The UL Hospitals Group is urging the public to consider all available healthcare options over the August Bank Holiday period.
It comes ahead of an expected surge in presentations to Dooradoyle’s Emergency Department over the long weekend.
The UL Hospitals Group and MidWest Community Healthcare are promoting the use of walk in Local Injury Units and Medical Assessment Units via GP referrals as key alternatives to attendance at the Emergency Department in UHL.
Local injury units at Ennis and Nenagh will be open from 8am-8pm daily while the LIU at St.John’s will be operational from 8am to 7pm throughout the weekend.
So far 25,891 patients attended Injury Units in the MidWest from Jan-July 2023, a 2% increase on the same period last year.
Additional staff have been rostered across hospital and community services to enhance patient flow and access to services throughout the long 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.
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 will also be in place over the weekend to support diagnostic reporting.
The community paramedic meanwhile, 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 which will provide safe ED-alternative care at home to people over 65 years, is operational on Bank Holiday Monday, 8am-8pm.
Dr Damien Ryan, Emergency Medicine Consultant and ULHG Clinical Director of Urgent & Emergency Care, urged members of the public to familiarise themselves with the full range of treatment options available in UL Hospitals Group, especially the access arrangements around Injury Units and Medical Assessment Units.
Dr Ryan said: “The ED at UHL is one of the busiest in Ireland, as it serves people from three counties. Long waits are inevitable for patients who are not acutely ill with life-threatening conditions or injuries: those are the priority cases in any ED. However, our Injury Units at Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s are an excellent option for less acute injuries. People should familiarise themselves with the contact details of their nearest Injury Unit, which are available on the HSE website, and also ask their family doctors about Medical Assessment Units, where they can be referred by GPs for prompt diagnosis and treatment of a range of medical conditions like chest infections, COPD, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, fainting episodes, clots in the leg, anaemia and non-acute cardiac problems. Familiarising yourself with these options now can help save incredibly valuable time in the event of someone suffering a sudden injury or illness that needs to be treated promptly.”
Niamh Wallace, Acting Chief Officer, HSE Mid West Community Healthcare reminded people to consider all healthcare options, including those located in communities throughout the region. “We are encouraging anyone who needs medical support this weekend to take a moment and ensure they choose the best care option for them. This will ensure that you receive the care you need more quickly. Local out-of-hours GP services will be on hand across the weekend, if you are unwell and if it is not an emergency. Local pharmacies will also be able to offer over-the-counter remedies and advice to those with minor ailments. No one wants to make an unnecessary trip to hospital, and these services may be able to help you to better enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend. Details of services in your area are available on www.hse.ie.
Prof Colette Cowan, CEO, UL Hospitals Group, described the Group’s three Injury Units as a key resource this Bank Holiday Weekend for patients who sustain injuries that may not require treatment in the Emergency Department: “All three of our Injury Units are being used in ever increasing numbers by people who sustain injuries that are not threatening to life or limb but still require prompt medical attention. At a time when our ED is being attended by very high numbers of extremely sick patients, Injury Units can treat those less acute injuries and conditions within a much shorter time than would be possible in the ED. Injury Units are a key resource and should be a first port of call in these less acute cases, and we urge people to check the HSE website for details of the services available there.”
