HSE issues advice to patients in Limerick for Bank Holiday weekend

THE HSE in the Mid-West is asking the public to ensure they are familiar with all healthcare options available over the June Bank Holiday weekend.

The health service has suggested out that GP out-of-hours services and pharmacies might be more helpful to consider, rather than attending the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick.

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GPs can also refer appropriate patients to the medical assessment units which are open seven days a week at St John's Hospital in Limerick city centre, alongside facilities in Ennis and Nenagh.

Shannondoc's out-of-hours GP services will operate for the duration of the Bank Holiday weekend and can be contacted on 0818-123 500.

Additional staff are rostered across hospital and community services to help ensure patient access care across the weekend.

Community intervention team services will operate from 8am-8pm daily.

Planned essential weekend nursing services provide support to patients discharged prior to the weekend and to those who require clinical interventions.

Hospitals have enhanced and expanded local access to urgent care facilities and medical assessments units as an alternate pathway to ED. The injury units and medical assessment units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals are managing approximately 1,200 patients per week.

Injury units operate 8am-8pm for walk-in treatment of minor injuries such as breaks, sprains and burns. Patients are typically seen and treated in under two hours.

You do not need an appointment to attend an injury unit, and if you’re referred by a GP you will not have to pay the €75 fee.

If you are anxious or unsure where to go, ring your nearest injury unit.

St John’s Injury Unit (8am-8pm), Limerick City: 061 462132

Ennis Injury Unit (8am-8pm): 065 686 3121

Nenagh Injury Unit (8am-8pm): 067 42311

Medical assessment units are open 16 hours a day, 8am to 12 midnight, seven days a week. They provide a direct referral pathway for GPs to secure prompt assessment and treatment of medical patients who otherwise might have presented to Limerick ED.

Finally, the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick is open 24/7 for the most acute and life-threatening conditions.

With the emergency department continuing to experience high attendances, the HSE says it is maximise patient flow in its hospitals and across the healthcare system in the region.