If a life is at risk, call 112 or 999 now. Both are free from any phone. If you cannot make a voice call, you can text 112.
If your GP surgery is closed and you need a doctor urgently, phone your local GP out-of-hours service. A nurse will assess you by phone first. It is by appointment only, with no walk-in. If you have a medical card or GP visit card, the visit is free.
For a recent injury that is not life-threatening, such as a suspected broken wrist, try an injury unit. Emergency departments (EDs) see the sickest first, so waits can be long. For minor problems and medicine questions, a pharmacist can help. EDs are open 24 hours a day for serious illness and injury.
This guide explains each option, what it costs as of November 2026, and what to bring. It also covers where to turn for urgent mental health help that is not an emergency.
Most GPs work Monday to Friday. Out-of-hours services cover nights and weekends. They are for urgent problems, not routine appointments.
How it works:
What it costs. It is free with a medical card or GP visit card, but you must bring the card. Otherwise, you pay as a private patient. Fees vary, so ask when you phone.
Services are run regionally. The HSE list includes, for example, Caredoc centres in places such as Carlow, Kilkenny and Sligo. Search "HSE find a GP out of hours" to find yours, and save the number in your phone now.
Injury units treat recent injuries that are not life-threatening and are unlikely to need a hospital stay. You do not need an appointment. They can do X-rays, plaster casts and wound care.
They can treat:
They do not treat:
That list matters for people with neurological or mental health conditions. For a seizure, a headache or an injury from self-harm, the HSE says to go to an ED instead.
Cost. €75, unless you have a medical card or a GP referral letter. If an injury unit sends you on to an ED, you do not pay again. Most injury units see patients over 5. Check the age limit of your local unit.
EDs are open 24 hours a day, every day. The HSE lists examples of when to go, including when someone:
When you arrive, a triage nurse assesses you. The sickest people are seen first, so waits can be long for less urgent problems. Tell the nurse if you feel worse while waiting. You can bring one family member or friend into the examination room.
Cost. If you go without a GP referral, there is a €100 charge. It does not apply if you have a medical card or a GP referral letter, or if you are admitted. If you return to an outpatient clinic for the same problem, you should not pay again.
Some Dublin EDs see only adults and some only children. Outside Dublin, any ED sees children.
If you think someone is having a stroke, call 112 or 999 straight away. Our guide to the FAST signs of stroke explains why speed matters.
The HSE suggests talking to a pharmacist when urgent medical attention is not needed. Pharmacists can help with minor illness and medicine questions.
The Common Conditions Service. Under this service, trained pharmacists at participating pharmacies can assess and treat eight common conditions. Where suitable, this includes prescription medicines. They are:
Not every pharmacy offers it. Consultations take place in a private area. A consultation fee applies to everyone, including medical card holders. Check the HSE Pharmacy Finder or ask your pharmacy.
If you run out of a regular medicine. In a genuine emergency, a pharmacist may give a short "emergency supply" without a new prescription. The pharmacist must be satisfied that:
The supply is usually no more than 5 days.
Controlled drugs have tighter rules. This matters for many brain and mental health medicines. Methylphenidate and dexamfetamine, used for ADHD, are Schedule 2 controlled drugs in Ireland. Benzodiazepines such as diazepam and clonazepam, and zopiclone, are in Schedule 4. An emergency supply of a Schedule 2, 3 or 4 drug is allowed only if extra conditions are met. One of them is that you have not already had a patient-requested emergency supply since your last prescription.
There is an exception for epilepsy. Pharmacists can give an emergency supply of clobazam, clonazepam, midazolam or phenobarbitone for epilepsy without those extra conditions.
The safest plan is not to run low. Ask your prescriber how repeat prescriptions work for your medicine. For ADHD medicine background, see what ADHD stimulants actually do.
A mental health crisis is when you no longer feel able to cope or in control. The HSE lists signs such as severe distress, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, hearing voices, or unusual beliefs. It also notes that sudden confusion can have physical causes, such as an infection, drugs, medicine effects or dementia.
Where to turn:
Samaritans, Pieta and Text About It do not need a GP referral.
The Your Mental Health information line, freephone 1800 111 888, is also open any time. Staff can tell you which HSE and HSE-funded mental health services are available to you and how to access them. It is not a counselling service.
If you are worried about low mood over weeks, rather than tonight, our guide to what works for depression sets out the treatment options. For anxiety, see when anxiety becomes a disorder.
The HSE advice is clear. If you or someone you know is about to cause harm, call 112 or 999, or go to your nearest ED. This applies to harm to themselves or to someone else.
If you go to an ED in distress, tell the triage nurse. The HSE says to let staff know if you need extra help because of a physical or mental disability.
The HSE suggests bringing these to an ED if you can:
Also bring your medical card or GP visit card, especially to an out-of-hours GP. If you have a seizure plan, a hospital passport or a crisis plan, bring that too. If you have difficulty with language or speech, bring someone who can help. An interpreter can be arranged, but there may be a wait.
The HSE suggests keeping a list of useful numbers at home where everyone can find it:
Giving your Eircode when you call an ambulance helps the crew find you faster. For general questions about HSE services, call HSE Live on freephone 1800 700 700. It is open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, and Saturday 9am to 5pm.
No. You must phone first and speak to a nurse. If you need to be seen, they give you an appointment.
It is free if you have a medical card or GP visit card and bring it with you. Otherwise you pay a private fee, which varies by service.
Not necessarily. The HSE says arriving by ambulance does not mean you will be seen quicker. Call an ambulance only for serious emergencies.
No. Injury units do not treat seizures or other medical illness. Go to an ED, or call 112 or 999 if it is an emergency.
Possibly, but controlled drugs have extra conditions, and repeat emergency supplies are limited. Contact your prescriber as early as you can.
This article is general information, not medical advice. In an emergency, call 112 or 999.
Reviewed by: Proco Team
Last updated: November 2026