UHG is cancelling some elective procedures today amid extremely heavy overcrowding at the hospital’s emergency department.
On Monday, 304 people attended the Emergency Department, resulting in 59 admissions.
As of this morning, there are currently 26 patients in the Emergency Department and a further 12 patients on trolleys at ward level.
Additional surge beds have also been opened yesterday and will be in use again today.
The hospital is advising that patients who attend the ED for routine and non-urgent treatment will experience very long waiting times.
Due to these ongoing pressures and the lack of bed capacity, the hospital is postponing some elective procedures.
Urgent and time-sensitive procedures are being prioritised. Patients are being contacted directly if their procedure is being postponed.
UHG has said in a statement that all available beds in the hospital are currently in use, resulting in long waiting times for people to be admitted to a ward.
Efforts are being made to discharge patients home to free up bed space amid the overcrowding.
“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.”
“We continue to request that people only attend the Emergency Department at the hospital if it is an emergency situation. We ask that people attend their GP or out of hours service in the first instance if possible.”
“The Roscommon Injury Unit is also open from 8am to 8pm daily, to treat a range of injuries in both adults and children over the age of five.”
