A new campaign's been launched to tackle two major issues at University Hospital Kerry - overcrowding in wards, and long delays in the emergency department.
The main aim is to encourage the public to only attend the ED in genuine emergency situations, and not to overstay at the hospital, once their treatment is finished.
HSE South West says it's launching this new public awareness campaign as the health service enters its busiest time of year, when long delays and overcrowding can be issues at UHK.
It's reminding people that the emergency department is only for medical emergencies, while also highlighting alternative services such as SouthDoc, the HSE South West Injury Units and the Mental Health Assessment Hub.
The campaign also highlights the problems created by overcrowding at the hospital, stressing that when someone is finished the acute phase of their healthcare treatment, it's important that they move on to another facility, as UHK does not provide residential care.
HSE manager for Kerry Julie O’Neill says she's aware that wait times at the emergency department in UHK are longer than anyone wants.
She says every hour in a bed at UHK is a precious resource, and when someone doesn't move on from a bed when their treatment is finished, it means someone else could face a delay in their care.
The campaign, which is called 'Caring for Kerry' also hightlights the importance of people taking care of their health and wellbeing at home, with updates to be posted on HSE social media channels in the coming weeks.
