Cork Safety Alert

HSE Advise to Know Where to Go: Keep well this Christmas

  • Plan ahead to know where to go and keep you and your family well this winter

The HSE has urged the public to protect themselves and others, particularly vulnerable people, from illness this Christmas as we are seeing a significant increase in ED attendance and admission in patients over 75.

If you do become ill there are several treatment options open to you, depending on your illness. Being prepared and knowing where to go will mean that you will get treated more quickly and that will ease pressures on the healthcare system. Consider using services such as your local pharmacy, HSE.ie, before turning to your GP, or Emergency Department. In addition, the HSE injury units are available to treat people with broken bones, sprains, minor burns and a range of other injuries unlikely to need hospital admission.

As we enter the Christmas period and look forward to families and friends spending time together, there are a few simple things we can do to protect ourselves and those who are most vulnerable. You should stay home when you are unwell, avoid people with symptoms, wash your hands regularly and cover coughs and sneezes.

According to Dr Colm Henry, CCO, HSE:

“High levels of respiratory viruses are currently circulating including influenza, COVID 19 and RSV. Most recently, we have seen exceptionally high levels of RSV, and flu levels are now also increasing and expected to rise significantly over the next few weeks into January 2024. Our EDs are also under increasing pressure, with attendances in over 75s up 19% on the same period last year. Across our acute hospitals, we are currently managing a significant number of outbreaks of respiratory illness and this impacts the availability of beds as impacted wards are closed to admission of new patients. We are using all available resources and additional supports including private hospitals to respond and we will continue to do so.

Because of this, it is really important that we do all we can to try to prevent the spread of respiratory illness in health care settings like hospitals, including maternity units, nursing homes or residential care facilities. This means avoiding visiting these places if we have respiratory symptoms. This will help protect those who may be more vulnerable to the effects of these infections and avoid impact on services at a very busy time of year.”

Dr Greg Martin, National Clinical Lead for Health Protection Surveillance:

“Small babies are also particularly vulnerable at this time of year, but we can help protect them by minimising their exposure to other people who have respiratory symptoms such as a cough or a runny nose. Even young children are quick at learning how to cover their coughs and sneezes to help prevent the spread of infection, but also important to regularly wash our hands, particularly when returning from crèche or school, work or activities.

It’s ok to ask someone who has respiratory symptoms not to come to visit your small baby, and it’s ok for you not to bring your baby to visit someone. If you are worried about being in big crowds where you don’t know if someone is sick, it might be best to keep small babies away from them for the next few weeks, while we are seeing high levels of flu, COVID 19 and RSV.” 

There are plenty of care options available over the Christmas Period

For mild symptoms – Treat at home

Helpful information is available online on treating common winter illnesses, such as coughs, colds and flu. There is also advice about how to protect yourself and others during winter.

You do not need an antibiotic if you have a viral infection. Antibiotics cannot treat viruses. An increase in respiratory illness in children is expected during the winter period. Most can be managed at home with over-the-counter medicines.

You should:

Viral infections are very contagious. They can spread quickly before you notice the symptoms. It can be difficult to stop them spreading to vulnerable people. Most of the time you do not need to visit your GP. But trust your instincts. Bring your child to your GP if you are worried about them.

If you have a chronic condition, review your medicine and management of your chronic disease with your public health nurse (PHN), GP or pharmacist.

Useful tips for patients and families

  • Patients who may need regular prescriptions are urged to get them filled on time
  • People are advised to check their first aid boxes are well stocked to treat minor illnesses and injuries
  • Check the HSE website for useful advice on common illnesses such as colds, coughs, flu, earache and sore throats
  • If you are caring for someone that is terminally ill, please have medicines that are recommended by your Palliative Care team or GP for situations that could arise.

Non-urgent illnesses – GPs

If your symptoms don’t improve over time, or if they worsen, call your GP. Your GP can help with non-urgent illnesses. Make sure you are registered with a GP, check out the GP finder here. Know your urgent GP out-of-hours arrangements and contact details.

If you urgently need to see a GP outside of their clinic hours, you can contact your local GP out-of-hour service. You must make an appointment. There is no drop-in facility.

However, if your symptoms are more severe and you can’t wait for an appointment with your doctor, consider your other options.

Injuries unlikely to need hospital admission – Injury units

Injury units can treat many of the injuries people go to the emergency department for. For example, broken bones, dislocations, and minor burns.

You can get treatment such as x-rays, plaster casts, and wound care in an injury unit.

If they cannot help with a particular problem, they will direct you to where you can get the right help.

For details of locations, opening times, list of injuries and ages that can be treated at an injury unit, go to https://www2.hse.ie/services/injury-units/

When you arrive at an injury unit, you will be:

  • registered and assessed by the nursing team
  • treated by a doctor or advanced nurse practitioner (a specially trained nurse) depending on the care you need
  • given details of any follow-up appointments you may need in the injury unit
  • referred on to other services if needed

You do not need an appointment.

There is no charge if you have a full medical card or have a GP referral letter. Otherwise it costs €75 to attend an injury unit.

Life-threatening emergencies – Emergency Departments

Emergency Departments (EDs) deal with life-threatening emergencies. Emergency departments are busy. You may have to wait a long time to be seen. The sickest people are seen first.

Life-threatening emergencies include things like, if someone is breathless; is feeling unwell and getting sicker very quickly; has not peed in over 12 hours and does not need to pee. Other examples include when someone is not feeling well and has become confused and agitated; is very pale with cold hands and feet; is dizzy when they sit up or unable to stand; has developed a rash that does not disappear when pressed down.

Vaccinations

Getting vaccinated is the most effective way of preventing infections. You can get the Covid-19 Vaccine if you are 50 and over, immunocompromised and have long-term health conditions. A booster vaccine is recommended during pregnancy.

Covid-19 vaccines are also available for children aged 6 months to 4 years who have a health condition that puts them at high risk of severe illness if they get Covid-19.

The flu vaccine is recommended if you are 65 and over. The children’s flu vaccine for 2-17 year olds is also available now. The pneumococcal vaccine (PPV23) which protects against pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis is also available free of charge from participating GPs for people aged 65 and older. Vaccines for these people are free and available from the GP and pharmacy. Use the HSE pharmacy finder for vaccine clinics here

Visit How to keep well this winter for health information and advice from the HSE, including tips for eating well, exercise and physical activity, and minding your mental health over the coming months.

Keep an eye on your social feeds on Instagram @IrishHealthService, Twitter @HSELive and Facebook facebook.com/HSElive for information on injury units near you and other HSE winter season related news #COVIDVaccine #FluVaccine #InjuryUnits #MyChild

The HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast discusses Winter Wellness with Dr. Edel Doorley, HSE GP Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control (AMRIC). The discussion also touches on the resources available in local communities for non-emergency health concerns.

There is good information, including advice on symptoms and treatment at www.hse.ie, if you, or someone in your family is suffering from respiratory illness this Christmas.

Cork Safety Alerts