Letterkenny hospital under pressure with emergency department surge

The emergency department at Letterkenny University Hospital is battling with large waiting times due to a surge of patients presenting.

On Thursday, 173 people attending the ED and Friday has seen a similar volume.

There are currently 82 patients in the Emergency Department with 12 patients waiting to be admitted.

“All available beds in the hospital are in use,” a statement from the Saolta University Health Group confirmed. “Patients are facing long waiting times to be admitted from the Emergency Department 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.

“We are committed to treating everyone who presents at the ED but we do so strictly in order of medical priority. The hospital acknowledges that these delays are very difficult for patients and their families and apologises for the inconvenience and distress these delays cause.”

The public are asked to consider other options for non-emergency care such as out of hours GP and pharmacies before attending an ED.

The statement said: “Please do not visit the hospital if you have any respiratory symptoms or have had contact with someone who has COVID-19.

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“Visitors are advised that they must use the alcohol hand gels regularly while at the hospital, face masks are also available for use throughout the hospital.

“Keeping up to date with your vaccines is the most important thing you can do to avoid serious COVID-19 illness.”