Health Service Executive (HSE)

Health Service Executive: Ireland's public health service

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is the public body responsible for providing health and social care services to everyone living in Ireland. Its portal, HSE.ie, brings together information on health services, schemes, publications and the organisation's structure, as well as a database of medical conditions and treatments known as Health A-Z.

Health information for the public

The site offers content aimed at the general public, organised into sections such as Health A to Z, Living well and Health topics. Health A to Z gathers information on symptoms, self-care advice and treatments for common conditions. Living well focuses on habits to maintain physical and mental wellbeing, while Health topics covers advice on medicines and common conditions, including flu, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), norovirus and a medicines A to Z index.

Services, schemes and supports

The website allows you to find the health service each person needs: pharmacies that administer flu and COVID-19 vaccines, GP out-of-hours services, urgent and emergency care, and primary care centres with their opening hours, contact details and location. It also details schemes and allowances such as the medical card, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), the drugs payment scheme and GP visit cards.

Among the services described are screening and vaccination programmes (breast, cervical and bowel cancer, and vaccines such as flu, HPV and COVID-19), adult mental health, registration of births, deaths and marriages, disability services, sexual health, support for people with alcohol and drug problems or to quit smoking, audiology services, support courses for type 2 diabetes, telehealth, healthcare for women in the sex industry, support for victims of human trafficking and domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, moving from child to adult health services, the organ donation opt-out register, the home support service for older people and the National Appeals Service.

Free hormone replacement therapy

The site announces that, from 1 June, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) will be free for those who have a drugs payment scheme card, and offers a pharmacy finder for those that dispense it.

Contacting HSE Live

HSE Live is the phone service for general queries or for those who do not know which department to contact. However, the site warns that it should not be used in a medical emergency: in a serious situation, call 112 or 999. The organisation's headquarters is at Dr. Steevens' Hospital, Steeven's Lane, Dublin 8, D08 W2A8.

Publications and activity of the organisation

The portal also publishes information on the HSE's activity and results, such as waiting times, hospital activity and the daily urgent and emergency care report, as well as resources for ordering publications and informational materials. It also provides access to online services of the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) and to the HSE's organisational structure, with information on its work, leadership, operations, regions and teams.

Location and contact

Dr. Steevens' Hospital, Steeven's Lane, Dublin 8, D08 W2A8 · Phone: 01 635 2000