University of Limerick hospital group has issued an appeal to the public to consider other options for health care over the Bank Holiday weekend as the Emergency Department(ED) expects to be very busy. Hospital management says it must balance the demand for emergency healthcare with the needs of inpatients while safely maintaining time-critical and other elective activity. Those needing health care are asked to consider using an Injury Unit available in Nenagh or St Johns Limerick or other healthcare options to help avoid “inevitably long waits at the ED.”
Nenagh Injury Unit is open 8am-8pm, and St John’s Injury Unit 8am-7pm. The injury unit in Cashel is closed on weekends.
During March the ED in Limerick has had a daily average of 226 patients exceeding by 16% the average 195 daily attendances recorded in 2019. Over the last three days the attendance figures at Limerick ED are 234, 256 and 239 in the 24-hour period to 8am this morning (Thursday). Additional ward rounding is ongoing so that appropriate patients can be discharged or transferred to Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospital. Hospital management are trying to further expedite suitable discharges home or to community care beds. Consultants and senior clinical decision makers have been requested to be available over the weekend in order to support the discharge and movement of patients.
UL Hospital management says anyone with a serious injury or unexpected illness should come to the Emergency Department or call 999/112.
