Varadkar: Overcrowding at Beaumont should ease in coming days

Health Minister Leo Varadkar is promising overcrowding in hospitals will ease in the coming days - but has warned that a long-term fix could take at least 18 months to sort out.

Hospital overcrowding is now said to be at its worst in a decade, with Dublin's Beaumont Hospital pleading with the public and doctors not to use its services in a bid to ease the pressures.

Minister Varadkar says while there will be some easing of the problem in the days ahead, this is not an issue that can be solved overnight.

"The run-up to Christmas is always a very busy time for emergency departments," he said.

"Beaumont is under particular pressure, but it's not the only one. The hospital itself has introduced a number of measures.

After promising additional step-down beds, additional homecare packages and nursing home places, he added: "I think we will see an alleviation in the next couple of days, but it is a problem that exists across our health service, and it's something that requires a long-term plan."

The CEO of Beaumont Hospital in Dublin later apologised for the long waiting times experienced by patients in the hospital's Emergency Department, saying the situation is now improving.

“Waiting time is reducing as we speak,” he said.

“We have used the day ward this morning to accommodate patients … we did that at 8am this morning, so that’s taken some pressure off the [emergency] department.

“Waiting that length of time in ED is not acceptable and I apologise to the public for the experience they’ve had.”