LETTERKENNY University Hospital was under “significant pressure” yesterday, with a warning from management that all available beds were in use.
In a statement, hospital management said 160 people had attended the emergency department on Tuesday.
The high volume led to long wait times.
“The high number of people attending who need to be admitted for ongoing treatment means that there is pressure on bed availability. This is resulting in significant delays being experienced by patients in the Emergency Department who are waiting for a bed to become available on a ward,” said a hospital spokesperson.
All elective procedures at LUH were postponed yesterday, given the pressure on the site and patients have been contacted directly.
The hospital spokesperson said all available beds were in use.
“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.
“The hospital acknowledges that these delays and postponements are very difficult for patients and their families and apologises for the inconvenience and distress these delays cause.
“The hospital is committed to treating everyone who presents at the Emergency Department; people who are seriously injured or ill are assessed and treated as a priority and those who do not require urgent care may be waiting longer.
“If your health problem is not an emergency you should contact your GP during normal surgery hours or the NoWDOC GP out of hours service, in the first instance.”
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