Tallaght Hospital warn against visiting Emergency Department

Tallaght Hospital has this evening issued a statement asking people to avoid visits to the Emergency Department if possible.

Numbers at Tallaght Hospital’s Emergency Department have increased this week, with the number of patients over 75-years-of-age presenting at the ED up 22% on the same period last year.

The statement said: “Tallaght Hospital has the biggest emergency department in the country (adult and paediatric combined) and has been under sustained pressure over the past number of days due to a 10% increase in overall adult ED attendances with a 22% increase in patients over 75 years of age presenting, compared to the same period last year.

“In addition the hospital has a higher than normal number of delayed discharges, which is further reducing available bed capacity.

“Given the above factors, the hospital is asking the public to avoid making any unnecessary visits to our Emergency Department at this time and to attend their GP in the first instance where appropriate.”