The Emergency Department (ED) at Tipperary University Hospital in Clonmel is experiencing severe overcrowding today with the INMO reporting 24 patients receiving care on trolleys as of 8am this morning.
Hospital management is asking members of the public to only attend in the case of a genuine emergency, advising that, where possible, a GP or Caredoc out of hours service be consulted in the first instance and reminds the public that the Injuries Unit located in Cashel is operational Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. The Injury unit is located at Our Lady’s Hospital campus and can deal with a range of health issues for patients over 3 years of age including X-Rays and injuries such as broken bones, dislocations, wound care and minor burns. If they cannot help with a problem, they will direct patients to an appropriate location.
Management at the Clonmel hospital is asking people to think about all their care and treatment options and keep the Emergency Department services for the patients who need them most. However, if members of the public are seriously injured or ill or are worried that their life is at risk the Emergency Department will assess and treat such patients as a priority.
Staff and management are working to prioritise the discharge of patients as soon as possible where appropriate to help alleviate the overcrowding. The management at Tipperary University Hospital in Clonmel is also offering apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Nationally a total of 667 patients were on trolleys earlier today when the data was compiled including 80 at University Hospital Limerick.
