‘What to expect’ – HSE share urgent warning over emergency department wait times

THE HSE issued an urgent warning over emergency department wait times as they shared under what circumstances and best time to go.

The health chiefs issued the warning after many patients rushed to the emergency departments instead of the correct facilities to visit as A&E is being swarmed with patients.

Taking to social media, they said: “Watch this video to find out about the Emergency Department, how it works and what to expect.”

The video demonstrates the process of how the Emergency Department operates and the reason why wait times are long.

Patients arriving at the emergency department will be asked some simple questions as they register for assistance.

These questions ask if the patient had any transmissible diseases or illnesses recently that could easily be passed on to others, such as COVID-19.

They will also be asked if they have any vaccinations for protection against illnesses such as COVID-19 or any type of flu.

The health officials urged people to tell the nurses if they have recently received any treatment in a hospital or healthcare setting outside of Ireland to get a fair understanding of their condition.

The video raised awareness that some of the staff at the department will be wearing face masks and protective clothing to protect the patients and staff.

Patients are welcome to wear a face mask when visiting the emergency department and there will be times that a member of staff will ask the patient to wear a face mask, which is provided by the healthcare setting, to protect yourself and others.

People who are visiting the department experiencing a cough, cold or COVID-19 symptoms are encouraged to wear a face mask if possible.

If unable to, try to cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, dispose of used tissues in a bin and wash and sanitize your hands regularly to prevent the spread of the illness.

WHEN WILL PATIENTS BE SEEN?

The time of patients being seen by doctors varies on two things at the emergency department.

It depends on how busy the premise is on the day and the severity of the patient’s injury or illness.

The emergency department does not run on a first-come-first-serve basis as the staff always see the most ill people first as they need more assistance at the current time.

This will be done by triage, where a triage nurse will take their blood pressure and temperature and determine how urgently the patients need to be seen by the health team.

There are lots of cases where care, tests, and results may take their time, resulting in a waiting time for patients and if the waiting time extends more – more staff will be carefully put in place to meet the great demands.

The health chiefs noted that it is essential that the Emergency Department is a safe place for all patients and healthcare staff and that no unwelcome behaviour is permitted.

During the treatment or inspection by the health team, family members or friends will be asked to stay in the waiting room to provide privacy and protection to others to prevent the risk of transmissible diseases.

However, exceptions can be made on the premise of parents with children or the elderly.