Surgery cancelled for over 400
A HOSPITAL was forced to cancel all elective surgeries this week, after 464 patients attended the Emergency Department.
University Hospital Limerick confirmed in a statement last night that 464 people attended its accident and emergency department between last Monday and Wednesday, putting massive pressure on the hospital.
The situation is being reviewed on a ‘daily basis’ and some elective surgeries recommenced yesterday.
Patient overcrowding at UHL continues unabated despite the hospital investing €25million in an upgraded ED last year.
While 34 patients waited on trolleys at UHL this Thursday, there were 57 patients waiting for a bed at University College Hospital Galway; 33 at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital; 32 at Letterkenny General Hospital; 31 at University Hospital Waterford; and 30 at Cork University Hospital.
UHL said they stopped elective surgery to respond to the pressure on ED, adding: ‘We apologise for any inconvenience caused but this measure was necessary to meet the demand in emergency presentations.’
Other hospitals in the UL Hospital’s Group, including Nenagh Hospital, Ennis Hospital, Croom Orthopaedic Hospital & St John’s Hospital, were ‘advised of the importance of discharges and were asked to make surge beds available for additional transfer’.
Some patients were transferred to other appropriate care facilities to free up space.
Hospital management have asked the public not to attend the ED unless necessary, and to see their GP with less serious illness.
Injury Units are open in Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals from 8am to 8pm, every day, and at St John’s Hospital Limerick from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
UHL has received planning permission for a 60 bed unit, which it hopes will alleviate pressures on its ED. The €19.5million project is expected to be constructed within the next 12 months.
The hospital has yet to receive a commitment from the Department of Health for the funding of a separate 96-bed unit at the hospital which is estimated will cost €25million.