Measures to ease overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick are to remain in effect for the coming days.
The hospital group has created extra beds in it’s other hospitals and will continue to cancel some day and elective surgeries in UHL, Ennis, Croom, St John’s and Nenagh next week to deliver this capacity.
Use will also be made of beds in private hospitals to ensure the Emergency Department is not overcrowded.
Concerns for patient dignity, appropriate care, stress on staff and fire safety issues have all been consequences of the overcrowding at the ED which serves the entire Mid West Region.
Outpatient clinics will resume at UHL from January 9th.
Visiting restrictions will remain in place at UHL due to high levels of flu and Covid-19 at the hospital.
Management at UHL expects to see high numbers of attendances at the ED and high numbers of admitted patients waiting for beds to continue into the coming weeks.
Patients affected by cancellations are being contacted directly by hospital staff.
Patients who are not contacted by phone or by text to cancel their appointment are advised to attend as scheduled.
