Letterkenny University Hospital "under significant pressure"

Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) had the third highest number of admitted patients waiting on trolley beds, this morning, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and Saolta have confirmed that the hospital is currently under "significant pressure on bed availability".

32 admitted patients are waiting for beds this morning at LUH, according to today’s INMO Trolley Watch figures. 

14 patients are waiting in the LUH emergency department, while a further 18 are in wards elsewhere in the hospital.

In a statement just issued by Saolta, they confirmed:

"The Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital has experienced very high levels of attendances this week and there is significant pressure on bed availability.

"Yesterday (Wednesday March 13) 179 patients attended the ED with the department currently seeing 69 presentations so far today. Many of these patients are very sick, frail and elderly and need to be admitted to the hospital for treatment.

"Unfortunately some patients are waiting a long time to be admitted to a bed. As of this morning there were 21 patients on trolleys awaiting admission to in-patient beds.As always, people who do require emergency care are encouraged to attend EDs where they will be prioritised.

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

"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.

We continue to request that people consider other options for non-emergency care such as Out of Hours GP and pharmacies before attending an ED."

University Hospital in Limerick had the highest number in the country with 106 patients on trolley beds this morning, with Cork University Hospital with 50 patients. 

Meanwhile, at Sligo University Hospital, which covers south Donegal, 24 admitted patients were waiting on trolley beds. 

Nationally, 545 admitted patients are waiting for beds this morning, according to today’s INMO Trolley Watch. 400 patients are waiting in the emergency department, while 145 are in wards elsewhere in the hospital.