A national appeal has been launched by the HSE to keep Emergency Department numbers down. The appeal asks those seeking medical care or assessment to consider all options before going to an Emergency Department.
In University Hospital Limerick, all out-patient appointments have been cancelled for today, January 3. This follows yesterday, when precedented numbers attended the hospital. Only urgent elective surgeries will go ahead in the coming days in Limerick, however, the HSE says all urgent patients will be prioritised across the country.
Figures released by the INMO on December 30, show that University Hospital Waterford had no patients on trolleys in the Emergency Department.
Elsewhere, University Hospital Limerick reported 41 patients on trolleys, Cork University Hospital reported 73 and St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny had 23.
While cases of Covid-19 and flu continue to rise, the HSE asks that people consider visiting their GP or pharmacy in the first instance.
Looking ahead, HSE Chief of Operations, Damien McCallion, says a very challenging January is expected.
"We are on the upper end of our pessimistic modelling. We are certainly going to see a very difficult period in January and our hospital staff and community, and indeed out ambulance service are working very hard to make it as easy as possible for patients."
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