Day surgery at Clare hospital cancelled after spike in patients across region

There's been a spike in activity at the Emergency Department in Limerick

placeholder image — There's been a spike in activity at the Emergency Department in Limerick

THE DAY surgery at Ennis Hospital was cancelled today amid a surge in patients presenting at healthcare facilities across the region.

The University of Limerick Hospitals Group (ULHG) which includes Ennis hospital in its number, said the move was made in order to create extra capacity.

Patients who were impacted were contacted directly, with the service apologising to any patient impacted.

A ULHG spokesperson said it would "work to ensure they are rescheduled at the earliest opportunity."

Elsewhere, non-emergency activity continued across all of the group's other sites, with the situation being kept under review.

"Cancellations of elective activity are provided for in the group’s escalation plan, and while the decision is deeply regretted, it is necessary in the interests of patient safety," they added.

At University Hospital Limerick (UHL), patients have been warned long waits at the Emergency Department (ED) are "inevitable" for non-urgent care.

The public have been asked to consider all available healthcare options to avoid the need to attend the ED.

Some 246 patients sought help at the ED yesterday.

Meanwhile, medical teams are also undertaking additional ward rounds to identify patients suitable for transfer to Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals where minor injuries units are located.

In a statement, the health service confirmed: "Anyone presenting to ED today with a less urgent condition is going to face a long wait for care. We urge the public to consider all available healthcare alternatives to ED."

"Less acutely unwell patients are asked to first consider our Injury Units, GPs, out-of-hours GP services and pharmacists before attending ED," the hospital said.

Injury Units at St John’s in the city centre, Ennis and Nenagh are operating as normal.

Opening hours for Ennis and Nenagh Injury Units are 8am -8pm while St John’s Injury Unit operates between 8am and 7pm.

The hospital apologised for the "inconvenience and frustration" caused by the long wait times.