Health service updates and information
Walk-in clinics for COVID-19 ‘Spring Booster’ set to continue over coming days
- Find your nearest walk-in clinic
- No appointment required
The HSE advises that community vaccination centres (CVCs) around the country will continue to offer walk-in clinics to people eligible for the current COVID-19 Spring Booster over the coming days.
Across the country many vaccination centres, GPs and pharmacies have reported an increase in demand for Spring Boosters this week. The HSE is again reminding everyone aged 70 or older and those aged 5 years or older with a weak immune system and who have not yet received their COIVD-19 Spring Booster vaccine to avail of it as soon as possible.
The COVID-19 Spring Booster programme will shortly end in mid-June and we are urging all those who are eligible to take up the opportunity to get vaccinated as early as possible to protect yourself against COVID-19. You can do this by going along to one of our walk-in vaccination clinics or getting a Spring Booster vaccine at participating pharmacies or GPs.
Eileen Whelan, National Lead, COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, HSE said: “We are reminding those who have weak immune systems or those who are immunocompromised that it’s not too late to avail of their Spring Booster vaccine. Walk-in clinics continue to be available with no appointment required making it easy for people to receive their Spring Booster vaccine.
“People’s immunity weakens over time, especially in older people. This latest booster will keep you protected from serious illness and boost your immunity against infection from COVID-19. Vaccines are proven to your best protection against serious illness from COVID-19. If you haven’t had your COVID-19 Spring booster yet, you’re at risk.”
If you are eligible, you can also get a COVID-19 Spring booster from a participating GP or pharmacy or go to a Community Vaccination Centre (CVCs).
Anyone aged 5 or older with a weak immune system (immunocompromised) is being offered a COVID-19 Spring booster with those under 12 being vaccinated at our vaccination centres by appointment ONLY. Residents of long-term care facilities for older adults are also currently being vaccinated by HSE mobile vaccination teams.
For clinic details please see walk-in clinic.
SunSmart Campaign 2023 – 1st April to 30th September
The annual SunSmart campaign is run by the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), in collaboration with Healthy Ireland and cross-sectoral partners, and works to support people to reduce their risk of skin cancer by protecting their skin from the sun. The aim of the campaign is to increase awareness of the steps you, your family, friends and colleagues can take to protect your skin from the sun. This is the fourth year of the campaign and each year it continues to grow.
We have included a campaign pack at the bottom of this email with promotional content for you to use and share with your own networks to support the SunSmart campaign.
You can find more information here.
Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 Codes of Practice
The Decision Support Service has published 13 statutory Codes of Practice for the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015.
The Codes of Practice are for decision supporters, interveners and relevant professionals and provide guidance for their functions and responsibilities under the Act.
The Decision Support Service has also developed guidance materials and videos about the Act to support learning. You can access all of these supports at decisionsupportservice.ie.
Find the Codes of Practice for the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 here.
Be tick aware: protect against Lyme disease
The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) had some practical advice on how to protect yourself against ticks, whose bite can cause Lyme disease.
Ticks are present everywhere in Ireland, including both urban and rural areas and are active from spring to autumn. They are tiny spider-like creatures that feed on the blood of humans, animals and birds, and are more numerous and more active in the summer months. Tick bites can be prevented by:
- Wearing long trousers, long sleeved shirt and shoes
- Wearing a hat and tuck in hair
- Using an insect repellent (preferably containing the active ingredient DEET)
- Checking skin, hair and warm skin folds (especially the neck and scalp of children) for ticks, after a day out
- Checking for ticks and removing any from your pets/ clothing/ outdoor gear
- Removing any ticks and consulting with a GP if symptoms develop.
Most cases of Lyme disease are very mild and many infected people may not have symptoms. The most common sign of infection is a skin rash (known as Bullseye rash or erythema migrans). In a small number of cases however, the infection can be more severe, leading to serious nervous system, heart and joint disease.
Anyone who develops a rash or other symptoms should visit their GP and explain that they have been bitten by a tick.
Pictures of the Lyme disease skin rash can be found on the HSE website.
You can see instructions on how to remove a tick on the HSE website https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/lyme-disease/
People can find lots of information and resources about Lyme disease on the HPSC website.
Just one in five women in Ireland confident of noticing a symptom of Ovarian Cancer
New research carried out in April 2023 has highlighted that nearly 8 out of 10 women in Ireland are not confident they would notice a symptom of ovarian cancer. The study was commissioned by the Irish Network for Gynaecological Oncology (INGO).
To mark World Ovarian Cancer Day (8 May 2023) the INGO launched a campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer and encourage women to contact and explain their symptoms to their GP if they are worried, as early diagnosis can save lives. The campaign emphasises the BEAT symptoms:
- Bloating that is persistent and doesn’t come and go
- Eating less and feeling full more quickly
- Abdominal and pelvic pain you feel most days
- Toilet changes in urination or bowel habits
Annually, approximately 400 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and almost 300 women die from this disease in Ireland. Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women in Ireland, after lung, breast, and colorectal cancer.
