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THE HSE SAYS it anticipates an increase in emergency department visits this weekend as Pope Francis’s visit sends thousands of people flocking to the capital.
Over 500,000 people are expected to visit Dublin for the visit of his holiness, Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families. The HSE said today that it “is committed to ensuring that there is minimum disruption to normal health social care related services during this visit and all hospitals will be operating as normal”.
Because of the fact there will be a secure area around Dublin, starting at the M50 from 6am to 11pm on Sunday 26 August, the HSE said that those planning on using their car to access health services in Dublin City on Sunday should be aware of the diversions and road closures.
It recommends that pregnant women whose delivery date falls near or over the weekend to leave plenty of time for any journeys to and across Dublin City from 6am to 11pm on Sunday 26 August, and pay attention to restrictions on the day.
It also reminded people who want to access health services in the vicinity of Dublin City for any scheduled appointment, such as chemotherapy, to do similar.
If you are using your own car you may experience restricted access to roads to hospitals and restricted parking facilities.
The HSE said that it is anticipated that due to the size and scale of the events this weekend and the number of people visiting Dublin and Knock, there could be an increase in emergency department attendances.
Because of this, it is asking people to think about all of their care and treatment options “so we can keep our Emergency Department services for the patients who need them most”.
For example, in the unlikely event that you or a family member picks up a minor injury that needs hospital attention, there are Minor Injuries Units which can treat a wide range of minor injuries including broken bones, dislocations, sprains, strains, wounds, scalds and minor burns that will not need admission to hospital. Staff in our Minor Injury Unit perform x-rays, reduce joint dislocations, apply plaster casts and treat wounds by stitches or other means.
The HSE has a number of Minor Injury Units around the country including the Mater Smithfield Rapid Injury Clinic and St Colmcilles Injury Unit in Dublin and the Minor Injury Unit at Roscommon University Hospital. For more information see
In addition, its GP Out of Hours service is available outside the routine GP surgery times over weekends. This service is for patients who have urgent medical problems that cannot wait until their own GP practice re-opens.
The HSE has also urged anyone who takes medication on a daily basis and is visiting Dublin or Knock at the weekend to bring a supply of their medication with them for a number of days in case they need to stay in Dublin or Knock.
Order of Malta
Also today, the Order of Malta released its first aid requirements for the weekend’s event. It was also present at the event in 1979, and according to Commander Aoife Clarke, Assistant Director for Communications & Branding, the difference between the setup for both years shows how things changed in Ireland.
“The World Meeting of Families Event in the RDS and this Papal visit sees far more Order of Malta Ambulance Corps volunteers travelling to assist those who need first aid and medical care at the numerous events than in 1979,” she said.
“Many of the volunteers this weekend have already giving their time at the RDS for 12+ hour days, sleeping on camp beds, loaning their skills to treat those who need it, and will continue to do so over this extremely busy weekend.”
While there may be one-third the size of the crowd expected this weekend compared to that of the 1979 visit, the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps will be providing a much larger crew than was required in 1979.
There have been many changes in event management and health and safety regulations over the last 39 years.
In terms of advice for those making the journey to see Pope Francis, the Order of Malta said:
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Dublin’s a no go zone for me this weekend. Full of holy Joes
And some Jolly Hoes!!
The pope has advised that only married pregnant women should be allowed through the cordon
Replace the “Corden” (r) with an n and the (n) with an m and youll totally piss oul Pope Francy off!! Hes no rubber bandit!!
@Rondon(Ciarán Dixon): lol ha ha ha ha ha
As a lapsed catholic due to my outrage of the secret behind doors meeting in the early 2000′s and the church was agreed that the tax payer was paying 91% of all compensation for any abuse victims (thanks bertie) this came to light in 2005. I believe the only way the pontiff should be let in the country. Is 1.with remorse and an actual apology. 2.with the Vatican cheque book, people seem to forget the church still owes millions for its sweet deal in 2002. The Vatican bank has around 15″,billion in its account plus property. Surely a charitable organization should pay its debts to its bankrupt followers? 3. Pay its own 32 million security costs to show its humbleness for the first two. For people who aren’t interested this hindrance is totally unfair. For us as plumbers and our sister company Dublin electricians if you have an emergency over the weekend there isn’t a great chance we’ll be able to get to you.
So, Half a million + people do not condone or choose not to accept the misery this religion brought on this country….hmmm
@Mel Finn: but they’ve had to fly a lot of them to make up for local population seeing through their BS.
@Mel Finn: the hate is strong in yee
@Mel Finn: religion isn’t all bad. There are many religious people that truly and honest want to do good. You can see it blatantly with the homeless.
Just hold it until he leaves.
Jesus christ! Now the pope hates pregnant women??!!!!
@Matt Connolly: yes matt the pope hates pregnant women.
Dad, her contraptions have started
@John kane: oh Jesus RED ALERT,RED ALERT
Yes liberal journal .that usually the way things go when there is a big event with lots of traffic. Common sense really.
It will be quicker than ever trying to get to a hospital with so little traffic but there will be staff shortages. All the great Filipino nurses will be in the Phoenix Park
What a stupid press release from the HSE. Like Irish Water Trying to justify their existence.
Have they taken in the special pregnant roads?
The need for pregnant women to leave lots of time to get across the city, in order to get to hospital, will be made a lot worse when the new National Maternity Hospital is built at the worst possible and most traffic-heavy location: St Vincent’s Hospital on the Merrion Road in Dublin!
The new NMH should be built at the best and most-ease-of-access location: Connolly Hospital on the M50 near Blanchardstown. This site provides the least traffic-heavy approach for patients coming from Dublin, and also would make it easy and convenient for patients coming from the four corners of Ireland to access it because of the national motorway network (such patients wouldn’t have to navigate and battle through the unfamiliar Dublin traffic in order to get to the national maternity hospital, if built beside Connolly Hospital).
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