Elective surgery for patients across the MidWest, including here in Clare, has been cancelled at the region’s main hospital today as it struggles to cope with extreme overcrowding.
At 9 am there were 42 patients on trolleys and chairs awaiting admission to Limerick Regional Hospital- the highest in the country- but the HSE says the situation has eased somewhat now – with the numbers reduced to 19.
Dooradoyle’s contingency plan is in operation to cope with the demand for beds and GPS across Clare Limerick and Tipperary have been informed of the situation with some patients transfered to nearby hospitals to help allievate the pressure.
The situation is being blamed in part on the recent outbreak of the winter vommiting bug which has lead to increased longstay admissions.
