Letterkenny University Hospital is the second most overcrowded hospital in the country today, with 64 patients recorded on trolleys this morning.
The Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital is under significant pressure today with high attendances and long waiting times.
Patients are experiencing major delays waiting for beds.
A statement from Saolta says the hospital is also dealing with a significant increase in COVID-19 presentations and admissions. There are currently 13 Covid positive patients being treated at LUH with four wards in outbreak. Visiting to the outbreak wards is restricted to compassionate grounds, on an exceptional basis only.
Management said: “The hospital is postponing elective procedures given the pressure on the site and patients have been contacted directly.
“All available beds are in use. 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 acknowledges that these delays and postponements are very difficult for patients and their families and apologises for the inconvenience and distress these delays cause.
“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 at all possible.”
