UHL and Emergency Department managing high demand for emergency and inpatient care
(LIMERICK: 23.01.2024) UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick (UHL) is currently experiencing extremely high demand and we are appealing to the public to consider all care options before presenting at our Emergency Department.
In recent weeks we have been caring for an exceptionally high number of unwell medical patients associated with a surge in respiratory illnesses and who require admission to hospital. A total of 261 patients attended the ED on Monday, significantly above average and it follows an unusually busy weekend.
UHL is currently at its highest state of escalation. Surge capacity has been opened at UHL and across our hospitals. Elective activity in UHL is being reviewed on a daily basis, with only urgent and time-critical patients, including cancer cases, scheduled for surgery this week.
The Emergency Department remains open 24/7 and urgent care is being delivered to those who need it most. Anyone who comes to ED who doesn’t have a life-threatening or severe illness or injury will face a significant wait.
Our teams are working hard to ensure emergency care is available for our patients. The ED is open 24/7 and delivering urgent care to those who need it most.
Injury Units and Medical Assessment Units in our model 2 hospitals at Ennis, Nenagh and St John's are also experiencing an increase in demand. It is encouraging to see this increase in demand for services available in our model 2 hospitals as more patients choose alternatives to the ED.
We apologise to anyone who has had a long wait for admission to University Hospital Limerick in recent days. We thank the public for their patience and support at this time of exceptionally high demand for our services.
At the same time, we ask the public to support us in ensuring emergency care is prioritised for the sickest, most seriously injured and frailest patients.
Commenting on the current demand on health services, Sandra Broderick, Regional Executive Officer, HSE Mid West, said: “UHL is experiencing high demand for emergency care and I encourage members of the public across Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary to utilise alternative care options such as our local pharmacies, who can give advice on minor aliments; your GP; and our Injury Units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s. In addition, I would encourage people to use the GP urgent out-of-hours across the region as alternatives to ED care. I recognise people may require prompt, urgent medical attention that can only be met at the ED and those patients should continue to use the ED service.
“I want to apologise to the public who are experiencing unacceptable and excessive waiting times to access our various services in the community and the hospital. Unfortunately, we have had to reduce our elective activity and open additional surge capacity across our hospitals to manage this increased demand. I want to assure the public that the health and social care teams across the region are working at full capacity to meet this extreme demand and I thank the staff sincerely for their efforts,” Ms Broderick said.
Editors Notes:
Choosing appropriate care
Everyone in the area can help reduce pressure on the ED by considering all the options available to them if they need medical attention. These are listed those below.
However, the public should be assured that anyone who is seriously injured or ill, or worried their life may be at risk, will be assessed for treatment in the Emergency Department as a priority.
Where should people go for care?
We ask everyone in the area to understand the available care options and to avoid the ED except in cases of severe or life-threatening illness or injury.
This will really help us prioritise urgent care for those who need it most. At the same time, you’ll be treated in a fraction of the time you would have spent at the ED.
For breaks, burns and other minor injuries
Injury Units treat broken bones, dislocations, sprains strains, wounds, scalds and minor burns. They are open seven days a week in:
- Ennis, 065 686 3121, V95 HN29: 8am to 8pm
- Nenagh, 067 42311, E45 PT86: 8am to 8pm
- St John’s, Limerick, 061 462 222, V94 H272: 8am to 7pm.
For other less serious illness or conditions
Contact your GP or out-of-hours GP services or talk to your local pharmacist.
Shannondoc: If you have a medical issue that requires urgent attention, call Shannondoc on Lo-call 0818 123500 or on 061 459500 (Operating hours: Monday – Friday 6pm - 8am; Weekends and Public holidays Open 24 hour)
How can I get updates?
Please check @HSELive and @ULHospitals on Twitter/X or hse.iefor the latest and most reliable news.