Mater Private: How to avoid overcrowded hospitals

Dr Oisin Powell suggests three strategies to avoid the emergency department, the long delays and overcrowded waiting rooms of hospitals.

RECENT editorials in the Irish Examiner included headlines like “Medics’ anger at trolley crisis” (November 16, 2016) and “More than 600 patients were on hospital trolleys nationwide yesterday” (February 2, 2017) reflect the prolonged and continued pressures affecting our hospitals and their dedicated but severely stretched professionals.

Dr Oisin Powell, consultant emergency medicine physician at Mater Private Hospital Cork, says: “When the unexpected happens and you need to go the emergency department anywhere in the country, including my home city of Cork, you can be sure the healthcare staff will do their very best to treat you promptly and with professionalism.