Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda has reopened to accident and emergency patients after management at the hospital last night took the decision to refer incoming patients to nearby hospitals.
"While it is still quite busy in the emergency department, the hospital is now back on call and patients can be referred to the emergency department as normal," the hospital said in a statement.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) said last night that management had taken the decision to refer A&E patients to hospitals in Dundalk, Navan and Cavan, because of overcrowding.
Management at Our Lady of Lourdes, which is the biggest hospital in the north-east, said the measures had been taken in order to relieve pressure on the emergency department and in the interest of patient safety.
A new €11.35 million emergency department is currently under construction at the hospital.
Sinn Feín health spokesperson and Cavan-Monaghan TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the decision to divert patients from the hospital was due to bad planning by HSE management.
“People’s lives are being gambled with. We can only hope that there are no major emergencies during this shut-down period," said Mr O'Caoláin.
