Hospital forced to cancel surgeries

University Hospital Galway (UHG) has joined a growing number of hospitals forced to cancel surgery in an effort to deal with emergency department (ED) overcrowding.

In the past week, 80 non-urgent scheduled operations were cancelled at Cork University Hospital (CUH) and the Mercy University Hospital (MUH), with both hospitals appealing to the public to only attend the ED in an absolute emergency. MUH was forced to cancel 49 procedures while CUH cancelled 31.

Yesterday, MUH warned it was again experiencing a surge of patients attending its ED and it advised people to avail of other care services where possible, such as South Doc out-of-hours service, or the Mercy Urgent Care Centre at St Mary’s Health Campus, Cork City.

CUH said that all patients affected by its recent surgery cancellations have received a rescheduled admission date.

“There are no further cancellations planned and normal services have resumed,” a hospital spokesperson said.

Management at UHG has also appealed to people not to present at the ED unless absolutely necessary.

There were 407 people waiting on trolleys in hospitals yesterday according to the latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.