HSE make Bank Holiday appeal to avoid non essential ED visits

With the June Bank Holiday weekend approaching, Health Services in the west are asking people to consider all care options before presenting at Emergency Departments.

Huge crowds are expected to travel west over the coming days to enjoy the sun by the seaside with temperatures forecasted to reach highs of 25 degrees Celsius.

However, Bank holiday weekends and extended good weather usually bring additional pressure on the hospital system and the National Ambulance Service and the HSE have asked the public to take measures to avoid medical treatment in the Emergency Department of Mayo University Hospital over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Health Services are advising the public that there will be large numbers attending Emergency Departments this weekend and they will be prioritising those in need of urgent and emergency care.

This means that patients who attend EDs for routine and non-urgent treatment will experience very long waiting times over the coming weekend. They say every effort is being made to discharge patients who are ready to go home so that beds will become available for patients who need to be admitted, at the earliest opportunity.

The public are being urged to help hospital staff at this busy time by considering other options for non-emergency care such as Injury Units, Out of Hours GP and pharmacies before attending an ED.

Tony Canavan, CEO of the Saolta Group said: “As we approach the Bank Holiday weekend we want to assure all members of the public that we will be there for them for emergency care. To best protect those who need urgent care we are appealing to our communities to consider all care options before attending at ED. Using GP and pharmacy services in the first instance will help protect our emergency departments for those who need it most.”

Health staff across hospital and community settings will continue to work together over the weekend to ensure all available beds across the hospital and community are in use.

The health service have reassured the public that patient safety is at the forefront of everything they do and staff prioritise to ensure critical need is met. They added that they regret that any patient has experienced long wait times and as always, people who do require emergency care are encouraged to attend EDs where they will be prioritised.

Breda Crehan Roche, Chief Officer Community Healthcare West, added: “If you urgently need to see a GP out of hours, please contact Westdoc on 0818 360 000 from 6pm on Friday, June 2 to 9am on Tuesday, June 6. Westdoc provides urgent out-of-hours GP care for patients of participating practices in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. The GP out-of-hours service is for patients needing urgent medical care. It is not a substitute for the Emergency Ambulance Service who are the appropriate service to deal with medical emergencies where they arise.”

The public are also asked to be 'Sun Smart' over the weekend and take precautions before going out in the hot sun to avoid harming your skin and becoming ill.

“As we are experiencing warmer weather with hot and sunny conditions due, it is important for people to stay hydrated, keep cool and to check on those who may be particularly vulnerable – including babies and the elderly,” advised Dr Áine McNamara, Area Director of Public Health Area F.

“One of the messages of the HSE’s annual #SunSmart information campaign is that sunscreen is an important sun protection measure, but should not be used as the only line of defence. It should be used alongside other skin protective measures such as clothing and shade. Up to date weather forecasts and warnings are available on www.met.ie.

“So, whether you are spending time outside in the garden, enjoying a barbecue or are attending outdoor events, remember sunscreen, cover up with hats and clothing, sunglasses and shade will protect your skin in the sun. See www.SunSmart.ie and check out #SunSmart on social media.”