Information for GPs - UL Hospitals Group
This page offers information on services and initiatives available to GPs.
GP forum
The UL Hospitals/GP Forum allows discussions about issues that are common to both primary and acute care.
The GP forum takes place quarterly.
For further information contact: ciaram.foley@hse.ie
Injury Units
Injury Units treat non-life-threatening injuries in adults & children over 5 years
St John’s Injury Unit, Limerick
061 462 132
Open from 8am to 7pm every day
Ennis Injury Unit
065 686 3121
Open from 8am to 8pm every day
Nenagh Injury Unit
067 42 311
Open from 8am to 8pm every day
Bed Bureau
The Bed Bureau is available to GPs for Medical Assessment Unit appointments and Acute Surgical Assessment Unit appointments. The service is available 24/7 on 061 585 858.
Medical Assessment Unit (MAU)
MAUs provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment for patients referred with medical conditions including chest infections, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), pneumonia, urinary tract infections, fainting episodes, clots in the leg, anaemia or non-acute cardiac problems.
Patients can be referred by their GP directly to a Medical Assessment Unit in Ennis, Nenagh or St John’s Hospitals. The units are open every day. Suitable patients that do not require access to critical care and meet the criteria are accepted.
GPs can contact the Bed Bureau to arrange an appointment at the MAU in Ennis, Nenagh or St John’s.
Patients will be seen by a senior clinician within one hour with a decision to admit or discharge made within six hours. There are a range of diagnostics tests available to support the assessment and where possible, the required tests will be completed on the day.
Acute Medical Assessment Unit (AMAU)
The AMAU in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) predominantly provides a rapid assessment facility for some medical patients who are acutely unwell and who present to the emergency department (ED) with a GP letter.
Acute Surgical Assessment Unit (ASAU)
The ASAU in UHL provides a rapid assessment facility for acute surgical conditions in patients such as breast, general surgical or vascular. Patients must be over 16 years and have been assessed by a GP or Consultant. The ASAU is open 24/7.
Centralised Referral Management System
A Centralised Referral Management System for outpatient referrals is available at UL Hospitals. This is a secure, fast and traceable way of sending referrals to our specialty services.
GPs may submit referrals by post or by e-referral using Healthlink. With Healthlink, a GP will receive an immediate alert once the referral is accessed. Healthlink services are free of charge to all GP practices. All referrals are reviewed and clinically prioritised by the receiving Specialty / Consultant.
Central Referrals accepts outpatient referrals for all specialties including Dermatology NCCP (National Cancer Control Programme) referrals. All other NCCP referrals are received directly by the relevant specialties.
We manage the following specialties centrally: Dermatology, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Neurology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Otolaryngology (ENT), Pain Relief, Plastic Surgery, Urology, Vascular Surgery.
Referrals received in Central Referrals for other Specialties are added to the Outpatient waiting list and forwarded to the relevant Consultants Secretary where they are processed in accordance with agreed guidelines.
GPs may contact the central referrals office by email: ulopdenquiries@hse.ie
Endoscopy Referrals
Endoscopy referrals are paper based.
We accept referrals into all four endoscopy units in University Hospital Limerick, Ennis Hospital, Nenagh Hospital and St John’s Hospital. St John’s Hospital accepts outpatient referrals from GPs.
Urgent and emergency care report (daily)
The urgent and emergency care report shows the status of our hospitals every day at 8am. This was previously called the TrolleyGAR report.
The report shows how many people admitted to hospital are:
- on trolleys in an emergency department
- on trolleys in a ward
- experiencing a delay in being discharged home or into care elsewhere
- using a bed as part of the hospital's surge capacity
Regional Hub for Women's Health, Nenagh Hospital
The Regional Hub for Women's Health in Nenagh Hospital revolves around three core services: an ambulatory gynaecology unit; a specialist menopause clinic and a subfertility service. These services are being established as one-stop, “see-and-treat” gynaecology clinics where women can be assessed and treated following a GP referral.
Ambulatory Hysteroscopy Clinic Referral Form (PDF, size 138 KB, 1 page)
Antenatal Clinic Referral Form (PDF, 135KB, 1 page)
The DESMOND programme
DESMOND is Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed.
This education programme is for people with type 2 diabetes. It is a 6 hour programme that is delivered over 2 days. DESMOND is a resource to help patients manage the changes diabetes will bring about in their life and it is an opportunity to meet and share experiences with others.
GPs, Nurses, other health care professionals can refer to the programme as well as self–referrals.
DESMOND Referral Form Clare (PDF, size 87 KB, 1 page)
DESMOND Referral Form North Tipperary (PDF, size 87 KB, 1 page)
Developmental dysplasia of the hip
Developmental dysplasia of the hips (DDH) is a cause of disability in children and young adults. It can be detected up to three months of age by a specific physical examination by a trained healthcare professional and confirmed by an ultrasound. GPs and Community Health Doctors in the Midwest can complete the referral form which asks specific questions to determine whether the infant is eligible for screening. This examination is time sensitive and must be performed between 6 to 12 weeks of age, after 12 weeks it is no longer satisfactory.
Nenagh Radiology department is the only department in the group that offers this service. All referrals must come to Nenagh Radiology department.
Laboratory manuals
The laboratory user manuals and laboratory guidance documents of Ennis Hospital, Nenagh Hospital and University Hospital Limerick are controlled in accordance with the ULHG pathology quality Management system requirements. The current amendments for the laboratory user manuals are outlined in the amendment table in each hospital laboratory user manual.
Download the laboratory manuals.
Feedback is welcome from GPs
We are always improving how we do our business and how we engage with all our partners including GPs. We welcome all GP feedback. This helps us to recognise where we need to make improvements and if changes we make have a positive effect.
Please contact us on ciaram.foley@hse.ie