Patient surge hits services at Nenagh Hospital
SIGNIFICANT reductions in scheduled care are in effect across the UL Hospitals Group - including at Nenagh Hospital - until further notice as the HSE manage high volumes of patients through the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).
The suspension of some medical services in the Mid West is part of short-term interventions to improve care in the longer term, according to the Chief Executive of the Health Service Executive, Bernard Gloster.
Mr Gloster said UHL is “completely overheated” and added that the current reductions in scheduled care in hospitals like Nenagh would be in place for “the shortest period of time possible.”
“I would like to think it’s in the category of weeks,” said Mr Gloster.
At a meeting of the executive management team last Wednesday week, attended by the Regional Executive Officer, Ms Sandra Broderick, a number of measures were agreed “to de-escalate the UHL site, reduce wait times and improve patient flow”.
Management in a press release said: “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,” stated HSE management.
EMERGENCY CASES
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.
“We urge people to continue attending ED for the most serious illnesses and injuries, such as suspected heart attacks and strokes,” the hospitals group stated.
It added: “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.”
It said the injury units in Nenagh, Ennis and St John’s Hospitals are an excellent care pathway for a range of minor injuries.
Sandra Broderick, Regional Executive Officer, HSE Mid West, said: “Additional measures agreed today (last Wednesday) 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,” Ms Broderick said.
EXCEPTIONS
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, 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, dermatology, rheumatology, infectious diseases outpatient clinics; bronchoscopy rapid access; CF outpatients OPAT (outpatient therapy); Fracture Clinic; paediatric surgery and outpatient clinics; Vascular Laboratory and ambulatory trauma (Croom).