THE full capacity protocol has been implement this afternoon at Letterkenny University Hospital’s emergency department.
The Emergency Department has been extremely busy with high numbers of people attending.
“There is ongoing pressure on bed availability in the hospital and we regret that patients are currently experiencing long waiting times to be admitted from the ED to an acute bed in the hospital,” Saolta University Health Care Group said.
“The full capacity protocol has been implemented. We ask patients to contact their GP or GP Out Of Hours Service in the first instance if their health problem is not urgent.
“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.”
Patients are asked to wait alone in the ED due to the hospital’s Covid-19 protocols. A companion will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances.
Saolta said: “This is to minimise the risk of infection and to keep everyone safe. We remind patients to please wear a face covering/mask when in the ED and to comply with any COVID-19 screening processes.”
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