Ahead of the bank holiday weekend University hospital Galway is advising of long wait times in the Emergency Department (ED).
The ED has been extremely busy over the past few days, and further high attendances are expected over the bank holiday weekend.
As of this morning, there are 97 patients in the Emergency Department, with 31 patients on trolleys awaiting admission to an inpatient bed. Yesterday, Tuesday, 21 October, 305 people attended the Emergency Department.
Maria Molloy, Deputy Hospital Manager, said, “We are doing everything we can to improve the flow of patients through the ED and reduce delays for our patients and would ask the public to consider all healthcare options before attending the ED.”
“We are 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, unfortunately, may be waiting longer.”
Due to the pressures on the site and the lack of bed capacity, the hospital is postponing some elective procedures.
Urgent, time sensitive cases are being prioritised. Patients are being contacted directly if their procedure is being postponed.
All available beds in the hospital are in use. Patients are facing long waiting times to be admitted from the Emergency Department to a bed on a ward.
The hospital has said that every effort is being made to discharge patients who are ready to go home so that beds will become available at the earliest opportunity for patients who need to be admitted.
People are being asked to consider their local pharmacy, GP, or out of hours GP in the first instance for healthcare needs.
The Roscommon Injury Unit is also open from 8am to 8pm every day and can treat a wide range of breaks, sprains, burns and minor wounds.
