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University Hospital Galway is extremely busy today, with many patients at the Emergency Department admitted without a bed.
A statement from the hospital said that there is “ongoing pressure” on bed availability at UHG today.
“we regret that patients are currently experiencing long waiting times to be admitted from the ED to an acute bed in the hospital.”
Figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation shows that there were 25 patients without a bed at UHG at 8am this morning.
The bulk of those, 23 people, are on trolleys in the Emergency Department, and two more are going without beds in the wards.
The Saolta Group has asked people not to come to the ED unless they ate dealing with a real emergency.
“If your health problem is not an emergency you should contact your GP during normal surgery hours or the Westdoc GP Out of Hours service, in the first instance.”
“We would also like to remind patients that the Injury Unit in Roscommon University Hospital is open from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to treat a range of injuries in both adults and children over five years of age.:
“We are committed to treating everyone who presents at our ED but we do so strictly in order of medical priority and apologise for the long wait times.”
Due to COVID-19 public health measures, people attending the emergency department will be asked to wait on their own to maintain social distancing.
Only in exceptional circumstances will a patient be allowed to wait with a companion.
