OVER 1,200 people attended the Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital over a seven-day period last week.
And it has emerged that 58 per cent of those patients self-referred or did not seek GP advice prior to attending ED.
Today, the hospital’s Emergency Department is again extremely busy with high numbers of people attending the department who need to be admitted to hospital for ongoing treatment.
In a statement, the hospital revealed that last week, from Monday, July 27 to Monday, August 3 (inclusive) LUH had 1,210 attendances at the ED which included 280 patients attending by ambulance.
As of this morning at 9.30am, there are 16 patients on trolleys in the Emergency Department awaiting admission and all escalation and surge areas are at capacity.
The hospital is advising that patients who attend ED for routine and non-urgent treatment will experience very long waiting times as those patients who are more acutely unwell will be seen first.
“The hospital is implementing all possible measures to improve patient flow and reduce delays in the Emergency Department and is asking the public to consider all available healthcare options before attending,” a spokesperson said.
“Everyone who presents will be treated, with priority given to those who are seriously ill or injured. Patients who do not require urgent care unfortunately may experience longer waiting times.
“All available beds in the hospital are in use including the use of additional surge areas. Patients are facing long waiting times to be admitted from the Emergency Department to a bed on a ward.
“Every effort is being made to discharge patients who are ready to go home so that beds will become available for patients who need to be admitted, at the earliest opportunity.
“Due to these ongoing pressures and the lack of bed capacity, we are reviewing some elective surgeries which may have to be deferred. Urgent and time-sensitive procedures are being prioritised.
“Patients will be contacted directly if their procedure is being postponed.
“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 only attend the Emergency Department at the hospital if it is an emergency situation. For non-urgent conditions please attend your GP in the first instance and please consider all care options.”