HSE general public updates including warnings on increase in flu and COVID-19 in coming weeks
The following is some general advice from the HSE. Please note that this is non CF specific advice and is aimed at the general population. If you have any queries related to CF aspects to this advice, please contact your CF team.
HSE warns of increase in flu and COVID expected in the coming weeks
The HSE is seeing an increase in people with respiratory illnesses attending emergency departments.
Consider all options when you need care, such as your GP, pharmacy, GP out-of-hours service or injury unit. For colds and mild viruses, make sure you have what you need at home to take care of these such as a well-stocked medicine cabinet.
For information and advice, 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.
Vaccination
It is still not too late to get vaccinated. COVID-19 and flu vaccines are available from your GP or pharmacy for older people, healthcare workers, people who are pregnant and those at higher risk.
Children from the ages of 2-17 can get a free nasal spray flu vaccine. Find a pharmacy to book an appointment. Children can also get the vaccine at their GP.
For life-threatening emergencies, call an ambulance (112 or 999) or visit your nearest Emergency Department.
If you are unwell, stay at home until 48 hours after your major symptoms have resolved and avoid people who are more vulnerable.
HSE Injury Units treat injuries that are not life-threatening such as broken bones, dislocations and minor burns.
Free Contraception Service expanded to 31 year olds
From 1 January 2024, the free contraception service is available for 17 to 31 year olds.
The scheme was launched in September 2022, initially for those aged 17 to 25, and expanded to include 26 to 30-year-olds in 2023. Since 1 January 2024, 17 to 31 year olds can access the service.
The free contraception service is available to women, girls, trans and non-binary people within this age range, who need prescription or emergency contraception.
Mental health literacy campaign
The new year can be a difficult time for some people. Mental health difficulties like ongoing stress, low mood, anxiety and sleep problems are common. People tend to accept them as normal and part of their daily lives and not realise that they are all part of your mental health. Our campaign aims to help people identity these issues and provide advice and support on how to deal with them.
Yourmentalhealth.ie has information and support on the four pillars – stress, anxiety, low mood and sleep.
A campaign pack is attached at the bottom of this message, describing the campaign and ways you can help to support it through your channels.
Pregnancy, baby and toddler health on mychild.ie
Look out for a TV ad this January about the HSE’s pregnancy and child health website and series of books written by healthcare professionals for parents-to-be and parents of young children.
With about 60,000 new babies born a year, you’ll find expert advice as you prepare for and get to know your baby. The information grows with you and your little one - from pregnancy and birth, to taking care of new-borns and toddlers.
Developed with parents, the site has almost 500 pages of advice on pregnancy, baby and toddler health with millions of visits each year. Find expert advice for every step at mychild.ie.
Children’s Disability Network Teams Recruitment
Each child who uses our Children’s Disability Network services is unique and our teams work together with them and their families to empower and support them to set and achieve goals that make a difference.
Starting in January 2024 we are recruiting Dietitians, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychologists, Social Workers and Speech and Language Therapists to join our teams.
Using radio, press, social and digital advertising, we’ll target newly qualified and experienced people to join our teams of highly skilled professionals, working and learning together for the young people and families who use our services.
Visit hse.ie/cdnt for more information, please also find the attached campaign pack at the bottom of this message with further information and assets that you can share.
HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast, Episode 38: Top Ten Tips for a Healthy 2024
The HSE Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast is back, with our first episode of 2024 on how to make healthier lifestyles changes to kick-start the New Year. Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officers, Dr Michelle Hardie-Murphy and Aisling Doherty, talk about setting realistic goals and the importance of enjoying healthy activities as they highlight the HSE’s quit smoking services and other free resources on the Health and Wellbeing YouTube channel and in the community, such as ParkRun and Local Sports Partnerships.