The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has called for non-urgent procedures at Galway University Hospital to be cancelled immediately.
The hospital is experiencing its highest level of overcrowding since 2019, with 70 patients waiting on a bed.
A rising number of patients with Covid-19 at the facility is also increasing pressure on staff.
INMO industrial relations officer, Anne Burke, says staff shortages at Galway University Hospital are preventing nurses from providing timely care to patients.
“Nurses and midwives in Galway University Hospital are under severe pressure due to short staffing and COVID infection levels," she warned.
“As well as high levels of overcrowding in the hospital, yesterday 48 patients in the hospital were COVID positive. Many beds are currently closed in University Hospital Galway today because of the impact COVID is having on the operations of the hospital. Each department and ward is under significant pressure with nurses being redeployed at a significant rate. Hospital management need to cancel all non-urgent elective procedures at the hospital. Safe patient care must be a priority," she insisted.
“This level of overcrowding in Galway and indeed across the country in the middle of July is not normal and should not be treated as such," she added. "Hospital management and the HSE need to take short, medium and long-term action.”
