UL Hospitals Group is extending today’s one-day cancellation of all but the most time-critical outpatient appointments at University Hospital Limerick, and some elective surgery at St John’s Hospital and UHL, until this Wednesday, October 20.

Patients who are directly affected by these cancellations are being contacted by UL Hospitals Group, and will be rescheduled at the earliest opportunity.

Outpatient appointments at Ennis, Nenagh, Croom and University Maternity Hospital Limerick are unaffected by the decision. Emergency care will also continue through the Emergency Department (ED) in UHL, and the Injury Units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals will remain open.

Services that are unaffected by these cancellations and will continue are: Cancer Clinics; Rapid Access Lung Clinics; Rapid Access Prostate Clinics; Rapid Access Breast Clinics; Nurse led Heart Failure and Cardiac Rehab; Day-case Angiograms; Acute Fracture Clinic, UHL; Endoscopy Clinics; Eye Clinic; ENT Clinic; Endocrinology Clinic; Dermatology Clinic and Vascular Laboratory Clinic.

Patients with an appointment at these specific clinics can attend as normal. The situation is being reviewed daily, in the hope of resuming the cancelled services as soon as possible.

A spokesperson for the group said, “UHL continues to manage an extraordinarily high level of emergency presentations, and increasing numbers of COVID-positive patients, and the decision to extend the cancellation in order to assist with patient flow in the hospital.

“The Group renews its appeal for the public’s help by asking them to consider all available care options, while the hospital frees up capacity to care for seriously ill patients presenting to the Emergency Department at UHL.”