Letterkenny University Hospital faces another day of overcrowding as 36 patients in the Emergency Department are currently waiting on beds.
Today’s figures means that Letterkenny has the second highest total for sick patients waiting on beds in the country.
Figures released this afternoon by the INMO show that 22 patients are waiting on trolleys while a further 14 are waiting in ward overflow areas. Delays are expected as more patients and reportedly awaiting admission.
Full capacity protocol has been implemented to deal with the crisis and free up space in the Emergency Department. This procedure allows for extra beds to be placed in ward areas. Hospital staff are working to identify patients who are appropriate for discharge.
People are asked to only attend the Emergency Department in the event of a genuine emergency. They should contact their GP or GP Out-of-Hours service in the first instance.
Today’s crisis comes amidst a busy week as the hospital faces continued pressure from overcrowding. Twenty five people were without a bed yesterday – a figure which has risen as the week goes on.
Tags:
