Management at Cork University Hospital (CUH) have appealed to the public to “explore all other options available to them” before attending the hospital’s emergency department (ED) if their needs are not urgent.

It comes as the latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisations (INMO) Trolley Watch show 39 people were waiting for beds at the hospital’s emergency department on Tuesday morning making it the busiest emergency department in the country.

Elsewhere in Cork, two people were waiting for beds at the Mercy University Hospital.

In a statement, management at CUH said that the ED had been “exceptionally busy” in recent days and measures were being taken to address the issue.

“Patient care is paramount in CUH and this situation is being treated as a priority by Hospital Management who have taken steps to address this issue,” it added.

Hospital management has requested that, where appropriate, the public contact their GP in the first instance and explore all other options available to them before attending the Emergency Department if their needs are not urgent.

These options may include:

General Practitioner / South Doc

Mercy Urgent Care Centre, St. Mary’s Health Campus, Gurranabraher, Cork 

Opening hrs. 8:00am to 6.00pm Telephone - 021-4926900

Local Injuries Unit Bantry General Hospital:

Opening hrs. 8:00am to 7:30pm.

Telephone 027 50133

Local Injuries Unit, Mallow: General Hospital.

Opening hrs. 8:00am to 7:00pm.

Telephone 022 58506.

“Hospital Management wishes to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all staff during this very busy time,” the statement added.