Emergency departments experiencing high demand due to winter viruses

Kenneth Fox

A number of hospitals are experiencing very high levels of activity this week due to ongoing high illness rates related to winter viruses.

As of 8am on Tuesday there were 483 patients on trolleys (366 in Emergency Departments and 117 on wards).  At midnight, there were 371 people awaiting discharge.

While many hospitals have coped very well with the very high recent prevalence of winter viruses, hospitals under considerable pressure today include Cork University Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital, UH Limerick, Galway University Hospital and Letterkenny University Hospital.

The latest information suggests that influenza levels seem to have peaked.

However, there will be ongoing high levels of health service activity arising from winter viruses for a number of weeks.

The HSE is urging the public to consider all available care options, including injury units, their GP, and local pharmacy if they have a minor ailment.

Injury units are designed to treat injuries that are unlikely to need hospital admission and can to treat someone with a non-life threatening injury like a sprain, broken bone or a minor cut or burn.

Treatment such as x-rays, plaster casts and wound care are also available in an injury unit.

Attending the ED with a minor injury will result in a longer waiting time to be seen as we prioritise patient urgent and emergency cases. You do not need an appointment for an injury unit and there is no charge if you have a GP referral letter or are a medical card holder.

Damien McCallion, chief operations officer for the HSE said: “There is significant pressure on our EDs at the moment with increased presentations.

"Whilst we ask the public to seek alternative services for non-urgent care, we want to reassure them that anyone who is seriously injured or ill, or worried their life may be at risk, should to go to the emergency department without delay.”

“By attending the GP, pharmacy or injury unit if you can, you will help alleviate pressure in the ED, which will help us get patients out of the ED and on to wards."