©Photograph: John Reidy
With schools in the Red Weather Alert areas told to remain closed on Monday at least and transport companies saying they’re leaving school buses in dry dock tomorrow it is safe to assume that all schools will be closed until this hurricane has blown itself out.
Tralee Credit Union Offices Closed
All Tralee Credit Union Offices in Tralee, Castleisland and Killorglin will remain closed until Tuesday but online facilities will operate as normal as power supplies will allow.
A HSE Statement for Cork and Kerry – Weather to Impact on Services
A statement from Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, the South South West Hospital Group and the National Ambulance Service.
The HSE wishes to advise the public that there will be a significant impact on services in the coming days in light of the status red weather warning.
The warning is currently in force from 9 a.m. on Monday 16th October 2017 to 3 a.m. on Tuesday 17th October 2017.
The clear advice is that non-essential travel should not be undertaken for the duration of the weather alert. This will have an impact on many of our services and the people who use our services.
Non-Essential Clinics Cancelled.
We would now like to inform the public that any non-essential clinics and appointments on Monday October 16th have been cancelled.
This impact of this will include:
Patients and public are being advised not to travel tomorrow Monday 16th October for hospital clinic appointments or non-urgent elective/planned procedures including day case procedures as services deemed non urgent have been postponed. All appointments affected will be rescheduled by the relevant hospital. Hospitals affected are University Hospital Kerry Cork University Hospital, Mercy University Hospital, South Infirmary University Hospital, Mallow General Hospital, Bantry General Hospital. If patients are unclear about whether to travel for their appointment, they should contact their hospital using the phone number on their appointment letter.
No Day Services for Older People
Day services for older people will not take place tomorrow.
Only essential public health nursing appointments will go ahead eg urgent wound care, new-born screening and palliative care.
Routine appointments such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, community psychology, speech therapy and eye care clinics have been cancelled and will not go ahead tomorrow. Anyone in doubt should contact the office or person who issued the appointment.
Community Hospitals Staff in Place
Arrangements are being made to ensure that staff at community hospitals are safely in place before the status red alert comes into effect on Monday morning.
Home help services will be curtailed and only provided where essential. This means that some clients will not receive a service on Monday who may have expected to. We are attempting to contact each person affected individually.
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.
Ambulance to Prioritise Emergencies
We have also advised all voluntary/community agencies that non-essential services should be cancelled.
The National Ambulance Service will as always prioritise emergency calls during this weather event but is urging the general public to think carefully before calling.
“It must be understood that our response to emergency calls may be hindered by road conditions and the number of emergency calls at any particular time.
We will do our utmost to reach those in greatest need of our emergency services,” a spokesperson said.
Please Pass on This Information
The HSE would like to appeal to the public to pass this information on to friends, families and neighbours so that where possible, non-essential travel can be avoided.
We would like to reassure the public that every effort possible is being made to ensure that staff and those who use our services are kept safe, and that essential services are maintained.
Status updates are being posted on Twitter on @CorkKerryWinterReady.
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