Vital Laois people to know care options urges HSE Midlands as Christmas flu surge expected

The HSE is encouraging people in Laois and other Midlands counties to keep well and to know where to go if you need urgent care this Christmas and New Year.

In a statement to the Leinster Express/ Laois Live, it says hospitals are reporting high numbers of patients presenting at Emergency Departments in Portlaoise and other hospitals for care and treatment, including a sharp increase in the number of patients presenting with flu.

The HSE says there is a range of alternative community healthcare services open this Christmas such as Injury Units, GP and GP Out-of-Hours services and pharmacies.

Carole Broadbank is the Integrated Healthcare Area Manager, HSE Midlands.

“It’s vitally important that people know their options and keep well over the Christmas period. We are seeing a sharp increase of people presenting with viral winter illness with increasing levels of Flu circulating in the community.

"It is important that we protect ourselves and our families by getting vaccinated and to stay at home and away from those most vulnerable if you are experiencing symptoms of cold and flu. This will help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases such as Flu, COVID and RSV.

“We have been working very hard to ensure patients who need emergency care are prioritised while responding to the additional pressures associated with respiratory illness at this time of year. Unfortunately, people attending with less serious illness or injury will experience longer waiting times.

"We are working with our community health services to ensure that those patients who can be treated in alternative services are seen and avoid hospital admission and that a continuous focus remains on patient flow through our hospitals,” she said.

The HSE says Emergency Departments will continue to see and treat patients who require urgent and emergency treatment first. Patients who attend EDs for routine and non -urgent treatment are being advised that they will experience very long waiting times.

The HSE says regrets this delay and is asking all to help our staff through a challenging time for our services by:

• Considering all healthcare options before attending ED including Injury Units, GP services and pharmacies. Please see here to view all options.
• Visit your pharmacy for advice on common minor illnesses. Find out more here https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/2/pharmacy/
• Dialling 999 or 112 for emergency care if there is concern for serious illness or injury
• Maintaining good hand hygiene practices at all times and in particular when attending hospitals
• Following all infection control measures including visiting restrictions in hospitals and hospitals wards. View up to date information on any visiting restrictions on the hospital services page: https://www2.hse.ie/services/hospitals/
• As always if you or someone else is seriously ill or needs urgent emergency care do not delay going to ED or dialling 999/112 for help.

READ ALSO: New Portlaoise hospital wing is active for flu fight in Laois

Advice from HSE Public Health for the Midlands below photo

Ambulance bay at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise.

• Prevention is always better than cure. So stay home, and don’t have visitors to your home, if you are unwell.
• Keep your child home from school, childcare and their usual activities if they are unwell.
• To help protect you and your loved ones, make sure your winter vaccinations are up-to-date, including flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
• Make sure your children’s vaccines are up-to-date.
• And do remember that the flu vaccine for children is given as a nasal spray – so it’s fast and painless.
• Make sure you have all your medications – just in case the weather is bad and you cannot get to the pharmacy.
• Make sure you are warm at home, well hydrated, with plenty of healthy food.
• Common illnesses at this time include winter viruses like flu, COVID, the common cold and RSV.

READ ALSO: HSE Midlands will hold free walk-in clinics offering the children’s nasal flu vaccine (LAIV) in Portlaoise and Tullamore.

These pop-up clinics are designed to make vaccination more accessible for families during the busy festive period. The clinic details are:

• Monday December 29: 10am – 4pm Mobile Vaccination Base Midlands adjacent to the health centre, St.Fintans Campus, Dublin Road, Portlaoise, Co Laois, R32ED81
• Tuesday December 30: 10am – 4pm Tullamore Primary Care Centre, Church Street, Tullamore, Offaly, R35 K1W4

The HSE says it can be hard to know which virus you have. This is why it is important to stay away from people who are pregnant, elderly or living with an underlying medical condition when you are sick. Even if you don’t feel particularly unwell, what you might experience as a mild illness could cause them to be very sick.

Flu can be more serious for people who are pregnant, elderly or living with underlying medical conditions. That's why we recommend the flu vaccine to these groups. It is also important that those who are more likely to get respiratory viruses, such as carers or health care workers, are up to date with their vaccines.

To see what is recommended for you, go to hse.ie or chat to your pharmacist or GP.

Most winter illnesses can be managed at home. Antibiotics do not help viruses. For tips on how to stay well at home while you are recovering from a winter illness go to hse.ie but remember to always seek medical help if your symptoms are worsening or you become concerned.

Out of Hours GP Services

Urgent out-of-hours GP care is available when your own surgery closes in the evening. The service is not a walk-in service. It is by appointment only for those who are seriously unwell.

Patients should also remember that GP surgeries will be open as normal on non-bank holiday days. Patients should check the opening times with their own GP.

This year we expect it to be busier than ever and patients may face delays getting through to the service at peak times or waiting for a call back.

MIDOC is an appointment only GP service located in the Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath Areas. This service is for patients who need urgent medical attention that cannot wait to be seen by their usual GP.

