The level of overcrowding at the region’s main hospital is continuing to spiral.
The latest INMO figures show 85 patients were waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick this morning.
It comes as the number of covid patients being treated there also escalated over the weekend.
The latest trolleywatch analysis from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation shows there were 85 patients waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick this morning, 51 of those in the Emergency Department.
The overall figure is two and a half times the next busiest facility and represents almost a quarter of all patients waiting to be admitted to hospitals across the country.
It follows an exceptionally busy weekend at the Dooradoyle facility, with hospital management saying every effort is being made to reduce wait times and maximise patient flow.
The hospital is continuing to follow its escalation plan, which includes additional ward rounds, accelerating discharges and identifying patients for transfer to our Model 2 hospitals, including Ennis General.
The UL Hospitals Group is urging people to consider their care options before attending, including their GP or GP out of hours service and the Injury Unit at Ennis General which is open 8am to 8pm seven days a week.
It comes as the number of patients being treated for Covid at UHL has increased by 9 over the weekend to 45, while there are now 6 people in ICU, up from 3 on Friday.
