Significant reductions in scheduled care across UL Hospitals Group due to ED overcrowding

SIGNIFICANT reductions in scheduled care are in effect across UL Hospitals Group this Wednesday until further notice as they manage high volumes of patients through the Emergency Department (ED) at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

There are 127 patients on trolleys in UHL, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. The figure is more than double the next highest in the country - Cork University Hospital with 57.

Demand for emergency care at present is adversely affecting wait times and patient experience and at a meeting of the executive management team this Wednesday, attended by the regional executive officer, Sandra Broderick, a number of measures were agreed to de-escalate the UHL site, reduce wait times and improve patient flow.

This has resulted in the deferral of elective inpatient and day surgery, endoscopy and outpatient appointments until further notice at UHL, Ennis Hospital, Nenagh Hospital, St John’s Hospital and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital.

Services at University Maternity Hospital Limerick continue as normal and patients there are advised to attend for their appointments.

"We regret the impact this decision will have on patients waiting for surgery, appointments and investigations; and all affected patients are being contacted directly by hospital staff.

"These appointments will be rescheduled as soon as possible. In line with our escalation plan, we are currently prioritising care for our sickest patients and we sincerely regret the significant reduction in services across our hospitals," said a UL Hospitals Group spokesperson.

The Emergency Department at UHL remains open 24-7 for emergency cases and emergency and trauma surgery is continuing. Injury Units and medical assessment units at Ennis, Nenagh, and St John’s hospitals are all operating as normal.

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There are a limited number of exceptions to these deferrals in scheduled care. Appointments at UHL which are going ahead at this time include:

Time critical surgery (patients being contacted directly)

Cancer services (oncology and haematology day ward; haematology and oncology outpatient clinics; medical oncology clinics; rapid access clinics for breast, lung and prostate)

Dialysis

Cardiology services: Day ward; cardiology diagnostics; heart failure (ANP) clinic and cardiac rehabilitation

Rapid Access Medical Unit (DVT, diabetes, epilepsy, anticoagulant, warfarin, respiratory, fibroscan)

Dermatology, rheumatology, infectious diseases outpatient clinics

Bronchoscopy Rapid Access

CF outpatients

OPAT (outpatient therapy)

Fracture Clinic

Paediatric surgery and outpatient clinics

Vascular Laboratory

Ambulatory trauma (Croom)

"We urge people to continue attending ED for the most serious illnesses and injuries, such as suspected heart attacks and strokes.

"At this time of high demand for our services, anyone who has a less serious injury is going to experience delays, so we ask them to consider all healthcare alternatives to ED where appropriate, including family doctors, out of hours GP services, and local pharmacies.

"Our Injury Units in Nenagh, Ennis and St John’s Hospitals are an excellent care pathway for a range of minor injuries, which are outlined on the HSE website at this link: https://www2.hse.ie/services/injury-units/ ," said the spokesperson.

Ms Broderick said additional measures agreed today to de-escalate our main hospital site at UHL are being taken in the interests of patient care across the region and to prioritise those who are the most acutely unwell.

"Additional surge capacity has been opened at hospitals across the region to manage the current demand for unscheduled care. To further increase capacity, we have also taken the decision today to defer patients scheduled for surgery and for outpatient appointments. These deferrals in care are being kept under review by senior clinicians and the management team.

“We understand that this is very difficult for patients who have in some cases already faced long waits for their appointments. Our staff will be working over the coming days and weeks to ensure affected patients are rescheduled as soon as possible,” said Ms Broderick.