Elective procedures have been cancelled at Letterkenny University Hospital today due to significant pressures rising from high attendances and long waiting times.
Saolta has confirmed the Emergency Department is under significant pressure today as Yesterday 160 people attended the Emergency Department.
The high number of people attending who need to be admitted for ongoing treatment means that there is 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 hospital has postponed elective procedures today given the pressure on the site and patients have been contacted directly.
All available beds are in use.
Saolta says 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.
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.
A spokespersons said, “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.
“If your health problem is not an emergency you should contact your GP during normal surgery hours or the NoWDOC GP out of hours service, in the first instance.”
