People in Galway are being urged to consider all care options before attending the emergency department over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer, HSE West and North West has asked that all avenues of care be explored in advance of attending your local ED.
“We’re asking the public to help us ease pressure on hospitals this Easter Bank Holiday weekend by choosing the right care at the right time, weather that’s an out of hours GP, local pharmacy, injury unit or community care team.”
In Galway the Westdoc out of hours GP service will be available over the Bank Holiday weekend from Thursday evening until Tuesday morning.
You can find your local GP out-of-hours service at https://www2.hse.ie/services/find-a-gp-out-of-hours/. Clinics are by appointment only, so please call the relevant number to book one in advance of attendance.
You can also access a range of support and advice at your local pharmacy.
It’s expected that emergency departments will see higher than normal attendances due to the bank holiday weekend and the HSE would ask for the public’s patience during long wait times.
Teams will continue to assist patients in moving as quickly as possible through the hospital system if they require hospital care.
This includes actions to support patients avoid ED admission, improving the experience of patients while in ED, ensuring effective movement within the hospitals and timely discharge to community services and other care supports.
Another option of care is injury units, which treat non life-threatening injuries such as broken bones, dislocations, sprains, wounds, scalds, and minor burns. You can find your local injury unit at www.hse.ie/injuryunits.
The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has advised that Bank Holiday weekends also see an increase in call outs and are also urging the public to consider all care pathways in advance of contacting them.
Dr Áine McNamara, Regional Director of Public Health, HSE West and North West had the following advice “It’s important that the public are reminded to protect their own, and their children’s skin by following the Healthy Ireland SunSmart 5S’s.”
“This is just as important here in Ireland as it is when holidaying abroad as from April to September the sun’s UV rays are strong enough to damage skin and increase the risk of skin cancer, even on cloudy days.”
During the bank holiday weekend, you can protect yourself and your children’s skin by following the SunSmart 5S’s:
- Slip on clothing: Cover skin as much as possible
- Slop on broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen
- Slap on a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face, ears and neck.
- Seek shade
- Slide on sunglasses
