Public again asked to visit GPs before attending Tullamore Hospital

Tullamore Hospital is the second most overcrowded hospital in the country today.

Trolley and ward watch figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation(INMO) recorded 33 people on trolleys, chairs or additional over capacity ward beds in the hospital this morning.

In a statement today, the HSE said “the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore is experiencing high levels of attendances and admissions in the Emergency Department (ED) today. As a result, the HSE Escalation Policy is currently in operation at the hospital.”

“In order to assist us we are requesting that patients in the first instance, consider using their GP or Midoc Service for medical assessment, where possible. The situation will be reviewed on an ongoing basis,” the HSE stated.

The INMO figures put the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore narrowly behind Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital where 34 patients are on the trolley and ward watch list.  

Launched in 2013, the trolley and ward watch figures are a count of the number of additional patients on beds, trolleys or chairs, on inpatient wards or units above the stated complement of that ward or unit. The figures provide a picture of whole hospital overcrowding.

Tullamore was the most overcrowded hospital in the country twice last week and again on Monday, according to the figures.