CUH Emergency Department Under Pressure - Public Urged To Consider Alternatives

Cork University Hospital's Emergency Department is currently extremely busy, with HSE South West advising the public to attend only for urgent or emergency care needs and to consider alternative healthcare options for less serious conditions.

The hospital issued the advisory today, 30 September 2025, as the Emergency Department experiences exceptionally high patient numbers. Healthcare officials are reminding the public that patients in the ED are prioritised based on clinical urgency, meaning those with less serious conditions may face lengthy waits.

HSE South West is encouraging people to explore other care options before attending the Emergency Department. These include local Minor Injury Units, GPs, pharmacists, and SouthDoc out-of-hours GP services, all of which can provide prompt treatment for non-emergency conditions.

A new regional telehealth service, Urgent Virtual Care, is now available through GPs and paramedics. The service allows healthcare providers to consult directly with senior physicians in Emergency Medicine or Geriatric Medicine by phone or video call to determine whether ED attendance is necessary.

Jennifer Kearney, Chief Executive Officer at Cork University Hospital said:

"The Emergency Department at CUH is currently very busy, and seeing very high numbers of people attending. With these numbers of people needing emergency care, it's important that we make sure they can be seen quickly according to clinical priority. I ask everyone to consider: 'Is the ED the right place for my care?' There are excellent alternatives available, including local GPs, pharmacies, SouthDoc, and injury units that can offer prompt and appropriate support. We thank our community for their consideration."

The hospital has outlined six care options for the public to consider. Self-care with a well-stocked medicine cabinet can address common ailments like colds and sore throats. Pharmacists can provide advice on minor illnesses, whilst GPs remain the appropriate choice for non-emergency health concerns.

For minor injuries, broken bones and burns, local Injury Units offer specialist treatment without the wait times associated with busy Emergency Departments. More information is available at www.hse.ie/injuryunits. When GP surgeries are closed, SouthDoc is available on 0818 355 999 for out-of-hours care.

The Emergency Department and emergency services via 999 or 112 should be reserved for genuine emergencies where immediate medical attention is essential.

The advisory comes as healthcare services across the country continue to manage high demand, with Cork University Hospital serving as a major regional centre for emergency care in Munster.