Emergency departments at city's hospitals experiencing 'exceptionally high demand'

HSE South West is cautioning that the emergency departments (EDs) at both of Cork city’s major hospitals are experiencing very high levels of activity due to ongoing winter viruses.

They are asking the public in Cork to consider all care options - including GPs, pharmacists and SouthDoc out-of-hours services.

It comes as 65 people were on trolleys at Cork University Hospital and 14 at Mercy University Hospital today, both of which the HSE have issued guidance for.

A HSE spokesperson explained: “When there is a large volume of ED attendances, patients are prioritised in terms of clinical need and wait times for non-urgent care can be lengthy.

“Patients arriving to the ED will be clinically assessed and seen in order or priority, so those with non-urgent presentations will be waiting a long time and are advised to seek alternative treatments.” 

They explained that GPs can also access Urgent Virtual Care (UVC), a new telehealth service which allows GPs and paramedics to consult directly by phone, or by video call, with a senior medical decision-maker in emergency medicine at CUH. They can then advise patients if they need to attend the ED.

The spokesperson assured: “As always, people who do require emergency care are encouraged to attend EDs where they will be prioritised.” 

HSE area manager for Cork South and West Priscilla Lynch said: “Our EDs are experiencing exceptionally high demand, leading to longer wait times for patients with non-urgent conditions.

“To ensure we can prioritise those in most critical need, I am urging the public to consider all alternative care options.

“Those who believe they may be seriously ill and require emergency care should come to hospital, but we would ask others who are not seriously ill, to consider seeking support from pharmacists, GPs, SouthDoc and injury units.” 

She added: “We must take care of the sickest people first so please, stop and ask yourself: 'Do I really need to attend the ED?' Our emergency department cares for those who are seriously ill or injured, so please consider alternative care pathways and seek assistance from other parts of the health service.” 

Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “The Health Service Executive have failed to heed the warnings of frontline workers when it comes to hospital overcrowding and we are once again seeing another predictable post-bank holiday trolley surge in hospitals around the country.

“This problem cannot be excused away by increased attendances down to flu and other respiratory illnesses, we know that after each bank holiday there is a surge, what is missing is a plan to deal with these predictable annual events."