accident or where you are losing a lot of blood, do go to the Emergency Department – but for minor wounds, sprains and breaks of your arms or legs, think about going to an Injury Unit instead. If it is something like you’ve fallen over and damaged your wrist, knee, elbow, ankle or shoulder, you will be seen in the Emergency Department but the Injury Unit can see and treat you more quickly. There is an Injury Unit in Naas, Mullingar (Ballinderry), Nenagh and Roscommon. Find the Injury Unit closest to you at www.hse.ie/injuryunit

5. The flu generally doesn’t warrant the emergency department

Have a “serious dose of the flu”? Hospital is actually not the best source of help. Mild or moderate flu-like viral illness is much more common in winter and we can’t really help with that in hospital. HSE now has a number of resources like undertheweather.ie that provide information about common unexpected but not serious conditions, including self-care and advice for pharmacist or GP services.

6. If you’re likely to be infectious, try to steer clear

If you have a loved one in hospital and come down with a respiratory illness, gastroenteritis or flu, do them (and other vulnerable patients) a favour and delay your visit.

Things like respiratory infections and gastroenteritis are highly contagious.  Spread of these conditions can result from things like not washing your hands after using the toilet and leaving germs on the handle of the toilet door that infect others. Respiratory infections are spread by the infected person breathing out germs.

7. If you’re sick, keep as hydrated as you can

If you are suffering from a tummy bug like gastroenteritis, do take the proper precautions at home if you can and avoid a visit to hospital (along with washing your hands properly to stop it spreading).

8. But if you’re in a high-risk category… do take extra care

Take extra care if you are in a high-risk category, or have a loved one who is and gets quite sick over Christmas:

The very elderly tolerate infections less well than the younger and physically stronger population.  Very young babies can get a very high temperature and have difficulty letting people know how sick they are – dry nappies across the course of the day is an indicator of dehydration that may need treatment. So, if you do have an infectious condition and can go to your pharmacist or doctor for advice, please do if you can rather than coming straight into ED.

It is really important that people who do require emergency care are encouraged to attend EDs where they will be prioritised. Please dial 999 or 112 for emergency care if there is concern for serious illness or injury.

On behalf of the Health Services have a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Health New Year!