The Dáil has heard calls for opening hours of the Medical Assessment Unit at Ennis General Hospital to be extended, in order to ease waiting times at University Hospital Limerick.
Earlier this month, nursing representatives at Dooradoyle said overcrowding there was it it's worst ever level, and pressures are continuing with 35 patients waiting on trolleys there yesterday.
The MAU at Clare's county hospital currently opens from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. five days a week but Clare Fine Gael TD Pat Breen feels this should be extended into weekends, in order to ease the load across Midwest’s Hospital system.
Separately, the HSE has imposed visiting restrictions at Limerick Maternity Hospital, due to an outbreak of the flu there.
New mothers are being told that only a partner or support person is allowed to visit during their stay at the facility, due to the danger of spreading the virus.
The hospital is also urging people who may be unwell or have flu-like symptoms not to visit, though outpatients, parent craft education classes and pre-arranged hospital admissions are not affected.
