SOME elective surgeries at Letterkenny Univeristy Hospital have been postponed due to high numbers of people attending and lack of bed availability.
Monday saw 167 attendances at the Emergency Department with over 150 attending yesterday March 30th.
As of 9am this morning there are 34 patients awaiting a bed in ED with high attendances continuing this afternoon.
Given the pressures and lack of available beds, LUH is postponing some elective procedures. Urgent, time sensitive cases are being prioritised. Patients are being advised directly and the situation is being kept under review.
Saolta are advising that many of the attendances are patients who are very sick and need to be admitted to the hospital for treatment.
A spokesperson said, “There is ongoing pressure on bed availability in the hospital and we regret that many patients are currently experiencing long waiting times to be admitted from the ED to an acute bed in the hospital.
“The hospital is also dealing with a significant increase in COVID-19 presentations and admissions.
“There are currently 24 Covid positive patients being treated at LUH with four wards in outbreak.”
Outpatient appointments are proceeding as usual and people should attend their appointments unless advised otherwise.
However, anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 or is a contact of someone with COVID-19 should not attend their appointment and should reschedule by contacting the number on their appointment letter.
The spokesperson continued, “We are committed to treating everyone who presents at our ED but we do so strictly in order of medical priority. The hospital acknowledges that these delays are very difficult for patients and their families and apologises for the inconvenience and distress these delays cause.
“We continue to request that people consider other options for non-emergency care such as Out of Hours GP and pharmacies before attending an ED.”
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