Galway’s Emergency Dept advises of weekend surge

THE HSE is advising the public that higher attendances are expected at its Emergency Departments in Galway hospitals over the 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 is asking 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 anyone urgently needs to see a GP over the bank holiday weekend, they should contact their local out of hours GP service. Westdoc will be operating at increased capacity in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon from Friday evening until Tuesday morning.

Find your local GP out-of-hours service at https://www2.hse.ie/services/find-a-gp-out-of-hours/. Clinics are by appointment only so call 0818 360 000 in advance to make an appointment.

Advice and over the counter treatments are also available from local pharmacies.

Injury units treat non-life-threatening injuries such as broken bones, dislocations, sprains, wounds, scalds, and minor burns. Find your local injury unit at www.hse.ie/injuryunits.

The HSE says plans are in place across hospital and community services to ensure patients can access the care they need in the right setting.