HSE South West advises that there will be significant disruption to services tomorrow, Friday, in light of the status red weather warning associated with Storm Éowyn. All non-urgent clinics and appointments in Cork and Kerry on Friday January 24 are cancelled.
The clear advice is that nobody should be outdoors for the duration of the red weather warning (which currently covers from 2am to 10am on Friday), and that conditions will be very difficult after the red warning has passed. This will have an impact on our services and the people who use our services.
While critical health services will continue, the message to the public is not to travel to appointments tomorrow, Friday. All non-urgent clinics and appointments are cancelled, and appointments in people’s homes will not go ahead during the red warning. Where an appointment needs to go ahead, we will contact the patients directly.
If you have any doubt, please do not travel during tomorrow’s dangerous conditions, and phone the office or person who made your appointment. All appointments will be rescheduled as soon as possible.
Critical emergency services (eg ambulances, emergency departments, dialysis, oncology treatment and prenatal care for pregnant mothers) will continue to run, but please only travel to an emergency department for serious illnesses and injuries, including life-threatening emergencies.
Ahead of the arrival of Storm Éowyn, we are asking the public to today check that they have essential items including medications stocked up, as it may not be possible to get to a pharmacy tomorrow. Please also check on any older or vulnerable neighbours or family members today, and make sure they are prepared.
HSE South West Regional Executive Officer Dr Andy Phillips said that every possible effort is being made to keep staff and patients safe, while maintaining essential services.
“It is incredibly important that the staff and public stay safe during this period of extreme weather. For the most part, appointments and routine services will not run on Friday. Do not travel to a HSE service or appointment unless you hear directly from us.”
He added that HSE staff across Cork and Kerry are going to incredible lengths to maintain essential services, with detailed contingency plans in place “I commend HSE staff for the work and planning they are undertaking to make sure that essential services are maintained. Thank you to the staff and teams who will arrive at hospitals, clinics and residential settings tonight and stay overnight so that they can be in place ahead of the Red Weather warning. I also want to pay tribute to the courage of the National Ambulance Staff who will be out responding to priority calls while everyone else is sheltering in place.”
See hse.ie/disruptions for details on disruptions to services
Last updated on: 23 / 01 / 2025
