Emergency Department 'bursting at the seams'

The chaos in the Emergency Department at the Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar will continue until the Health Service Executive (HSE) decides to reopen one of hospital's closed wards.This stark warning was issued by representatives from both the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and Irish Association of Emergency Medicine (IAEM), who said the situation is putting undue stress on staff and compromising patient safety.According to INMO statistics, 20 patients were on trolleys in Mullingar hospital on Monday, while at the time of going to press yesterday (Tuesday) the figure was 16.Shortly after midday on Monday, news started to emerge that the Emergency Department at Mullingar Hospital was diverting ambulances to neighbouring hospitals due to what the HSE describes as a "busy period" caused by an increase in "the number of attendees from a number of outdoor activities in the county over the weekend".To read more see this week's Westmeath Examiner