SPECIAL FEATURE: Nurses seeking delivery of 24-hour MAU unit

Ennis Hospital nurses have requested Health Minister Dr James Reilly to consider operating the proposed medical assessment unit (MAU) on a 24-hour basis to ensure the hospital reaches its full potential.

Encouraged by the success of the 50-bedded unit, which is built to the highest SARI infection control standards, three nurses put forward a plan to maximise the hospital’s resources even further during a meeting with Dr Reilly on Monday.

Margaret Donnellan, Linda McNamara and Marie O’Brien believe while there have been great improvements in Ennis Hospital, they feel further changes would continue to ensure Clare patients continue to receive the best possible care.

The HSE recently announced plans to split the existing emergency department into a new local injuries unit and medical assessment unit, which may operate on a five day basis from 8am to 8pm.

Considering Ennis Hospital is an integral part of the Mid-Western Regional Hospitals’ Network, the three nurses told Minister Reilly providing the MAU on a 24-hour basis would help alleviate the current pressure on their nursing and medical colleagues at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick.

Clare ambulance personnel have to remain on standby to take critical cases to Limerick once the emergency department closes every day at 8 pm and this results in patients being accommodated on trolleys in Ennis when the 50-bed unit is at full capacity. Because of this requirement, Clare ambulance personnel don’t have the resources to transport patients with non-life threatening illnesses from Ennis Hospital to Limerick after 8 pm.

However, if the new MAU was operational around the clock, it would allow patients to be triaged in terms of the severity of their illness before they are treated and discharged if appropriate, kept in the MAU or other beds in the hospital and would facilitate the transfer of critical cases to Limerick

The nurses believe their proposal would have a hugely positive impact on the provision of acute care for Clare patients, would benefit Ennis Hospital and would also alleviate capacity deficits at Limerick hospital.

In addition to having a high level of skill mix in Ennis, the hospital has plenty of parking and scope for development. In fact, a new pharmacy and physiotherapy department are due to open later this year.