Scheduled hospital surgery and outpatient appointments deferred
UL Hospitals Group has announced the deferral, until further notice, of the majority of scheduled surgery and outpatient appointments across the group. This includes University Hospital Limerick, Ennis Hospital, Nenagh Hospital, St John’s Hospital and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital. University Maternity Hospital Limerick is unaffected by the reductions. All affected patients are being contacted directly by the hospital.
As we experience a significant surge in Covid-19 activity, we are also reminding members of the public that the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick is extremely busy and patients should consider all other care options before presenting to ED. The ED remains open for emergency care and patients must continue to present for life-threatening emergencies such as heart attack, stroke etc.
We regret that the pandemic has now reached another point where we must significantly curtail scheduled care in the coming days and weeks. This is in order to prioritise high volumes of emergency Covid and non-Covid patients.
Emergency and trauma theatre continues to operate and time-critical outpatient appointments are also being accommodated both face-to-face and virtually. Patients whose appointment or procedure is being affected are being contacted by the hospital in advance. The reductions in service are being kept under continuous review by the UL Hospitals Group Crisis Management Team, which is currently meeting on a daily basis.
Visiting bans which were imposed across our hospital sites at the outset of the pandemic in March 2020 remain in force.
We regret the distress and inconvenience these restrictions cause our patients and their loved ones but they are being implemented for the safety of patients and staff and to ensure essential services continue to operate for the sickest patients. Patients affected by the cancellations will be rescheduled at the earliest opportunity.
Services which continue include:
· Dialysis (UHL)
· Cancer services (oncology and haematology day ward; haematology and oncology OPD clinics; medical oncology clinics; rapid access clinics; Ward 4B appointments) (UHL)
· Fracture Clinic (UHL)
· Other outpatient clinics: Time-critical only following clinical decision, with patients being contacted in advance
· Paediatrics: oncology/radiology day case/diabetes education (UHL)
· Ante-natal clinic; colposcopy clinic; diabetes in pregnancy clinic; elective c-sections and induction of labour (UMHL)
As an alternative to attending ED we urge everyone to first consider the care options that are available in their own communities, including family doctors, out-of-hours GP services, and local pharmacies.
The Local Injury Units at Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals (8am-8pm daily), and St John’s Hospital (8am-7pm, Monday to Friday) are an excellent option for treatment of broken bones, dislocations, sprains, strains, wounds, scalds and minor burns, without a lengthy wait that can be expected in the ED at this time.
If you do have symptoms of Covid-19, it is important that you do not go to the Emergency Department or your GP. Ring them in advance for advice. Avoid contact with other people by self-isolating. In a medical emergency if you have severe symptoms, call 112 or 999.
UL Hospitals Group CEO, Colette Cowan, said: “We are now at a critical juncture as we expect the volume of Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital will soon exceed the numbers we treated during the first wave. This will present tremendous challenges for our hospitals and for our communities across the MidWest. Since the start of the pandemic we have significantly increased staffing levels and bed capacity. Staff have upskilled and gained valuable experience on how to treat patients ill with this terrible disease.
“We are currently under considerable pressure but managing. However no healthcare system could continue to cope with the current rate of increase in community transmission; hospital admissions and ICU admissions. The current rate of growth is unsustainable and we are depending on the public to again follow the public health advice as they have done in the past. It is imperative that people stay at home, that they keep their distance, wash their hands and take all the simple precautions to help us through this most challenging phase yet.”
Prof Brian Lenehan, Chief Clinical Director, UL Hospitals Group added: “Last Monday we commenced vaccinating hospital staff against Covid-19 as part of the biggest such mass vaccination campaign ever seen in Ireland. It gives our staff such a sense of optimism that we are at the beginning of the end of this pandemic. They know what they are potentially facing over the next number of weeks and it is imperative that we all do the right thing for our loved ones, for the vulnerable members of our community and for our healthcare workers by following the public health advice.
“We regret that we are again curtailing scheduled care in our hospitals. We will prioritise our most urgent patients for planned procedures and appointments and we look forward to increasing this activity as soon as possible.”
#Run1000, is calling on people to sign up to be part of one of five teams – England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Rest of the World supporting five charities.
Team Ireland are running 1,000 miles and some more for Embrace FARM because they want to encourage team mates and mental wellbeing.
The competition is running for the month of January and it will see each team run 1,000 miles with the nation that reaches the milestone first, announced the winner. A team captain will lead each nation, and a private Strava group will record the collective running distance.
It’s not about the speed or the distance, it’s about the taking part no matter how little the distance is.
We are going up against England, Scotland, Wales and the rest of the world in a competition to run 1,000 miles in January and we need your help to get there first! Even if you run by just 1 mile the whole month every little helps. All money raised goes directly to supporting Embrace Farm charity. Please donate £20 and then follow the Strava link in the thank you note to enter the group! You must enter the Strava club for you miles to count!
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
More details at www.agri5nations.com/the-race
Private hospital capacity must be urgently secured.
Healthcare staff shortages are a huge concern now
The rising hospitalisation rates and impact of soaring Covid cases on frontline healthcare workers must be the priority of the government over coming days said Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly calling for assurances that capacity has been secured in the private sector, and that all required supports are put in place to protect our doctors and nurses.
Deputy Kelly said: “There was no alternative to the lockdown measures now in place with cases so high in the community, and our hospitals under severe pressure but it reinforces the need to get our testing and tracing system back into action for containment as soon as possible.
“The Labour Party will continue to make constructive suggestions to government in the coming days to ensure the impact of new restrictions do not impact on our most vulnerable. Social income supports, and in school tutition for identified groups are key concerns we have raised in recent days. The lack of statutory sick pay and protections for those working at home remain large gaps in the rights of workers nearly a year into this pandemic.
“What is critical now though is that our acute hospitals and frontline healthcare workers receive all the resources and support they need. Any spare capacity must now be activated. There is still no confirmation that access to private hospital facilities has been secured, and I would urge again for the government to consider the nationalisation of at least one private hospital to guarantee we have the beds we need to meet the crisis ahead.
“There is a marked difference between now and when we reached the peak of Covid-19 in March/April 2020, trolley numbers are once again on the rise with over 219 patients on trolleys. Defeating Covid does not have the same singular focus in our hospitals it once had and we need to be reassured that we will not have a trolley crisis on top of a Covid one.
“I am seriously concerned now about the impact of staff shortages in acute hospitals and the impact on frontline services. Whatever supports are needed must be put in place.
“Together, by staying at home and restricting our movements we can limit the spread of Covid-19 and doing so is now the best help we can give to those working at the frontline.”