The Emergency Department at Galway University Hospital (GUH ) has been extremely busy this week with high numbers of people attending the department who needed to be admitted to hospital for ongoing treatment. On Saturday, 220 people and on Sunday 157 people attended at the Emergency Department and there were a total of 96 admissions over the two days. On Monday there were 25 patients in the Emergency Department with a further 18 patients on trolleys at ward level. In addition they have opened additional surge beds.
In a statement, they said that they are actively managing an outbreak of COVID-19 on one ward. Where a ward is affected by COVID-19, visiting is limited and all visits must be pre-arranged by the family members / nominated visitor, who should contact the relevant ward or unit in advance.
The hospital is advising that patients who attend ED for routine and non-urgent treatment will experience very long waiting times.
All available beds in the hospital are in use. Patients are facing long waiting times to be admitted from the Emergency Department to a bed on a ward. Every effort is being made to discharge patients who are ready to go home so that beds will become available for patients who need to be admitted, at the earliest opportunity.
Due to the pressures on the site and the lack of bed capacity, the hospital is postponing some elective procedures. Urgent, time sensitive cases are being prioritised. Patients are being contacted directly if their procedure is being postponed.
As always, people who do require emergency care are encouraged to attend EDs where they will be prioritised.
The hospital acknowledges that these delays are very difficult for patients and their families and apologises for the inconvenience and distress these delays cause.
“The hospital is committed to treating everyone who presents at the Emergency Department; people who are seriously injured or ill are assessed and treated as a priority and those who do not require urgent care may be waiting longer.
“We continue to request that people only attend the Emergency Department at the hospital if it is an emergency situation. We ask that people attend their GP or out of hours service in the first instance if at all possible.
“All visitors to the hospital will be required to practice good hand hygiene and use hand gel regularly, and face masks are available for use throughout the hospital.
“People should check the HSE website for useful advice on common illnesses such as colds, coughs, flu, earache and sore throats and keeping well,” the statement concluded.
