WITH huge numbers of patients presenting at University Hospital Limerick ED, people who need attention are reminded that they may be seen faster and with less stress at one of the injury units in Limerick, Clare or Tipperary.
Ennis Injury Unit is one of 11 Injury Units now in place across the country. It is open 7 days a week from 8 to 8 and can treat patients aged 5 and over for a wide variety of injuries such as broken bones, dislocations, sprains, strains and minor burns.
Last year more than 9,000 patients attended Ennis Injury Unit and this year the number of patients treated has continued to increase with the latest available data showing that in excess of 9,000 patients had already been treated in the unit by the end of October.
Dr Caitriona Mullarkey, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Ennis Injury Unit, said: “Last year in excess of 9,000 patients attended Ennis Injury Unit for a wide variety of injuries and we know from feedback received that patients generally have a very positive experience. We really want to make sure that everyone knows just what our Injury Unit does and the efficient and high quality care patients will receive when they attend”.
UL Hospitals Group is appealing to people in the MidWest to consider all their treatment options at this busy time of year, including the Injury Units at Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s hospitals. Patients with appropriate injuries can in many cases be treated for injuries far faster than in the Emergency Department at UHL.
Injury Units can treat patients with broken bones, dislocations, sprains, strains, wounds, scalds and minor burns that are unlikely to need overnight admission to hospital.
Staff members take x rays, reduce joint dislocations, apply plaster casts and treat wounds by stitches or other means. They provide swift access to tests and x-rays and some have rapid access to physiotherapy services.
They are staffed by Consultant led teams of doctors, advanced nurse practitioners, nurses, radiographers and physiotherapists. Patients can go directly to the Unit or be referred by a GP.
The unit in Ennis is linked to UHL should the need arise for a patient to be admitted to hospital.
The units do not treat children under the age of five, because of the special requirements of young children attending hospital.
There are three such units in the Midwest in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s in Limerick. There is no charge for patients with full medical cards or those patients with valid medical/GP referral letter.
For more information visit www.hse.ie/injuryunits
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