Public asked to 'consider their options' before attending ED

Members of the public have been asked to "consider their options" before attending the Emergency Department (ED) at Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar today.

Hospital management issued this statement a short time ago:

Regional Hospital Mullingar’s Adult Emergency Department Services are extremely busy today.

The hospital is in escalation and the teams are working to manage the current Adult In-Patient Capacity together with Scheduled Care.

We would ask patients to consider their options before attending the Emergency Departments.

We would like to remind the public that, patients who are over 16 years with the following injuries may wish to present to the Regional Hospital Mullingar Minor Injury Unit located at Charter Medical Private Hospital in Ballinderry, Mullingar:

• Suspected broken bones to arm (from collar bone to fingertip)

• Suspected broken bones in legs (from knees to toes)

• Sprains and strains

• Wounds, bites (animal or insect) cuts, grazes and scalp laceration

• Minor burns and scalds

• Foreign bodies

• Minor chest injuries

Patients attending the ED, who require urgent care, will be prioritised.

Hospital Management would like to thank the public for their support and understanding during this period.