There is no standard screening test to pick up ovarian cancer in women who don’t have symptoms. We should all can be more symptom aware and talk to our GP without delay if we experience symptoms of ovarian cancer.
For more information, please visit www.isgo.ie
For HSE information on ovarian cancer, please find more information here.
HSE launches new Model of Care for Dual Diagnosis
The HSE has launched a new Model of Care for Dual Diagnosis to set out clear and integrated care pathways for people with a dual diagnosis. Dual diagnosis is the coexistence of mental health problems and substance misuse problems.
Please find more information here.
Drug harm-reduction campaign for people attending Irish music festivals
The HSE is launching a drug harm-reduction campaign with an aim to identify drug market trends of concern and keep festival goers safe this summer.
A pilot scheme first introduced at Electric Picnic last September, which detected a number of high potency MDMA pills, powders and crystals and a new substance 3-CMC, is now being rolled out to other festivals.
The campaign will begin this weekend at Life festival in Mullingar and involves festival goers anonymously putting drugs into HSE surrender bins at the HSE drugs.ie or medical tent for ‘back of house’ testing.
Teams of HSE trained volunteers will be available to talk about the ‘back of house’ programme, drug trends and harm-reduction practices with attendees, while also supporting people in cases of drug emergencies.
The aim of these teams is to work as part of the wider health and safety plans at events.
The HSE is also working with An Garda Síochána to guarantee that the drugs.ie and medical tents are health-led settings and safe spaces for people to talk about their use and consider surrendering drugs.
The message is clear; it is always safer not to use drugs at all but we acknowledge that festivals can be risk-taking settings where people may try drugs for the first time or try new types of drugs.
For more information visit drugs.ie/festivals or follow #IfYouGoGoSlow and #HSESaferNightlife on social media.
‘The Know, Act, Prevent Garden’ at Bloom
This year’s show gardens at the Bord Bia Bloom festival include ‘The Know, Act, Prevent Garden’ by The National Poisons Information Centre (NPIC) and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and supported by the HSE’s MyChild.ie.
Designed by Declan McKenna, the garden will highlight how to protect children and adults from accidental poisoning in the home and garden as well as safety practices when using garden chemicals. The garden’s planting scheme includes a colourful palette of low toxicity plants.
The NPIC is based at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. They run the Poisons Information Line on 01 809 2166. The phone line is open from 8am to 10pm every day to give advice if accidental poisoning occurs.
Bord Bia Bloom festival takes place at Dublin’s Phoenix Park from Thursday June 1st to Monday June 5th.
National Maternity Bereavement Experience Survey results
The results of the first National Maternity Bereavement Experience Survey have been published.
The survey asked women and their partners about the bereavement care that they received in an Irish maternity hospital or unit following a pregnancy loss or perinatal death. The aim is to learn from their experiences in order to improve the standard and quality of maternity bereavement care.
The findings of the National Maternity Bereavement Experience Survey show that 74% of participants rated their overall care as ‘very good’ or ‘good’, and 26% rated their care as ‘fair to poor’.
Women and their partners who experienced a second trimester miscarriage, a stillbirth or the early neonatal death of a baby in one of Ireland’s 19 maternity units or hospitals between 1st January 2019 and 31st December 2021 were invited to participate in the National Maternity Bereavement Experience Survey. The willingness of participating parents to share their experiences of such a difficult and painful time, will help to improve maternity bereavement care in Ireland. In total, 655 women and 232 partners or support persons took part in the survey.
In response to the survey findings the HSE also published its ‘Response to the National Maternity Bereavement Experience Survey’ (NMBES) Report, with information on the quality improvement plans underway in hospitals to improve patients’ care experiences
The National Care Experience Programme seeks to improve the quality of health and social care services in Ireland by asking people about their experiences of care and acting on their feedback. It is a joint initiative by HIQA, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health.
You can find the full information about the survey and the HSE’s response report on yourexperience.ie.
CervicalCheck launches first-ever Education Strategy
The National Screening Service has launched the CervicalCheck Education Strategy 2022 – 2025.
The strategy will support the continued growth of high-quality, accessible education for healthcare professionals – including GPs, trainee GPs and practice nurses – involved in delivering cervical screening in Ireland.
Chief Executive of the National Screening Service, Fiona Murphy, said: “The vast majority of the cervical screening tests taken every year are carried out in GP surgeries and clinics. As well as answering any questions women and people with a cervix may have prior to having the test, these highly skilled staff also ensure results are communicated to women and recommendations are followed up. They play a key role in supporting women to take part in cervical screening. Ensuring those who take CervicalCheck tests have access to excellent, ongoing training and development has been crucial to the provision of a quality-assured cervical screening programme and to the health of women in Ireland.”
You can find the CervicalCheck Education Strategy 2022-2025 here.
HSE Talking Health & Wellbeing Podcast, Episode 11 – Health Promotion & Improvement
Listen to this episode as Health Promotion & Improvement Managers explain the work their departments do within HSE Health and Wellbeing to target health issues such as smoking cessation, promoting mental wellbeing, delivery of staff health and wellbeing and much more
Listen to find out more wherever you get your Podcasts or on the HSE Health and Wellbeing YouTube channel.
