Intensive care unit at Cork University Hospital 'extremely busy' as hospital asks patients to avoid A&E

The hospital says it has been 'exceptionally busy' today, and in the last number of days.

CUH says the increase in attendance is the result of 'a large number of very ill medical patients requiring admission.' File Picture

A spokesperson for Cork University Hospital has told the Irish Examiner that the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital is not full, but is "extremely busy", reiterating an earlier request to patients to seek assistance from Southdoc or urgent care units rather than presenting to A&E. 

More than 100 nurses are out for Covid reasons at Cork University Hospital (CUH), according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

The union has warned that hospitals are now under “extreme pressure” due to the rise in cases.

Citing the CUH as an example, the INMO said that in the hospital:

• Over 100 nurses out for Covid reasons, including ICU;
• One ward closed, as there were only four nurses available to staff it;
• No additional available ICU/critical care beds, as of 6.30pm on Saturday.

The hospital has urged the public to "explore all other options available" such as SouthDoc before attending the Emergency Department.

In a statement, management at CUH confirmed that more than 100 nurses are currently out for Covid reasons.

The statement added that the "ICU at the hospital is not currently full but is extremely busy. 

"In order to manage the situation, aside from emergency surgery, only time-critical elective cancer surgery has been scheduled for next week. 

"Outpatient services are also greatly reduced next week."

Speaking about the situation in the CUH, consultant Professor Mary Horgan said: “Given the numbers of the last few days, it’s not unexpected that more people are coming into hospital.” 

Prof Horgan said that critical care capacity was really important “not just for Covid, but for non-Covid care”.

She said: “The hospital has prepared for this for the last few months.

“We weren’t as busy as we anticipated in October/November and that afforded us the opportunity in the last few weeks to prepare for increased numbers of admissions.” 

Prof Horgan said that there are two messages for the public.

The first was for people to limit their number of contacts.

“That’s what it’s all about, so that we can protect the hospital service.

“We have to deal with Covid but also the non-Covid services that are there”.

Prof Horgan said that the second message was that if people feel unwell with non-Covid issues, they should still contact a GP and out of hours services.

“People still get heart attacks. They still get strokes. And that’s our job, to look after not just the Covid but the non-Covid care.” She said that for the next weeks, frontline staff will be “rolling up our sleeves”.

Prof Horgan said that the vaccination “is well underway” at CUH and it gives the frontline staff “a huge morale boost” despite it being a busy time.

“If we were going into this without a vaccine it would be a particularly difficult time. 

“Yes, of course, it’s going to be busy for a few weeks but there is light at the end of the tunnel.” 

She also appealed for people “to knuckle down” for the next two weeks and follow the public health advice.

“We really need the non-Covid hospital activities to continue. The cancer service, diabetes…all of the things that we normally do.”

The INMO said it has been contacted by “concerned frontline members across the country this weekend, pointing to a major increase in the number of patients presenting, along with high levels of staff out on Covid leave or for self-isolation”.

General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said that what the union has heard from members over the weekend is “deeply disturbing”.

She said: “The progress we made on keeping case numbers down seems to be completely undone.

“Covid is creating more patients while also depleting staffing. It’s a vicious combination. Staff are far more experienced than they were at the start of this pandemic, but the sheer numbers are difficult to cope with.

“Frontline staff are running three services in parallel – a Covid health service, a non-Covid health service, and a mass vaccination scheme. This can only work if pressure on our hospitals is eased.” 

The union is calling on people to stay at home and follow all public health advice.

“On behalf of Ireland’s nurses and midwives, the INMO is asking that the public stay home and strictly follow public health advice,” Ms Ní Sheaghdha added.

“The vaccine is being rolled out – we simply need to keep cases down.

“We need all hands on deck here. The government and HSE must focus on supporting the exhausted frontline healthcare workers.

“This means taking on additional capacity in the private sector and ensuring the childcare needs of frontline workers are taken into account.”

Earlier on Sunday, the CUH issued a statement urging patients to contact out-of-hours General Practitioners (GP) services in the city, rather than presenting to the hospital’s emergency department.

The hospital said it has been “exceptionally busy” today, and in the last number of days.

Due to increased activity at the emergency department, CUH says it is “regrettable” that patients who present there will likely experience delays.

CUH says the increase in attendance is the result of “a large number of very ill medical patients requiring admission.” 

In a statement issued this morning, CUH said patient cate at the hospital remained "paramount"

"Hospital management has requested that, where appropriate, the public contact their GP/South Doc in the first instance and explore all other options available to them prior to attending the Emergency Department if their needs are not urgent," the statement added.

It is understood that there has been a marked increase in the number of patients with Covid-19 admitted to CUH over the last week or so. 

1,907 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Cork in the last two weeks, though an ongoing testing backlog means this figure may be even higher.

• For general care, CUH is directing people to South Doc.
• For urgent care, people are asked to Mercy Urgent Care Centre, St Mary’s Health Campus in Gurranabraher. (Opening hrs. 8:00am to 6.00pm - Telephone - 021-4926900)
• Also available are the Local Injuries Unit Bantry General Hospital (Opening hrs. 8:00am to 7:30pm - Telephone [phone]); and the Local Injuries Unit at Mallow: General Hospital (Opening hrs. 8:00am to 7:00 pm - Telephone 022 – 58506.)