Overview
Our Hospital Access Unit (HAU) at Bon Secours Hospital Limerick provides consultant-delivered, same or next day assessment, investigation and treatment of patients referred by their GP. This service is designed to give patients, expert medical care in a safe and comfortable environment. Every patient is seen by a consultant in emergency medicine, supported by a dedicated nursing and health care team, with access to full diagnostic services including laboratory testing, X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound.
If you or a family member (adults only) is unwell, suffering from a medical issue or need timely hospital admission, speak to your GP about a referral to the HAU at the Bon Secours Hospital Limerick.
Patients meeting the unit’s inclusion criteria are offered an appointment following referral from their General Practitioner. Referral is made by the GP via telephone to a HAU clinical nurse manager, with subsequent submission of a referral letter by Healthlink or email. Once your referral is received from your GP, our medical team will contact you by phone to arrange your admission.
Please note that admission to the unit is by appointment only. No walk-in patients will be accepted.
All patients are assessed by a consultant in emergency medicine and, following investigation and initial treatment, are either admitted to the hospital or discharged home. A proportion of discharged patients will be referred for specialist outpatient follow-up as required.
GP information
If you are a GP and wish to refer a patient to the HAU, please call our HAU clinical nurse manager, with subsequent submission of a referral letter by Healthlink or email. The HAU does not accept walk-in or ambulance-borne patients. The HAU does not accept referrals through email.
If you would like any additional information about the unit or the suitability of your patient, please do not hesitate to call the team on 0868279202. Telephone available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Please note: this number is for GPs only.
Please see our detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria below for more information.
Patient safety dictates that the HAU only accept patients that the hospital can care for.
Below is a more detailed list of inclusion criteria:
Cardiovascular
- Chest pain
- CCF
- Syncope
- Arrhythmia
- Palpitations
- Hypertension
Respiratory
- Unresolving cough
- Unresolving RTI
- Suspected PE
- Exacerbation of COPD
Gastrointestinal
- Acute gastroenteritis
- Stable upper GI bleed
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Abnormal LFTs
- Painless jaundice
Neurology
- Headache
- First seizure
- Suspected TIA
- Vertigo
Metabolic
- Electrolyte disturbance
- Poorly controlled diabetes
Rheumatology
- Non traumatic lower back pain
- Non traumatic neck pain
- Limb pain – suspected radicular cause
- Shoulder pain
- Joint pain/swelling
Haematology
- Suspected DVT
- Anaemia ? cause
General medicine
- Recent weight loss ? cause
- Generally unwell
Infectious disease
- Limb cellulitis (unilateral)
Genitourinary
- Urinary tract infection
Geriatrics
- Clinical categories listed above
- Falls, reduced mobility
- Frailty
Trauma review
- Soft tissue injury review/imaging
Please see our detailed exclusion list below.
All referrals are triaged by our experienced medical team. It is important to note that patients with those listed as unsuitable in the above section will not be admitted to the hospital. Patients may be transferred to a local Emergency Department if there are no beds for admission after assessment, or if their assessment reveals a condition that is not suitable for medical admission in the Bon Secours Hospital.
If you would like any additional information about the unit or the suitability of your patient, please do not hesitate to call the team on 0868279202. Telephone available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Please note: this number is for GPs only.
Patient safety dictates that the HAU only accept patients that the hospital can care for.
General exclusions include:
- Airway compromise
- Significant respiratory distress; RR > 24/min; O2 sat < 90%
- HR < 40 or > 120; Systolic BP < 90 or > 200;
- Reduced level of consciousness, acute neurological deficit
- Patient groups excluded: paediatrics, psychiatry, gynaecology, obstetrics, oncology, ear, nose and throat (ENT) and urology
Below is a more detailed list of exclusions:
Cardiovascular
- STEMI
- Ongoing cardiac-sounding chest pain
- Cardiovascular instability
- Hypertensive emergency
Respiratory
- Significant new hypoxia
- Significant respiratory distress
- Sepsis
Gastrointestinal
- Significant abdominal pain or tenderness
Neurology
- Overt neurological deficit
- Features suggestive of acute stroke
- Suspected SAH
- Suspected CNS infection
- Headache on anticoagulants
Metabolic
- Critical hyperkalaemia/hypercalcaemia
- Significant renal impairment
- Diabetic emergencies
Rheumatology
- Suspected cauda equina syndrome
- Intractable pain requiring admission
- Inability to walk
- Suspected septic arthritis
Haematology
- Suspected acute haemorrhage
Infectious disease
- Sepsis
Genitourinary
- Sepsis
- Ulceration
Geriatrics
- Injury with possible fracture
- Inability to weight bear after fall
- Head injury on anticoagulants
- Suspected spinal cord compression
Trauma review
- Suspected or confirmed fracture
All referrals are triaged by our experienced medical team. It is important to note that patients with those listed as unsuitable in the above section will not be admitted to the hospital. Patients may be transferred to a local Emergency Department if there are no beds for admission after assessment, or if their assessment reveals a condition that is not suitable for medical admission in the Bon Secours Hospital.
If you would like any additional information about the unit or the suitability of your patient, please do not hesitate to call the team on 0868279202. Telephone available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Please note: this number is for GPs only.
Pricing
The HAU fee comprises a consultation fee and itemised charges for any investigations that are not directly covered by the patient’s insurance company.
For patients who are admitted, the HAU fee, apart from the consultation fee of €250, is directly covered by the relevant insurance company.
Regarding insurance cover for the Hospital admission this can be verified with a member of our HAU administration team. For note all insurance plans for “private Hospitals” are accepted by the Bon Secours Hospital Limerick.
For patients who are discharged, the HAU fee will vary but is capped at €590 - this is the most any patient will be charged, irrespective of the number and type of tests they have had.
A schedule of fees that could form part of a HAU visit are listed below.
Exam/Test Price List:
Initial Consultation: €250
*Radiology – CT Scan without Contrast: €280 per body area scanned
*Radiology – CT Scan with Contrast: €340 per body area scanned
*Radiology – X-ray: €110 per body area imaged
*Radiology – MRI without Contrast: €310
*Radiology – MRI with Contrast: €360
*Radiology – Ultrasound: €170 per body area imaged
Cardiology – Echocardiogram: €200
Cardiology – ECG: €60
Cardiology – Stress Test: €150
Cardiology – Holter Monitor: €160
Cardiology – Blood Pressure Monitor: €80
Laboratory Testing (HAU Panel): €70 (Referral Specialised Testing Additional)
* Insurance: Depending on the patient's insurance policy, some radiology & cardiology investigations may be eligible for direct settlement. Patients are advised to check with their insurer in advance or contact our admin team for guidance.
A variable portion of that fee can be recouped by the patient from their insurance company, depending on the insurance plan.
Patient contact information
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(061) 426108
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[email protected]
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Opening Hours: Monday to Friday (excl. Bank Holiday) 8am – 3pm (Admitting Hours)
GP contact information (for GP use only)
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0868279202
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[email protected]
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Telephone available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.