Opening Hours:

• Weekdays, Monday to Thursday 6pm to 8am.
• Weekends 6pm Friday to 8am Monday.
• All day on Bank Holidays.

Telephone 1800 302 702 or go to GP Out of Hours service: GP out-of-hours service - HSE.ie for more information.

READ ALSO: Christmas opening hours for Laois services

Injury Units

An Injury Unit can treat a wide range of injuries such as broken bones, dislocations, sprains and strains, minor burns and scalds for all patients. All units have access to x-ray and basic diagnostic services. For more information see www.hse.ie/injuryunits.

We would ask people to consider all healthcare options at this time including the injury units located in Mullingar, Roscommon, Naas and Nenagh.

1. Mullingar Minor Injuries Unit Charter Medical Private Hospital, Ballinderry, Mullingar, Westmeath, N91 FE40

• Monday to Friday: 8am to 7.30pm.
• Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 5.30pm.
• Bank Holiday Mondays: 10am to 5.30pm
• Please note Mullingar Minor Injuries Unit will not open on Christmas Day.
• Service Available To: Age 16 and older
• Phone: 044 938 5331

2. Nenagh Injury Unit Tyone, Nenagh, Tipperary, E45 PT86

• Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, including Bank Holidays
• Service Available To: Adults and children aged 5 and older
• Phone: 067 423 11

3. Roscommon Injury Unit, Roscommon University Hospital, Athlone Road, Roscommon, F42 AX61

• Monday to Sunday 8am to 8pm, including Bank Holidays
• Service Available To: Adults and children aged 5 and older
• Phone: 090 663 2212

4. Naas Hospital Injury Unit, Vista Primary Care Centre, Ballymore Eustace Road, Naas, Kildare, W91 X38W

• Monday to Sunday 10am to 8pm. Service Available To: Age 16 and older
• Please note Naas Hospital Injury Unit will not open on Christmas Day.
• Phone: 045 872 135

8 things to know if you need to go to the Emergency Department over the festive period

In case you or your loved one find yourself in the Emergency Department (ED) this Christmas or New Year, here is advice from Prof Paul Ridgway, Regional Clinical Director, HSE Dublin and Midlands on how to ensure your visit is as efficient as possible.

So here’s what you should know:

1. Take a picture of your prescriptions

If you are taking medication/tablets and can never remember the dose or names of them, think about taking a picture of your prescription so you have it if a doctor asks. The list of medications you’re taking is really important.

2. Try to keep your doctor’s letters safe (and your glasses)

Similarly, if you have an emergency and need to go to the ED, it’s a good idea to bring any recent doctor’s letters relating to your condition and don’t forget your glasses and if you do, try to get someone to follow with your glasses or your hearing aid if you have left them behind.

3. Come in if your health takes a dramatic turn

The kind of people who should come in are people who were quite well yesterday and feel very unwell today. If you have sudden severe chest or abdominal pains, or any sudden dramatic, negative change in how you feel, make your way to the Emergency Department if no-one else is around to help.

4. Hurt yourself? The Emergency Department might not be your best bet

Obviously, if it’s an injury stemming from a car accident or where you are losing a lot of blood, do go to the Emergency Department – but for minor wounds, sprains and breaks of your arms or legs, think about going to an Injury Unit instead. If it is something like you’ve fallen over and damaged your wrist, knee, elbow, ankle or shoulder, you will be seen in the Emergency Department but the Injury Unit can see and treat you more quickly. Find the Injury Unit closest to you at http://hse.ie/injuryunits

5. The flu generally doesn’t warrant the emergency department

Have a “serious dose of the flu”? Hospital is actually not the best source of help. Mild or moderate flu-like viral illness is much more common in winter and we can’t really help with that in hospital. HSE now has a number of resources on hse.ie that provide information about common unexpected but not serious conditions, including self-care and advice for pharmacist or GP services.

6. If you’re likely to be infectious, try to steer clear

If you have a loved one in hospital and come down with a respiratory illness, gastroenteritis or flu, do them (and other vulnerable patients) a favour and delay your visit.

Things like respiratory infections and gastroenteritis are highly contagious. Spread of these conditions can result from things like not washing your hands after using the toilet and leaving germs on the handle of the toilet door that infect others. Respiratory infections are spread by the infected person breathing out germs.

7. If you’re sick, keep as hydrated as you can

If you are suffering from a tummy bug like gastroenteritis, do take the proper precautions at home if you can and avoid a visit to hospital (along with washing your hands properly to stop it spreading).

8. But if you’re in a high-risk category… do take extra care

Take extra care if you are in a high-risk category, or have a loved one who is. The very elderly tolerate infections less well than the younger and physically stronger population. Very young babies can get a very high temperature and have difficulty letting people know how sick they are – dry nappies across the course of the day is an indicator of dehydration that may need treatment. So, if you do have an infectious condition and can go to your pharmacist or doctor for advice, please do if you can rather than coming straight into ED.

It is really important that people who do require emergency care are encouraged to attend EDs where they will be prioritised. Please dial 999 or 112 for emergency care if there is concern for serious illness or injury.