Warning University Hospital Kerry under pressure due to high attendance
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, the HSE said.
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.
UHK Hospital Manager Mary Fitzgerald said that patients should consider their attendance.
"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.'
HSE Area Manager for Kerry Julie O'Neill said that the HSE need to manage the current situation.
"UHK is seeing a very high level of attendances at the moment. We need to manage the pressure on the ED, so that we can we continue to prioritise those who are sickest. Those who believe they may be seriously ill and require emergency care should come to UHK, but we would ask others who are not seriously ill, to consider seeking support from pharmacists, GPs, Southdoc and the Injury Unit in Mallow.'
In a statement the HSE South West said other options for patients include their local pharmacy and GP and the Local Injury Unit in Mallow. An out-of-hours GP service is also an option as well as self-care.
The HSE South West also remined patients and their GP's the 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, is available.
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