All available beds 'in use' at Letterkenny hospital as 200 present to ED

All available beds are in use at Letterkenny University Hospital after almost 200 people attended the emergency department on Monday.

By around 11am on Tuesday, there were a further 59 presentations to the ED - prompting hospital bosses to issue a warning to the public.

All elective procedures on Tuesday have now been cancelled due to what the HSE says is “bed pressures”.

Patients are advised that there are “long wait times” for those attending the emergency department.

Throughout Monday, there were 197 people attending the ED with a further 59 presenting in the early hours of Tuesday. 

Figures provided by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) on Tuesday morning showed that there were 38 patients in LUH awaiting admission with 18 of those on trolleys 

A statement issued by the HSE says that there are high numbers attending the ED who will need to be admitted to the hospital.

“The hospital is advising that patients who attend ED for routine and non-urgent treatment will experience very long waiting times,” a statement said.

“The hospital acknowledges that these delays are very difficult for patients and their families and apologises for the inconvenience and distress these delays cause.

“All available beds in the hospital are in use. Patients are facing long waiting times to be admitted from the ED to a bed on a ward. 

“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.

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“As always, people who do require emergency care are encouraged to attend EDs where they will be prioritised.

“We ask that people attend their GP or out of hours service in the first instance. 

“As always, people who require emergency care are encouraged to attend EDs where they will be seen in order of priority.”