HSE West and North West is advising people to be aware of their options of care this May Bank Holiday weekend.
Bank holiday weekends and extended good weather can put extra pressure on the health system and people are advised to familiarise themselves on care options available to them.
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.
The HSE is advising that all avenues of care should be considered initially which may result in ED avoidance.
If you urgently need to see a GP over the bank holiday weekend, you should contact your local out of hours GP service.
Westdoc will be operating at increased capacity in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon from Friday evening until Tuesday morning.
You can find your local GP out-of-hours service on the HSE website.
Clinics are by appointment only so please call 0818 360 000 in advance to make an appointment.
You can also receive advice and over the counter treatments from your local pharmacy.
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.
Plans are in place across hospital and community services to ensure patients can access the care they need in the right setting.
