All non-urgent outpatient appointments and other clinical appointments in Kerry HSE services are now cancelled - up to and including Thursday, January 9th.
In view of the low temperatures and dangerous conditions for patients and staff, we ask the public not to travel. HSE staff will contact patients with urgent appointments, such as dialysis and chemotherapy, to make arrangements.
Of note, while Outpatient and other clinical appointments are cancelled up to and including Thursday 9th January, the following UHK appointments are going ahead:
- Antenatal appointments – Should there be any queries, please contact the labour ward
- Dialysis Service
- Endoscopy - Staff will ring any patients whose appointment is being cancelled for today (Tue 7th), Wednesday 8th or Thursday 9th
- Oncology day services - Continuing
The impact on services also includes:
- Appointments in community services including physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, community psychology, audiology, podiatry, dietetics, child development clinics and eye care clinics are deferred.
- Dental services will also be closed.
- School vaccination clinics will not go ahead.
- Day services for older people will not take place.
- Appointments scheduled for the Kerry ICPOP (Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons) at the McAuley Unit in Tralee are also not going ahead.
- All mental health day services, day hospitals and outpatient services have been cancelled. If any service user has difficulties, is in crisis, or requires urgent assistance; they should make telephone contact with their team, GP, SouthDoc or their local emergency department.
Staff will be in touch as soon as possible to reschedule your appointment. Where it is possible and appropriate, staff may offer you a virtual appointment. Anyone in doubt should contact the office or person who issued the appointment.
Many services, including urgent care in hospitals and residential care, are unaffected and we wish to thank staff who have made significant efforts to be available to provide vital care and services.
HSE Healthcare Area manager for Kerry Julie O’Neill said:
“This difficult, but necessary, decision was made following the announcement of further Orange Weather Warnings. We must keep both patients and staff safe at this challenging time. Many appointments and clinics at UHK are going ahead, so please check with the team and only travel to these appointments if it is safe to do so."
She added: “We are also very aware that there are people in our communities who depend on visits from our Home Support staff, our Public Health Nurses and our Community Intervention Teams. Staff have been able to make prioritised calls in recent days, but in some cases that has only been with the support of voluntary and community groups providing transport.
“Over the next few days, we will continue to be very dependent on the Defence Forces, voluntary emergency services, community groups and others to get staff to their shifts or priority house visits. We are incredibly grateful for this support.”
The ongoing low temperatures will mean there is a higher risk of slips, trips and falls on icy footpaths and steps. Older people should not venture outdoors in severe weather if possible.
It is important that people continue to consider all options and pathways available to them before attending the emergency department, which are always available to treat seriously ill patients - with the sickest patients seen first. People with less severe injuries and symptoms may have to wait to be seen. If you need care, visit your pharmacy, GP or family doctor, GP Out of Hours, or if it is safe for you to travel, the injury unit in Mallow for non-serious injuries.
Last updated on: 07 / 01 / 2025
