HSE prepared for visitors this summer

With an influx of visitors set to descend on the region to attend local festivals and sporting events throughout the summer, Cllr Felim Gurn asked at a recent meeting of the Regional Health Forum West, how the HSE plan to prepare.

He was advised that the HSE works closely with Out of Hours providers to ensure that GP hours rostered match anticipated needs and are increased in cases of any anticipated surge.

He was also told that for events catering for more than 5000 people, the organiser must put a plan in place to ensure the health needs of event goers are met and those of the local population are not compromised.

The response also noted that Emergency Departments across the country have seen a significant increase and due to this, contingency plans are put in place at all times during the year to ensure that Sligo University Hospital (SUH) can meet service demands and that a number of nursing staff have recently commenced posts within the ED as well as two additional Emergency Medicine consultants.

There are three Advanced Nurse Practitioners also working independently in the department, Cllr Gurn was told, who treat and discharge a cohort of patients with minor injuries and this has reduced waiting times for these patients.

The response stated that during times of major events the department reviews and revise rotas ensuring nursing and medical cover is maximised and the hospital puts an operational plan in place for all Bank Holiday periods to provide additional responses to service pressures.