571 admitted patients are waiting for beds in the nation’s hospitals today according to the INMO.
University Hospital Limerick(UHL) reports the worst overcrowding with 88 patients on trolleys today according to the nursing union. Management at the hospital yesterday appealed to those seeking medical care to consider all options before attending the Emergency Department(ED) warning that anyone who attends the ED in UHL and doesn’t have a life-threatening or severe illness or injury will face a significant wait. The Hospital set a new record on Monday when a total of 325 patients attended the ED. Surge capacity has been opened at University Hospital and scheduled care in UHL and across all sites is under constant review, with the exception of urgent and time-critical patients, including cancer patients.
All available alternatives to ED, including local pharmacies for minor ailments; family doctors and out-of-hours GP services; and the Injury Units at Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals are to be considered as an alternative to attending the Emergency Department – which is the only one serving the entire Mid West Region.
Tipperary University Hospital in Clonmel reports 19 admitted patients on trolleys today.