HSE Talking Health & Wellbeing Podcast, Episode 12 – Making Every Contact Count
Listen to this episode as the HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare MECC Mobiliser and Physio Therapy Manager describe their roles and experiences implementing Making Every Contact Count.
Listen and follow wherever you get your Podcasts or on the HSE Health and Wellbeing YouTube channel. For more information visit www.makingeverycontactcount.ie
HSE Talking Health & Wellbeing Podcast, Episode 13 – Spunout.ie
Listen to this week’s podcast episode, with Ian Power, CEO of SpunOut.ie, the youth information website, as he discusses a broad range of issues that young people are seeking information on. This episode would be of great interested to parents of teenagers or those interested in youth health. Listen and follow wherever you get your Podcasts or on the HSE Health and Wellbeing YouTube channel.
HSE Talking Health & Wellbeing Podcast, episode 14 – Traveller wellbeing through creativity
Listen to this week’s podcast episode with Martin Beanz Warde, as he tells us about his ‘Through Our Eyes’ photography project which was funded under the Traveller Wellbeing Through Creativity initiative in 2022. Martin also shares his own personal story of how he expresses his creative abilities in a variety of ways and how he has supported others through his growing media presence. Listen and follow wherever you get your Podcasts or on the HSE Health and Wellbeing YouTube channel.
Updates to HSE guidance on management of COVID-19
There have been updates to HSE guidance on the management of COVID-19, including the use of face masks in healthcare facilities.
The detailed revised Public Health guidance is published on the HSE’s www.HPSC.ie website, and we have also updated the public information on HSE.ie in relation to COVID-19.
If you or your child have symptoms of COVID-19
For adults, if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 and feel unwell, you should:
- stay at home until 48 hours after your symptoms are mostly or fully gone
- avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk from COVID-19
Your child should stay at home and avoid contact with other people if they have symptoms of COVID-19 and:
- are unwell
- have a high temperature (38 degrees Celsius or higher)
It is usually OK to send your child to school or childcare if they:
- only have nasal symptoms, such as a runny nose or a sneeze, but otherwise feel well
- have not had any new symptoms for 48 hours
- have not had diarrhoea for 48 hours
Contact a GP if your child has symptoms of COVID-19 and:
- are age 3 months or less
- feel very unwell and you are concerned about their symptoms
- have a condition that puts them at higher risk from COVID-19
If you or your child have COVID-19
You do not need a COVID-19 test unless a GP or healthcare worker advises you to have one.
But if you choose to do one and it is positive, for adults, you need to:
- stay at home for 5 days from the day your symptoms started or, if you have no symptoms, from the date of your positive test, and
- avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk from COVID-19
If your child tests positive for COVID-19, they should:
- stay at home for 3 full days from the day their symptoms started or, if they have no symptoms, from the date of their positive test, and
- avoid contact with other people
For up to date information visit HSE.ie
COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 6 months to 4 years
COVID-19 vaccination is available to children aged 6 months and older to give them protection against serious COVID-19 illness.
The HSE has provided information on our website here to help parents make an informed decision.
You can find out how to book your child’s COVID-19 vaccine appointment here.
Get your COVID-19 booster vaccine
It’s important that all eligible people avail of the COVID-19 booster to protect themselves and those around them from serious COVID-19 illness.
The HSE strongly urges people who have not yet received a COVID-19 booster vaccine to check their vaccine status and to do so as soon as possible. You can do this by contacting HSELive on 1800 700 700.
Information on getting your booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is available here.
Advice for people at higher risk from COVID-19
You can find more information here and also information on how to stay safe here.
COVID-19 vaccine resources
The HSE produces and regularly updates resources for the COVID-19 vaccine. You can visit the COVID-19 vaccine materials page for the latest leaflets and booklets including information on boosters and vaccines for children.
COVID-19 information in other languages
Visit hse.ie/translations for a range of COVID-19 vaccine information videos and resources that have been produced in other languages, including information on COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy.
Information videos on COVID-19 vaccination for parents of children aged 5-11 are available here.
Public Health resources
Health service information for Ukrainian nationals
- Updated mental health supports information is here
- Disability services information is here
- Healthcare services information is here
- COVID-19 information is here
- COVID-19 vaccination video, Dr Oksana Kozdoba, a Pediatrician from Ukraine, shares information about the vaccination programme in Ireland. She covers the vaccines offered in Ireland to protect babies, school children and adults.
COVID-19
For updated information and advice on Coronavirus, please go to:
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/ and https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/. Clinical and professional guidance relating to COVID-19 is available on www.hpsc.ie where you’ll find up to date guidance for healthcare settings and non-clinical settings.
Please check here for partner resources for COVID-19.
You can find translated resources here.
You can find the COVID-19 A-Z information here from the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
Ireland’s COVID-19 Data Hub is available here.
If your organisation has any requests in relation to public health information materials, please reply directly to this email to let us know.
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