Patients warned to stay away from emergency department for second day

University Hospital Galway.

Daire Courtney

Patients have been warned to stay away from an emergency department unless absolutely necessary.

The full capacity protocol is in place for the second day in a row at University Hospital Galway as the staff struggle to cope with the number of patients awaiting attention.

Galway Bay FM is reporting patients are being urged to contact their GP first and exhaust all other options before attending the Emergency Department. The HSE have warned that patients at the hospital are facing significant delays in being seen.

The staff is looking for patients who are ready to be discharged and have cancelled a number of elective procedures.

UHG apologised yesterday to patients who may be distressed by the delays and cancellations.

Similar warnings were issued yesterday evening to patients at University Hospital Kerry as the Emergency Department also reached capacity.