About the Irish Health Service

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has developed this short guide to help you understand the Irish public health system. The guide is available in 21 languages. Please download this poster in order to access all language versions.

The guide is in three parts:

Part 1 gives you information on how to access different types of health care, the services that are free and how the GP (doctor), pharmacy (chemist) and hospital systems work. Part 1 begins on page 4.

Part 2 gives you information about specialist services:

• dental treatments,

• eye tests,

• hearing aids,

• vaccinations.

It also gives you information about some staff you may meet in the health system. Part 2 begins on page 9.

Part 3 tells you what to do in an emergency. Part 3 begins on page 12

If you don’t understand any part of this guide, please ask for help at your local health centre to help you with it. You can also get more information online at www.hse.ie or

Callsave: 1850 24 1850

Phone: 041 685 0300

Email: hselive@hse.ie