There’s been a significant spike in the level of overcrowding at the region’s main hospital today.
Nurses say 76 patients were left waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick this morning.
Every morning the INMO counts how many patients are waiting for a bed and today nurses say there were 43 patients on trolleys in the ED alone, and a further 33 begin accommodated in overflow areas of wards.
The Dooradoyle facility is by far busiest in the country once again, with the overall figure 36 more than the next busiest hospital.
This latest spike follows persistently high trolley numbers in recent weeks.
The UL Hospitals Group has said that high volumes of patients attending and delayed discharges are to blame, ad has asked people not to attend the ED unless it’s an emergency.
Patients are urged to visit your GP or GP out of hours service in the first instance, and where possible, to attend the Injury Unit at Ennis General Hospital, which is open from 8am to 8pm every day.
