PLANNED care is to be gradually restored by the UL Hospitals Group across its five hospitals.
Services were suspended on August 8th to help ease overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).
Outpatient clinics have resumed at UHL, Ennis Hospital, Nenagh Hospital, Croom Hospital and St John’s. UL Hospitals Group said its plan allows for reductions in planned surgeries and care when there are significant surges through the UHL emergency department.
Since the suspension of services, overcrowding levels at UHL have eased. The move to suspend planned surgeries, day case care and outpatient clinics in the region was recommended by a three-member support team appointed in April to find ways to ease pressures on services in the Mid-West region. Their report is expected to be published soon by the HSE.
HIQA’s review into emergency services is underway but is not expected to be completed until next summer. It will look at whether a second emergency department is needed in the region.
According to the Mid-West Hospital Campaign, “there is a sting in the tail” regarding the strategy to reduce planned surgeries and care when significant surges occur at UHL’s emergency department. “There are no time limits stated which means that surgeries and appointments can be cancelled at short or no notice depending on how busy the Emergency Department is”.
Melanie Cleary expressed concern that that the people of the Mid-West are liable to experience further cancellations on an ongoing basis. “It is important that patients and the wider public receive regular updates on any proposed changes in the future. There has been increasing concern at the lack of communication since the cancellations were first introduced on 7th of August. As a Campaign we have been concerned at the lack of urgency these cancellations have received from all politicians from the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to TDs and Senators from all three constituencies of Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary”.
