Virtual urgent care service diverts 4,000 patients from Cork and Kerry hospital A&Es in its first year

The clinical director of emergency and acute care at CUH, Professor Conor Deasy, said: 'Often, patients can bypass the emergency department entirely and access their care directly.'

Lisbeth Carson using the Urgent Virtual Care service.

A virtual urgent care service for Cork and Kerry has seen over 5,700 patients in its first year with 4,000 of them treated without having to go to a hospital emergency department (ED).

Paramedics or GPs treating a patient can now contact Cork University Hospital and get advice as to the next best steps. They can speak directly with staff in emergency medicine or geriatric medicine, depending on the situation.