Big chunk of Portlaoise hospital beds redeployed to cope with A&E surge

More than a fifth of beds in Portlaoise hospital have had to taken out of normal use to cope with a surge in patients through its Emergency Department (A&E/ED), according to the latest HSE figrues.

The daily Urgent and Emergency Care Report from the HSE also reveals that the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise Hospital management had to take more beds from normal usage to cope with the demand.

The figures for pressure on the hospital were revealed as the HSE announced that the weather had forced the hospital to cancel all outpatient appointments on Monday, January 6.

The HSE report for Portlaoise on Sunday, January 5 show that there were 6 patients on trolleys in the hospital's A&E. This number is deemed to be within the hospital's threshold.

However, 30 beds have had to be redeployed as surge capacity from the hospital's total of 135 inpatient beds. Surge capacity is defined as the number of beds taken from elsewhere in the hospital to meet ED demand. The HSE adds that when a hospital uses surge capacity, they may cancel some planned admissions.

The reports for recent days shows that the number of beds redeployed to cope with the surge has doubled since New Year's Day. A total of seven beds were redeployed on December 1 to cope with demand. 

A total of five patients were classed as delayed transfers of care. The HSE such delayed occur when a patient is ready to leave hospital but is still occupying a bed. It happens when a patient is waiting to go home or into care elsewhere, but the care or home supports are not in place for them.