Ambulances diverted away from UHL during 'major internal incident' on Monday

Some ambulances were diverted away from University Hospital Limerick during a ‘major internal incident’ on Monday evening. 

The UHL Hospital group confirmed in a statement that in collaboration with the National Ambulance Service, arrangements were made to divert non-critical patients to other facilities. 

As part of the HSE’s operational contingency planning arrangement, those who were critically ill or medically unstable were admitted to UHL, while others were rerouted to the closest appropriate hospital. 

A spokesperson for UHL said in a statement dated Monday January 2: 

 “Today, UL Hospitals Group requested that NAS activate those arrangements for a number of hours to support University Hospital Limerick’s response to an internal major incident.

 “Where these procedures are activated, non-critical patients are diverted to the closest alternative appropriate hospital. The most critically ill patients, for example, those with suspected heart attack, stroke and those that were medically unstable, continue to be conveyed to UHL during this time.”

UHL has confirmed to Tipperarylive that the diversions were a temporary measure on Monday and are no longer in place.  

 INCIDENT

 UHL says the major internal incident was caused by an ‘unprecedented’ level of attendance at the emergency department. 

 Attendances were high because of a surge in respiratory illnesses, including Covid-19, flu and RSV.

 In response to the crisis, UHL opened surge beds in Nenagh, Ennis and St John’s hospitals.

 A ward in Croom Hospital was converted for medical patients. 

 At UHL, additional staff were called in or redeployed, and day beds were converted to inpatient. 

Visiting at the hospital was also restricted.

 Outpatient appointments are cancelled for today Tuesday January 3, as is non-emergency elective surgery. 

RESPONSE

 In response to the incident, Nenagh councillor Seamus Morris has called for an emergency meeting of the management of UHL, midwest TDs, HSE West Board Members, County Council CEOs and midwest fire chiefs.  

 “With the total collapse of Emergency Hospital services serving the people of the midwest region and the complete lack of a plan for the expected surge in patients has now completely overwhelmed to Emergency hospital services in the area, it is now time for an emergency meeting to see how we can get accountability for this disaster, “said Cllr Morris. 

 On Monday evening, the Mid West Hospital Campaign shared an image on social media they say was sent to them by a paramedic of the notice to reroute marked 4:32pm. 

 In a Tweet, they said:

 “Perhaps if they hadn’t closed these places in 2009, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Re-open our local A and E’s. Your Centre of Excellence has clearly failed.”

Perhaps if they hadn't closed these places in 2009 we wouldn't be in this mess. Re-open our local A & E's. Your Centre of Excellence has clearly failed.. pic.twitter.com/eMboJWM82S

— Mid West Hospital Campaign (@CampaignMWHC) January 2, 2023