MUH confirms services at the hospital are 'under significant pressure'

Mayo University Hospital (MUH) has confirmed in a statement this evening that the facility is under significant pressure with almost 30 percent more people than average attending in the Emergency Department today. Figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation released earlier today showed that 25 people were waiting on trollies for admission at MUH, eight in the Emergency Department and 17 on wards elsewhere.
The hospital's statement read: “Flu, RSV and other respiratory viruses are currently circulating in high rates in the community. Cases of flu are doubling week on week and will continue to increase over the coming weeks. MUH is seeing many patients presenting to the ED with symptoms which could be treated safely at home with appropriate advice from their GP or pharmacy.
“As always, people who do require emergency care are encouraged to attend EDs where they will be prioritised. Patients who attend EDs for routine and non-urgent treatment are being advised that they will experience long waiting times.
“Due to bed pressures all elective procedures scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday, 18 December 18) are being deferred, appointments will be rescheduled and patients are being notified directly.
“The hospital is also managing multiple cases of vomiting bug (norovirus). Given the prevalence of infectious illnesses which are present in the community we are asking visitors to only come to hospital where absolutely necessary. This will help us to protect our sick and vulnerable patients from infection.
“There are currently 25 patients on trolleys awaiting admission to in-patient beds. Bed capacity in the hospital is challenged due to a number of bed closures linked to the norovirus outbreak. Regrettably, this means patients will be waiting a long time to be admitted to a bed from the emergency department. Please visit HSE.ie for advice on how to treat flu at home. Viruses can spread very easily in public places such as hospitals, nursing homes and schools. Anyone with recent symptoms of coughs, colds, diarrhoea or vomiting should not visit patients in the hospital to avoid spreading the virus to sick vulnerable patients. These measures are vital to avoid spreading the virus to patients, visitors and staff.

“If you are visiting the hospital, minimise your risk of spreading or catching an infection by ensuring the following:
· If you have any symptoms you should not come to visit until all symptoms are fully resolved for at least 48 hours;
· Clean your hands with soap and water after using toilet or visibly soiled hands;
· Please do not use patient toilets on the wards or en-suites; visitor toilets are available at ground floor level.
“The hospital would like to thank members of the public for their co-operation.”

Nationally, over 629 patients, including 24 children are being treated on trolleys, chairs and in other inappropriate bed spaces in Irish hospitals today.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “We are seeing yet another pre-Christmas surge in the number of people who are being admitted to hospitals without a bed. Dangerous levels of overcrowding are not just confined to a couple of sites, we are seeing high levels of patients on trolleys in most hospitals. This is an indicator of the difficult weeks that lay ahead for patients and nurses and midwives who want to provide safe care in our hospitals.
“Each year we face the same problems in our hospitals with no long-term solutions offered to ending the ongoing, year-round overcrowding crisis in our hospitals. As government formation talks continue ensuring that our hospitals are safe from a staffing and capacity perspective must be a priority for all engaged in negotiations.
“The overcrowding crisis is being exacerbated by the serious issues in staffing across all hospitals and community services. Patient safety is directly linked to staffing levels, curbing recruitment and placing restrictions on the authority of Directors of Nursing and Midwifery to recruit is exacerbating the ability to provide safe and timely care.
“Measures can be taken now including the curtailing of non-urgent elective care, ensuring that all senior clinical decision-makers are on site, and introducing heightened infection control measures will create a release valve to ease the pressure in the majority of sites.
“As our members are continuing to work in very trying circumstances, they want to be assured by all involved in government formation negotiations that improving their conditions at work will be a top priority.”