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Updated 5.45pm
THE HSE HAS said non-urgent outpatient procedures and most elective work will be cancelled tomorrow and Friday.
In an updated statement this evening, it said the decision was made earlier that only essential public services would operate over the next two days in the areas where a red warning exists, ie Munster and Leinster.
“In light of this, our Hospital Groups and Community Health Organisations will prioritise critical services and other services will not operate over those two days,” it said.
“For our hospitals this will mean cancellation of non-urgent outpatients and most elective work. Other non-essential services in Munster and Leinster will not operate over Thursday and Friday and the national Directors in those divisions will advise their staff on which services are essential over this period. ”
In Connacht and Ulster where an orange warning exists the HSE anticipates “some difficulties for both staff and patients in getting to work and appointments”. Local service managers in those areas will make decisions based on the prevailing weather.
“We are endeavouring to ensure that where appointments, clinics and certain services are cancelled and postponed that our staff contact those affected directly. However, if anyone is due to attend at an appointment in the affected areas over the next two days they should ring in advance and check that it is still going ahead.”
The HSE said it will continue to do everything possible to maintain all essential services; particularly services to vulnerable people at home in the community.
“We are appealing to people to check that they are stocked up with any medicines and health care supplies they may need this week. Remember, you may not be able to get to a pharmacy due to poor conditions.”
Children’s hospitals
In a joint statement, the Children’s Hospitals Group also said they wish to advise patients and their families that all three hospitals are cancelling planned admissions and outpatient appointments for the next two days.
The group comprises of Tallaght Hospital, Temple Street, and Our Lady’s, Crumlin.
All appointments cancelled during this period will be rescheduled as a priority and families will be advised of their new appointment by their relevant hospital.
“The three children’s hospital are operating and their Emergency Departments are open and we wish to reassure patients that those who attend the EDs will be seen,” they said.
To keep up to date with each of the children’s hospitals for further information please see:
“We wish to thank our staff who are making significant efforts to maintain services across the three children’s hospitals during very difficult and challenging conditions today.”
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Re-scheduled till 2024……
@Red Ruskie:
That soon??
I had one for the mater, rang the number – no answer. Left a voicemail as they suggested! No response!
Had one at 9am, rang hospital before 8 and told ring after 8, rang after 8 said they’d heard nothing yet so we headed in for 9. Got sent home at 9:30 as doc couldn’t make it in. Upside was they weren’t charging for parking.
In the UK, appointments and cancellations are confirmed by text message/email. This has the added benefit of reducing no-shows, and the messages are automatically produced by the NHS system.
@Bruce Miller: yes we get text reminders here too for appointments .
@Catherine Sims: I got no text reminder or cancellation and I only got notified by letter on Friday last that there even was an appointment
@Sandra Turner: Do they have your most recent mobile number ?,I always get texts for myself my son and my father’s appointments.
@Catherine Sims: yes they do and they confirmed it with me at the clinic today.
Got 2 calls for the mater hospital appointments for tomorrow and Friday are cancelled
I made an appointment for tomorrow 1045 in the mater They confirmed by text
have appointment in Hospital in Galway at 9/30 in the morning i phoned this afternoon and was told it was still on , as I have been told it could take all day I worried about getting back home
Nothing unusual as far as bed’s go,,,,i laft the other evening when one must wait 5yrs for routine surgery,,,Hmmm,,and they nationally educate us about,,,F.A.S.T.,,,,,hate to be out in this wether in an ambulance traveling to an A&E for possible stroke,,,Heart attack,,,,this Simone Haris needs to get his act together.
They don’t need a storm or snow to cancel them.
2025 is soon enough! God help us all.
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