Cork hospital asks patients to seek treatment elsewhere due to IT problem

Mercy University Hospital said its emergency department and the injuries unit in Gurranabraher are both experiencing delays

Mercy University Hospital has now asked people to seek medical treatment elsewhere if possible while repairs are arranged. Picture: Larry Cummins

An IT fault has caused delays to patients attending the emergency department of a busy Cork city hospital and an injury clinic on the city's northside.

The Mercy University Hospital (MUH) has now asked people to seek medical treatment elsewhere if possible while repairs are arranged.

In a statement this lunchtime, the hospital said its emergency department and the injuries unit in Gurranabraher are both experiencing delays due to "network cable issues" which are affecting laboratory and radiological tests.

"The hospital is appealing to the public to use other services - GP and South Doc - where possible," a spokesman said.

They said that "patient care is paramount in MUH and all patients are triaged and treated on the basis of clinical need when they present at the Emergency Department."

"Hospital management at MUH would like to stress that the clinical needs of all patients in the Emergency Departments are being cared for.

"Patient safety, staff safety and welfare remain the priority and the focus of the hospital is to maximise all available resources to meet the highest priority needs," the spokesperson added.