Tipperary hospital gets extra nursing resource to cope with pathways to MAU system

There has been a slight increase in nursing resources at Nenagh Hospital to cater for the introduction of the new Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) pathway for 112/999 patients.

The system was introduced at the start of February in response to an unprecedented crisis at ED in University Hospital Limerick. It allows stable medical patients that meet the agreed clinical criteria to be treated in a Model 2 hospital such as Nenagh.

A key element is a telephone referral from the treating paramedic to the receiving MAU doctor, which ensures that the right patient is brought to the MAU.

According to a written reply from UHLG CEO Prof Colette Cowan to Cllr Seamus Morris at the February Health Forum West meeting, this amounted to an increase of 0.5 WTE in nursing resources. This equates to half a full-time nursing post.

Prof Cowan said that it was important to note that the introduction of the new ambulance pathway did not require an expansion in physical capacity at the site.

She told Cllr Morris that the pathway will result in patients receiving medical treatment in a hospital closer to their home, will reduce patient presentations to Emergency Departments and will release ambulances more quickly to respond to other emergency calls.

The Medical Assessment Unit in Nenagh treats patients referred by GPs, ShannonDoc and, now, National Ambulance Service paramedics.

The CEO pointed out that the Medical Assessment Units at Nenagh, Ennis and St John’s hospitals had their busiest year to date in 2022 with 12,737 patients being seen, a 19% increase on 2021.

“We have recently submitted a bid to the HSE National Acute Division for €5.2m for additional resources. Additional staff would allow us to extend the operating hours and open the MAUs in Nenagh and St John’s to seven days a week and increase the number of slots currently available to GPs, ShannonDoc and NAS paramedics,” said Prof Cowan.

The bid also includes permanent funding for Ennis MAU to secure the extended hours and weekend service into the future.