Lengthy delays at UHL as very high numbers present to ED

UL HOSPITALS Group has appealed to the public to consider all other care options before presenting at the emergency department in UHL, with over 270 patients having attended on consecutive days this week.

A spokesperson for the group said, average daily attendances last year were only 210 and that as of 8am this morning at UHL, a total of 36 admitted patients were waiting in the ED for an inpatient bed.

“We are currently caring for high volumes of frail elderly patients and other patients with complex care needs and people with less urgent care needs are advised to expect long delays at the ED today,” the spokesperson said.

“We are working to ensure that care is prioritised for the sickest patients. As part of our escalation plan, additional ward rounds, accelerated discharges and identification of patients for transfer to our Model 2 hospitals are all underway.

“Patients who are seriously ill or injured or worried that their life is in danger must continue to attend the ED where they will be treated as a priority. Less acutely unwell patients are asked to first consider our Injury Units, GPs, out-of-hours GP services and pharmacists before attending ED.”

The spokesperson also advised that due to temporary staffing deficits, exacerbated by Covid-19, Nenagh Injury Unit is operating a reduced service this Wednesday and new patients were being directed to Ennis Injury Unit and St John’s Injury Unit (8am-7pm). Nenagh Injury Unit will resume normal service on Thursday, October 20 (8am-8pm).

For full contacts for the units, and the services available there, please see this link

“We apologise to every patient who is currently experiencing a long wait for admission at UHL, and for the inconvenience and frustration this also causes for patients’ loved ones,” the spokesperson concluded