CUH dealing with significant emergency department delays

Patients at Cork University Hospital’s emergency department are experiencing significant delays because the hospital has been “exceptionally busy” in recent weeks, it has emerged.

Between last Friday and Monday, 720 patients were reviewed and treated at the hospital’s emergency department, with 228 needing to be admitted.

Monday was particularly busy, with 246 patients presenting to the emergency department, according to a statement from CUH.

“Due to this increased level of activity and subsequent admissions, it is regrettable that some patients have experienced a delay in the emergency department,” the statement read.

“Patient care is paramount in CUH, and this situation is being treated as a priority by hospital management who have taken steps to address this issue.”

On Monday, there were 22 admitted patients on trolleys in CUH, and yesterday there were 38, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

CUH has asked people to contact their GP first, and explore all other options before attending the emergency department if their needs are not urgent.

There were 344 admitted patients on trolleys in hospitals yesterday. University Hospital Limerick had the busiest emergency department in the country for the second day.

There were 40 admitted patients on trolleys in UHL yesterday and 41 on Monday. The hospital had the highest number of admitted patients on trolleys in May, at 592.

INMO figures show that the number of admitted patients on trolleys in UHL increased from 502 to 538 over the last two years.

UHL will open a new emergency department at its Dooradoyle campus in March next year, with additional medical staff appointed as part of the expansion.