University Hospital Limerick (UHL) is once again experiencing high presentations at its emergency department (ED), the hospital group has said.
Scheduled surgery due to take place tomorrow across all hospitals in the group has been deferred to try and deal with the high numbers in ED and on trolleys in wards.
UHL said it was dealing with extremely high demand and have asked people to consider all care options before coming to the ED.
Those who are not urgent or seriously ill will face significant waiting times, it added.
The hospital is at its highest state of escalation and has seen its busiest week so far this year, with an average of 245 presentations a day, or 1,716 in the seven days up to this morning.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation's trolley-watch figures have put the number waiting in UHL's ED and on trolleys on wards at 143, the second highest the hospital has experienced in its history.
There were 150 waiting on 7 February last.
The Health Service Executive's own urgent and emergency care list has 88 waiting on trolleys at UHL, 32 in its ED and 51 on wards.
Scheduled or elective activity has been deferred tomorrow and will remain under review as UHL deals with the high numbers of sick people at the hospital in the coming days, it said.
