Operations off as 460 crowd the A&E at the CUH

Some admissions and scheduled operations at Cork University Hospital were cancelled today after an influx of new patients at the emergency department over the bank holiday weekend - with nearly 200 people requiring inpatient treatment.

The hospital released a statement to ask the public to contact their GP and explore all treatment options prior to presenting themselves at the CUH emergency department.

Some patients awaiting planned admissions were advised that their treatment would be delayed and hospital management said they would be monitoring the situation today.

Staff at the hospital were dealing with the equivalent of six new wards of patients over the weekend as 195 of 460 new patients who presented at the hospital required admission.

Another 150 patients were projected to arrive for treatment yesterday and people requiring examination were asked consider other options such as South Doc; the Mercy Urgent Care Centre; Bantry General Hospital or Mallow General Hospital before travelling to the CUH emergency department.

“The hospital has put additional measures in place today to address this demand however it will be necessary to cancel some planned admissions to the hospital [on Tuesday April 18]. The position will be reviewed on a continuous basis today and tomorrow,” a statement from CUH read.

“Patient care is paramount at CUH and this situation is being treated as a priority. Hospital Management have requested that, where appropriate, the public contact their GP in the first instance and explore all other options available to them prior to attending the emergency department if their needs are not urgent.

“Hospital Management wishes to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all staff during this very busy time.” Last week CUH and Mercy University Hospital topped the Irish Nurses and Midwives' Organisation table for the amount of patients waiting on trolleys across the country.