Due to the high numbers of patients presenting with flu, COVID-19, and other winter virus infections, management at University Hospital Kerry are calling on the public to seek assistance elsewhere.

Their advice is to go to a local pharmacy, GP or South Doc before attending the Emergency Department this week. Urgent cases however, will always be prioritised for treatment and care.

Patients with scheduled appointments are also being asked not to attend UHK.

The following mitigation measures have been taken:

Deferral of all Outpatient scheduled appointments up to and including Friday, January 20 [Exceptions listed below].

Deferral of Elective Surgery up to and including Friday, January 20 [ *With the exception of time critical surgeries].

Exceptions to the above cancelled clinics are:

Orthopaedic Trauma Clinics
Infusion Clinics
Dressings Clinic
Cardiology Outpatient scans and procedures
Radiology Outpatient imaging/procedures
Virtual Clinics
Antenatal / Maternity Clinics
Oncology and Palliative Care Clinics
Colposcopy and Hysteroscopy Clinics at Cíll Ide
Endoscopies [Time critical will proceed]

Other than the above listed clinics, University Hospital Kerry is kindly requesting that patients do not attend scheduled outpatient and elective surgery appointments unless they receive a call to advise otherwise, from UHK staff.

Any cancelled appointments are being rescheduled and if patients have an urgent query in relation to an appointment, they should the relevant Consultant’s secretary.

Visiting is currently restricted to compassionate cases only. UHK Management and staff would like to thank the public in anticipation of their co-operation with these arrangements.

According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, 838 patients were on a trolley in Irish hospitals today (Wednesday).

No hospital is unaffected by overcrowding with patients on trolleys or chairs in emergency departments or elsewhere in each of the hospitals.

“It is time for the Government to call this what it clearly is – an out and out crisis," INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha who is originally from Ventry, said.

“When nurses who are at the frontline dealing directly with patients and often the ones apologising to patients and their families on behalf of the State because of the chaotic conditions are calling on the Government to take action including, but not limited to, the immediate cessation of all non-urgent activity and the introduction of a time-limited mask mandate, then it must not continue to fall on deaf ears.

“Our members are treating patients in the most undignified conditions. This is not the type of care they should be providing in a country that has the resources to provide additional capacity and support.
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“Nurses and other healthcare staff cannot continue to weather this storm without adequate support and protection from their employer, it will add to the increasing intention to leave of staff which is exactly what this health service does not need.”