Stay away from hospital ED – request

University Hospital Limerick has appealed to members of the public not to attend the emergency department in Dooradoyle today (Wednesday)  unless it is absolutely necessary. The emergency department has been under extreme pressure this week following an upsurge in attendances and the situation escalated this morning with a total of 37 patients on trolleys. This had been reduced to 23 after lunch.

A hospital spokesman said the increased pressure follows a rise in the number of surgical and medical patients presenting “although quite why it has reached such proportions is not clear. The hospital’s escalation policy is in place with every available bed being deployed and extra ward rounds will be held this afternoon to try and provide more”.

The public is asked to co-operate  and not to present at the hospital save in the case of a genuine emergency. All GPs in the area are also being contacted to request their co-operation.