Tallaght University Hospital has become the latest to urge people to avoid their emergency department unless absolutely necessary as they will face lengthy waiting times otherwise.
Across the country, there are nearly 550 people waiting for a bed on Wednesday morning, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation report via Trolley Watch.
481 patients are waiting in the emergency department, while 59 are in wards elsewhere in the hospital.
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In Tallaght's emergency department, there are 37 patients waiting on a bed, the fourth-highest rate in the country.
That, coupled with the increase in arrivals to A & E, have caused the hospital to initiate their "full capacity protocol".
In a statement, they said: "With high attendances and high rates of admissions this puts pressure on the ED and also the Hospital as there is a shortage of beds. Discharge from the Hospital continues to be a challenge with a high number of patients waiting home care packages or a place in a nursing home.
"The Hospital works continuously to free beds for admitted patients, but there is a clear underlying requirement to develop additional onsite bed capacity given our growing and ageing population.
"We are committed to treating everyone who presents to our ED however we do so strictly in order of medical priority. Given the volume of patients currently attending the Emergency Department, we regret there are lengthy delays and long wait times for those who do not need urgent treatment.
"We are asking the public to consider alternative care options before attending the ED as unfortunately people with less urgent complaints will experience long wait times.
"The Hospital regrets any delay a patient of any age experiences whilst waiting in our Emergency Department, patients are prioritised according to clinical need. We thank the public for their cooperation in this regard."
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