The UL Hospitals Group has confirmed widespread cancellations in scheduled care across its six hospitals in Clare, Limerick and Tipperary from tomorrow.
The health system remains under massive pressure in the wake of a randsomware attack on HSE IT systems.
From tomorrow, all outpatient clinics, elective inpatient and day case procedures – with the exception of time-critical cases, diagnostics including x-ray, CT scans, MRI appointments and cardiac investigations and endoscope services have all been cancelled.
Maternity services including ante-natal clinic, dialysis treatment, cancer day ward, the Acute Fracture Unit at UHL will all go ahead, as will the vaccination centres at the West County Hotel In Ennis and the Radisson Blu on the Limerick border.
The Emergency Department is continuing to operate but is very busy and Chief Clinical Director of the UL Hospitals Group, Professor Brian Lenehan is urging people to consider all their care options before presenting there.
Statement from the UL Hospitals Group
SERVICES across UL Hospitals Group continue to be adversely impacted by the ransomware attack on HSE IT systems. We regret that from Tuesday, May 18th, this extends to widespread cancellations in scheduled care across our six sites.
From Tuesday the following service disruptions are expected across the following hospitals:
· University Hospital Limerick
· University Maternity Hospital Limerick
· Ennis Hospital
· Nenagh Hospital
· St John’s Hospital
· Croom Orthopaedic Hospital
CANCELLATIONS
· All outpatient clinics are cancelled.
· All elective inpatient and day case procedures are cancelled. This is with the exception of time-critical cases and these patients will be called directly in advance.
· All diagnostics including x-ray, CT scans, MRI appointments and cardiac investigations are cancelled.
· Endoscopy services are cancelled.
GOING AHEAD
· Maternity services including ante-natal clinic
· Dialysis treatment
· Cancer day ward (chemotherapy and radiotherapy)
· Acute Fracture Unit (UHL)
· Vaccination centres at the Radisson Blu Hotel (Limerick), West County Hotel (Ennis) and Abbey Court Hotel (Nenagh)
UNSCHEDULED CARE/EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
The Emergency Department (ED) at UHL continues to operate 24-7 but is very busy. Members of the public are reminded to consider all care options (GP, GP out-of-hours, pharmacy, Injury Unit) and only attend the ED in an emergency.
Non urgent patients may experience significant delays. Injury Units are operating in Ennis Hospital and Nenagh Hospital and are open from 8am to 8pm and St John’s Hospital from 8am to 7pm. The Maternity Emergency Unit is available 24-7 and the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit continues to operate an appointment only service.
Patients are advised to pay attention to updates as we expect that services are likely to be further disrupted early next week.
Updates on service disruptions will be posted to the HSE Service Disruption Website
