Ambulances operating in the midwest region are to begin transporting non-urgent 112/999 patients to Ennis General Hospital from next Monday, as part of new protocols aimed at easing pressure on the emergency department (ED) at University Hospital Limerick caused by chronic overcrowding, according to reliable sources.
Since 2009, the model four UHL has provided the only 24-hour emergency department service for a population of about 400,000 after accident and emergency services were closed in Ennis and Nenagh and St John’s Hospital, Limerick – all model two hospitals.
The UL Hospitals Group, which operates the midwest hospitals, declared a major incident at the UHL ED last Monday when management said record levels of patients attending the department could not be sustained.
Emergency surge beds were provided in Ennis, Nenagh, St John’s and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital, Co Limerick.
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Under the 2009 ED reconfiguration policy, ambulances in the region could transport only 112/999 patients to UHL’s ED, bypassing St John’s, Ennis and Nenagh.
However, according to reliable sources, ambulances are to begin transporting 999 call-out patients, who are deemed not to require critical care in the Limerick ED, to Ennis under new protocols.
All urgent 112/999 patients will continue to be prioritised at UHL’s ED as it is the only hospital site in the region that is equipped for treating critically ill patients.
Correspondence sent today to all National Ambulance Service (NAS) staff in the midwest stated: “From 8am Monday 9th January 2023, 112/999 patients can be transported directly to the medical assessment unit in Ennis Hospital providing: the patient meets the agreed clinical criteria; the patient has been accepted by the MAU physician in Ennis.
“The pathway is accessible Monday to Friday 0800-1800 (excluding public holidays). Please see HSE emails and staff notice boards for clinical criteria, information and phone number of receiving physician.”
Independent councillor Cillian Murphy, from west Clare, told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland on Friday that the move was “a game changer”.
There were “some really strong positives” in the proposal, he said, adding that health campaigners in Co Clare were very happy.
Cllr Murphy called for the process to be extended to Nenagh hospital and St John’s hospital to ease overcrowding in UHL.