HSE Mid West has issued an urgent statement asking that only patients with “life-threatening emergencies” attend the emergency department (ED) at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) this Sunday (October 5).
This comes as the ED is facing “exceptionally high demand with a significant number of admitted patients being accommodated on trolleys”.
The health service asked that the public consider alternatives to ED care, including injury units and out-of-hours GP services, warning of “substantial wait times” at UHL.
UHL has faced near-record overcrowding this week, with 147 patients left waiting on trolleys across the ED and wards at the Dooradoyle hospital on Monday according to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. On Friday, there were 127 patients waiting on trolleys for in-hospital bedspace.
A statement issued by the hospital this Sunday said that the hospital is again experiencing “exceptionally high demand”.
“We are urging patients and service users to use all available alternative services where possible. Injury units and out-of-hours GP services are fully operational and can provide care for non-life-threatening conditions,” a HSE Mid West spokesman said.
“The emergency department at UHL is open 24-7 for patients with life-threatening emergencies however patients with less urgent injuries or illnesses are likely to wait substantial waiting times.”
The spokesman said that injury units at Ennis, Nenagh, and St John’s hospitals are open until 8pm this evening, where overall patient turnaround times are averaging less than two hours.
Surge capacity is currently open across all HSE Mid West hospital sites, and additional staff are rostered to increase discharges.
HSE Mid West apologised to “every patient who is currently facing an unacceptably long waiting time for a bed and our staff are doing everything possible to provide the best possible care while they do wait”.
“We thank the public for their patience at this time of exceptionally high demand for hospital services, and ask them to continue supporting us in ensuring emergency care is prioritised for the sickest, most seriously injured and frailest patients.
“We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and sincerely thank all hospital staff for their professionalism, dedication, and compassionate care during this period of exceptional activity.
“We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as necessary.”
