All elective activity and outpatient clinics at the region’s main hospital are cancelled for the remainder of the week.
It’s in a bid to de-escalate the high numbers attending University Hospital Limerick’s Emergency Department, ahead of what’s expected to be a busy Bank Holiday Weekend.
Elective activity and outpatient clinics at UHL are cancelled from Wednesday to Friday inclusive as the hospital continues to deal with exceptionally high attendances to their Accident and Emergency department.
Activity at the other hospitals within the UL Hospital’s Group is unaffected by the decision, and emergency care will continue.
In a statement issued by the group, they say the move is necessary in order to manage risk and stabilise the UHL site in advance of what is anticipated to be a busy long weekend.
Patients directly affected by the cancellation are being contacted directly by ULHG, and they say the appointments will be rescheduled at the earliest opportunity.
In the 24-hour period to 8am this morning, 265 patients attended the department – far in excess of the 195 average attendances at the ED recorded in 2019, the last full year pre-pandemic.
This followed a weekend in which attendances were above the average attendances for the equivalent period in 2019.
On Saturday, there were 207 attendances, and on Sunday, 185.
The average attendance on Saturdays and Sundays during July of 2019 was approximately 157.
The hospital are once again reiterating their appeal for people to consider all other care options before presenting and are warning that long delays will be inevitable for people with less urgent conditions.
