UL Hospitals Group partners with GAA to highlight the benefits of HSE Injury Units
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Monday 22nd April, 2024 ¦ UL HOSPITALS Group has launched an initiative with GAA County Boards and clubs in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary to promote HSE Injury Units in the Mid West.
Emergency Medicine consultants from UL Hospitals Group are meeting with Limerick, Clare and Tipperary GAA County Boards over the coming months to discuss Injury Units and their benefits. The meetings kicked on Tuesday 9th April at the Limerick County Board meeting at the Woodlands Hotel in Adare, attended by Board members and over 30 club representatives.
UL Hospitals Group is urging GAA clubs across the region to display posters in their clubs and share information about injury units on social media to raise awareness. The poster contains a QR code which people can scan for further information.
As Emergency Departments across Ireland experience significant and increased pressures, the HSE is encouraging the public to consider all care options available. These options include Injury Units, as well as community pharmacies, GP and out-of-hours GP services.
Injury Units treat injuries that are non-life-threatening and unlikely to need a hospital stay.
You can get safe, expert help quickly in an Injury Unit for non-life-threatening or minor injuries and avoid long waits in an Emergency Department.
Common minor injuries include:
- broken bones (collarbone to fingertips or knees to toes)
- sprains and strains
- dislocations
- minor burns
Our expert staff take x-rays, apply plaster casts and treat wounds by stitches or other means. They can refer patients to specialist care, and arrange follow-up appointments where necessary.
People with injuries that are life-threatening, particularly anything to do with the back, chest, neck or head, should still go to the Emergency Department where they will be treated.
There are three Injury Units in the Mid West region:
- Ennis Injury Unit, Ennis Hospital, Co Clare
- St John’s Injury Unit, St John’s Hospital, Limerick City
- Nenagh Injury Unit, Nenagh Hospital, Co. Tipperary
Our Injury Units are open seven days a week, all year round including Bank Holidays. Ennis and Nenagh are open from 8am to 8pm and St.John’s is open from 8am to 7pm.
Most people who attend an Injury Unit are treated and home in under two hours.
Last year (2023) in Limerick 17,583 patients attended St. John’s Injury Unit and 46,704 patients attended our Injury Units across the Mid West.
Speaking at the recent County Board meeting in Limerick, Dr Cormac Mehigan, Emergency Medicine Consultant, UL Hospitals Group said, “We welcome this support from the GAA in promoting our Injury Units as an option for treating minor injuries. We see lots of sports injuries at UL Hospitals coming into the summer season and minor injuries can be treated in our Injury Units. We would ask parents, coaches and players to consider Injury Units as an option for treatment of minor injuries. If there is any doubt about where to go please call your nearest Injury Unit and the expert teams there will advise you.“
Seamus McNamara, County Chairperson, Limerick GAA said, “We are delighted to support this important campaign with the HSE and help to get the word out there about Injury Units. While there is some awareness already, there is room for more, particularly around opening times at weekends. We also know from talking to parents and players, that the standard of care in the HSE Injury Units is very good so the option is there for treatment of minor injuries.”