Limerick Hospital Forced To Cancel Procedures

A “sudden surge” in emergency department patients has forced the Mid West Regional Hospital in Limerick to cancel a number of elective operations and day procedures

The Health Service Executive (HSE) said an “an unprecedented demand for in patient beds” was caused by an unexpected rise rise in emergency attendances at the hospital yesterday saw some 36 patients on trolleys at the emergency department by 5.45pm.

In an effort to ease the situation the hospital undertook extra ward rounds to release beds by discharging patients who could safely be sent home.

The situation at the hospital improved steadily during the evening and at 8am this morning the number of patients waiting on trolleys in the emergency department had been reduced to four.

As a result some medical and surgical day procedures and elective operations due to take place today were postponed as well as a number of medical outpatient clinics.

In total 21 day ward surgical procedures, two angiograms and two broncoscopies and 45 outpatient appointments were cancelled.

“These are choices we do not make lightly. Every patient is important to us but in the current situation we have to make hard decisions,” the hospital’s chief executive Ann Doherty said.

Adding: “We very much regret the inevitable delay and inconvenience but dealing with the situation in the Emergency Department must take priority.”

The Health Service Executive has appealed to people with non-urgent medical needs to attend their GPs instead of presenting at the hospital’s emergency department.

(H)