University Hospital Galway remains under significant pressure today which is reducing bed availability.
The hospital is managing the ongoing impacts of high rates of flu and also seeing very high attendances to the Emergency Department.
The ED was extremely busy over the weekend, with 193 people attending on Saturday and another 162 on Sunday. By 1pm today there were 95 people presenting at the emergency department.
Due to the pressures on the site and the lack of bed capacity, UHG is postponing some elective procedures for Tuesday.
Urgent, time sensitive cases are being prioritised and patients are being contacted directly if their procedure is being postponed.
“As always, we treat our sickest patients first, which means that patients who attend the ED for routine and non-urgent treatment will experience very long waiting times,” a statement from Saolta said.
“All available beds in the hospital are in use but regrettably 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.”
Given the need to control the spread of infection, the hospital is appealing to the public not to visit the hospital if they have any symptoms of flu or other respiratory infection.
Masks will be available for all visitors at the entrance of the hospital and visitors are asked to practice good hand hygiene and to use the available hand gel regularly.
Hospital visiting times will continue between 2pm to 4pm and 6pm and 8pm. However, please adhere to the limit of two adult visitors per patient.
Children and additional adult visitors are advised not to visit patients in hospital except in exceptional circumstances.
For mild illness or non-urgent conditions there are a number of treatment options open to you depending on your illness – being prepared and knowing where to go will mean that you will get treated more quickly and will ease pressures on the healthcare system.
Your local out of hours GP service and pharmacies are open this weekend for expert advice and treatment.
