Minor Injury Unit is open this Easter Bank Holiday weekend
Regional Hospital Mullingar encourages the public to consider all care options this Easter Bank Holiday weekend: Injury Unit treats various injuries including breaks or sprains
Regional Hospital Mullingar is asking the public to consider all care options this Easter Bank Holiday weekend and would like to remind the public of other services that might be helpful, including their local Injury Unit, GPs, pharmacists and GP out of hours services before presenting at emergency departments (EDs).
The Mullingar Hospital Minor Injury Unit treats injuries that are not life-threatening, such as broken bones, dislocations, sprains, wounds, scalds and minor burns. People from Mullingar and its surrounds from the age of 16 and over can attend the unit 7 days a week: Monday – Friday 8 am to 8pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am – 6pm and Bank Holidays 10am – 6pm The Injury Unit is located in Charter Medical Private Hospital Ballinderry Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, N91 FE40.
Patients can walk-in to this public service for a fee of €75, which is less than the €100 fee charged if they were to attend an Emergency Department. There is no charge for patients who have Medical Card or who have a referral letter from their General Practice, Out of Hours GP or from the ED. Waiting times for patients who attend the Injury Unit are significantly less than those who may have to wait in a busy Emergency Department while more acutely ill patients are triaged as a priority. The average time to be seen and discharged in an Injury Unit is under two hours.
There are a range of other care pathways available to patients who do not need emergency care including:
Visit your pharmacy for advice on common minor illnesses. Find out more here https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/2/pharmacy/
Visit your local Injury Unit: www.hse.ie/injuryunits
Make an appointment with your GP if you’re feeling unwell and it is not an emergency
If you urgently need to see a GP outside of normal hours, contact your local GP Out of Hours service, details below:
Out of Hours Urgent GP Services
MIDOC is an appointment only GP service located in the Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath areas. This service is for patients who need urgent medical attention that cannot wait to be seen by their usual GP. Opening Hours: Weekdays, Monday to Thursday 6pm to 8am. Weekends 6pm Friday to 8am Monday. All day on Bank Holidays. Telephone 1800 302 702 or go to GP Out of Hours service: GP out-of-hours service - HSE.ie for more information.
Kay Slevin General Manager, Regional Hospital Mullingar said, “Mullingar Hospital continues to be extremely busy in the lead up to the Bank Holiday weekend. Our emergency department in particular continues to see significantly increased numbers of patients attending and being admitted. We continue to work hard across our hospital to minimise the length of time patients wait to be treated, particularly those aged over 75. It is important that people continue to consider all options and pathways available to them before attending an ED, including their local Injury Unit, GP Out of Hours, GPs and community pharmacy.
All patients who present to our emergency departments will be seen and treated, with the sickest and most urgent patients being prioritised. We urge any patient requiring emergency hospital treatment not to delay and come to the ED, or dial 999 or 112 in an emergency. We also request people to only use these services when it is urgent. We acknowledge that patients presenting with non-urgent injuries may face longer waiting times, depending on the number of patients attending and the severity of patient illnesses. Our staff work hard to do all they can to reduce the length of time patients wait in EDs and we apologise when patients experience long delays.”