*Mhairi Barron, Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner at the Injury Unit in Ennis Hospital
MORE than 53,000 patients avoided unnecessary long waits at the busy Emergency Department during 2025 by attending the three Mid West Injury Units at St John’s, Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals.
The three units processed a total of 53,489 minor injuries This was 6.9% greater than the regional attendance total for 2024. Today, more than one in three of all unscheduled care patients attending HSE acute hospitals across the region are seen in one of our Injury Units.
Injury Units patients are typically seen and treated in under two hours, with follow-up reviews in the unit arranged as required.
UHL continues to experience a daily average of 280 ED attendances in the year to date.
For All Ireland-winning Tipperary senior hurler Craig Morgan, access and efficiency is all important when it comes to treatment of sports injuries. After injuring his hand in a county championship match with his club Kilruane MacDonaghs last year, Craig attended Nenagh Injury Unit and was on the road to recovery in no time. “I find the Nenagh Injury Unit really handy when I get an injury. You’re normally in and out in less than two hours and the care you get is exceptional.”
Dr Joe Kelly, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at University Hospital Limerick and St John’s Hospital Injury Unit, explained, “You can avoid long waits in the Emergency Department by attending our Injury Units. If you have an injury that is not life-threatening, our expert team can treat you quickly and efficiently, and most people are treated and home in under two hours.”
One important characteristic of Injury Units is the nursing grade of Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner (RANP), senior specialist nurses who can, like doctors, lead the patient’s care journey from admission right through to discharge.
RANP Mhairi Barron, based at Ennis Injury Unit, which in 2022 was refurbished in a €2m service investment, explained, “When patients attend the Injury Unit, they will be seen by either an RANP or a Doctor. ANPs can see all patients within criteria, and perform a full episode of care. It’s this skills mix that ensures timely, efficient care for minor injuries–rapid, efficient, high-level care with good outcomes.”
