The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
UL Hospitals Group and HSE Mid West Community Healthcare have asked the public in the region to know their available healthcare options ahead of the forthcoming Bank Holiday Weekend.
With the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick open for emergency care, and treatment available for less acute conditions in the Injury Units and Medical Assessment Units at the region’s Model 2 hospitals, ULHG and Mid West Community Healthcare (MWCH) have rostered additional staff to ensure patient flow and access is maximised across the long weekend.
Over the coming days, standard acute hospital care pathways at the ED and injury units will be supported by an expansion of Community Intervention Team services to run 8am-8pm over the weekend, to ensure timely access through GP out-of-hours referral and improve hospital avoidance, and maximise discharges and transfers. An additional complement of triage staff will support UL Hospitals Group efforts to reduce time between presentation and discharge or the decision to admit.
Additional staff are being rostered across a number of disciplines, including radiology to improve inpatient and ED diagnostics over the weekend, and additional allied health professions (Occupational Therapy, Medical Social Work) who will assist with facilitating patient discharges on Bank Holiday Monday. The Pathfinder service run by ULHG Allied Health staff and the HSE National Ambulance Service to provide safe ED-alternative care at home to people over 65 years, will also run in the Limerick area on Bank Holiday Monday from 8am-8pm.
Professor Colette Cowan, CEO, UL Hospitals Group, said: “In preparing for another busy Bank Holiday Weekend we are collaborating closely with our colleagues in Community Healthcare in order to ensure timely access to treatment as well as assisting patient flow and hospital avoidance measures. We’re asking the public to play an important part in this effort by looking after themselves and having an enjoyable and safe weekend. However, accidents can happen and unforeseen circumstances arise, and if you require care, you should first contact your GP out-of-hours services or local chemists. If you feel your problem is life-threatening, you should call 999 or attend the ED at UHL, where you will be prioritised for treatment. For less acute cases, our Injury Units are an excellent option. Additional MAU referral slots in all three of our Medical Assessment Units are available for GPs, following our recent expansion of the MAU service in the Midwest to seven days, including Bank Holidays.”
Maria Bridgeman, Chief Officer, HSE Mid West Community Healthcare, said: “HSE Mid West Community Healthcare has arranged additional services across the region to ensure timely access to care this Bank Holiday weekend. It’s important that each of us knows where to go when we, or our loved ones, are sick or unwell. Taking a moment to choose the best care option will ensure that you receive appropriate care more quickly, and that you’ll be best placed to enjoy more of the fine weather. Remember, your local pharmacist is on hand to advise on common minor illnesses, while your GP or out-of-hours GP service will assist you if you’re feeling unwell, and if it is not an emergency. Details of services in your area are available on the HSE website, www.hse.ie.”
For treatment of less acute injuries, contact the Injury Units at Ennis (8am-8pm daily), Nenagh (8am-8pm) or St John’s Hospital Limerick (8am-7pm). Pub
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
