More than ten patients a day left the Emergency Department of University Hospital Galway last year without being seen or screened.

Saolta University Hospital Group confirmed a total 3,801 patients – translating as an average of over ten every day – left UHG’s ED without being attended to last year.

It represents an increase of 28% compared with 2021, and is up 72% on 2020, when the most stringent Covid-19 restrictions were in place in hospitals.

The large number of patients leaving UHG’s ED without being seen or treated comes as overcrowding at the city hospital continued to be a problem.

According to the figures released by the HSE, Portiuncula University Hospital had some 1,526 patients who left its ED without being seen in 2022.

That was up by 47% on the 2021 figure, and up by 50% compared with 2020.

The stats were released to the leader of Aontú, Peadar Tóibín.

The party’s representative in Tuam, Luke Silke, described the figures as ‘awful.

“The fact that nearly 5,000 people in Galway – between UHG and Portiuncula – left Emergency Departments without being seen is a damning indictment of the HSE,” Mr Silke said.

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