Patients experiencing 'significant delays' at Tipperary hospital's Emergency Department
People with non-life threatening injuries unlikely to require hospital admission advised to go to the Cashel Injury Unit
Tipperary University Hospital says its remains extremely busy and continues to experience significantly high levels of activity with large numbers of people presenting to the Emergency Department
In an update statement, the hospital’s management said many of those attending need to be admitted for ongoing treatment which is leading to pressure on bed availability.
“The hospital is currently dealing with high levels of activity and patients with serious illnesses.
“This is also impacting on bed capacity across the hospital.
“These ongoing pressures are resulting in significant delays being experienced by patients in the ED who are waiting for a bed to become available on a ward.
“Every effort is being made to discharge patients who are ready to go home so that beds will become available for patients who need to be admitted, at the earliest opportunity.
“Our hospital is committed to treating everyone who presents at the Emergency Department; people who are seriously injured or ill are assessed and treated as a priority and those who do not require urgent care may experience long waiting times.
“We ask that the public consider their care options,” the statement continued.
“If your health problem is not an emergency, you should contact your GP during normal surgery hours or the GP out-of-hours service, in the first instance.”
Tipperary University Hospital management pointed out that the Cashel Injury Unit is open Monday to Friday from 8am with public attendance up to 6.30 pm.
The Cashel Injury Unit treats recent injuries that are:
- not life-threatening
- unlikely to need admission to hospital
They can help with many of the injuries people go to the emergency department (ED) for example, broken bones, dislocations, and minor burns.
You can get treatment such as x-rays, plaster casts, and wound care in an injury unit.
Tipperary University Hospital management thanked the public for their support and understanding during this time.