Portiuncula Hospital "extremely busy today"

Portiuncula University hospital has postponed all elective procedures today (Monday) as the emergency department at the facility remains under "significant pressure."

According to a statement issued by the Saolta Hospital Group, there are currently "a very high number of patients on trolleys" in the emergency department at the hospital with high attendances and long waiting times.

The hospital has reiterated the request they made over the weekend for people to only attend the emergency department in Portiuncula "if it is an emergency situation." They have appealed to people to attend their GP or out of hours service in the first instance if at all possible.

The Roscommon Injury Unit is also open from 8am to 8pm to treat a range of injuries in both adults and children over five years of age.

According to the trolley watch figures published by the INMO today (Monday), Portiuncula hospital had a total of 19 people waiting on trolleys in the emergency department. This was the highest figure in hospitals across the Midlands region, with 18 patients on trolleys in Mullingar, eight in Portlaoise and six in Tullamore hospital.

The high number of people attending Portiuncula who need to be admitted for ongoing treatment means that there is "significant pressure" on bed availability. This is resulting in significant delays being experienced by patients in the emergency department who are waiting for a bed to become available on a ward.

The pressure has resulted in the postponement of all elective procedures at Portiuncula hospital today, and all patients have been contacted directly.

All available beds in the hospital are currently in use, and every effort is being made to discharge patients who are ready to go home so that beds will become available at the earliest opportunity for patients who need to be admitted.

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

The hospital is committed to treating everyone who presents at the Emergency Department; people who are seriously injured or ill are assessed and treated as a priority and those who do not require urgent care may be waiting longer.