Health Officials in the Midwest are encouraging people to familiarise themselves with all local community and hospital options available over the coming days.
The October Bank Holiday weekend is traditionally a busy weekend for health services in the region.
HSE Midwest is advising that the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick remains open 24/7 for the most acute and life-threatening conditions.
With high attendances in the run-up to the bank holiday weekend, however, hospital management is working to maximise patient flow in the region’s six hospitals and across the healthcare system.
Health officials say GP out-of-hours services and local pharmacies may be more helpful to consider, instead of presenting at the ED, while GPs can also refer appropriate patients to the Medical Assessment Unit in Ennis, which is open seven days a week.
The Injury Unit at Ennis Hospital operates from 8am-8pm seven days a week for walk-in treatment of minor injuries such as breaks, sprains and burns and patients are typically seen and treated in under two hours.
You don’t need an appointment to attend an Injury Unit, and if you’re referred by a GP, you will not have to pay the €75 fee.
Together, the Injury Units and Medical Assessment Units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals are managing approximately 1,300 patients per week.
Shannondoc, meanwhile, provides urgent out-of-hours medical services when GP surgeries are closed, and the GP out-of-hours service operates 6pm-8am Monday to Friday, and for the duration of the Bank Holiday weekend.
