Since their establishment in 2012, Injury Units (IUs) have become a vital bridge between hospitals and local communities, providing timely and quality care. Attendance at IUs increased by 14.6% in 2024/2025, reflecting their growing importance, with plans underway to expand from 14 to 21 units by 2026.
A key focus for improving IU patient care is strengthening multidisciplinary teams and enhancing staff expertise. To support this, the EMP has launched two initiatives: the development of an NFQ Level 8 Special Purpose Award in IU Nursing and research into the role of Advanced Practice Physiotherapists (APPs) in Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) settings.
Meanwhile, the HSCP office has initiated a scoping review to explore the role of Advanced Practice Physiotherapist (APPs), who internationally have been shown to reduce patient wait times, length of stay and re-presentations while improving patient satisfaction. A pilot program will launch in Nenagh, Mercy and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitals to assess APP-led care in the Irish context in IUs.
Collaboration across multiple stakeholders, including the HSE, RCSI, University of Limerick and international partners, ensures these initiatives are evidence-based and tailored to service needs.
HIRAID: History (including infection risk), Identify Red Flags, Assessment, Interventions, Diagnostics, Reassessment and Communication
In October 2025, RCSI welcomed Professor Julie Considine Deakin Distinguished Professor and Chair in Nursing at Eastern Health Australia. Julie hosted a Seminar to introduce the HIRAID Emergency Department (ED) nursing assessment framework. The framework was developed by Julie and her team of emergency nursing experts and is the only validated framework to support ED nurses to assess and manage undifferentiated and undiagnosed patients after Triage. The Seminar provided an opportunity to explore and discuss the feasibility of HIRAID in an Irish nursing context.
