Update from UL Hospitals Group on INMO action

Injury Units in Ennis, Nenagh and St. John’s Hospitals are open today (6th February) following yesterday’s strike action by the INMO.

Injury units in Ennis and Nenagh are open from 8am to 8pm, and St John’s is open from 8am to 6pm. Injury Units are for the treatment of broken bones, dislocations, sprains strains, wounds, scalds and minor burns.

High numbers of presentations are expected at the Emergency Department (ED) at University Hospital Limerick today, 6th of February, and patients attending the ED can expect to experience extended waits in many cases. We apologise for this and regret that patients have to wait but we wish to reassure patients and families that we are working to ensure that the sickest patients are seen as a priority.

Further industrial action is planned by the INMO tomorrow, Thursday February 7th 2019, and will once again cause disruption to patient services across all UL Hospitals Group from 8am on the 7th February to 8am on the 8th of February.

All planned daycase and inpatient surgical procedures have been cancelled for tomorrow (7th February). The vast majority of outpatient appointments have been cancelled, however a small number of clinics will go ahead tomorrow and those patients are being contacted directly.

Please note that Injury Units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s hospitals will also unfortunately close again tomorrow, 7th February, but will reopen on Friday 8th February. Updates will be provided through local and social media.

UL Hospitals continues to work with the INMO to secure the safest possible level of nursing and midwifery cover in our hospitals during the period of the strike and contingency arrangements are being finalised. We will re-schedule any appointments or procedures that have been cancelled due to strike action this week (5th and 7th of February) as soon as possible.

We are asking members of the public to please consider all their care options before presenting to the ED at UHL. Members of the public with a less serious illness can be treated by their GP or out of hours GP service where their GP can refer them to an Assessment Unit if required. However, if you are seriously injured or ill or are worried your life is at risk, the ED will assess and treat you as a priority.
 
UL Hospitals Group sites include: University Hospital Limerick, University Maternity Hospital Limerick, Ennis Hospital, Nenagh Hospital, St John’s Hospital and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital.