Mullingar hospital has significant numbers on trolleys this morning

There are 28 people on trolleys in Regional Hospital Mullingar this morning.

All 28 people are on trolleys in the Emergency Department, according to figures prepared by the INMO.

Meanwhile, hospital management this morning has advised visitors to only attend the hospital ED if absolutely necessary and to not bring children, if at all possible.

The hospital management apologised for the inconvenience to patients and their families and thanked the public for their cooperation at this time.

Management would ask the public, where possible, to telephone their GP/or pharmacist in the first instance to seek the best advice, rather than presenting at the hospital.

Regional Hospital Mullingar said it would like to assure people that anyone seriously injured or ill will be assessed and treated as a priority.

Meanwhile, there were seven people on trolleys in Tullamore and one in Portiuncula.