HSE South West remind the public that all non-urgent appointments - such as outpatient appointments and other clinical appointments - are cancelled today, Monday January 6th.
While the majority of appointments scheduled for Tuesday will go ahead as planned, we are asking the public to travel only if safe to do so. We understand that road conditions will vary across the city and county. If you cannot safely make it to an appointment, please let your team know and they will reschedule it for you as soon as possible.
In particular, a number of appointments in North Cork (hospital and community) will be deferred tomorrow, and HSE staff will contact those affected directly.
All non-urgent appointments at CUH, South Infirmary Victoria Hospital, Mercy University Hospital, Bantry Hospital and Mallow Hospital will not go ahead today but most will take place tomorrow, as scheduled. The situation will be kept under review over the next few days. There will be further localised impacts at Bantry and Mallow Hospitals but anyone affected will be contacted directly.
At Cork University Maternity Hospital, all gynaecology outpatient appointments are not going ahead today but will recommence tomorrow. Antenatal appointments are going ahead, which means that any expectant mother with an appointment should attend. Please contact the CUMH directly if you have any questions.
Staff are providing care urgent and emergency care and this will continue. HSE staff are contacting patients with urgent appointments such as dialysis and chemotherapy to make arrangements.
The impact on services today also includes:
- Appointments in community services including physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, community psychology, podiatry, dietetics, child development clinics and eye care clinics are deferred. They will go ahead tomorrow except in North Cork. Anyone with a deferred appointment tomorrow will be contacted directly.
- Dental services are also be closed today but open in most of Cork tomorrow, Tuesday.
- Day services for older people will not take place today.
- School vaccination clinics will not go ahead today.
- All mental health day services, day hospitals and outpatient services have been cancelled today. 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.
- Appointments at ICPOP (Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons) and Integrated Care Programme Chronic Diseases will not go ahead.
For anyone with an appointment today which has been deferred, 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.
HSE South West Regional Executive Officer Dr Andy Phillips said:
“While many appointments will go ahead tomorrow, Tuesday, we are asking the public to make sure that it is safe to travel. We understand that conditions will vary significantly across the county. If it is safe for you to travel to an appointment tomorrow, then please do so. If it’s not safe, please let your team know and they will reschedule you as soon as possible.”
He added: “HSE staff are prioritising service delivery for vulnerable patients and those with acute care needs. Staff are making transport arrangements for patients to get to vital appointments such as dialysis and urgent cancer care appointments. I want to thank our staff to the significant efforts they have gone to in recent days, and for the work I know they will do over the coming days so that essential services are maintained.”
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.
People who do unfortunately suffer injury as a result of falls are urged to use injury units, thus avoiding possible lengthy waits at emergency departments which are currently particularly busy because of flu. Details of injury units can be found at hse.ie/injuryunits.
Last updated on: 07 / 01 / 2025
