The UL Hospitals Group is anticipating increased pressure on the ED at the region’s main hospital this Bank Holiday weekend, amid a spike in Covid cases in the region.
Additional resources have been put in place at University Hospital Limerick to meet demand over the coming days, with patients encouraged to consider all their care options before attending the ED.
This week has seen record numbers of patients attending the region’s main hospital for the beginning of August, with trolley numbers reaching a peak of 110 on Tuesday, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives organisation.
That number has reduced to 59 today, but concern remains that traditional bank holiday pressures will lead to an increase in overcrowding.
In an effort to meet demand, the UL Hospitals Group and Midwest Community Healthcare have focused on integrated initiatives at all stages of the patient journey, from hospital avoidance, to discharge and transfers.
Additional emergency medicine consultants and nursing staff are rostered for triage in the ED and senior management will be on site every day, while additional radiology support is also in place to support diagnostic reporting.
Midwest Community Healthcare will support patient discharges by expanding Community Intervention Team services and provide essential equipment to patients leaving hospitals.
Additional allied health professionals in Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Medical Social Work will also assist with facilitating patient discharges from the region’s hospitals on Bank Holiday Monday.
Dr Damien Ryan, who’s an Emergency Medicine Consultant and ULHG’s Clinical Director of Urgent & Emergency Care, is encouraging people to familiarise themselves with treatment options including the Injury Unit and Medical Assessment Units at Ennis General and GP out of hours services.
He says they’re expecting a busy Bank Holiday weekend.
You can listen to the full interview below.
Meanwhile, increased hospitalisations on account of the spike in Covid cases has prompted a warning from a Clare GP for people to take the necessary precautions in social and workplace settings to prevent transmission.
All community testing centres stood down in April, with only healthcare workers, GPs and private companies administering PCR tests, and eight Covid cases were confirmed using this method in Clare just last week.
The HSE is still still advising people experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, dry coughs or fever to stay home for up to 48 hours and avoid contact with others.
Ennis Medical Centre GP, Fergus Glynn says while there is no cause for panic, people need to remain vigilant around vulnerable citizens.
A Clare member of the Oireachtas Health Committee believes, meanwhile, that hospitals need to be be supported during this time.
Ennistymon Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway says people still have a personal responsibility to avoid spreading the virus.
Statement From The UL Hospitals Group
UL Hospitals Group (ULHG) and HSE Mid West Community Healthcare (MWCH) are encouraging the public in the region to know their available healthcare options ahead of this Bank Holiday Weekend.
ULHG is promoting Injury Units (walk-in) and Medical Assessment Units (GP referrals) as key alternatives to attendance at the Emergency Department (ED) in UHL, and additional staff are rostered across hospital and community services to enhance patient flow and access to services throughout the long weekend.
ULHG and MWCH have focused on integrated initiatives at all stages of the patient journey – from hospital avoidance to discharge/transfers – to meet demand. Hospital Management Team meetings will continue daily throughout the weekend.
MWCH will support patient discharges from ULHG across the Bank Holiday weekend by expanding Community Intervention Team services, which will run from 8am-8pm daily. MWCH will also provide essential equipment to patients leaving hospitals such as hospital beds and mattresses through the Aids and Appliances Department. Additional allied health professionals (Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Medical Social Work) will assist with facilitating patient discharges from ULHG on Bank Holiday Monday. GP out-of-hours services will also be operational throughout the weekend, ensuring timely access to care and improving hospital avoidance.
Relatives and loved ones of hospital inpatients are asked to continue booking visits through the UL Hospitals Group Visitor App, available online at ulhgvisitor.com, which allows quick and convenient booking of a time slot within the visiting hours on all hospital sites.
In UHL, additional emergency medicine consultants and nursing staff are rostered for triage in ED, and senior ULHG management will be on site every day. Additional radiology support is in place over the weekend to support diagnostic reporting.
The community paramedic is rostered for the three days of the holiday weekend, and the region’s Pathfinder service run by ULHG Allied Health staff and the HSE National Ambulance Service to provide safe ED-alternative care at home to people over 65 years, is operational on Bank Holiday Monday, 8am-8pm.
With ED open 24-7 for emergency care, ULHG is emphasising the importance of the Injury Unit and Medical Assessment Unit pathways in decreasing pressure on the ED at UHL and ensuring timely medical treatment for patients with less acute medical conditions.
There has been a significant increase in activity at Injury Units and Medical Assessment Units in recent years, as the public become more aware of these treatment options and UL Hospitals Group continues to invest in services at its three smaller ‘Model 2’ hospitals.
Injury Units:
25,891 patients attended our Injury Units from Jan-July 2023, a 2% increase on the same period last year.
Injury Units provide timely treatment for injuries such as sprains, breaks, cuts and burns that are not threatening to life or limb but which require prompt medical attention.
Medical Assessment Units:
A record 12,737 patients were referred to our MAUs in 2022, and national funding of €5.2m has enabled the Group to open all three units on a seven-day basis this year, significantly increasing access for GPs and their patients. MAU assessments are booked by GPs for the diagnosis and treatment of patients referred with such medical conditions as chest infections, COPD, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, fainting episodes, clots in the leg, anaemia and non-acute cardiac problems. The increased capacity in MAUs provides an additional ‘pressure valve’ for ED at busy periods, as Emergency Medicine consultants can refer to the units also.
It is essential that unwell medical patients do NOT attend MAUs without a GP referral.
