Additional staff have been rostered across hospital and community services in the Midwest in anticipation of high Emergency Department attendances this Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
HSE Midwest is encouraging people to familiarise themselves with all of their healthcare options before attending the ED.
Ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, HSE Mid West says it’s focused on integrated hospital and community healthcare initiatives at every step of the patient journey.
The Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick is open 24/7 for the most acute and life-threatening conditions, with additional Consultants on duty.
In response to high ED attendances, there’s enhanced and expanded local patient access to Urgent Care facilities and Medical Assessments Units as an alternate pathway to ED.
Injury Units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s are open from 8am-8pm for walk-in treatment of minor injuries such as breaks, sprains and burns and patients are typically seen and treated in under two hours.
Medical Assessment Units are open 16 hours a day, seven days a week, providing a direct referral pathway for GPs to secure prompt assessment and treatment of medical patients, who otherwise might have presented to Limerick ED.
Community Intervention Team services will operate from 8am-8pm daily and planned Essential Weekend Nursing Services provide support to patients discharged prior to the weekend and to those who require clinical interventions.
Shannondoc Out of Hours GP Services, meanwhile, will operate for the duration of the bank holiday weekend until 8am on Tuesday morning.
