Over 1,200 patients per month are attending injury unit at Roscommon University Hospital

Over 14,000 new patients presented to the Roscommon Injury Unit at Roscommon University Hospital last year.

According to the figures just over 1,200 new patients, on average, attended the unit per month last year with the busiest months being May and September respectively, with 1,462 and 1,350 presentations.

So far this year, up until March 11th, 3,005 new patients presented at the unit, and 417 patients came for review.

The unit has been operational since July 2011, and is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, 365 days a year. It treats adults and children aged five and over for a range of conditions including sprains, suspected broken bones, and minor burns. The average turnaround time at the unit for seeing and treating patients is less than 60 minutes. X-ray diagnostics are available on-site.

According to figures presented at a recent HSE West Regional Health Forum, 14,422 new patients attended the unit last year. A further 1,896 patients attended for review. Another 2,791 patients, including 367 children, arrived at the unit in ‘out of protocol presentations’, meaning they had conditions that the unit could not treat. These include injuries that are life-threatening and likely to result in serious long-term disability. It will also not treat medical conditions, pregnancy-related or gynaecological problems, injuries to the chest, abdomen or pelvis and serious head and spine injuries. In 175 of these cases, an ambulance was needed to bring the patient to an emergency department.

“These patients are advised of the situation and then directed to their GP, nearest ED and if they are very unwell and need immediate attention, this is delivered as a first responder type scenario, and the ambulance service is called on 999 to bring the patient to an ED,” the HSE said.

Separately councillors were also told that there are currently 56 respiratory patients on the respiratory waiting list at RUH. Of these 46 patients have a confirmed appointment date with 10 awaiting an appointment date.

“The referral basis in RUH is from consultant to consultant as we do not have a consultant respiratory physician as part of our team on site,” a statement from the hospital said.  “The clinic is delivered by a registered advanced nurse practitioner at RUH.” The longest waiting patient is three weeks, the hospital said, adding it is involved with actions to meet targets and minimise waiting times and numbers.