The HSE is warning of long waiting times for people who attend emergency departments this weekend.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Association yesterday said overcrowding at hospitals around the country is currently “out of control.”
The HSE have said that yesterday morning the number of people on trolleys in Emergency Departments across the country had increased by 30% compared to the same day last year.
Locally there are 69 people waiting on trollies in the two main hospitals in the north west.
35 were reported to be waiting on beds at Sligo University Hospital while the number was slightly less at Letterkenny University Hospital with 34 people waiting.
The latest crisis has led to calls from locally elected representatives demanding that Primary Health Centres in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal to be provided with resources to help ease the pressure on the emergency departments in Sligo at Letterkenny.
The HSE say the current situation is as a result of increased ED attendances by patients, many whom are older and frailer.
While they say respiratory illnesses are still circulating.
Over the St Patrick’s Bank Holiday weekend, which is always one of the busiest times of year for hospitals, the HSE are encouraging the public to attend hospitals only when it’s an emergency.
