UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick (UHL) is currently experiencing exceptionally high demand and is appealing to the public to consider all care options before presenting at the Emergency Department(ED).
With 249 ED attendances on Tuesday, and a daily average 228 patients attending over the past week, UHL is currently at its highest state of escalation. Surge capacity has been opened at UHL and across other hospitals in the region. Elective activity in UHL is being reviewed on a daily basis, with only urgent and time-critical patients, including cancer cases, scheduled for surgery tomorrow(Wednesday)
Injury Units and Medical Assessment Units(MAU) at Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s are also experiencing an increase in demand. Over the last nine days, there has been an average of 166 Injury Unit attendances and 54 MAU attendances in these three hospitals. This compares to 121 Injury Unit attendances and 35 MAU attendances last year.
Hospital management says anyone who is seriously injured or ill, or worried their life may be at risk, will be assessed for treatment in the Emergency Department as a priority. The INMO reported 103 patients on trolleys at the hospital earlier today.
