Many diagnoses delayed due to Covid-19 says local consultant

A consultant in Emergency Medicine at Sligo hospital says people who've had a fear of contracting Covid are now turning up too late for treatment.

Fergal Hickey says there was already a spike in Emergency Department attendances this year when older people were presenting with serious conditions which had worsened because of a delay in seeking treatment.

Dr Hickey says while Sligo hospital isn't overrun with Covid cases they've continued to see record overcrowding in the emergency department over several months.

He says it's tragic to see a number of people presenting with very serious conditions which have now progressed beyond help.

You can hear the full interview with Dr Hickey here.