THE HSE HAS advised that Mayo General Hospital has been “extremely busy this week” and is asking the public only to attend the Emergency Department in the case of real emergencies.

In a statement this morning, the HSE West said there has been a high number of patients requiring admission this morning. All beds at the hospital are currently in use.

Due to the extra pressure on the Emergency Department, it has also been necessary to accommodate patients in the Medical Assessment Unit.

HSE West said that every effort is being made to identify beds for those who require admission. However, the hospital said that anyone attending the Emergency Department should expect delays.

Mayo General Hospital regrets that any patient would have to spend longer in the Emergency Department than they would like.

The public has been advised to contact their GP or GP out-of-hours service before travelling to the hospital.

A spokesperson for the HSE said there is “no particular reason” evident at the moment for the extra admissions but the hospital tends to be busier after a long weekend.