Because of overcrowding in the intensive care unit of Galway's University College Hospital this week, management has asked consultant staff to cancel surgery on patients who might require admission to intensive care after their operations.
The hospital's manager, Bridget Howley, in a circular to staff on Monday, said the intensive care/high dependency unit had 11 ventilated patients and was "full beyond capacity".
"We are not in a position to take any transfers from outlying hospitals needing intensive care until this crisis is over," the circular said. It requested that all surgery on patients who might require admission to intensive care after their operations be cancelled or deferred if at all possible.
The Health Service Executive Western Area said in a statement that the intensive care unit/high dependency unit at the Galway hospital was going through a very busy period at the moment. "We plan to open an additional two high dependency unit beds in early July, which will help to alleviate the current pressures."
Meanwhile, overcrowding continued in hospital accident and emergency units yesterday. The Irish Nurses' Organisation put the numbers on trolleys yesterday morning at 257. The Health Service Executive said the number in the afternoon was 191.