Tipperary hospital day surgery again cancelled due to pressure on Limerick facility

Day surgery at Nenagh and Ennis hospitals has been cancelled again for this week as both hospitals have opened additional capacity for inpatients, according to University Hospital Limerick Group.

The cancellations come amid a wave of respiratory illnesses in the Mid-West and around the country that continues to put pressure on hospital and community health services, said a spokesperson.

A meeting of the Hospital Crisis Management Team last Friday confirmed that limited elective surgery can resume from next Monday, January 16, at University Hospital Limerick, St John’s Hospital and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital. Patients will be contacted directly to confirm attendance. 

"We regret that day surgery at Ennis and Nenagh is again cancelled next week. Patients affected by these cancellations will be contacted directly by our staff," said the spokesperson.

However, outpatient clinics and endoscopy at Ennis and Nenagh continue as scheduled and patients are advised to attend for their appointments.

Outpatient clinics are also running as scheduled at UHL, St John’s, Croom and University Maternity Hospital Limerick.

The spokesperson said that all its hospitals were operating above capacity and staff remained on high alert amid a surge of respiratory infection in the community that had not yet reached its peak.

As a temporary measure, medical assessment units at St John’s and Nenagh hospitals have moved from a five to a seven-day week to allow for additional GP referrals for medical assessment.

Ennis Hospital MAU already operates seven days per week.

Members of the public are reminded that patients cannot be seen at our MAUs without a referral.

The spokesperson said that there had been a reduction in the numbers presenting to ED in recent days.

However, in spite of this, and the measures taken to ease pressure on the hospital system, services remained under pressure and the advice to the public remained to consider all healthcare options before attending ED.

Patients who are seriously injured or unwell or who are worried their life is in danger must dial 112/999 or attend the ED.
Less acutely unwell patients are asked to first consider our Injury Units, GPs, out-of-hours GP services and pharmacists before attending ED.
 
Meanwhile, visiting restrictions remain in place at University Hospital Limerick.