Portlaoise hospital on knife edge as HSE issues A&E plea to the public
The HSE has appealed to the public not to attend Portlaoise hospital's Emergency Department (ED / A&E) for care unless it is an emergency.
The HSE's Dublin Midland Hospital Group made the appeal on Thursday evening, February 23 due to the large number of people who needed to be admitted for care.
On the eve of the plea there was just one general bed available at the hospital but no ICU beds available. Nursing figures published on Thursday morning said five people were on trollies.
"The Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise is experiencing high attendances with many patients requiring admission," it said.
The hospital team wants people to seek alternatives.
"Where possible management is asking patients with non-emergency conditions to seek assistance from other parts of the health service such as their local Pharmacist, GP, GP out-of-hours service, or a local injury unit," said a statment.
The HSE says those who do attend without an emergency face a long wait.
"Unfortunately, patients who are presenting at the ED in Portlaoise Hospital with non-urgent conditions are experiencing very long waiting times to be seen," they said.
However, the team at the hospital insists that people who need help urgently should not think twice about coming in to the hospital on Portlaoise's Dublin Road.
"Any patient who needs emergency hospital care will be seen and Midland Regional Hospital Portloiase would urge such patients not to delay attending the ED.
"Do not delay in seeking medical attention if you suspect you are having a heart attack or stroke, please dial 999 or 112 in an emergency, said the advice.
The HSE also reminded anyone who does have to attend the ED in an emergency to wear a mask and practice social distancing and ensure you tell the triage personnel if you have any signs/symptoms of Covid-19.
The HSE said the hospital apologises for any inconvenience caused and once again thanks the public for their support and understanding.
The COVID-19 Daily Operations Update report on Acute Hospitals is produced by the HSE's Performance Management and
Improvement Unit.
Its report compiled up to 8pm on Wednesday evening, February 22 showed that there were no cases of Covid-19 in the hospital. However, there was just one general bed staff could deploy as of 8am on Wednesday morning. The report also showed that there were no ICU or HDU beds free for new patients.
The Laois hospital's partner hospitals in Naas and Tullamore had no general beds either on Wednesday morning. Like Portlaoise, neither had ICU / HDU beds to deploy.
Nationally there were just 41 general beds and 13 ICU / HDU beds available across Irish hospitals.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation INMO reported that there were 549 people on trollies in Ireland on Thursday morning. Of these, five were waiting in Portlaoise.
The INMO said later in the day that the HSE and Department of Health must heed warnings on insufficient nurse and midwife staffing.