Protecting capacity at UHK by understanding your discharge options

The HSE South West ‘Caring for Kerry’ public awareness campaign continues this week with a reminder that it’s more important than ever during winter months to protect capacity at University Hospital Kerry (UHK).

Every hour in a bed at UHK is a precious resource, and hospital manager Mary Fitzgerald today reminded the public that it is important to understand all discharge options as soon as they are offered.

“We are asking everyone to work with our hardworking teams planning discharge and consider all your options. Patients will only be discharged from UHK to their home or to further care when it is medically appropriate to do so. If someone resists to move on from a bed at UHK when the acute phase of their treatment is finished, it means that someone else could face a delay in accessing care.”

Ms Fitzgerald said that UHK has a new process in place to keep patients moving through the system, and asked for all patients to work with the team when they are planning for your discharge.

“Our healthcare teams in UHK and beyond are working with patients and the public to make sure everyone gets the Right Care, in the Right Place, at the Right Time, delivering on our SláinteCare objectives. The public can help by engaging with all options for discharge when they are offered.”

The options you might be offered when it is time to leave UHK:

• a transfer to another facility, such as Mallow General Hospital
• a short-term placement in a Community Hospital. This is may be for rehabilitation or if someone requires a further short period of care that is not acute
• a short-term placement in a nursing home
• community Intervention Team visits - this is when a person requires intravenous drugs but they can be administered in their home

“This may mean that you need to transfer to somewhere like Mallow General Hospital. We know that this may be unexpected, but it allows us to use the expertise of the wider HSE South West team to continue your care.”

Patricia Moloney, Director of Nursing at Mallow General Hospital, said:

“If you are a patient in University Hospital Kerry and need a longer stay, you may be transferred to us to complete your care. We will make sure you receive excellent care in a warm welcoming environment throughout your stay. We would be proud to be part of your healthcare journey.”

Ms Fitzgerald added:

“We always offer residential placements as close to home as possible, but can only offer placements where they are available. There may be times when someone is offered an intermediate placement in the interests of a) providing them the most appropriate care and b) protecting the much-needed acute capacity at UHK.”