Some non-urgent surgeries cancelled at UHG amid overcrowding

Galway bay fm newsroom -The HSE is cancelling some non-urgent surgery at hospitals across the county – including in Galway- in a bid to reduce the trolley crisis. It's after the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation counted 714 patients on trolleys and wards this morning. The Health Minister Simon Harris says the poor weather made a bad situation worse. The INMO says the health service is at breaking point as UHG creaks under the pressure of severe overcrowding this afternoon. Over-crowding levels at hospitals across the country have reached a new record today – with 714 people waiting for beds. According to the INMO, the worst affected is University Hospital Limerick where 80 patients are on trolleys followed by University Hospital Galway which has 45. UHG management is urging patients not to attend the hospital today unless absolutely necessary UHG has regularly featured as one of the most overcrowded hospitals in the country in terms of trolley figures. It comes as over 600 people were waiting for beds every day last week. The General Secretary of the INMO Phil Ni'Sheaghda says the situation is at breaking point.