The Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar is temporarily expanding its Paediatric Emergency Care Department due to an increase in attendance.
The hospital has consistently seen a high level of patients waiting for beds or on trolleys over the last number of weeks.
According to hospital management, there has been a significant increase in the number of children presenting at the ED
The hospital's health care teams are working to manage the current Adult and Paediatric In-Patient and Covid-19 Bed Capacity together with Scheduled Care.
Members of the public are being urged to only attend the Emergency Department where it is absolutely necessary and to seek care from GPs, out of hour GP services and pharmacies if possible.
Hospital Manager Kay Slevin says they are expanding their emergency paediatric services to deal with the surge:
