'Major internal incident' declared at University Hospital Limerick
Limerick University Dan Picture Linehan Hospital
University Hospital Limerick has declared a “major internal incident” following an increase in the number of patients attending the emergency department.
Off-duty staff have been summoned back to deal with the crisis, which is being driven by a "surge in patients" with respiratory infections, including Covid-19, flu, and RSV.
In a statement released today, the UL Hospital Group has said the emergency department is “exceptionally busy”.
UHL has taken a number of emergency actions to try to address the worsening situation at the hospital.
The hospital group has made the decision to cancel all outpatient appointments scheduled for tomorrow, January 3.
They also stated that only urgent elective surgeries will go ahead at the Hospital "over the coming days".
The hospital has imposed a restriction on visitors, in their efforts to manage the situation.
Exceptions for visitors include “parents visiting children, people assisting confused patients” or those who are “critically unwell”, with exceptions limited to “one person per patient”.
"We regret the distress or inconvenience our visiting ban causes for patients and their loved ones, but it is necessary given the high levels of flu and Covid-19."
Management have sent out an SOS call for off-duty staff to come back to work to deal with the crisis.
“Extra staff including nurses and doctors have been asked to present to the hospital for duty,” a spokeswoman said.
“Staff are being redeployed to care for additional patients in the ED, and additional surge beds are being opened in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals.” Day beds at UHL are also being “converted” to inpatient beds and there is a renewed “focus on discharging patients to home and the community”.
Further emergency action includes “converting a ward in Croom Hospital for medical patients”.
The UHL Group acknowledged the “very long waits” experienced by patients who have attended the hospital.
“We urge the public to consider alternative options including GP, out of hours GP and pharmacies. We apologise to patients experiencing long waits.”
Injury Units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s are operating as normal. Opening hours for Ennis and Nenagh Injury Units are 8am -8pm and St John’s Injury Unit 8am-7pm.