Elective surgery due to take place at hospitals in the north-west and south-east today has been cancelled due to overcrowding in the hospitals' accident and emergency (A&E) departments.
Letterkenny General Hospital and Wexford General Hospital have both made cancellations. There were 28 patients waiting for beds in the A&E unit of Letterkenny hospital early yesterday, and a similar number had to be treated on trolleys at Wexford General Hospital on Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for the Health Services Executive North West Region (formerly the North Western Health Board) said the situation was unprecedented at Letterkenny. Usually when there was overcrowding in A&E, patients were accommodated in the day services unit but yesterday there was also an overspill into outpatients, which led to the cancellation of outpatient appointments.
By last evening, however, beds had been found for most of those who were waiting, she said, but it was likely that some patients would have to spend a second night on trolleys.
Mr Chris Lyons, manager of Letterkenny General Hospital, stressed that management and staff were "doing everything possible to address the situation.
"We know the discomfort this causes for patients and the pressure it places on staff, but as many people are aware, this is an issue of bed capacity. Quite simply, we do not have sufficient bed numbers to accommodate the number of patients being admitted," he said.
The hospital has sought approval for 70 more beds from the Department of Health and is awaiting a response.
Meanwhile, 36 extra beds have been opened at Waterford Regional Hospital to relieve pressure on Wexford General Hospital.
A spokeswoman for the Health Services Executive South East region (formerly the South Eastern Health Board) confirmed there were still 14 patients on trolleys awaiting beds in the A&E unit of Wexford General Hospital last evening. The hospital sought approval some time ago for 19 extra beds from the Department of Health but they have not yet been provided.
Mr Brendan Howlin, Labour TD for Wexford, said the situation at the hospital had worsened over a number of days and was now chaotic.
"During Sunday and Monday, no new admissions were allowed as the hospital was operating at full capacity. Patients were simply referred to Waterford Hospital - an hour away by car," he said.
"Meanwhile, the Tánaiste still refuses to release the necessary money for the new 19-bed unit for the hospital, despite it already having been announced over six months ago," he added.
There were also patients on trolleys at a number of other hospitals yesterday. At the Mater Hospital, Dublin, there were 24 patients on trolleys. A further 15 were on trolleys at Beaumont Hospital and seven were on trolleys awaiting beds at Cork University Hospital.