Laois Christmas and New Year health care from HSE

The HSE is encouraging the Laois public to keep well but also know where to go if you need urgent care this Christmas and New Year.

The HSE is also encouraging the public to consider all care options before attending Emergency Departments in Portlaoise and other hospitals  over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

It outlined its advice in a Christmas and New Year statement.

"Hospitals are reporting high numbers of patients presenting at Emergency Departments (ED) for care and treatment, including a sharp increase in the number of patients who are seen and treated in the ED and then discharged without requiring admission to hospital.

"Many of these patients could have been treated at other healthcare services such as Injury Units, GP and GP out-of-hour services and pharmacies. There is also a very sharp increase of people presenting with viral winter illness with increasing levels of Flu and Covid-19 circulating in the Community.

"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," it advised.

The HSE said it 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

However, the HSE insisted that if you or someone else is seriously ill or needs urgent emergency care do not delay going to ED or dialling 999/112 for help.

It asked people to listen to the advice from the hospital experts to help you keep well and what you can do if attending services this holiday.  

Urgent Out of Hours GP Service

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 nonbank holiday days. Patients should check the opening times with their own GP.

The service should only be used for urgent cases that cannot wait for the next routine surgery appointment. 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.

The HSE said MIDOC provides out-of-hours urgent GP Services in Longford, Mullingar, Portlaoise, Tullamore and Athlone. Patients can contact the service by calling 1800 302 702.

 MIDOC’s arrangements for Christmas 2023 are as follows:

Christmas Period Opening:

• Friday 22nd December at 6pm until Wednesday 27th December at 8am.
• GP Practices open as normal from Wednesday 27th until Friday 29th December.

New Year Opening:

• Friday 29th December at 6pm until Tuesday 2nd January 2024 at 8am.
• GP Practices open as normal from Tuesday 2nd January 2024.

Portlaoise hospital advice on what to do if you have to attend its Emergency Department.

Advice from MRH Portlaoise to help prevent your child from catching or spreading a virus this winter https://youtu.be/b9HZijukmtI

Orla Cotter, Specialist Registrar in Public Health Medicine, Public Health Department for HSE Dublin and Midlands says 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," she said.

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 undertheweather.ie but remember to always seek medical help if your symptoms are worsening or you become concerned.

Protect yourself and your loved ones this winter by following this advice from Fiona McGuire, Public Health Specialist Registrar:

How to stay healthy this winter - advice from Fiona McGuire, Public Health Specialist Registrar: 

The HSE concludes by wishing all a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!