People are being urged to consider alternative care options before presenting at the emergency department at the region’s main hospital.
It comes as University Hospital Limerick is dealing with ‘very high attendances’ at the ED.
The UL Hospital’s Group is urging the public to avoid attending the emergency department at the region’s main hospital, unless absolutely necessary.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation this morning recorded 80 patients waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick, with 60 of those on trolleys in the ED.
Officials say the hospital is currently very busy managing high attendances of very sick people with a variety of complex illnesses, including COVID-19.
People with less urgent care needs are advised to expect long delays at the ED today as they work to ensure that care is prioritised for the sickest patients.
Additional ward rounds, accelerated discharges and identification of patients for transfer to the group’s Model 2 hospitals are all underway.
The public is being reminded to consider their options before attending, including their GP or GP out of hours service or the Injury Unit at Ennis General, which is open from 8am to 8pm daily.
ULHG is apologising to every patient currently experiencing a long wait for admission to the hospital, and for the inconvenience and frustration this also causes for patients’ loved ones.
For minor injuries, Injury Units are open seven days a week in Ennis Hospital and Nenagh Hospital (8am to 8pm) and in St John’s Hospital from 8am to 7pm. For full contacts for the units, and the services available there, please see: https://www2.hse.ie/services/injury-units/
