Surgery cancelled due to overcrowding at Midlands Hospital

Officials at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore, Co Offaly, have cancelled orthopaedic surgery for today due to overcrowding, according to the Irish Nurses Organisation.

The INO said the day surgery facility was also being used to deal with an overflow of patients from the hospital’s accident and emergency unit.

It said four patients were left on trolleys overnight and for most of yesterday while hospital management struggled to find beds for them.

The INO said the situation had failed to improve despite management assurances.

The two sides are due to meet on Friday to discuss the matter.