Ambulances in Mid-West to transport non-urgent patients to Ennis

Measure aimed at easing pressure on overcrowded emergency department at University Hospital Limerick

Ambulances are to begin transporting non-urgent patients to Ennis General Hospital from next Monday. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Ambulances operating in the Mid-West region are to begin transporting non-urgent 112/999 patients to Ennis General Hospital from next Monday, as part of agreed new protocols aimed at easing pressure on the overcrowded emergency department at University Hospital Limerick.

Since 2009, the model 4 UHL has provided the only 24-hour emergency department service for a population of around 400,000 after emergency services were closed in Ennis and Nenagh and St John’s Hospital, Limerick — all model 2 hospitals.