This article first appeared on Galway Bay FM
University Hospital Galway is postponing some elective procedures due to pressure on beds.
Urgent, time sensitive cases are being prioritised.
Patients are being contacted directly if their procedure is being postponed.
A statement from the HSE says following a very busy bank holiday weekend, the Emergency Department remains under significant pressure and wait times to be seen are long.
583 people attended the ED – 184 Saturday, 166 Sunday and 233 yesterday with high numbers again today.
62 people are currently waiting for a bed.
This is the third highest waiting list in the country, behind Limerick with 111 and Cork with 74.
The number waiting for a bed in Portiuncula Hospital is 21, which is high for the Ballinasloe facility
The HSE is urging the public to use alternative healthcare services for treatment when appropriate.
These include GP, GP Out of Hours, the Roscommon Injury Unit and pharmacies.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says the latest post-bank holiday trolley surge is a result of failing to come up with a plan to deal with the predictable events.
