Midwest health officials are urging people to consider all their care options before attending the region’s Emergency Department over the coming days.

It comes as University Hospital Limerick continues to experience high attendances in the run-up to the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Ahead of the August bank holiday weekend, HSE Mid West is encouraging people to familiarise themselves with all community and hospital options available to meet their healthcare needs.

It says GP out-of-hours services and pharmacies may be more helpful than presenting at the Emergency Department, as GPs can also refer appropriate patients to medical assessment units, which are open seven days a week at Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s hospitals.

Shannondoc Out of Hours GP Services will operate for the duration of the bank holiday weekend and can be contacted on 0818 123 500.

The Injury Units at Ennis Hospital operates 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.

The Medical Assessment Unit is open 16 hours a day, from 8am to 12 midnight, seven days a week and provides a direct referral pathway for GPs to secure prompt assessment and treatment of medical patients who otherwise might have presented to the ED in Limerick.

The Emergency Department at UHL, meanwhile, remains open 24/7 for the most acute and life-threatening conditions and amid high attendances this week, hospital management is working to maximise patient flow across the healthcare system in the region.