Pressure on Portlaoise hospital as 22 patients on trolleys

Pressure continues to mount on the Emergency Department at Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise with 22 patients on trolleys on Tuesday, January 7. 

Five patients are waiting on trolleys in the emergency department while 17 others are on wards elsewhere in the hospital, according to the latest data from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation's (INMO) trolley figures.

The latest update from the daily Urgent and Emergency Care Report from the HSE shows that 17 surge capacity beds were in use at the hospital as of 8am on Tuesday, January 7. 

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 report also shows there were five patients classed as delayed transfers of care. The HSE says such delays 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.

Due to adverse weather conditions the hospital was forced to cancel all outpatient appointments on Monday and Tuesday. A decision is yet to be announced on whether appointments will go ahead on Wednesday, January 8. Keep up to date throughout the day on Laois Live.