University Hospital Galway has apologised for long waiting times at the Emergency Department (ED) today.
The hospital continues to be impacted by Covid-19 with 49 confirmed cases – the highest number in the country.
Two wards in the hospital are dedicated to care for patients with the virus and a further five wards are affected by outbreaks – with two closed to admissions.
UHG says that this is limiting the availability of beds for patients coming in through the ED.
The pressure on bed availability has resulted in very high numbers of patients waiting on trollies in the ED and assessment areas who need to be admitted to hospital for ongoing treatment.
In addition, some elective procedures have been cancelled and patients have been contacted directly.
The hospital said that 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 is committed to treating everyone who presents at the ED; 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 health problems are not an emergency, people should contact their GP during normal surgery hours or the Westdoc GP out of hours service, in the first instance.
As an alternative to the Emergency Department – for minor injuries – the Injury Unit in Roscommon University Hospital is open from 8am to 8pm every day to treat a range of injuries in both adults and children over five years of age.
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