Mullingar Hospital appeal to public to contact GP in wake of overcrowding

The Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar has this evening issued a public notice to say that the Emergency Department "is very busy" and are appealing to people with less serious illnesses to contact their GP first.
  
"We have admitted a lot of patients with complex needs recently, many of whom remain in the ED, awaiting a bed," reads the MRH Mullingar statement.

"We are asking people to think about all their care and treatment options and keep our ED services for the patients who need them most. We are asking patients with a less serious illness to contact their GP in the first instance where possible.  

"However, if you are seriously injured or ill or are worried that your life is at risk the ED will assess and treat you as a priority.    

"Please note that this public notice will be in place until further notice."

The INMO said today that 31 patients are awaiting a bed in Mullingar Hospital, while in Tullamore there are 30 patients on trolleys, while nationally the figures on trolleys have reached a national high today with 656 awaiting a bed.

It is only the fourth time the number has exceeded 600. This time last year the figure was 612.