Limerick’s Regional Hospital facing ‘severe pressure’ on beds
Fianna Fail's Niall Collins has accused Minister James Reilly of going to ground during emergency department crisis at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, above
LIMERICK’S Mid-Western Regional Hospital is experiencing a ‘severe surge in pressure on beds’ this Tuesday and has put a contingency plan into operation to cope with the situation.
The hospital has put the plan into operation to cope with the demand for beds and members of the public have been asked not to attend at the emergency department unless it is absolutely necessary.
As of 9am this Tuesday morning there were 42 people waiting for beds in the hospital, a high not encountered since Christmas.
That number was reduced to 19 waiting in the emergency department as of Tuesday lunchtime, with extra rounds being carried out to free up beds. Some patients were moved from Dooradoyle to vacant beds in Nenagh, St John’s and Croom to help alleviate the situation.
All GPs in the Mid West have been informed of the situation and elective surgery has been cancelled.
The surge in demand is being ascribed to a number of factors including nororvirus, respiratory ailments and other complaints. Eight beds at the hospital are blocked as a result of norovirus, which remains “widespread in the community” according to the HSE.
A full ban on visiting remains in place in the Regional, which has been in effect for some time. Visiting to all wards at the hospital is prohibited with the exception of critically ill patients, but in no circumstances should anyone attempt to visit a critically ill patient without first contacting nursing staff, hospital management said.
Parents and guardians only will be permitted access to the Children’s Ark Unit and children should be kept away from all areas of the hospital.
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Weather for Limerick
Thursday 20 June 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 12 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
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