Mercy University Hospital warns of long ED waiting times for non-urgent cases

With the Mercy University Hospital emergency department experiencing very high levels of activity, the HSE has urged people to consider all alternative care options - including GPs, pharmacists and the SouthDoc out-of-hours services.

In a statement, the HSE said that where there is a large volume of emergency department (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 appropriate alternative treatments.

“Your GP can also access urgent virtual care (UVC), a new regional 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 or Geriatric Medicine.

“They can advise you if you need to attend the ED. As always, people who do require emergency care are encouraged to attend EDs where they will be prioritised.” 

Margaret McKiernan, chief executive officer at Mercy University Hospital, said the hospital has seen very high numbers attending the ED recently.

“Patients are prioritised in terms of clinical need and those with less urgent presentations may find there is a long wait time,” she said.

“We are doing everything possible within the hospital to address this, and we are grateful for the support of HSE South West services outside the hospital.” 

Sonya Cotter, the HSE integrated area manager for Cork North and East, said the executive was working to protect access to emergency care at all hospitals for those who need it most.

“The public can help hospital teams by using other trusted services such as GPs, SouthDoc, pharmacists, and their local injury unit,” she said.

“The new UVC service is also a vital tool to help GPs assess patients and guide them to the right pathway – please consider this option if your GP recommends it for you.” 

The HSE offered a list of options for those in need of medical treatment:

• Self-care – Have a well-stocked medicine cabinet to help with colds and sore throats 
• Pharmacy – Ask your pharmacist for advice on common minor illnesses 
• GP Surgery – Make an appointment with your GP if you’re feeling unwell 
• Local Injury Unit - For minor injuries, broken bones and burns. See www.hse.ie/injuryunits for more information 
• Out-of-Hours GP – If your GP clinic is closed, call SouthDoc on 0818 355 999 
• ED or 999/112 – For emergencies, please visit your nearest ED