HSE Partner Pack 15th March 2023

Health service updates and information:

Update – Wexford General Hospital (WGH)

The Emergency Department (ED) in WGH remains closed. 

From today, Wednesday, 15^th of March, WGH will be operating an Acute Medical Assessment Unit (AMAU), open from 8:30am to 7:00pm, seven days a week.  Access to the AMAU will require a GP referral. Children under the age of 16 cannot be treated in the AMAU. 

From tomorrow, Thursday, 16th of March, a Minor Injury Unit (MIU) will open in the hospital. This will open from 8:00am to 6:00pm, seven days a week.  The Hospital requests people ring ahead to schedule an appointment in the MIU. Patients from three years of age and older can be treated in the MIU.

Both the AMAU and the MIU will operate from the Hospital’s ED building.

Getting ready for Advance Healthcare Directives under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015: Webinar 29^th March 2023 

This webinar, on 29th March from 5:30-7pm, is for all healthcare workers, in particular clinicians. The webinar will give an overview of Advance Healthcare Directives, with focus on some practical, legal, mental health service and personal considerations along with information about the Decision Support Service Codes of Practice relating to Advance Healthcare Directives.

You can register for the webinar here.

This is event is organised by the HSE National Office of Human Rights and Equality Policy and HSE Strategy and Research.

Getting ready for commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015: Webinar 21^st March 2023

This webinar, on 21st March from 12:30-2pm, is aimed at all HSE staff and HSE funded services and will focus on practical considerations for the commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making Capacity Act 2015. This includes information about the Decision Support Service (e.g. how to interact with the DSS, Codes of Practice, DSS Register), Wardship transition, Decision-Making Representative applications and other key issues.

Please find the registration details and further information on the webinar here.

This event is organised by the HSE National Office of Human Rights and Equality Policy and HSE Strategy and Research.

Take back control from smoking this March

The HSE is inviting people who smoke to take the 28-day no smoking challenge this March. Join thousands of others who have used the HSE QUIT service to stop smoking. To get your free QUIT plan and free support, including free NRT, sign up here.

Mental health and wellbeing of people from migrant communities in Ireland

A new module has been designed to help staff to develop a broader cultural awareness regarding the mental health and wellbeing of people from migrant communities in Ireland. It is relevant to all staff of the HSE and HSE funded agencies whose role may include supporting or interacting with people from migrant communities.

You can find the module here.

HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast Episode 4: Men’s Health

In this podcast episode  Dr. Noel Richardson discusses the rationale behind men’s health, how masculinity plays a role in men’s help seeking behaviours, and some of the new initiatives developed in recent years to improve men’s health. Noel also reflects on his own Parkinson’s diagnosis and what that taught him about men’s health. The podcast is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or on the HSE Health and Wellbeing YouTube channel.

Steps to Health challenge 2023 – registration now open!

Steps to Health encourages staff to get out walking and counting their daily steps to improve their physical and mental health. Registration is now open. The challenge will take place from May 8^th – June 11^th 2023 so register your team now at hse.ie/stepschallenge.

Want to participate?

• Form a team of between 2 and 10 participants
• Choose a team co-ordinator and a team name
• Your team co-ordinator can register your team and order step counters if you need them, up until 19 April.

Visit hse.ie/stepschallengefor more information

Mother's Day

It’s Mother’s Day this weekend. Being a parent means you’re always learning on the job. And once you get the hang of one phase, along comes the next challenge! Everyone has questions at some point. Find expert advice from the HSE on pregnancy, baby and toddler health at mychild.ie

COVID-19 information

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 National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has recommended COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 6 months to 4 years with underlying conditions that place them at higher risk of severe COVID-19.

NIAC has also recommended that COVID-19 vaccination should be offered to all others in this age group to protect them from severe disease, provide extra protection from the rare risks of serious illness from COVID-19 (e.g. multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children), as well as providing the modest benefit in reducing household transmission to those immunocompromised or too young for vaccination.

NIAC has also stressed the safety profile of the vaccine and the comparable immunogenicity to that in older children and adolescents.

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. 

Clinic details will be updated on www.hse.ie on a rolling basis so parents are advised to check the website for updates on clinic availability in the coming weeks. 

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.

All people in the 18-49 years age group are eligible for their second COVID-19 booster, provided it is six months since their last vaccine or since they had a COVID-19 infection.

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.

Booster COVID-19 vaccines are available at Community Vaccination Centres, participating GPs and pharmacies and information on getting your booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is available here.

Advice for people at higher risk from COVID-19

You should contact a doctor urgently if you are at higher risk and you have COVID-19 symptoms or you have a positive COVID-19 PCR or antigen test.

Some people who are at higher risk from COVID-19 may be recommended for treatments. If your doctor decides that treatment is right for you, you’ll start treatment as soon as possible. Treatment for COVID-19 is free of charge through the HSE if it is recommended for you.

If COVID-19 treatment is not recommended for you, your doctor will provide you with the care that is right for your condition and symptoms.

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 Testing 

Details are available here.

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).

You can view the latest information on how Ireland is responding to cases of COVID-19 here.

Ireland’s COVID-19 Data Hub is available here.

If your organisation has any requests in relation to COVID-19 public health information materials, please reply directly to this email to let us know.

Many thanks,

Kahlil & Katie

COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement, HSE Communications