Explainer: What Leitrim residents should know about accessing care this Bank Holiday Weekend

As the August Bank Holiday approaches, people in Leitrim are being advised to be aware of their care options, as outlined by HSE West and North West.

August is a busy holiday period, and the bank holiday weekend can place additional pressure on the health system. People are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the care options available.

If you urgently need to see a GP over the bank holiday weekend, contact your local out-of-hours GP service.

NoWDOC (covering Donegal and South Leitrim) and Caredoc (serving Sligo) will be operating at increased capacity from Friday evening until Tuesday morning. You can find your local GP out-of-hours service here.

Carrick-on-Shannon NoWDOC, located in the Primary and Mental Health Care Centre, and Caredoc in Sligo, located in the Markievicz Primary Care Centre, are some available options for Leitrim residents.

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Please note that clinics operate by appointment only. Call NoWDOC at 0818 400 911 or Caredoc at 0818 365 399 in advance to book.

Emergency Departments (EDs) are expected to experience higher-than-usual attendance over the bank holiday weekend. 

The HSE asks for the public’s patience with potential long wait times and encourages people to explore all care options first, which may help avoid unnecessary ED visits.

You can also seek advice and over-the-counter treatments from your local pharmacy.

Another care option is Injury Units, which treat non-life-threatening injuries such as broken bones, sprains, strains (from knees to toes and collarbone to fingertips), dislocations, and minor burns.

Injury Units do not treat serious head, neck, or back injuries, abdominal pain, medical illnesses, or mental health issues. For urgent or life-threatening conditions, patients should still attend an ED.

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The Roscommon Injury Unit treats adults and children aged 5 and older. It is open 7 days a week, from 8am to 8pm, and is located at Roscommon University Hospital. The unit can be contacted on 090 663 2212.

Further information is available here.

Plans are in place across hospital and community services to ensure patients can access the care they need in the most appropriate setting.