Avoid Limerick ED except in cases of severe or life-threatening illness or injury

UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick has warned that there have been a surge of patients and are now asking people to ‘consider other options’ before presenting to the department (ED).

With 249 ED attendances on Tuesday, October 10, and a daily average 228 patients attending over the past week, UHL is currently at its highest state of escalation. 

In a statement released by UHL, the advice given is as follows: “Anyone who comes to ED who doesn’t have a life-threatening or severe illness or injury will face a significant wait.

“Our teams are working hard to ensure emergency care is available for our patients. The ED is open 24/7 and delivering urgent care to those who need it most.”

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Elective activity in UHL is being reviewed on a daily basis, with only urgent and time-critical patients, including cancer cases, scheduled for surgery this Wednesday, October 11.

Injury Units and Medical Assessment Units in model hospitals at Ennis, Nenagh and St John's are also experiencing an increase in demand. 

“We apologise to anyone who has had a long wait for admission to University Hospital Limerick in recent days. We thank the public for their patience and support at this time of exceptionally high demand for our services.

“At the same time, we ask the public to support us in ensuring emergency care is prioritised for the sickest, most seriously injured and frailest patients,” the statement concludes.

Injury Units treat broken bones, dislocations, sprains strains, wounds, scalds and minor burns. They are open seven days a week in:

Ennis, 065 686 3121, V95 HN29: 8am to 8pm 
Nenagh, 067 42311, E45 PT86: 8am to 8pm
St John’s, Limerick, 061 462 222, V94 H272: 8am to 7pm.