Public asked to consider visiting GP instead of Tullamore Hospital

As overcrowding continues at Tullamore Hospital, the HSE is again asking people to consider visiting their GP before attending.  

The HSE has again activated its Escalation Policy at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore. It said “the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore is experiencing high levels of attendances and admissions today.”

The HSE stated: “In order to assist us we are requesting that patients in the first instance, consider using their GP or Midoc Service for medical assessment, where possible.” The situation is be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Figures released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation(INMO) have shown a significant increase in the number of people on trolleys at Tullamore compared with the same time last year. Its trolley and ward watch found there were 303 people on tolleys or awaiting admission in wards in February 2015. That figure this February was 359, an increase of 56.