Elective surgeries were postponed this week, and visitor restrictions imposed at University Hospital Galway (UHG), which is grappling with ongoing pressures from a surge in flu admissions.

Saolta University Healthcare Group confirmed to the Galway City Tribune that almost eighty patients were being treated for flu in the Galway’s public hospitals on Monday of this week – 56 in Galway University Hospitals and 22 in Portiuncula University Hospital, Ballinasloe.

Some elective surgeries at University Hospital Galway were postponed on Tuesday, as the city hospital tried to deal with pressure from the weekend with increased flu admissions and a busy Emergency Department.

UHG said it had 355 attendances at the ED on Saturday and Sunday last weekend, plus a further surge of 95 patients before Monday lunchtime, which prompted it to postpone some elective surgeries on Tuesday.

“These pressures are impacting our bed availability. Urgent, time sensitive cases are being prioritised and patients are being contacted directly if their procedure is being postponed.

“As always, we treat our sickest patients first, which means that patients who attend the ED for routine and non-urgent treatment will experience very long waiting times,” a spokesperson said.

Saolta apologised for the distress and inconvenience caused due to delayed admissions to the hospital from ED, resulting from a lack of beds

It advised patients to seek alternatives to ED – such as out-of-hours GPs, pharmacies, and Roscommon Injury Unit – for non-emergency medical treatment.

Visitor restrictions remain in place at UHG and Portiuncula, which the HSE said were necessary to help control the spread of flu and other respiratory infections.

Visitor numbers at UHG have been restricted to two per patient during visiting hours but in Ballinasloe, which is also very busy, just one visitor per patient is allowed under the restrictions imposed this week.

Children and more visitors are asked to stay away, apart from in “exceptional circumstances”.

Visitors who are unwell or have symptoms of flu are asked to stay away from the hospitals, too.

Pictured: UHG: Increased flu admissions.