More Elective Procedures Deferred By UL Hospitals Group

UHL Corridor

The UL Hospitals Group has announced a further cancellation of surgeries and outpatient appointments across its six hospital sites.

In an effective continuation of moves that have been in place since the beginning of the week, overall activity is being greatly reduced at the hospital as they focus on the COVID-19 outbreak.

There are a number of exceptions (listed below).

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Strict visiting restrictions have also been in place this week, and it’s expected that an update on those will be released this afternoon.

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Media Release: UL Hospitals Group Reducing Elective Activity until Friday, March 13th

(LIMERICK 11/03/20): THE cancellation of almost all elective surgeries and outpatient appointments across all six sites of UL Hospitals Group is to be extended until the end of this week, Friday, March 13th.

The UL Hospitals Group crisis management team has extended the measures in the interests of patient and staff safety, and we regret any inconvenience or distress caused to those patients who are affected by the cancellations. Those patients will be rescheduled at the earliest opportunity.

There are a number of exceptions where appointments are still going ahead this Thursday and Friday:

–          Dialysis (UHL)

–          Cancer services (oncology and haematology day ward; haematology and oncology OPD clinics; medical oncology clinics; Ward 4B appointments) (UHL)

–          Cardiology diagnostics (UHL)

–          OPAT (antibiotic therapy) (UHL)

–          Radiology outpatients (UHL)

–          Fracture Clinic (UHL)

–          Paediatrics: oncology/radiology day case/diabetes service (UHL)

–          Ante-natal clinic; colposcopy clinic; diabetes in pregnancy clinic; Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit; caesarean -sections and induction of labour (UMHL)

 –          Warfarin Clinic (Ennis Hospital)

–       Antenatal Clinic (Ennis Hospital

–          Elective surgery for paediatric patients (Croom Orthopaedic Hospital)

–          Radiology appointments (Nenagh Hospital)

For a limited number of other urgent outpatient appointments and procedures, patients will be called directly by staff to confirm the appointment.

The Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick remains open; as do the Injury Units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospital and the medical assessment units (GP referral) around the Group. The Maternity Emergency Unit/Early Pregnancy assessment Unit at UMHL is operating as normal.

We are also urging the public to keep the Emergency Department for emergencies only; a place where priority is given to the seriously injured and ill and those whose lives may be at risk. Anyone else should first consider all the care options available to them in them in their own communities, their family doctors, out-of-hours GP services, or ask their local pharmacies for advice.

Local Injury Units (LIUs) at Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals (8am-8pm daily), and St John’s Hospital (8am-6pm, Monday to Friday) are an excellent option for treatment of broken bones, dislocations, sprains, strains, wounds, scalds and minor burns, without the lengthy wait that can be expected in the ED during busy periods.

If you are unwell and have been to one of the affected areas check for the symptoms of COVID19. If you do have symptoms of coronavirus, phone your GP or local emergency department (ED) without delay.

It is important that you do not go to the Emergency Department or your GP. Ring them in advance for advice. Avoid contact with other people by self-isolating. In a medical emergency (if you have severe symptoms, call 112 or 999.

UL Hospitals Group CEO, Colette Cowan, said: “We sincerely regret having to reduce services and restrict visiting across our sites. However, patient safety is our highest priority and as part of a number of actions in that regard, it is necessary to reduce activity and prioritise services for our sickest patients. We are working to resume normal service at the earliest appropriate opportunity”.

 “We ask that members of the public help in the national effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 by observing the visitor ban in our hospitals, by attending the Emergency Department at UHL only when necessary; by following relevant public health advice around hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette and social distancing; and taking simple precautions to protect themselves, their loved ones and our community at large.”

 

 

 

 

 Notes:

 

COVID-19 is spread through close contact with an infected person’s body fluids (for example, droplets from coughing or sneezing). It is also spread by touching surfaces that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on, which is one of the reasons why it is so important that people wash their hands regularly, practice respiratory etiquette, and try to avoid touching their face.

It can take up to 14 days for symptoms of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) to show.

Symptoms may include:

a cough
shortness of breath
breathing difficulties
fever (high temperature)
Covid-19 (Coronavirus) can also cause more severe illness, including:

pneumonia
shortness of breath
breathing difficulties
fever (high temperature)
Things you can do to protect yourself from getting Covid-19 (Coronavirus) include:

wash your hand properly and regularly
cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze
Wash your hands properly and regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub:
– after coughing and sneezing
– after toilet use
– before eating
– before and after preparing food
The general public is advised to follow advice from the HSE and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre to protect their health.

