Public urged to consider all care options ahead of Bank Holiday Weekend 

HSE officials have urged to consider other methods of care, including their GPs, pharmacists and out-of-hours services, as Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments in Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo are expected to be busy with patients in need of urgent care.

Out-of-Hours GP services, NoWDOC and Caredoc, will be open from 6pm Friday October 27, until 8am Tuesday, October 31.

Caredoc, which covers Sligo, North Leitrim and West Cavan, can be contacted on 0818 365 399 and NoWDOC, which covers Donegal and South Leitrim on 0818 400 911.

HSE stated that those who require emergency care are encouraged to attend EDs, where they will be prioritised, and health staff will continue to work together over the weekend to ensure all available beds across the hospital and community are in use. 

Dermot Monaghan, Chief Officer, Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo, added: "There will be Out-of-Hours GP services available in Sligo/ North Leitrim/ West Cavan through Caredoc and NoWDOC in Donegal and South Leitrim. We would also ask people to consider all pathways of care this weekend, including pharmacies, before attending EDs."

Tony Canavan, CEO of the Saolta Group, says they are working alongside their community colleagues to provide the best possible service to the local population over the Bank Holiday Weekend. 

"If you need emergency care, we will be there to provide it, but if it is not an emergency, please consider all other care options in the first instance. We expect our Emergency Departments will be busy over the bank holiday, and we would ask for patience from the public as we prioritise treating those in need of urgent care", the Saolta Group CEO concluded. 

HSE says local pharmacies will be open over the weekend, including Bank Holiday Monday, to help with minor illnesses.

More information is available at https://www2.hse.ie/emergencies/the-emergency-department-ed/, and for illness advice that can be treated at home access https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/common-illnesses/.