Overview: A Weekend Surge and Ongoing Outbreaks Strain Galway’s Hospital
University Hospital Galway (UHG) is under significant pressure after a busy weekend that saw an exceptionally high number of emergency department (ED) visits, coupled with COVID-19 outbreaks on two wards. By Monday morning, the hospital reported 29 patients in the ED and 39 patients on trolleys either in the ED or awaiting ward placement. This combination of high demand and infection control challenges has led to lengthy waiting times for admission and limited bed availability for new or deteriorating cases.
Weekend Demand: 420 ED Attendances Highlight Capacity Gaps
In the past Saturday and Sunday, a total of 420 people attended the ED at University Hospital Galway. While EDs are designed to handle fluctuating demand, such a spike tested UHG’s capacity to manage acute presentations, coordinate rapid discharges, and maintain infection control. The surge also magnified the stress on hospital staff, who faced the dual task of prioritizing life-threatening cases while managing crowding and flow through the ED.
Bed Availability and Ward Outbreaks: Why Delays Are Occurring
As of today, all available beds in the hospital are reportedly in use, with a high number of patients waiting to be admitted from the ED. The dual pressures of crowding and ward-level COVID outbreaks have reduced the hospital’s ability to transfer patients from the ED to inpatient wards in a timely fashion. When beds are scarce and wards are contending with infection control measures, the pace of patient flow slows markedly, extending the time patients spend in the ED and on trolleys.
Impact on Non-Urgent Care and Elective Procedures
Hospital officials have cautioned that non-urgent care may experience extended waiting times, and some elective procedures are being postponed. Affected patients are being contacted directly by the hospital to inform them of changes or delays. Postponements are typically a last resort, used to free up beds for acute cases and to protect vulnerable patients from potential exposure to the virus in a crowded environment.
What This Means for Patients and Community
For patients seeking urgent or routine care, the message is to expect longer waits, particularly for admission from the ED to a ward. If ED crowding persists, ambulance diversion and prioritization protocols may shift in real-time to preserve safety and outcomes for those in critical need. Community members should consider alternative care options when symptoms are non-urgent, such as primary care clinics or telemedicine services where appropriate, while continuing to seek urgent care for red-flag symptoms.
What the Hospital is Doing to Stabilize
UHG states that every effort is being made to discharge patients who are medically ready to go home, thereby freeing bed space for those requiring admission at the earliest opportunity. The hospital is also coordinating with public health authorities to contain the COVID outbreaks on the affected wards and to implement enhanced infection prevention measures. In the interim, staff across departments are working to optimize patient flow, accelerate discharge planning where feasible, and minimize the impact on those in need of emergency care.
Guidance for Patients and Visitors
Anyone considering a non-urgent visit to UHG should plan for potential delays and consider alternatives where safe and appropriate. Those with urgent medical concerns should still seek immediate care, as the ED remains operational and ready to triage and treat emergent conditions. If you or a loved one needs care that may be postponed, stay in touch with your healthcare provider for updates about appointment times and potential rescheduling.
Continued monitoring of bed occupancy, ED wait times, and ward outbreaks will inform any updates from University Hospital Galway. Community support and adherence to infection prevention measures remain essential as the hospital navigates this period of heightened demand and COVID-related disruption.