 

Any person concerned that they may have symptoms of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) should immediately isolate themselves from others and contact their GP by phone.

Media Release: UL Hospitals Group Reducing Elective Activity until Friday, March 13th

(LIMERICK 11/03/20): THE cancellation of almost all elective surgeries and outpatient appointments across all six sites of UL Hospitals Group is to be extended until the end of this week, Friday, March 13th.

The UL Hospitals Group crisis management team has extended the measures in the interests of patient and staff safety, and we regret any inconvenience or distress caused to those patients who are affected by the cancellations. Those patients will be rescheduled at the earliest opportunity.

There are a number of exceptions where appointments are still going ahead this Thursday and Friday:

–          Dialysis (UHL)

–          Cancer services (oncology and haematology day ward; haematology and oncology OPD clinics; medical oncology clinics; Ward 4B appointments) (UHL)

–          Cardiology diagnostics (UHL)

–          OPAT (antibiotic therapy) (UHL)

–          Radiology outpatients (UHL)

–          Fracture Clinic (UHL)

–          Paediatrics: oncology/radiology day case/diabetes service (UHL)

–          Ante-natal clinic; colposcopy clinic; diabetes in pregnancy clinic; Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit; caesarean -sections and induction of labour (UMHL)

 –          Warfarin Clinic (Ennis Hospital)

–       Antenatal Clinic (Ennis Hospital

–          Elective surgery for paediatric patients (Croom Orthopaedic Hospital)

–          Radiology appointments (Nenagh Hospital)

For a limited number of other urgent outpatient appointments and procedures, patients will be called directly by staff to confirm the appointment.

The Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick remains open; as do the Injury Units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospital and the medical assessment units (GP referral) around the Group. The Maternity Emergency Unit/Early Pregnancy assessment Unit at UMHL is operating as normal.

We are also urging the public to keep the Emergency Department for emergencies only; a place where priority is given to the seriously injured and ill and those whose lives may be at risk. Anyone else should first consider all the care options available to them in them in their own communities, their family doctors, out-of-hours GP services, or ask their local pharmacies for advice.

Local Injury Units (LIUs) at Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals (8am-8pm daily), and St John’s Hospital (8am-6pm, Monday to Friday) are an excellent option for treatment of broken bones, dislocations, sprains, strains, wounds, scalds and minor burns, without the lengthy wait that can be expected in the ED during busy periods.

If you are unwell and have been to one of the affected areas check for the symptoms of COVID19. If you do have symptoms of coronavirus, phone your GP or local emergency department (ED) without delay.

It is important that you do not go to the Emergency Department or your GP. Ring them in advance for advice. Avoid contact with other people by self-isolating. In a medical emergency (if you have severe symptoms, call 112 or 999.

UL Hospitals Group CEO, Colette Cowan, said: “We sincerely regret having to reduce services and restrict visiting across our sites. However, patient safety is our highest priority and as part of a number of actions in that regard, it is necessary to reduce activity and prioritise services for our sickest patients. We are working to resume normal service at the earliest appropriate opportunity”.

 “We ask that members of the public help in the national effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 by observing the visitor ban in our hospitals, by attending the Emergency Department at UHL only when necessary; by following relevant public health advice around hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette and social distancing; and taking simple precautions to protect themselves, their loved ones and our community at large.”

 

Notes:

COVID-19 is spread through close contact with an infected person’s body fluids (for example, droplets from coughing or sneezing). It is also spread by touching surfaces that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on, which is one of the reasons why it is so important that people wash their hands regularly, practice respiratory etiquette, and try to avoid touching their face.

It can take up to 14 days for symptoms of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) to show.

Symptoms may include:

a cough
shortness of breath
breathing difficulties
fever (high temperature)
Covid-19 (Coronavirus) can also cause more severe illness, including:

pneumonia
shortness of breath
breathing difficulties
fever (high temperature)
Things you can do to protect yourself from getting Covid-19 (Coronavirus) include:

wash your hand properly and regularly
cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze
Wash your hands properly and regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub:
– after coughing and sneezing
– after toilet use
– before eating
– before and after preparing food
The general public is advised to follow advice from the HSE and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre to protect their health.

Any person concerned that they may have symptoms of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) should immediately isolate themselves from others and contact their GP by phone.