Public urged to consider alternative emergency care options to UHL this bank holiday weekend

HEALTH services in the Midwest are urging the public to explore all avenues of care before presenting at A&E this October bank holiday weekend.

With high attendance numbers expected at Emergency Departments, UL Hospitals Group (ULHG) and HSE Mid West Community Healthcare (MWCH) are asking people to consider other methods of care including their GP’s, pharmacists and out of hours services before presenting at the Emergency Department at UHL

As always, people who do require emergency care are encouraged to attend EDs where they will be prioritised.

Maria Bridgeman, Chief Officer of HSE MWCH is urging the public to consider all healthcare options and to avoid unnecessary visits to the Emergency Department. "It’s important that each of us knows where to go when we, or our loved ones, are sick or unwell. Going to the right place will help ensure that you receive timely care."

With the Emergency Department at UHL open 24/7 for the most acute and life-threatening conditions, ULHG is promoting its injury units for walk-in treatment of minor injuries such as breaks, sprains and burns, and its three Medical Assessment Units (MAUs) for GP-referral of more complex medical conditions.

ShannonDoc Out-of-Hours GP Service is also available for urgent medical problems outside of regular GP’s surgery hours, and can be contacted on 0818-123500 or 061-459500.

Local Injury Units can treat injuries that are unlikely to need hospital admission and are more convenient and often quicker than an emergency department.

You don’t need an appointment or a GP referral to attend any of the three injury units across the Midwest in Ennis (open 8am-8pm daily), Nenagh (8am-8pm) and St John’s Hospital Limerick (8am-7pm).

Injury units can treat broken bones to legs (from knees to toes) and arms (from collarbone to fingertips), sprains and strains, minor facial injuries, scalds and burns, abrasions and wounds such as bites and lacerations, objects stuck in eyes, ears or nose and minor head injuries.

Professor Colette Cowan, CEO of ULHG, said the injury units were a major component of the group's strategy to provide timely treatment for people who sustain minor injuries that do not require treatment in the UHL Emergency Department.

"At a time when we’re experiencing high demand for emergency care, the consultant-led teams in our injury units do an outstanding job in providing care for people who suffer minor injuries that may not be threatening to life or limb but nevertheless require prompt medical attention.

"This bank holiday weekend, it’s important as ever to remember to choose care pathways carefully, and that these less acute injuries can be treated much more quickly in injury units than in the ED."

For information on when you should go to the ED visit hse.ie/ emergencies or you can get advice on a number of illnesses that can be treated at home at hse.ie/ conditions/common-illnesses. The HSE’s mychild website also has lots of information regarding childhood illness and viruses.

Many local pharmacies will be open over the weekend including the bank holiday Monday to help with minor illnesses. Find out more about the services offered by your local pharmacy here.