The UL Hospitals Group and HSE MidWest Community Healthcare are encouraging people in Clare to explore all available healthcare options ahead of the Bank Holiday Weekend.
Additional staff are rostered across hospital and community services to enhance patient flow and access to services over the coming days, on what is traditionally a very busy weekend for health services.
This month has seen record-breaking trolley numbers at the region’s main hospital and in preparing for the demands of a traditionally busy holiday, ULHG and MWCH are focussing on integrated initiatives at every step of the patient journey, from hospital avoidance to discharges and transfers.
The UL Hospitals Group is promoting its Injury Units for walk-in treatment of minor injuries, while the three Medical Assessment Units (MAUs) will be open for GP-referral of more complex medical conditions.
Additional emergency medicine consultants and nursing staff are rostered for triage in the ED, and senior ULHG Management will be on site every day.
Additional radiology support is also in place over the weekend to support diagnostic reporting.
MWCH will support patient discharges across the Bank Holiday weekend by expanding Community Intervention Team services, which will run from 8am-8pm daily.
Essential equipment will also be provided to patients leaving hospitals, such as hospital beds and mattresses through the Aids and Appliances Department.
Additional allied health professionals will assist with facilitating patient discharges on Bank Holiday Monday, while GP out-of-hours services will also be operational throughout the weekend.
The community paramedic is also rostered for the three days of the holiday weekend, and the region’s Pathfinder service, providing safe ED-alternative care at home to people over 65 years, is operational on Bank Holiday Monday from 8am-8pm.
The APP service, which sees specialist emergency medicine doctors and NAS personnel responding to low-acuity ambulance calls within a 45-minute radius of Limerick City will also be operating on Monday.
