Emergency Department Update

TUH is asking for the public’s help in order to protect services for the most seriously ill. The Hospital is asking people to consider all care options before attending Emergency Departments (ED) as we need to protect the ED for those patients who need urgent and emergency care.

We are committed to treating everyone who presents to our ED however we do so strictly in order of medical priority. Given the volume of patients currently attending the Emergency Department, we regret there are lengthy delays and long wait times for those who do not need urgent treatment. We are asking the public to consider alternative care options before attending the ED as unfortunately people with less urgent complaints will experience long wait times. The Hospital regrets any delay a patient of any age experiences whilst waiting in our Emergency Department, patients are prioritised according to clinical need. We thank the public for their ongoing cooperation in this regard.

For those who are not in need of urgent attention, GP and GP Out of Hours services and pharmacies may provide more appropriate healthcare in a more comfortable setting.

Health Services are available to you if you are feeling unwell or are injured. These include; 

Community Pharmacies: You can visit your local pharmacy if you feel unwell. Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals. They can give you medicines you can buy without a prescription, medicines you have a prescription for, advice on minor illnesses, and can tell you if you need to see a GP.

GPs and GP Out-of-Hours Services: GPs are running additional clinics during this time of high pressure. If you urgently need to see a GP outside their clinic hours, you can contact your local GP out-of-hours service. Urgent out-of-hours GP care is available when your own surgery closes in the evening. The service is not a walk-in service. It is by appointment only for those who are seriously unwell. Patients should also remember that GP surgeries will be open as normal on non-bank holiday days. Patients should check the opening times with their own GP.

The TLC DOC GP Out of Hours Service is an urgent out of hours family doctor service operating in the Dublin South West Area. TLC Doc is located Unit H2 Carbury Building, Tallaght Cross West, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Eircode D24 FKT7. Contact with the service can only be made by dialling the 1890 20 22 24 number. The service is available to patients of GP’s participating in the TLC DOC Out of Hours Service. If, on contacting the service, you need to be seen by a doctor, you will be given an appointment time.

KDOC provides urgent out-of-hours GP care for patients of participating practices in counties Kildare and West Wicklow. Patients can contact the service by calling KDOC 045 848 701

DUBDOC provides out-of-hours urgent GP Services in Dublin 2, 8, 10, 12, 20, parts of D6 and West Co. Dublin. Patients can contact the service by calling 01 454 5607. The service should only be used for urgent cases that cannot wait for the next routine surgery appointment.

 Minor Injury Units: Injury units treat injuries that are not life-threatening. For example, broken bones, dislocations and burns. You do not need an appointment. There are 11 HSE Injury Unit Locations, you can find one close to you on the HSE website: www.hse.ie/winterWe are the sum of our experiences and we are here to care for you.